What's going to happen in the future? Will robots control our planet? Will computers become smarter than us? Not likely. But here are some things that scientists say are most likely to happen in 10 to 30 years from now, according to the BBC.2-1-c-n-j-y
Digital money
We used to pay with cash for everything we bought. Now when we use a credit card to shop online, money is spent without us seeing it. That means we are already using digital money. Using a card is much easier than searching our pockets for change. It is also safer than carrying a lot of cash.
When ATM cards were first introduced, they were not accepted everywhere. But now it's hard to live without them. It's reported that people in Sweden completely stopped using cash last year, and the US might be next.
Bionic eye
It's no longer something only in a science fiction movie. People who are blind may have a chance to get their sight back—by wearing bionic eyes.
A blind eye can no longer sense light, but a bionic eye can use a camera to “see” the environment and send data to the mind. Now the bionic eye only allows patients to see lights and unclear shapes. A high resolution image could be just a few years away.
Self－driving cars
Unlike a human driver, a self－driving car won't get distracted by phone call, the radio or something outside the window. Sensors and cameras on the car would allow it to stick reduce the number of road accidents. You could even take a nap while the car driver itself.
Many vehicle companies are now planning self¬driving cars. “By 2040, driverless vehicles will be widely accepted and possibly be the dominant vehicles on the road，” said Jeffrey Miller, professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage, US.
What does the writer mainly tell us about digital money?
| A．We use digital money to shop online without paying money. |
| B．Digital money is most likely to be used instead of cash. |
| C．Using a credit card is easier and safer than cash |
| D．ATM cards are always popular. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Bionic eyes only appear in the science fiction film. |
| B．Human drivers won't get distracted by something outside. |
| C．The blind wearing bionic eyes may see clearly in the future. |
| D．There will be no road accidents at all if self－driving cars are used. |
Which of the following can be predicted from the passage?
| A．There would be a number of self-driving |
| B．The blind could use cameras to see things around. |
| C．We would live a hard life with digital money. |
| D．Robots would control the world. |
From the report, we can learn some information about ________．
| A．industry and farming | B．science and technology |
| C．culture and art | D．traffic and journey |
“Who needs a shopping mall if you have Taobao?”says Wang Wei, 28, a writer in Beijing.
Taobao, China’s largest online shopping site, has become an important part of Wang Lin’s life. She spends lots of money on Taobao.
A growing number of Chinese Internet users like Wang have found the joys of online shopping. Most online shoppers are students or young workers. More women shop on line than men. Clothing and home –use products are the most popular on line.
It was reported that 250 billion yuan was spent on line shopping last year, eighty percent through Taobao.
Taobao means “looking for treasure” in Chinese. People can find almost everything they need on Taobao, from clothes to books, from candies to DVD players.
You may question the security of online shopping Wang said, “ It’s very safe and convenient. Unless you receive the products from the sellers and are satisfied with them, the shop owner will not get the money. You can also get your money back if you want to return the product”Wang wei _________________.
| A．is a writer in Nanjing |
| B．is a popular man |
| C．spends much money on Taobao |
| D．thinks it is unsafe to shop online |
The underlined word “security” in the passage probably means“_________”.
| A．quality | B．safety |
| C．joys | D．convenience |
More than ____ billion yuan was spent shopping on Taotao last year.
| A．80 | B．100 | C．200 | D．250 |
Most people shopping on line are ___________.
| A．young | B．students | C．babies | D．men |
The best title for this passage is __________.
| A．Wang Wei’s Life | B．Online Shopping in China |
| C．Where to Shop | D．The Safest Shopping |
Is it difficult for you to get up in the morning? Hiroyuki’s bed will solve your problem! Here is how it works.
The bed is connected to an alarm clock(闹钟). First, the alarm clock rings. You have a few minutes to wake up. Next, a tape recorder in the bed plays soft music. The tape recorder in Hiroyuki’s bed plays a recording of his girlfriend. She whispered in a soft voice, “Wake up, darling, please.” After minutes later, Hiroyuki hears a recording of his boss. His boss shouts, “Wake up at once, or you’ll be late!”
