What will man be like in the future--in 5,000 or even 50,000 years from now? We can only make a guess, of course, but we can be sure that he will be different from what he is today. For man is slowly changing all the time.
Let us take an obvious example. Man, even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today. Now, on the average, men are about three inches taller. Five hundred years is a relatively short period of time, so we may suppose that man will continue to grow taller.
Again, in the modern world we use our brains a great deal. Even so, we still make use of only about 20% of the brain's capacity. As time goes on, however, we shall have to use our brains more and more and eventually we shall need larger ones! This is likely to bring about a physical change too. The head, in particular the forehead, will grow larger.
Nowadays our eyes are in constant use. In fact, we use them so much that very often they become weaker and we have to wear glasses. But over a very long period of time it is likely that man's eyes will grow stronger.
On the other hand, we tend to make less use of our arms and legs. These, as a result, are likely to grow weaker. At the same time, however, our fingers will grow more sensitive because they are used a great deal in modern life.
But what about hair? This will probably disappear from the body altogether in course of time because it does not serve a useful purpose any longer. In the future, then, both sexes are likely to be bald!
Perhaps, all this gives the impression that future man will not be a very attractive creature to look at! This may well be true. All the same, in spite of all these changes, future man will still have a lot in common with us. He will still be a human being, with thoughts and emotions similar to our own.
72. The reason for believing that future man will be different is that he ______.
A. began to change five hundred years ago
B. never stops changing
C. never stops growing
D. has recently begun to change
73. People's heads will eventually grow larger. This is because their brains ______.
A. will grow faster than at present
B. will be in use
C. will play an important part
D. will need more room than at present
74. Future man will probably ______.
A. have bigger eyes
B. get weaker eyes
C. see better
D. have to wear better glasses
75. Future man's hair will ______.
A. grow darker B. stop growing completely
C. fall out more often D. get longer
The drug store was closing for the night. Young Alfred Higgins, the shop-assistant, was ready to go home. Mr. Carr, the boss, stared at him and said: “Hold on, Alfred. Maybe you'd be good enough to take the things out of your pockets and leave them here before you go.” Alfred's face got red. After a little hesitation, he took out what he had stolen. Mr. Carr said, “Maybe I should call your mother and let her know I'm going to have to put you in prison.”
Alfred thought his mother would come rushing in, eyes burning with anger. But, to his surprise, she arrived wearing a smile. “Hello, I'm Alfred's mother. Is he in trouble?” she said. Mr. Carr was surprised, too. He had expected Alfred's mother to come in nervously, shaking with fear, asking with wet eyes for a mercy for her son. But no, she was most calm, quiet and pleasant and was making Mr. Carr feel guilty…. Soon Mr. Carr was shaking his head in agreement with what she was saying. “Of course”, he said, “I don't want to be cruel. You are right. Sometimes, a little good advice is the best thing for a boy at certain times in his life and it often takes the youths long time to get sense into their heads.” And he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins's hand.
Back home, without even looking at Alfred, she said, “You are a bad luck. It is one thing after another, always has been. Why do you stand there so stupidly? Go to bed.” In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. There was no shame in him, just pride in his mother's strength. He felt he must tell her how great she was. As he got to the kitchen, he saw his mother drinking a cup of tea. He was shocked by what he saw. His mother's face was a frightened, broken one. It was not the same cool, bright face he saw earlier in the drug store. As she lifted the tea cup, her hand shook. And some of the tea splashed on the table. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. He watched his mother without making a sound. The picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth coming to an end. He saw all the troubles he brought his mother in her shaking hand and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him for the first time he had ever really seen his mother.Which of the following is probably said by Mrs. Higgins while talking to Mr. Carr?
A.“Please, for God's sake, you know, he is just a kid.” |
B.“I can't believe it! You are treating my son like that!” |
C.“You know, it takes time for a youth to truly grow up.” |
D.“Punishment makes sense because it teaches about the law.” |
What does the underlined phrase "his mother's strength"(Para. 3) refer to?
A.Mrs. Higgins's calmness and communicating skills. |
B.Mrs. Higgins's attitude towards parental sufferings. |
C.Mrs. Higgins's love and care for her son Alfred. |
D.Mrs. Higgins's greatness as a woman. |
After the incident, young Alfred would probably ________.
A.feel ashamed of her mother |
B.change his attitudes towards life |
C.learn to live an independent life |
D.hate Mr. Carr for hurting her mother |
What you have just read is a _______.
A.note | B.report | C.schedule | D.poster |
What is going to take place on 2 February, 2013?
A.A party for close friends to meet and have fun. |
B.A party to celebrate a traditional festival. |
C.A big event to welcome a Chinese new year. |
D.A social gathering to raise money for wildlife. |
How much do you have to pay in total if four of you go together?
A.$ 20. | B.$ 40 | C.$ 60. | D.$ 80. |
Which of the following statements is true?
A.Tickets are sold in Kwun Tong High School. |
B.It's unnecessary to take soft drinks with you. |
C.Free digital cameras are provided for everybody. |
D.Festival food will be served without extra charge. |
It was Thanksgiving morning. I was busy preparing the traditional Thanksgiving turkey when the doorbell rang. I opened the front door and saw two small children in rags huddling together on the top step.
“Any old papers, lady?” asked one of them.
I was busy. I wanted to say “no” until I looked down at their feet. They were wearing thin little sandals(凉鞋), wet with heavy snow.
“Come in and I'll make you a cup of hot cocoa.”
They walked over and sat down at the table. Their wet sandals left marks upon the floor. I served them cocoa and bread to fight against the cold outside. Then I went back to the kitchen and started cooking.
The silence in the front room struck me. I looked in. The girl held the empty cup in her hands, looking at it. The boy asked in a flat voice, “Lady, are you rich?”
