1 . What will the future be like? Good or bad? A lot of science fiction writing imagines a dark and
There's a word to
No. A new project wants to use the power of science fiction to
It's
But will these stories actually change anything or merely keep us entertained? A good science fiction story can be
Time will tell how far we can go. Let's dream big and think
| A．elegant | B．splendid | C．dynamic | D．frightening |
| A．improve | B．describe | C．comprise | D．develop |
| A．pictured | B．argued | C．realized | D．recognized |
| A．original | B．opposite | C．alternative | D．acceptable |
| A．extend | B．unfold | C．sustain | D．occupy |
| A．advantage | B．result | C．motive | D．maintenance |
| A．harmonious | B．permanent | C．messy | D．conventional |
| A．funnier | B．harder | C．newer | D．easier |
| A．challenge | B．mission | C．welfare | D．surprise |
| A．disgusting | B．terrifying | C．demanding | D．promising |
| A．risk | B．delay | C．prevent | D．bother |
| A．abnormal | B．artificial | C．constant | D．mighty |
| A．cast new light on | B．make their way to | C．gather around | D．beat down |
| A．neglected | B．denied | C．exposed | D．seen |
| A．inside | B．beside | C．outside | D．beneath |
1. 学习；
2. 工作；
3. 业余生活。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 不能出现真实姓名和学校名称；
4. 开头语已为你写好。
I often imagine what my life will be like in five years.
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Are all changes good?
It is a commonly held belief that as people get older, they become resistant to change. Their complaints that things used to be better in the past or
But is this automatically true? Are the views of an older person on a new development always to be disregarded? This would suggest that every new development must be a good
Take
4 . Preparing Cities for Robot Cars
The possibility of self-driving robot cars has often seemed like a futurist’s dream, years away from materializing in the real world. Well, the future is apparently now. The California Department of Motor Vehicles began giving permits in April for companies to test truly self-driving cars on public roads. The state also cleared the way for companies to sell or rent out self-driving cars, and for companies to operate driverless taxi services. California, it should be noted, isn’t leading the way here. Companies have been testing their vehicles in cities across the country. It’s hard to predict when driverless cars will be everywhere on our roads. But however long it takes, the technology has the potential to change our transportation systems and our cities, for better or for worse, depending on how the transformation is regulated.
While much of the debate so far has been focused on the safety of driverless cars(and rightfully so), policymakers also should be talking about how self-driving vehicles can help reduce traffic jams, cut emissions(排放) and offer more convenient, affordable mobility options. The arrival of driverless vehicles is a chance to make sure that those vehicles are environmentally friendly and more shared.
Do we want to copy — or even worsen — the traffic of today with driverless cars? Imagine a future where most adults own individual self-driving vehicles. They tolerate long, slow journeys to and from work on packed highways because they can work, entertain themselves or sleep on the ride, which encourages urban spread. They take their driverless car to an appointment and set the empty vehicle to circle the building to avoid paying for parking. Instead of walking a few blocks to pick up a child or the dry cleaning, they send the self-driving minibus. The convenience even leads fewer people to take public transport — an unwelcome side effect researchers have already found in ride-hailing(叫车) services.
A study from the University of California at Davis suggested that replacing petrol-powered private cars worldwide with electric, self-driving and shared systems could reduce carbon emissions from transportation 80% and cut the cost of transportation infrastructure(基础设施) and operations 40% by 2050. Fewer emissions and cheaper travel sound pretty appealing. The first commercially available driverless cars will almost certainly be fielded by ride-hailing services, considering the cost of self-driving technology as well as liability and maintenance issues(责任与维护问题). But driverless car ownership could increase as the prices drop and more people become comfortable with the technology.
Policymakers should start thinking now about how to make sure the appearance of driverless vehicles doesn’t extend the worst aspects of the car-controlled transportation system we have today. The coming technological advancement presents a chance for cities and states to develop transportation systems designed to move more people, and more affordably. The car of the future is coming. We just have to plan for it.
1. According to the author, attention should be paid to how driverless cars can __________.| A．help deal with transportation-related problems |
| B．provide better services to customers |
| C．cause damage to our environment |
| D．make some people lose jobs |
| A．Safety. | B．Side effects. |
| C．Affordability. | D．Management. |
| A．Employed. | B．Replaced. |
| C．Shared. | D．Reduced. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. |
| C．Disapproving. | D．Sympathetic. |
