Question

【题目】 It’s March, 2050. Frank and Mary Smith wake up in their comfortable house in the morning and switch on the bedroom computer to get the latest news. They used to read the Times, but changed to electronic newspapers many years ago.

There is the usual news about space: another space flight has returned from Mars and scientists have discovered a new planet. Then they turn to business news: the US dollar has risen greatly in Shanghai, one of the world’s leading business centers. Mary tells the computer to buy 5,000 dollars, and there is a quick response that it has been done.

As they watch the screen, Mary orders one of the household robots to make coffee for them. Frank disappears into the study to join a video conference with his partners around the world. He is a computer engineer, working for several companies. This is his third job: he used to be in marketing and then television.

Mary has a quick look at the shopping channels—the usual selection of electric cars, household robots and cheap travel offers—before picking up the video phone to talk to her assistant. She also has a job and she is doing medical research. Both she and Frank used to have an office desk in London, but in 2014 they decided to move to the seaside and work from home.

Frank and Mary have one daughter, Louise, who also has her own workstation at home. She goes to school only one day a week, mainly to play with other students. Classrooms disappeared in 2030 because there was no longer any need for them: communications systems have made it much easier to learn at home.

Louise, now thirteen, is studying Chinese at present, which has become a world language as important as English. Louise has many Chinese friends. They communicate by computer.

According to the family doctor, Louise will live to at least 130. Her wish is to work for a few decades (十年) and then spend her time on music and painting.

【1】Why do Frank and Mary switch on the bedroom computer in the morning?

【2】Who makes coffee for Mary and Frank?

【3】How does Frank work with others from home?

【4】What are the two world languages in 2050?

【5】What do you think of Louise’s life in 2050?

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】To get the latest news.

【2】One of the household robots.

【3】Frank works with others from home through communications systems.

【4】Chinese and English.

【5】I think her life in 2050 is convenient because she can use computers to do lots of things.

【解析】

本文描述了2050年作者一家人的生活。

【1】根据文中“switch on the bedroom computer to get the latest news”可知，弗兰克和玛丽打开卧室电脑是为了获取最新的新闻。故填To get the latest news.

【2】根据文中“Mary orders one of the household robots to make coffee for them.”可知，玛丽让一个家用机器人给他们煮咖啡。故填One of the household robots.

【3】根据文中“Frank disappears into the study to join a video conference with his partners around the world.”和“communications systems”可知，在弗兰克家里，有通讯系统，他可以与全世界各地的搭档参加视频会议，所以弗兰克是通过通讯系统与其他人在一起工作的。故填Frank works with others from home through communications systems.

【4】根据文中“Louise, now thirteen, is studying Chinese at present, which has become a world language as important as English.”可知，汉语和英语一样重要，所以在2050年，两种世界语言是汉语和英语。故填Chinese and English.

【5】根据文中“communications systems have made it much easier to learn at home”和“They communicate by computer.”可知，路易斯可以使用电脑做许多事情，例如：在家学习和朋友用电脑交流等，所以她的生活很便捷。故填I think her life in 2050 is convenient because she can use computers to do lots of things.