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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

完形填空

Dear editor,

　　I dream that one day I will become a good teacher. To me, it is a great job. But I know that my parents will be 1 it. They want me to be a famous doctor, but I have no 2 in this. What should I do？

Abduway

Dear Abduway,

　　It sounds like your parents are putting a lot of pressure on you. However, your concern is still only in your head. You haven't yet tried to talk to your 3 . And you know you must talk to them when they are together and at a 4 time. Tell them, without 5 , that your dream is to become a great 6 . Give your reasons for wanting to be a teacher. 7 your plan to get there. What subject do you want to teach？

　　Think about these points so that you can show your parents you are 8 They may not like the idea at first, but with a little time and effort, you can prove to them that this is 9 you really want to do.

　　And you never know, they might surprise you. They might think that you become a teacher is a 10 idea！ Whatever they say, you must remember they only want what's 11 for you. Perhaps they are giving you chances they didn't have when they were 12 and want you to make the most of them.

　　But it is still your life. You cannot live to your parents' 13 . If you become a doctor you probably won't be happy. Then you won't try your best and certainly won't become 14 .

　　Most parents want their kids to be 15 . But in the end, most would rather they were happy.

Editor

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