发布时间： 2016年03月17日
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The Science of the Future
Until recently, the “science of the future” was supposed to be electronics and artificial intelligence. Today it seems more and more likely that the next great breakthroughs in technology will be brought through a combination of those two sciences with organic chemistry and genetic engineering. This combination is the science of biotechnology.
Organic chemistry enables us to produce marvelous synthetic (合成的) materials. However, it is still difficult to manufacture anything that has the capacity of wool to conserve heat and also to absorb moisture. Nothing that we have been able to produce so far comes anywhere near the combination of strength, 1ightness and flexibility that we find in the bodies of ordinary insects.
Nevertheless, scientists in the laboratory have already succeeded in “growing” a material that has many of the characteristics of human skin. The next step may well be “biotech hearts and eyes” which can replace diseased organs in human beings. These will not be rejected by the body, as is the case with organs from humans.
The application of biotechnology to energy production seems even more promising. In 1996 the famous science, fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke, many of whose previous predictions have come true, said that we may soon be able to develop remarkably cheap and renewable sources of energy. Some of these power sources will be biological. Clarke and others have warned us repeatedly that sooner or later we will have to give up our dependence on non-renewable power sources. Coal, oil and gas are indeed convenient. However, using them also means creating dangerously high levels of pollution. It will be impossible to meet the growing demand for energy without increasing that pollution to catastrophic (灾难性的) levels unless we develop power sources that are both cheaper and cleaner.
It is attempting to think that biotechnology or some other “science of the future” can solve our problems. Before we surrender to that temptation we should remember nuclear power. Only a few generations ago it seemed to promise limitless, cheap and safe energy. Today those promises 1ie buried in a concrete grave in a place called Chernobyl, in the Ukraine. Biotechnology is unlikely, however, to break its promises in quite the same or such a dangerous way.
1、According to the passage, the science of the future is likely to be ______.
A、electronics
B、biotechnology
C、genetic engineering
D、nuclear technology
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】 本题问的是未来的科学是属于什么的?第一段最后一句给出了答案，属于生物科技，所以选B。
2、Organic chemistry helps to produce materials that are ______.
A、as good as w001
B、as good as an insect’s body
C、not as good as natural materials
D、better than natural materials
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】 此题为细节题，问的是生物化学能帮助人们生产出什么样的产品?第二段告诉我们，生物化学虽然可以帮助我们生产出新的材料，但这些材料的质量很难达到天然产品的程度。这就否定了选项A、B、D，只有选项C为正确答案。
3、According to the Passage, it may soon be possible ______.
A、to make something as good as human skin
B、to produce drugs without side effects
C、to transplant human organs
D、to make artificial hearts and eyes
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】 本题的答案应在第三段里寻找。这段告诉我们，.生物化学可以帮助我们在未来生产出人工器官，以替代人体中发病的器官。故选项D为正确答案。
4、In 1996, Arthur C. Clarke predicted that ______.
A、biological power sources would be put into use soon.
B、oil, gas and coal could be repeatedly used in the future.
C、dependence on non-renewable power sources would be reduced soon
D、the Chernobyl disaster would happen in two years.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】 本题问的是1996年Arthur’ C. Clarke预见到了什么?第四段第二句告诉我们，未来人们可以用上生物能源，故选A。
5、What do we learn from the last paragraph?
A、Biotechnology can solve all our future energy problems.
B、Biological power is cheaper than nuclear power.
C、Biological power may not be as dangerous as nuclear power.
D、Biological power will keep all its promises.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】 此题问的是读了最后一段获得什么信息？本文最后一段谈到了生物能源会存在问题，又以原子能指出新能源的危害，但作者最后一句却暗示新的生物能源不像原子能那样危险，故选C。
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