Technology: Taking the good without the bad?

Very soon, unimaginably powerful technologies will remake our lives．This could have dangerous consequences, especially because we may not even understand the basic science underlyi ng them．There’s a growing gap between our technological capability and our basic scientific understanding．We can do very clever things with the technology of the future without necessarily understanding some of the science underneath, and that is very dangerous．

The technologies that are particularly dangerous over the next hundred years are nanotechnology （纳米技术）, artificial intelligence and biotechnology．The benefits that they will bring are beyond doubt．But they are going to be very, very dangerous．I’m working in the field of artificial intelligence．I have a model design for something that might be 50,000 million times smarter than the human brain．Target date is 2010．The only thing that's not possible in the film Terminator（终结者） is that the people win．If you're fighting against technology w hich is 50,000 million times smarter than you, you probably will not win．

Nanotechnology．We've all heard of the grey glue problem, that self-replicating nanotech devices might keep on copying until the world has become sticky glue．And certainly in biotechnology, we've really got a big problem because it's converging with nanotechnology and IT．Once you start mixing nanotech with organisms and you start feeding nanotech-enabled bacteria, we can really go an awful lot further than the Borg in Star Trek（星际迷航）．And those superhuman organisms might not like us very much．

Eventually these technologies will become routine．That’s a threat to humanity．I don’t think it’s possible to slow it down．So what we need to do is accelerate the scientific research and try to get some extra tools．The problems facing us in the future are getting bigger and bigger．I think if we don’t get some proper science done, the future is hopeless indeed．

1.From the text, we know that the author’s greatest concern is         ．

2.It can be inferred from the text that the author         ．

3.Why does the author say it is not possible in the film Terminator that the humans win?

Technology: Taking the good without the bad?
Very soon, unimaginably powerful technologies will remake our lives．This could have dangerous consequences, especially because we may not even understand the basic science underlyi ng them．There’s a growing gap between our technological capability and our basic scientific understanding．We can do very clever things with the technology of the future without necessarily understanding some of the science underneath, and that is very dangerous．
The technologies that are particularly dangerous over the next hundred years are nanotechnology （纳米技术）, artificial intelligence and biotechnology．The benefits that they will bring are beyond doubt．But they are going to be very, very dangerous．I’m working in the field of artificial intelligence．I have a model design for something that might be 50,000 million times smarter than the human brain．Target date is 2010．The only thing that's not possible in the film Terminator（终结者） is that the people win．If you're fighting against technology w hich is 50,000 million times smarter than you, you probably will not win．
Nanotechnology．We've all heard of the grey glue problem, that self-replicating nanotech devices might keep on copying until the world has become sticky glue．And certainly in biotechnology, we've really got a big problem because it's converging with nanotechnology and IT．Once you start mixing nanotech with organisms and you start feeding nanotech-enabled bacteria, we can really go an awful lot further than the Borg in Star Trek（星际迷航）．And those superhuman organisms might not like us very much．
Eventually these technologies will become routine．That’s a threat to humanity．I don’t think it’s possible to slow it down．So what we need to do is accelerate the scientific research and try to get some extra tools．The problems facing us in the future are getting bigger and bigger．I think if we don’t get some proper science done, the future is hopeless indeed．
【小题1】From the text, we know that the author’s greatest concern is         ．

阅读下面短文, 根据汉语或首字母提示以及文章内容, 在每条横线上填入一个适当的英语单词, 使短文意思完整。

1.Today is January 26th. Our class have a discussion about w_______ to

2.stay at home or go out________ a trip as the winter holiday is near. Some of us

3.are in favor of staying at home. They think it’s ________ convenient and

4.comfortable. What’s more, they can _________(省) money for other purposes.

5._______ they will lose the chance of getting to know the outside world.

6.However, o        prefer to go out for traveling since it can increase

7.their ________(知识) and broaden their horizons. But they will spend

8.more money and meet many difficulties while traveling. P       ,

9.I think it would be better to stay home, for I can do what I like, such ______

10.reading books, watching   TV and h        my parents with some housework.

Remembering names is an important social skill. Here are some ways to master it.

l  Recite and repeat in conversation.