If you don’t get up after the second recording, a mechanical(机械的) “foot” in the bed will kick you in the head. The bed waits a few more minutes. What! You’re still in bed! Slowly the top of the bed rises higher and higher. The foot of the bed goes lower and lower. Finally you slide(滑落) off the bed and onto the floor. You are out of bed awake!
Hiroyuki’s bed is not in stores. There is only one bed — the bed Hiroyuki made for a contest(比赛). Maybe someday a company will make Hiroyuki’s bed and sell it in stores. Maybe people will buy millions of beds. Then Hiroyuki will be rich. If the bed makes Hiroyuki rich, he won’t need to work, and he won’t need to get up early!The bed is useful to the people ________.
A. who can’t sleep well
B. who can’t get up early
C. who go to bed lateThe bed is not connected to ________.
A. an alarm clock
B. a tape recorder
C. a TVWhat will finally happen to Hiroyuki if he doesn’t get up?
A. He will slide onto the floor.
B. A tape recorder will play a recording of his boss.
C. A mechanical “foot” will kick him in the head.Which is TRUE of the following sentences?
A. Hiroyuki’s company has made many such beds.
B. Hiroyuki’s bed is the only one made for a contest.
C. Hiroyuki has made a lot of money.The word “whisper” in the second paragraph means “________”.
A. speak loudly
B. speak angrily
C. speak quietly
For several years, Americans have enjoyed teleshopping — watching TV and buying things by phone. Now teleshopping is starting in Europe. In a number of European countries, people can turn on their TVs and shop for clothes, jewelry, food, toys and many other things.
Teleshopping is becoming popular in Sweden, for example. The biggest Swedish company sells different kinds of things on TV in 15 European countries, and in one year it made＄100 million. In France there are two teleshopping channels, and the French spend about＄20 million a year to buy things through those channels.
In Germany, until last year teleshopping was only possible on one channel for 1 hour every day. Then the government allowed more teleshopping. Other channels can open for telebusiness, including the largest American teleshopping company and a 24－hour teleshopping company. German businesses are hoping this new teleshopping will help them sell more things.
Some people like teleshopping because it allows them to do their shopping without leaving their homes. With all the problems of traffic in the cities, this is an important reason. But at the same time, other Europeans do not like this new way of shopping. They call teleshopping “junk on the air”. Many Europeans usually worry about the quality of the things for sale on TV. Good quality is important to them, and they believe they cannot be sure about the quality of the things on TV.
The need for high quality means that European teleshopping companies will have to be different from the American companies. They will have to be more careful about the quality of the things they sell. They will also have to work harder to sell things that the buyers cannot touch or see in person.Teleshopping is_______ in Europe.
| A．not popular | B．growing |
| C．not possible | D．cheap |
People like teleshopping because it is_________.
| A．American | B．cheaper | C．easier | D．more popular |
Some Europeans don’t like teleshopping because they________.
| A．don’t like to buy things |
| B．don’t watch TV |
| C．believe the things sold on TV are expensive |
| D．think the things sold on TV are bad quality |
In Germany, teleshopping may_________.
| A．help businessmen get more money |
| B．keep the shops open longer |
| C．have fewer buyers |
| D．bring better TV programs |
The best title of this passage is_________.
| A．American Teleshopping |
| B．Teleshopping Companies |
| C．Teleshopping in Europe |
| D．Teleshopping — Junk on the Air |
Missing friends who live far away? Or just need a little family comfort after a long day? Sometimes you just need a hug(拥抱). And sometimes there’s just no one around to give you one. So what do you do? How about a virtual (虚拟的) hug?Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have invented a social media vest (社交背心) that allows people to give hugs to their friends, family and loved ones on Facebook.
