1. What is the main idea of the conversation?
| A．The fact that robots will replace humans entirely. |
| B．The fact that robots will take jobs from humans. |
| C．The fact that robots will be introduced into people’s homes. |
| A．They do more with less cost. |
| B．They are not very friendly. |
| C．They break down regularly. |
| A．3%. | B．15%. | C．33%. |
2 . Nowadays, everyone seems to hope to go into space and live on new planets. Instead of depending on another pre-existing planet, could we make a new planet by ourselves?
First of all, if we were to live on it, we should find a good place in space to put the new planet. We would want it to be in a habitable zone, which means the planet should be at the right distance from its star to make sure there would be perfect temperatures and most importantly, liquid water.
We’d also need the right materials to make the planet. Our Earth is made up of many different elements (元素). If we made our own new planet, we’d probably want it to have similar elements and a similar structure (结构). We’d also want enough water to form some oceans.
But even if we get all of the materials, creating a new planet like Earth could have many troubles. It might be something more like a huge space station. It would be pretty expensive if we wanted it to be super big.
We would probably also need a lot of food because there is going to be many scientists and astronauts out in space working on this project!
According to NASA, each astronaut uses about 0.83 kilograms of food per meal, including 0.12 kilograms of packaging (包装) material. Without the weight of the packaging material, we’d need about 780 kilograms of food just to feed one astronaut for a year.
Putting all these together could make it possible to make our own planet one day! In fact, creating a new planet would probably require a very modern technology and there would be tons of other things to think about. And if this is possible, it won’t likely happen within a very long time.
1. To create a new planet, which of the following should we first do?| A．To collect materials similar to Earth. | B．To prepare plenty of food for astronauts to eat. |
| C．To design its inner structure. | D．To find a proper place to set it. |
| A．About 0.12 kilograms. | B．About 0.71 kilograms. |
| C．About 0.83 kilograms. | D．About 0.95 kilograms. |
| A．It is a waste of time and money. |
| B．It may be a dangerous thing for humans. |
| C．It is impossible to come true in the near future. |
| D．It should be one of NASA’s next plans. |
1. What will control the tree house’s temperature?
| A．The roof. | B．The leaves. | C．The soil. |
| A．Changing colors. | B．Collecting sunlight. | C．Producing energy. |
| A．It allows cool air to come in. |
| B．It is easy for hot air to flow out. |
| C．It can protect the house from strong cold air. |
1. What are the two speakers talking about?
| A．Computer changes in the future. |
| B．People’s imagination of the computers. |
| C．Possible changes in the next 50 years. |
| A．The differences between humans and machines. |
| B．The differences between computers and human brains. |
| C．The differences between humans. |
| A．Machines. | B．Fruit. | C．Feelings. |
1. What are the speakers talking about?
| A．The future way of working. |
| B．How to find a satisfying job. |
| C．The development of computers. |
| A．He would get much more done at home. |
| B．Working at home may not be for him. |
| C．He would like to watch TV at home. |
6 . Education in 2080 is distinctive from education in the 2020s. Until about 2035, the main function of education systems was to supply the economy with the next generation of workers. In 2080, the purpose of education is the well-being of society and all its members. To make this a bit more tangible for you, I would like to give an example of what a child’s education looks like in 2080. Her name is Shemsy. Shemsy is 13, and she is confident and loves learning.
Shemsy does not go to school in the morning because schools as you know them no longer exist. The institution was abolished as it was widely thought of as more like a prison or a factory than a creative learning environment. Schools have been replaced with “Learning Hubs” that are not restricted to certain ages. They are where intergenerational learning happens, in line with the belief that learning is a lifelong pursuit.
Every year, Shemsy designs her learning journey for the year with a highly attentive “teacher-citizen”. Shemsy is actively engaged in designing her education and has to propose projects she would like to be involved in to contribute to and serve her community. She also spends lots of time playing as the role of play in learning has finally been recognized as essential and core to our humanity. Shemsy works a lot collaboratively. Access to education is universal, and higher education institutions no longer differentiate themselves by how many people they reject yearly. Variability between students is expected and leveraged (利用) as young people teach one another and use their differences as a source of strength. Shemsy naturally explores what she is curious about at a pace she sets. She still has some classes to take that are mandatory for children globally: Being Human and the History of Humanity.
We invite you to think about your vision for education in the year 2080, what does it look like, who does it serve,and how does it transform our societies?
