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People have always wanted to know what the future will look like. Then, how can we? 1.  The world has changed a lot in the last 150 years, but we humans are driven by the same basic needs as we were 150 years ago, such as food, sleep, the feeling of being appreciated and loved. 2. No. In addition, generally speaking, the inventions for the last 150 years have been a human effort for freedom and communication, to be able to get in control of the time and world. Since there is still much to do in this area, this will be the focus at least for the next 150 years.

But why do we need to predict the future? Predicting the future is important for two reasons: First, we need to start to think about what kind of future we would like for ourselves and to pass on to the next generation. 3.

How about the virtual worlds? It might be in the future to experience the sand between your toes, and hear the waves, just lying in your bed at home. 4. So, even if a great invention is there for an affordable price, it’ll never take the place of the common experience if it is not real.

5. What we’ll see in the next 50 years is the transition (过渡) from an oil-dependent society to a new society. Here there’ll be new medicine, continued exploration of space, challenges in the climate change, and new inventions that make life a little easier.

A. So what will the future look like then?

B. Will this change in the next 150 years?

C. Predicting the future can help us in many ways.

D. However, you’ll never get the feeling of being there.

E. Well, to understand the future, you must know the past.

F. However, no matter how real the experience will feel, it doesn’t happen for real.

G. Then we need to know what decisions we need to make today that will give the best result in the future.

If you’re encouraged by the tiny house movement and think 160 square feet is just enough for your needs, you may want to contact the Academy of Construction and Design (ACAD) at IDEA Public Charter School in northeast Washington．

Students in the program built a micro house with a kitchen, a bathroom, a sleeping loft with space for a queen-size bed and a storage loft, all set on a trailer for mobility. The exterior (外部) of the house was part of a continuous living exhibit in 2015and was moved to the IDEA campus so students could work with builders to complete the interior earlier this year.

McMahon said the D.C. government’s approval to push companies to hire District residents (居民) was at odds with the school system not preparing students for careers in construction, exploring or electrical work. McMahon gathered industry and community leaders to establish ACAD in 2005 and he said 100 percent of the companies he contacted responded positively to the idea, including major firms such as JBG, Clark Construction, Hines Construction and Boston Properties.

“When students make the connection between what they are learning a potential career, their academics improve dramatically,” said Carol Randolph, chief operating officer of the D.C. Students Construction Trades Foundation. “Some of them who didn't think college was an choice now have a better chance because their classes have become relevant to a job.”

“We teach them life skills and explain that even if you start as a laborer, there are opportunities to move up quickly,” he said. “We rewrite the story for them and explain that they can work for a few years, make good money, get promoted, and start their own business or go to school with less debts.”

“Parents and school advisors can be the biggest obstacles because of the negative idea of construction as a blue-collar career,” Karriem said. “I get middle-school advisors on board to talk about the opportunities this education provides. These kids are learning lifelong skills that can help them in other fields, provide them with income and allow them to take care of their homes.”

1.What does the underlined part “at odds with” in the third paragraph mean?

A. Inconsistent with.    B. Familiar to.

C. Harmonious with.    D. Similar to.

2.What is the purpose of the program of building a micro house?

A. To satisfy different needs of people.

B. To help acquire lifelong skills from the college.

C. To make the college more attractive.

D. To offer more job opportunities in colleges.

3.What can we infer from the words of Karriem?

A. Students tend to choose the blue-collar career.

B. Parents and school advisors are wrong.

C. It’s hard to make the program popular.

D. Life skills help improve scores greatly.

4.Which of the following may be the title of the passage?

A. A Micro House Program for Students

B. Build a Micro House for Campus Students Soon

C. Why Not Build More Tiny Houses?

D. Develop Lifelong Skills of Students

Many high school students consider a college education useless. Therefore, they choose not to go to college. If you’re one of them, think again. Here are some reasons why you should go to college and receive a good education there.

Schools and universities are the first sources of knowledge. We take that knowledge later on to build our careers after graduation. More knowledge will be gained after you start working, but without an education, that job will not be within easy reach. Knowledge leads to knowledge.

While limited within the walls of the educational institutions, we openly explore other cultures of the world. We come to know that ours is not the only culture. Other cultures have valuable insights to share, enriching our own. Education also makes us want to travel and interact with various cultures, broadening our horizons.

When there’s a downturn (衰退) in the economy, those who attended college will be more likely to find a new job than those who only finished grade school and have a limited skills set. The more education you have, the more chances you will get to improve the quality of your life as you have a better job and earn a higher salary.

When you’re skillful and knowledgeable, you get to “rub knees” with people of similar backgrounds and tastes. It means a good education leads to excellent networking. Good networking can benefit you a lot in your later life.

A good education makes you a more interesting person. You can talk about ideas and events instead of just other people and what’s on sale in stores. An educated person doesn’t gossip, having a preference to discuss ideas and listen to what other people have to say.