When you hear a person's name, repeat it. Immediately say it to yourself several times without moving your lips. You could also repeat the name in a way that does not sound forced or artificial.

l  Ask the other person to recite and repeat.

You can let other people help you remember their names. After you've been introduced to someone, ask that person to spell the name and pronounce it correctly for you. Most people will be pleased by the effort you're making to learn their names.

l  Admit you don't know.

Admitting that you can't remember someone's name can actually make people relaxed. Most of them w ill feel sympathy if you say. "I'm working to remember names better. Yours is right on the tip of my tongue. What is it again?"

l  Use associations.

Link each person yon meet with one thing you find interesting or unusual. For example, you could make a mental note: "Vicki Cheng - tall, black hair." To reinforce your associations, write them on a small card as soon as possible.

l  Limit the number of new names you learn at one time.

When meeting a group of people, concentrate on remembering just two or three names. Free yourself from remembering every one. Few of the people in mass introductions expect you to remember their names. Another way is to limit yourself to learning just first names. Last names can come later.

l  Go early.

Consider going early to conferences, parties and classes. Sometimes just a few people show up on time. That's fewer names for you to remember. And as more people arrive, you can hear them being introduced to others - an automatic review for you.

1.How will most people feel when you try hard to remember their names?

A. They will be moved.                   B. They will be annoyed.

C. They will be delighted.                D. They  will be discouraged.

2. If you can't remember someone's name, you may _______.  

A. tell him the truth                         B. tell him a white lie

C. ask him for pity                       D. ask others to help you

3.When you meet a group of people, it is better to remember ______

A. all their names                        B. a couple of names first

C. just their last names                      D. as many names as possible

4. What does the text mainly tell us?

A. Tips on an important social skill.         B. Importance of attending parties.

C. How to make use of associations.         D. How to recite and repeat names.

第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，共10分）

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

 If you walk into W. Lloyd Jerome’s dental surgery(手术) in Glasgow, you’ll see bright paintings and a fashionable blue couch which patients sit on while he checks their teeth. Jerome says, ‘That’s because they’re frightened.’

   71   ‘That’s why I don’t wear a white coat. I find that’s one of the things that people associate with pain. In fact, my philosophy is that dental treatment should take place in an atmosphere of relaxation, interest and, above all , enjoyment.’

 Which is all highly shocking for anyone who associates dental treatment with pain, or at the very least, formal, chinical visits. He says, ‘If people are relaxed, entertained and correctly treated, they will forget such previous unpleasant experiences.’

 Virtual -  reality headsets are one of his new relaxation techniques, ‘  72   The headsets are used for the first check – up, where the patient sits on the blue couch and watches an underwear film while I look at their teeth. “Then the headset switches to a special camera, to give the patient a visual tour around their mouth.’

 Another key point is that the surgery smells more like a perfume shop than a dentist’s. Today there is the smell of orange. “When people walk in, I want them to realize  with all their senses that it’s not like going to dentist’s. Smell is very important.  73  ’

 Known as Clasgow’s most fashionable dentist, Jerome is keen to point out that he takes his work very seriously. ‘  74  ’

 For example, Jerome uses a special instrument which sprays warm water on the teeth to clean them, rather than scraping them. ‘It feels a bit strange, but as long as people are relaxed, it’s not painful.’

   75  ‘One of the things I found out there was that when you make it easier for the patient, you make it easier for yourself’ He sees his patient – centred attitude as the start of a gradual movement towards less formality in the conservative British dentistry profession.

 At that moment, a patient arrives. Jerome rushes over, offers him a cup of tea, askes him what video he’d like to watch and leads him gently towards the chair.

 A. Five years ago, Jerome went to the United States to do research.

 B. He has tried to create an environment where people are not afraid.

 C. The relaxation techniques are important but the quality of the treatment is the most important thing.

 D. We were the first practice in Britain to introduce them.

 E. Now they look forward to their visits here.

 F. That dental smell of surgical spirit can get the heart racing in minutes if you’re frightened of dentists.

 G. Fifty percent of the population only go to the dentist when they’re in pain.