It is May, 2050. Frank and Mary wake up in their comfortable house in the morning. They turn on the bedroom computer to read the latest news. They keep on reading The Times for many years. The only difference is that they changed from paper newspapers to electronic newspapers. There is the usual news about space: another space flight has returned from Mars and scientists have discovered a new planet.

    After breakfast, as they watch the screen, Mary orders the cooking robot to make coffee for them. Frank is a computer engineer, working for several companies. He is going to take part in a video conference with his partners all around the world.

    Mary is a medical researcher. She usually works at home. Now she is looking at the shopping channels while her secretary robot is helping her check a new type of medicine.

    Their daughter, Louise, has her own study room at home. She goes to school only one day a week, to play with other students. Louise is studying Chinese in the present. Chinese has become an important language in the world.

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

    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.

Digital money

    We used to pay with cash for everything we bought. Now when we use a credit card(信用卡) 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 Sweden will first completely stopped using cash, and the US might be next.

Bionic(仿生的) eyes

    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 (数据) to the mind. Now the bionic eyes only allow patients to see lights and unclear shapes.

Self-driving cars

    Unlike a human driver, a self-driving car won't get distracted(分神) by phone call, the radio or something outside the window. Sensors(传感器) and cameras on the car would allow it to reduce me number of road accidents. You could even take a nap while the car drives itself. In the future, driverless cars would be widely accepted.

    Both of Omar's parents liked writing poetry. His father taught poetry in a college. Although his mother worked at a bank, she wrote poetry when she was free. His parents spent one evening each week on poetry readings. Most readings were at a small coffee shop.

    Omar loved going to the coffee shop with his parents. The nice smell of coffee and the beautiful voice of reading blew him away. One woman came to the coffee shop every week. People called her Mrs Abboud. She never read, but she always had a bright smile for everyone, and she would clap(鼓掌) loudly after each reading.

    Later, Omar began writing his own poetry. He did quite well. Mrs Francis, Omar's English teacher, advised him to go to a poetry competition. At first Omar was excited. However, when he read the competition rules, he became worried. The competition was an oral (口头的) reading. Omar was sure that he could write good poetry, but he was afraid of reading in front of others. "We'll be very happy to see you in the competition," his father said. And Omar knew that he had to go through with it somehow.

    On the day of the competition, he chose his favourite poem and put on his best clothes. When it was his turn, something wonderful happened! Mrs Abboud was sitting next to his parents. He saw her warm smile. He could almost smell the coffee at the small coffee shop. Now it was easy for him to read. When Omar finished, everyone clapped loudly. Omar felt great joy in his heart.

    Dream House in California is not a house for only one child. It's a house for many  (child). It's a family. It's the future.

    Imagine  (live) in a hospital for many years because of illness. Imagine that one has to stay in a cold street  there is no other place to stay. These children need help. They need Dream House.

    Many years ago, a little girl named Collin Rose  (decide) that when she grew up, she would offer a warm home  those sick and homeless children. When she grew up, she became a nurse and made  (she) dream come true. In November 2003, Collin Rose set up Dream House.

    Collin Rose's efforts have encouraged many people  (help) sick and homeless children.

    "Every child should have  happy childhood. We may help make these children's lives  (good) man before. Your small help may change their lives  (great). No help is too small." Collin Rose said.

—They think they could get a better score.

—That's right. Students should be encouraged to discuss or answer questions.

—Why didn't he use a microphone?

—OK. You can start with your speech now.

【内容提示】

①人们无须去办公室上班，他们可以利用电脑在家办公；

②电子车在未来会很受欢迎，这种车有助于减少污染；

③人们可以在海底生活，海底的房子能满足人们的需求；

④人们可以随时到其他星球旅行。

Life in the future