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.
【小題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.

【小題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.

【小題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.

【小題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.

【小題5】The new science of “nanotechnology” will _______.

A．drive small machines to work for people

B．make good-quality watches

C．a(chǎn)llow people to eat more

D．make very small products

Americans love cars．They go everywhere in them．8 5％of people in the US go to and from work by car. And most adults have driving licenses．Why does this car culture exist?
How it started
America’s love of cars started after the war(戰(zhàn)爭)when soldiers returned home from World War II to rebuild their lives．They borrowed money from the government to buy houses and cars which became the symbols of status(地位)．The more money they had，the bigger their cars were．
Making of roads
During the war，President Eisenhower noticed what good roads Germany had．He decided to build new four-lane(四車道)roads in America．He said if something happened suddenly，the two-lane roads wouldn’t be able to carry all the cars that would suddenly leave the cities．Car and oil companies liked his idea and building started．
Car lover
Not just teenagers are crazy about cars．Some Americans love their cars so much that they paint their cars beautifully .These are called Art Cars．Every April there is an activity in Houston，Texas，where they show their cars．
Pollution
Cars have polluted the environment．American President Bush refused a worldwide law that is against pollution．Many countries were angry about it．Bush said he had to think of the American economy(經(jīng)濟(jì))and all the American people that make money from cars．Factories say they want to make cars that pollute less．But others say making cars that pollute less will never be as good as having fewer cars．
【小題1】When did Americans begin to love cars?   

A．Before the new two-lane roads were built．

B．After World War II．

C．During World War II．

D．Before World War II．

【小題2】New four-1ane roads were build _______.

A．in Germany	B．by car and oil companies
C．in America	D．when something suddenly happened

【小題3】The underlined word “building” here means “the building of _______”． 

A．companies

B．soldiers’ lives

C．houses

D．roads

【小題4】What were other countries’ feelings about Bush’s decision?  

A．They agreed with him．	B．They showed anger to it．
C．They paid no attention to it.	D．The passage doesn’t tell us.

【小題5】What does the last sentence  mean? 

A．It’s better to have fewer cars．

B．It’s better to make cars that pollute less．

C．It’s easier to make cars that pollute less．

D．It’s easier to make people have fewer cars．

What is your zodiac（生肖） animal? According to the Chinese lunar calendar（農(nóng)歷）, 12 animals mark 12 different years. It is the basis of the Chinese zodiac. Nowadays, Chinese zodiac animals have worldwide fame and are increasingly popular among western people.
The zodiac is an important part of Chinese culture. People believe that the characteristics of a zodiac animal influence the personality of every person born in that year. For example, people born in the Year of the Tiger are considered powerful and brave.
Zodiac animals also have some social functions. When people think it is not proper to ask: “How old are you”, they may change their question to “What is your zodiac animal?” With this question, you can figure out roughly which year someone was born and the person’s age.
Zodiac animals are not special to China. Many countries share a similar zodiac culture with China. For example, in the Japanese Zodiac, a wild boar（野豬）takes the place of a pig and the Vietnamese（越南的）zodiac has a cat instead of a rabbit.
But have you ever wondered how these 12 animals were chosen to represent each year? According to legend, the Jade Emperor（玉皇大帝）invited all the animals to join him for Chinese New Year. Only 12 animals went to see him. As a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. The ox would have been the first to arrive, but the rat sat on his back and jumped off just before they arrived to come in first place.
【小題1】The characteristics of a zodiac animal may influence the _____ of every person
born in that year.

A．a(chǎn)ppearance

B．personality

C．hobby

D．education

【小題2】“What is your zodiac animal?” is a question used to find out a person’s______.

A．a(chǎn)ge

B．name

C．job

D．weight

【小題3】In the Japanese zodiac, we don’t see the zodiac animal：_______

A．wild boar

B．rabbit

C．dragon

D．pig

【小題4】According to the last paragraph, we know that ____ was the first animal to arrive.

A．ox

B．rat

C．pig

D．cat

To save yourself from embarrassment (尷尬)， it’s good to read a few books or research online about the culture and customs of the country you plan to visit.
Clothing: Wearing shorts in public is generally not acceptable in most parts of the world, including some European countries.
Greetings: Handshake is a usually accepted form of greeting, although in some countries, like Japan, a traditional bow(鞠躬) is preferred. Be careful how you talk with someone; don’t use first names unless you are invited to do something.
Language/Gestures: learn some polite expressions (hello-goodbye-thank you) and relax. English is pretty common worldwide, especially in tourist areas and you can always use body language to get your message across. However, some Americans gestures have different meanings in other countries. For example, in Bulgaria, shaking your head usually means  “yes”; shaking it “vertically” means “ no”.
Food/Drink: you may find yourself looking down at a local delicious snake soup in china, sheep’s eyes in Saudi Arabia… and wonder what to do; especially you are guests in someone’s home. Be brave, take small bites, and pretend it tastes like something you like. Remember that some Buddhists don’t eat beef, and Muslims don’t eat pork. If you are eating with Muslims, never touch food with left hand (the left hand is for bathroom use).
Conversations: if you know the history and culture of the country, you will be confident. The French are angry at the classic American question: “What do you do for a living?” and so on.
【小題1】You should learn about _______ of the country if you want to go to another country.

A．the people and the food

B．the culture and customs

C．the language and people

D．the behavior and conversations

【小題2】A Japanese meet you for the first time, he/ she will ________.

A．shake hands with you	B．hug with you
C．kiss you	D．bow to you

【小題3】In Bulgaria, shaking your head usually means______________.

A．yes

B．no

C．victory

D．calm down

【小題4】Which of the following isn’t right?

A．You can’t wear shorts in public in most parts of the world.

B．You can use body language to communicate with people.

C．You can use your left hand to touch food when you eat with Muslims.

D．You can get along well with people you visit if you know their culture and customs well.

What is your zodiac（生肖） animal? According to the Chinese lunar calendar（農(nóng)歷）, 12 animals mark 12 different years. It is the basis of the Chinese zodiac. Nowadays, Chinese zodiac animals have worldwide fame and are increasingly popular among western people.

The zodiac is an important part of Chinese culture. People believe that the characteristics of a zodiac animal influence the personality of every person born in that year. For example, people born in the Year of the Tiger are considered powerful and brave.

Zodiac animals also have some social functions. When people think it is not proper to ask: “How old are you”, they may change their question to “What is your zodiac animal?” With this question, you can figure out roughly which year someone was born and the person’s age.

Zodiac animals are not special to China. Many countries share a similar zodiac culture with China. For example, in the Japanese Zodiac, a wild boar（野豬）takes the place of a pig and the Vietnamese（越南的）zodiac has a cat instead of a rabbit.

But have you ever wondered how these 12 animals were chosen to represent each year? According to legend, the Jade Emperor（玉皇大帝）invited all the animals to join him for Chinese New Year. Only 12 animals went to see him. As a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. The ox would have been the first to arrive, but the rat sat on his back and jumped off just before they arrived to come in first place.

1.The characteristics of a zodiac animal may influence the _____ of every person

born in that year.

A．a(chǎn)ppearance        B．personality        C．hobby            D．education

2.“What is your zodiac animal?” is a question used to find out a person’s______.

A．a(chǎn)ge              B．name             C．job              D．weight

3.In the Japanese zodiac, we don’t see the zodiac animal：_______

A．wild boar          B．rabbit            C．dragon           D．pig

4.According to the last paragraph, we know that ____ was the first animal to arrive.

A．ox               B．rat               C．pig               D．cat