Happy 18th birthday! You’ve officially reach     1     (adult) in a lot of ways, even though I know you’re already mature beyond your years.

Many bittersweet events will happen in the next ten years. There will be highs. Stick to     2     (cherish) every single second. There will also be lows, and you may feel     3     (dishearten). But you’ll surely be committed to     4     (make) it through, and    5     (gradual) you’ll get stronger than before.

The world will always throw new challenges at you.     6     a consequence, your strength will be tested again and again. Looking back to what has happened over the last decade, I feel proud of how far you’ve come. Approve     7     everything that contributes to your     8     (become) fearless and independent.

As you become an adult, jump at every opportunity     9    comes your way. Celebrate every chance you get. No doubt you’ll always ponder     10    it and make the right decision.

Happy birthday, Kelsey! See you in ten years.

28-­year-­old Kelsey

3 . Future living: what will the home of tomorrow look like?

What will our homes be like in the future? Growing cities, shrinking living spaces, and climate change are major challenges     1    (face) urban planners and architects. We’re sharing three trends with you     2     will shape the home we live in tomorrow.

Energy efficient and carbon neutral

One of the greatest challenges for homes of the future is our increasing energy consumption, something that cannot be covered by fossil fuels going forward.     3    the impact of climate change becoming notable, it’s perfectly understandable that the buildings of the future could function as environmentally friendly power plants. Solar collectors and heat storage systems allow     4     are known as ‘plus-energy buildings’ to produce 100 percent renewable energy for emission-free operation.

The trend to downsizing

Living more efficiently not only means improving energy use and reducing one’s own carbon footprint, but also building to save space. Rooms     5    (design) to be multifunctional when there’s not a dedicated room available for every potential purpose. Modular and flexible furnishing systems that can be adapted to the individual floor space and room zones will replace     6    (fix) structures, ensuring that there’s room for everything even in a small space.   

Trends for living and working under one roof

Over the last few months, the office     7    (become) a feature in many people’s homes. For a number of years now, the home office has been evolving from a make-do desk into a comfortable long-term solution. This development means we need to ask     8     how we should construct our living spaces to allow us to concentrate and work productively.   

    9     you rent or own your own home in the future, what’s clear is that the home of tomorrow will be smarter, more flexible, and more sustainable. It will offer us space     10    (live), sleep and work both indoors and outdoors.

In the near future, life is filled with amazing wonders.     1     the sun rises, cars soar through the sky applying anti-gravity technology, creating a breathtaking sight against the morning hues. People wear special glasses that combine virtual and real worlds, immersing themselves in a world of endless     2     (possibility).

Mornings are a delight as the delicious breakfast takes center stage. Helpful robots with advanced AI offer assistance gracefully. Transportation has become super fast with hyper loop trains that travel through tunnels     3     incredible speeds, sending passengers to their destinations in mere minutes.

As twilight sets in, streets come alive with holographic(全息的) displays     4     (show) art and ads. Homes     5     (equip) with voice controlled devices for lighting and temperature. Entertainment is immersive with virtual reality games     6     players can fight or explore other worlds, offering thrilling experiences. Deep underground, hidden laboratories are making     7     (consistent) scientific breakthroughs, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and unraveling the mysteries of the universe.

Yet among these technological wonders, the core of humanity     8     (remain) unchanged. Families gather around tables, sharing laughter and stories, cherishing the bonds that connect them.

As the day draws to     9     close, the city transforms into a breathtaking symphony(交响乐) of neon lights. Tomorrow holds infinite potentials as humanity tends     10     (push) the boundaries of scientific achievement, keeping on new frontiers of discovery with strong curiosity that knows no bounds.

Good morning! Today I     1     (speak) to you about drones, also known as UAVs.     2     (fly) around on their own, drones have already been used for photography, scientific research and military operations. They will come into     3     (wide) use in various fields in the near future.     4     (deliver) drones now are mainly used for military action and disaster relief. It can be predicted that before long many people     5     (use) drones to deliver daily supplies like food and drink. Some companies are also developing passenger drones,     6     carry people in crowded cities. We can assume that with     7     (improve) technology in passenger drones, we     8     (enter) the age of personal flying vehicles. There can be no denying     9     the technology will have a huge impact     10     everyday life.

We     1     (persuade) that in the not-too-distant future smart homes will     2     (great) change our life. For example, household appliances can be switched     3     and off automatically. If you have a preference     4     jazz, your home     5     (play) jazz the instant you get home. Besides, if you command your smart home to change     6     (it) daily routine, the home system will obey as well. There is no denying that smart homes combine technology and health firmly,     7     can give appropriate suggestions on your health in time. However, when it     8     (come) to smart homes, is there anyone opposed to the coming of smart home era? We advocate that we should embrace new     9     (technology). After all, only by accepting science and technology instead of     10     (resist) it can we promote social progress.

No one can foretell the future of technology exactly, because no one can see the future. However, there are reasonable arguments     1    (base) on the advances and trends in technology in the past. For example, it is reasonable to predict that computers     2    (continue) to become more powerful, numerous and     3    (cheap). Areas with huge potential that are just beginning to be made use of today, like biotechnology, will continue to bear fruit.

Technology in general will probably continue to improve,     4    (create) both promises and risks. In the area of computers, someone might interact with hundreds of embedded microchips (嵌入式微芯片) throughout the home and the office. In     5     future, it will be many thousands. Increasing bandwidth and decreasing costs will lead to     6    some have called “ubiquitous computing”—computers everywhere helping us with everything. Some viewers, especially Bill Gates, believe the next few     7    (decade) will be characterized by long-awaited revolutions in robotic technology. Other futurists see trends in automation technology leading to desktop factories that allow users     8    (make) objects from simple original parts.

Apart from above areas, there are dozens if not hundreds of areas that will continue to advance technologically. One thing is     9    sure: the future will have better technology than the past did. But will we put     10     to better use? Only time and effort will tell.