1. What does paragraph 1 mainly tell us?| A．There are different types of education. |
| B．The present education needs improvements. |
| C．Education and economy are closely associated. |
| D．The goal of future education is fundamentally different. |
| A．It accepts students of all ages. | B．It promotes competition. |
| C．It discourages individualized learning. | D．It is all about play-based learning. |
| A．Tough. | B．Satisfactory. | C．Optional. | D．Required. |
| A．An Example to All | B．A Vision for Education |
| C．A Challenge for Education | D．A Journey into the Future |
1. What makes learning at the School of the Future special?
| A．Students and teachers do not have to meet. |
| B．The latest technology will be applied in the classroom. |
| C．Students use special glasses to prevent getting near-sighted. |
| A．By just giving lectures. | B．By providing guidance. | C．By giving students special tests. |
| A．Students get to solve real problems. |
| B．The tests are all done on our computers. |
| C．The tests will focus on extra-curricular knowledge. |
| A．Prepare them for future challenges. |
| B．Make the learning process enjoyable. |
| C．Help them memorize facts for exams. |
| A．All his dreams will come true. |
| B．Science will develop much faster. |
| C．He will be able to do his job at home. |
9 . There’s a classic short story in which a young man travels years ahead and meets his future self. Narratives like this have always been related to science fiction. But what if you could meet your future self?
I’m a psychologist and professor. My research over the past 15 years isn’t far from this theme. I’ve largely focused on how people think about and relate to their future selves, and explored the reasons why we have such a hard time making long-term decisions. In my research, I’ve learnt that we often imagine our future selves like strangers, which can impede us in making long-term choices. One way to bridge the emotional gap is to think of future selves in more concrete and vivid ways, like writing letters to and from one’s future self, which can strengthen the connection between current and future selves.
Admittedly, having people engage in an imagined conversation is a far cry from actually meeting one’s future self. But it’s believed that far richer interactions may happen in the near future through artificial intelligence (AI). It wouldn’t be predicting exactly what choices you’d make. It’d be more about showing your potential, based on the lives of people similar to you: not just one possible life for you, but rather, the most possible life path for you. Such interactions could offer valuable insights into our potential future selves.
So, to return to my original question: if you could time-travel to meet your future self, what aspects of your life would you want to know more about? I realized, through thorough reflections, that the most powerful questions would be ones that helped me make better choices today —questions exploring personal growth, regrets and unfulfilled actions.
Actually, you don’t need to wait for time travel or advanced AI for answers that you can act on. Through my research, I’ve learnt that simply taking a bit of time to picture this meeting can help you make better choices now. All you need is a little imagination, and the willingness to put yourself in the shoes of a person you currently treat as a stranger.
1. Why is it difficult for people to make long-term decisions according to the author?| A．Technology for time travel is not available. |
| B．Strangers cannot help with decision-making. |
| C．Writing letters to one’s future self is impractical. |
| D．People find it hard to connect with their distant selves. |
| A．contradictory to | B．very different from |
| C．not as convenient as | D．less popular than |
| A．Why hasn’t my hard work ever paid off? |
| B．What can AI do to help people become better persons? |
| C．If given the chance, what would you have done differently? |
| D．How can I succeed without going through all the difficulties in life? |
| A．Time travel: What if you met your future self? |
| B．My research: How do people view their future selves? |
| C．Emotional gap: Why can’t we talk with our future selves? |
| D．Artificial intelligence: Is it possible to meet your future self? |
10 . Someone has put forward a dream home which is so advanced that its kitchen can suggest what to make with certain things. Also, a Microsoft home doesn’t just warn you when you’re out of milk—it can send you a fresh gallon.
But are these innovations just magic, or are they really coming soon to a neighborhood near you? To find out, US News asked some experts to get their opinions about the home of the not-so-distant future. Here’s a look at the innovations.
The housing boom was marked by mass-produced buildings filled with units which look the same. The coming years, however, will give way to a personalized approach to home construction, with houses as more of an instrument of self-expression. “The successful builders will be the ones that figure out how to change their production model enough to make the buyers feel like they are really getting something that is designed for them, not just a model,” says Kermit Baker, the chief economist at the American Institute of Architects.
Future homes will probably become smaller. “We will be building smaller but smarter houses,” says Ed MeMahon, a senior resident fellow at the Urban Land Institute. “Instead of having a room for just one use, consumers will demand homes that make better use of space,” says Susanka, whose best-selling book, The Not So Big House, has become increasingly influential in home design. Seldom-used quarters, such as dining and living rooms, will be replaced with space that can serve both functions. “The goal of his ‘right-size’ home is to fit its owners like a specially cut suit rather than a jacket you buy in a store,” says Susanka.
1. What is the function of the first paragraph?| A．To present the main idea the passage. | B．To present what the future house is like. |
| C．To lead to the topic of the passage. | D．To show the history the housing. |
| A．Almost all the houses had no their own features. |
| B．The houses were designed according to owners’ idea. |
| C．The houses were smaller but smarter than before. |
| D．The houses could change production model easily. |
| A．Those that are much bigger and brighter. | B．Those that are much smaller but smarter. |
| C．Those that are much bigger and smarter. | D．Those that are environmental and energy saving. |
| A．Smart houses have a room for every use. | B．Smart houses can make better use of space. |
| C．Smart houses have very advanced furniture. | D．Smart houses can warn you when you’re out of milk. |