“Am I rich? Pity, no!”
I looked at my wornout slipcovers(椅套). The girl put her cup back in its saucer(茶碟)carefully and said, “Your cups match your saucers.” They left after that, holding their papers against the wind. They had reminded me that I had so much for which to be grateful.
Plain blue china cups and saucers were only worth five pence. But they matched.
I tasted the potatoes and stirred(搅动)the meat soup. Potatoes and brown meat soup, a roof over our heads, my man with a regular job, these matched, too.
I moved the chairs back from the fire and cleaned the living room. The muddy marks of little sandals were still wet upon my floor. Let them be for a while, I thought, just in case I should begin to forget how rich I am.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A.Lady, are you rich? | B.A story of Thanksgiving Day |
C.Don't forget how rich you are | D.Does cups and saucers match well? |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A.The girl thought the writer was rich just because she wanted to make the writer happy. |
B.The writer had thought she wasn't rich because her supplies were not expensive. |
C.If cups and saucers match well, they are a best pair even though cheap. |
D.After hearing what they said, the writer seemed to understand what a rich life was. |
The writer left the muddy marks of little sandals on the floor for a while to________.
A.show that she was a kindhearted lady |
B.remind her that she shouldn't forget how rich she was |
C.leave room for readers to think about what being rich is |
D.prove that she had understood what meant being rich |
It can be inferred from the text that whether you are rich depends on________.
A.how much money you have made |
B.what attitude you have had towards life |
C.the way you help others |
D.your social relationship |
Today just as technology changed the face of industry, farms have undergone an “agricultural revolution”. On the farm of today, machines provide almost all the power.
One of the most important benefits will be the farm computer. A few forward-looking farmers are already using computers to help them run their farms more efficiently. The computers help them keep more accurate records so they can make better decisions on what crops to plant, how much livestock (家畜) to buy, when to sell their products, and how much profit they can expect. Many computer companies have been developing special computer programs just for farmers. Programs are being written for hog producers, grain farmers, potato farmers, and dairy farmers. In the future, farmers will be able to purchase computer programs made to their needs. Because of the growing importance of computers on the farm, students at agricultural colleges are required to take computer classes in addition to their normal agricultural courses. There can be no doubt that farmers will rely on computers even more in the future. While the old-time farm depended on horse power, and modern farms depend on machine power, farms of the future will depend on computer power.
Another technological advance which is still in the experimental stage is the robot, a real “mechanized hired hand” (机械化雇工) that will be able to move and, in some ways, think like a human being. Agricultural engineers believe that computer-aided robots will make startling changes in farming before the end of the century. Unlike farmers of the present, farmers of the future will find that many day-to-day tasks will be done for them. Scientists are now developing robots that will be able to shear sheep, drive tractors, and harvest fruit. Even complex jobs will be done by robots. For example, in order to milk their cows, farmers must first drive them into the barn, then connect them to the milking machines, watch the machines, and disconnect them when they are finished. In the future, this will all be done by robots. In addition, when the milking is completed, the robots will automatically check to make sure that the milk is pure. The complete mobilization of the farm is far in the future, but engineers expect that some robots will be used before long. According to the passage, computers can not help farmers decide _______.
A.how much money they can earn from their products |
B.whether to plant a certain kind of crop |
C.how much livestock to raise |
D.when to sell their products |
Which of the following statements is true?
A.Farmers in the future will depend totally on computers. |
B.Both computers and robots have been in use on today’s farms. |
C.Farmers mainly use machines on their farms at present. |
D.Students at agricultural colleges can do nothing without the help of computers on today’s farms. |
According to the engineers, _______will be done by robots in the near future.
A.most of the farm work | B.milking cows |
C.all farm work | D.some farm work |
What is the best title for the whole passage?
A.Computer, Farmers’ Best Friend |
B.Farmers in The Future |
C.The Agricultural Revolution |
D.Computers and Robots |
Wanted, Someone for a Kiss
We’re looking for producers to join us in the second of London 100FM. You’ll work on the station’s music programmes. Music production experience in radio is necessary, along with rich knowledge of modern dance music. Please apply(申请) in writing to Producer Vacancies, Kiss 100.
Father Christmas
We’re looking for a very special person preferably over 40, to fill our Father Christmas suit.
Working days: Every Saturday from November 24 to December 15 and every day from December17 to December24 except Sunday, 10:30—16:00
Excellent pay.
Please contact(联系)the Enterprise Shopping Center, Station Parade, Eastbourne.
Accountants Assistant
When you join them in our Revenue Administration Unit, you will be providing assistance within all parts of the Revenue Division, dealing with post and other general duties. If you are educated to GCSE grade C level we would like to talk to you. This position is equally suitable for a school leaver or for somebody who has office experience.
Wealden District Council
Software Trainer
If you are aged 24-45 and have experience in teaching and training, you could be the person we are looking for. You should be good at the computer and have some experience in programme writing. You will be allowed to make our decision, and to design courses as well as present them. Pay upwards of £15,000 for the right person. Please apply by sending your CV (简历) to Mrs R. Oglivie, Palmlace Limited. Who should you get in touch with if you hope to work in a radio station?
A.Producer Vacancies, Kiss 100. |
B.Mrs R. Oglivie, Palmlace Limited. |
C.The Enterprise Shopping Centre |
D.Wealden District Council. |
. which position is open to recent school graduates?
A.Producer, London Kiss. | B.Father Christmas. |
C.Accountants Assistant | D.Software Trainer |
. What kind of person would probably apply to Palmace Limited?
A.One with GCSE grade C level. |
B.One with some office experience. |
C.One having good computer knowledge |
D.One trained in producing music programmes. |