The vest is called Like-A-Hug, which is connected(连接) with your Facebook page. Whenever Facebook friends “Like” a photo, video or anything you post on the network, a fan will blow air into the vest to give you a hug. Hugs can also be sent back to the sender by pressing the vest to lose air, according to the website of designer Melissa Chow.
She worked with Andy Payne and Phil Seaton at the MIT Media Lab to build the black vest, making the wearer “feel the warmth, encouragement, support, or love that we feel when we receive hugs.” Melissa Chow said, “We came up with the idea over a free talk about long-distance relationships and the disadvantages of video chat interfaces (视频聊天界面) like Skype.”
Chow and her workmates actually finished work on the vest last year, but it’s only just recently drawn the attention of the public.
Chow provided no pricing or ordering information for the Like-A-Hug vest, so don’t expect to see people blowing up all over town just yet.
Although researchers believe that Like-A-Hug will cause a worldwide storm, a lot of people think it can’t take the place of the feeling of a real hug. Body temperature or the taste of hair and so on is far from what a social vest can match.What is the main purpose of the text?
| A．To show how to design a magic vest. |
| B．To suggest a newly-built website. |
| C．To introduce a virtual social media vest. |
| D．To explain the weak points of Skype. |
The vest “Like-A-Hug” would probably be most helpful to ________.
| A．those who play computer games |
| B．those who need comfort or support |
| C．those who design chat interfaces |
| D．those who like to give others hugs |
What can we learn about Melissa Chow?
| A．She built the vest all by herself. |
| B．She expects to sell the vest at a high price. |
| C．She made the vest public last year. |
| D．She got the idea for a vest while chatting. |
We can learn from the text that the Like-A-Hug vest ________.
| A．can be ordered on Facebook |
| B．can take the place of a real hug |
| C．can not only be used by Facebook users |
| D．produces a hug when you get a Facebook “Like” |
Driving a car at a high speed along a highway seems to be fun. You need only to follow the bright traffic signs beside the highways and it will take you to where you wish. But to a London taxi driver, driving is not an easy job. A taxi driver has to have not only skills but also a good knowledge of the city of London, from the smaller road to the most popular bar around. He has to be at service of all kinds of passengers at all times.
A certain London taxi driver told of his job as follows.
During the night it is quite usual for him to stop two or three times for some refreshments (提神). He said, “I never drink when I’m working --- I would lose my license.”
He usually goes home between 2 and 3 o’clock in the night. There are times he has to stay longer and try to make more runs. He said, “That’s the worst thing about working for yourself. If you don’t make any money, no one is going to give it to you.”
London taxi drivers not only “take” but also “give”. Every summer hundreds of children from London will go for a day at the sea --- by taxi! Their rides are paid by the taxi drivers, and these all go to the “London Taxi for Underprivileged Children”. At the sea, they are met by the mayor (市长), and a lunch party is also held in honor of the taxi drivers and the children. After a happy day running around the sea beaches and visiting the markets, the children go home again --- by taxi, and free of charge (支出), of course!From the first paragraph, we can see that________.
| A．highways are developing very fast and there are more and more taxis. |
| B．it is easy to get to any place of the country now |
| C．it is fun to travel everywhere in a car |
| D．the writer wants to tell us that a London taxi driver has many difficulties in his driving |
It is not easy to be a taxi driver in London because ________.
| A．he has to know all the places in the city and serve all kinds of passengers at all the time |
| B．there is much traffic in London and people there like traveling by taxi |
| C．he has to follow the bright traffic sighs |
| D．although he works hard he earns little money |
The underlined phrase “Underprivileged Children” in the last paragraph is about the children ________.
| A．who have little knowledge |
| B．whose families are poor |
| C．who will go to sea |
| D．who like taking a taxi |
What is the passage about?
| A．Traffic in London. |
| B．London taxi for children |
| C．Taxi divers’ job in London. |
| D．Drivers disliking taxis in London |
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