Cash is king, or so they say. In one form or another, human beings have been carrying around money for hundreds of years. Metal was first coined into cash between 700 and 600 BC by the Lydians, and banknotes have been in circulation since     1    (they) first use in China around 1000 AD. These days, though, habits     2     (change). Modern technology means     3     while money is still widely used, it’s more likely to be a digital transaction than a wad of notes and a handful of shrapnel. If cash is king, then it may eventually be dethroned.

Smart homes are marketed as the future: making life easier,     1     (good), faster and cheaper. They promise to provide convenience for     2     (use) and give them control over events in their homes —     3     at home or not — as well as providing comfort and energy efficiency, for example sensing temperature and automating air conditioning or heating.

If you woke up 20 years from now in 2042, what would be different? Here are some ideas     1    (base) on numbers that don’t require crystal ball. About 70% of the world population is expected to live in urban areas by 2050. That means most cities are going to need more infrastructure. Roads, public transportation and waste management     2    (upgrade). And we’ll be older. We are likely to live until 82.4 years old, compared with the current life expectancy of 79.1 years. That’s a good thing     3     health care companies. But living three extra years is going to be more expensive,     4     will have implications for both working and saving.

My grandfather is a Party member. He often shares stories about the Communist Party of China     1     me. One day, he talked about his fight in the Anti-Japanese War. He admitted that he had been afraid, but his determination to defend the country helped him overcome his fear. I thought my grandfather was a hero. He often reminds me that our     2     (peace) and happy life today is because of revolutionary martyrs (烈士). Our generation should be grateful to our great Party.     3     (inspire) by these stories, I make up my mind to study hard and make our country more powerful.