1.Paragraph 2 mainly shows that going to college allows you to ______.

A. have a chance to study abroad    B. keep gaining knowledge

C. become a more interesting person    D. realize the importance of knowledge

2.According to Paragraph 3, what is the advantage of going to college mean?

A. Having a greater understanding of different cultures.

B. Being limited within the walls of a college.

C. Valuing our own culture much more.

D. Thinking differently from others.

3.By giving the example of a downturn in the economy, what does the author want to show?

A. A good education can improve your tastes.

B. A good education sometimes means nothing.

C. A good education means you will not lose your job.

D. A good education allows you to keep a life of high quality.

4.What is the text mainly about?

A. Sources of knowledge.

B. Benefits of attending college.

C. The disadvantages of not being educated.

D. The reason why some people think college useless.

Attention from strangers is nothing new to me. Questions about my height is the center of almost every public interaction. My friends say my height is just a physical quality and not a personality aspect. However, when I reflect on my life, I realize that my height has shaped my character in many ways and has helped to make me who I am.

I learned how to be kind. When I was younger, some parents in my neighborhood regarded me kind of dangerous because I was so much larger than other children of my age. I had to be extra welcoming and gentle simply to play with other children. Of course, now my coaches wish I weren’t quite so kind on the basketball court.

I learned the quality of not being too proud about myself. At 7 feet tall, everyone expects me to be an amazing basketball player. They come expecting to see Dirk Nowitzki, and instead they might see a performance more like Will Ferrell (successfully starred a professional basketball player). I have learned to be modest and to work even harder than my fellows to meet their (and my) expectations.

I developed a sense of lightheartedness. When people playfully make fun of my height, I laugh at myself too. On my first day of high school, a girl dropped her books in a busy hallway. I got down to her level and gathered some of her notebooks. As we both stood up, her eyes widened as I kept rising over her. Astonished, she dropped her books again. Embarrassed, we both laughed and picked up the books a second time.

All of these lessons have defined me. Looking back, I realize that through years of such experiences, I have become a confident, expressive person. Being a 7-footer is both a blessing and a curse (诅咒), but in the end, accepting who you are is the first step to happiness.

1.Why does the author often draw attention from strangers?

A. He is interested in public interaction.    B. He has a unique personality.

C. He is physically strong.    D. He is extremely tall.

2.When he was young, the author intended to be more friendly just to _____.

A. gain extra favor    B. play with other children

C. prove his kindness    D. please his coach

3.It can be inferred from Para. 3 that _____.

A. Dirk Nowitzki was an awful basketball player

B. the author seldom disappointed his basketball fans

C. the author expected to make something better of himself

D. Will Ferrell was better at playing basketball than Dir Nowitzki

Dreaming of summer picnics filled with family and fun? We’ve come up with 4 of the top picnic areas across the US.

Cumberland Islands, Georgia

Just a few hours south of Savannah, this national seashore is a picnic paradise. It’s an unspoiled place in the Deep South with over 50 miles of hiking trails (小径). Covered in Spanish moss, the trails are lined with trees and since it’s still a rural area, the stars line up for a spectacular show at night and create the perfect evening starlit picnic opportunity.

Grant Park, Chicago

If you are looking for delicious food in Chicago, go for a taste of a 20-day, lake-front, foodie festival that happens in October each year. Grab a spot near the fountain to enjoy your picnic, appreciate the city scenery and lake views and relax with family and friends. If you are there on July 4th, be sure to plan the day to include the fireworks display at the Navy Pier.

Cranberry Islands, Maine

Here, you’ll enjoy natural picnics with island views. The islands are a delightful group of islands about 20 minutes offshore from Acadia National Park. You can visit the islands by private boat or ferry (渡船) service. Bring a picnic basket along for the ride as it’s a romantic picnic area to take your special someone or go for a family outing to visit the islands.

Big Sur, California

The Point Lobos State Reserve is a small gem. Besides the coastal wildlife there are rare plant communities, and unique geological formations. It’s good to have a picnic there. We recommend bringing a telescope, because much of the wildlife can be seen only at a distance.

1.What are Cumberland Islands like?

A. They are just next to Savannah.

B. They haven’t lost their naturalness.

C. They are almost covered in Spanish moss.

D. They have a spectacular show every night.

2.Where can you enjoy observing wildlife with a telescope?

A. At the Navy Pier.    B. In the Deep South.

C. At Acadia National Park.    D. At the Point Lobos State Reserve.

3.Why does the author write this passage?

A. To introduce some picnic areas.

B. To share personal stories about picnics.

C. To tell readers some good ways to relax.

D. To offer readers tips for winter holiday.

4.Where can we most probably read this passage?

A. In a personal dairy.    B. In a science report.

C. In a travel magazine.    D. In a geography textbook.