Life in the twenty-first century
The World Future Society is a group of people from more than 80 countries who are interested in how modern technology is making our world better, and who write reports about how it will change our lives.                                                                                                              The things that we will be able to do in the twenty-first century (since the year 2000) should help us live better lives in many ways, at home and at work, in our own country and around the world. Here are just some of them, put into five groups.
People
People may live for up to 120 years and use new technology to help when people go blind, deaf and have other problems. The number of people over a hundred years old could go from 135,000 today to 2.2 million people by 2050. By 2015 people think that 100 million workers will be able to work from home for a company in a different country by using the Internet.
Money
Worldwide e-business will become even more successful with online shops that sell special products for each person, which will be brought to their house the next day.
Environment
The technology for making energy from wind and the Sun is growing very quickly. In the future wind and Sun energy could become much cheaper and many more countries could use it. This would be very useful in poor countries. The air in big cities would also become much cleaner and healthier as a result.
Society and culture
The Internet will help to create more worldwide friendships. Families may spend more time together as people will be able to do 24-hour online banking and shopping.
Technology    
The new science of “nanotechnology” (very small robots or machines) will make all sorts of products smaller and lighter. Very, very small machines could take away rubbish, make things in factories, and help inside the human body by taking away fat. By 2012 people will be able to wear these small machines that look like watches, which will give them lots of information about their body and keep them healthy.
【小题1】What does the World Future Society do?
A.Look at how technology will make people happy.
B.Look at how technology will change the world.
C.Make technology work better for themselves.
D.Make small machines to make us healthier.
【小题2】 How will technology help people?
A.Help all people live for over 120 years.
B.Help disabled people to get jobs.
C.Make people healthier and live longer.
D.Help workers to use the Internet.
【小题3】How will people go shopping?
A.In special shops.
B.Using the Internet at certain times.
C.Using the Internet any time of the day.
D.Using nanotechnology.
【小题4】 How will technology help the environment?
A.Poor countries will have enough energy.
B.Wind energy will be cheaper than Sun energy.
C.We will not need wind and Sun energy.
D.Wind and Sun energy will be cheaper.
【小题5】The new science of “nanotechnology” will _______.
A.drive small machines to work for people
B.make good-quality watches
C.allow people to eat more
D.make very small products

The Xin’an Street Community(社区)began three programs not long ago.
The Neighborhood Clean-up Program
Every Sunday at 5:00pm, the neighbors begin cleaning Xin’an Street from one end to the other. The head of the Community, Zhao Fuqin, said, “The first Sunday, only eleven people came, but we picked up over seven big bags of rubbish (垃圾)from the sidewalk and street. The next weekend, twenty people came, and filled eight rubbish bags. Now the neighborhood really looks great!”
The Neighborhood Watch Program
The neighbors on Xin’an Street began this program to look for problems in the neighborhood and to call the police if necessary. The neighbors all say the watch has already helped.
SunYan, aged 60, a retired teacher, said, “In the past, I felt afraid at night. Now I know my neighbors are watching for trouble. ” According to the police, there are fewer problems on Xin’an Street. “Calls to 110 went down last month. Criminals knew that the people on Xin’an Street were watching, so they stayed away,” said a policeman.
The Neighborhood Fitness Program
A Health Club was built last month, where the neighbors can do different kinds of sports like basketball, ping-pong ball, tennis, etc. “Every morning you can see groups of neighbors running, dancing and playing Taijiquan. We have come to realize the importance of taking exercise,” said Chen Jinliang, a businessman of 45.
The community has more plans. “We plan to start the Kids Care Program for children. We are going to build an after-school club. And we want to have a picnic for everyone in the neighborhood!” said Zhao Fuqin.
【小题1】When do the neighbors of the Clean-up Program clean Xin’an Street?
A.Every Saturday morning.
B.Every Saturday afternoon.
C.Every Sunday morning.
D.Every Sunday afternoon.
【小题2】Who is Zhao Fuqin?
A.A retired teacher.
B.The head of Xin’an Street Community.
C.A businessman.
D.A policeman.
【小题3】What does the underlined word “criminals” mean?
A.罪犯.B.乞丐.C.强盗.D.邻居.
【小题4】The community started _______ to help people keep healthy.
A.the Clean-up Program
B.the Watch Program
C.the Fitness Program
D.the Kids Care Program
【小题5】From the passage we know that _______ in the Xin’an Street Community.
A.there are no problems now
B.an after-school club was built last month
C.the neighbors have a picnic every Sunday
D.the environment is getting nicer and cleaner now

Today Chinese people can enjoy longer and more holidays, such as the two“Gold Week Holidays” — the Spring Festival, National Day and Mid-autumn Festival and so on. They have more time to travel. Rising incomes(收入)also make it possible for ordinary(普通的) Chinese people to travel abroad .
Zhang Haitao, a middle school student in Shanghai will go to Japan with his par­ents during the Spring Festival. “Overseas(海外) touring has always been a dream of mine ,”Zhang Haitao said. “ How will you go to Japan, by air or by ship?” I asked him. “By ship. Traveling by ship is more enjoyable than a rushed trip by air.”“But a plane is much faster than a ship. ”“Yes. but you can't see much during the flight while a sea trip will make you happier, because you can see waves, islands and even big fish.”
"Will you travel at your own expense(费用) ?"
"Certainly. Though my father's job is to recycle rubbish, I'm very proud of him. He has saved lots of money in the last three years. What's more, he has made a contribution(贡献)to protecting our environment.”
【小题1】Now it is possible for the Chinese people to travel abroad(国外)because of  _______
A.less time B.more money
C.shorter holidayD.more work
【小题2】Zhang Haitao will go to Japan __________.
A.with his father and motherB.with me
C.with his friends D.with classmates
【小题3】Zhang Haitao is__________.
A.a middle school teacherB.a Japanese student
C.a tour guide D.a middle school student
【小题4】Zhao Haitao is proud of his father because his father ________.
A.only helps him make his dream come true
B.gave him so much money
C.did a great job to our environment
D.is hardworking

 

1. Which of the following is TRUE to Shanghai Disneyland?

A. A 10-kilometer-long river goes in the middle of the park.

B. There will be many Chinese characters.

C. It is the same as the others.

D. It opened 5 years ago.

2.In order to keep the road safe, European Commission wants to       .

A. make buses and taxis go slowly        B. fit buses and taxis with "black hones"

C. make the police find out what happened  D. find out what "black boxes" can do

3. The robots will        in a UK hospital.     

   A. carry medical rubbish  B. give out newspapers  C. cook dinner  D. water flowers

4.TV stations and newspapers buy the holes because        .    

A. the roads have been broken badly    B. they want to have their own holes

C. they want to make more money      D. the government doesn't have enough money

 

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