Question

If you could travel back in time five centuries, you’d encounter a freshly painted “Mona Lisa” in Renaissance Europe and cooler temperatures across the Northern Hemisphere. This was a world in the midst of the Little Ice Age and a period of vast European exploration now known as the Age of Discovery.

But what if we could look 500 years into the future and glimpse the Earth of the 26^th century? Would the world seem as different to us as the 21^st century would have seemed to residents of the 16 century? For starters, what will the weather be like?

Depending on whom you ask, the 26^th century will either be a little chilly or extremely hot. Some solar output models suggest that by the 2500s, Earth’s climate will have cooled back down to near Little Ice Age conditions. Other studies predict that ongoing climate change and fossil fuel use will leave much of the planet too hot for human life by 2300. Some experts date the beginning of human climate change back to the Industrial Revolution in the18oos, others to slash-and-burn agricultural practices in prehistoric times. Either way, tool-wielding humans alter their environment --- and our 26^th century tools might be quite impressive indeed.

Theoretical physicist and futurist Michio Kaku predicts that in a mere 100 years, humanity will make the leap from a type zero civilization to a type I civilization on the Kardashev Scale. In other words, we’ll become a species that can use the entire sum of a planet’s energy, mastering clean energy technologies such as fusion and solar power. Furthermore, they’ll be able to handle planetary energy in order to control global climate.

Technology has improved significantly since the 1500s, and this pace will likely continue in the centuries to come. Physicist Stephen Hawking proposes that by the year 2600, this growth would see 10 new theoretical physics papers published every 10 seconds. If Moore’s Law holds true and both computer speed and complexity double every 18 months, then some of these studies may be the work of highly intelligent machines.

What other technologies will shape the world of the 26^th century? Futurist and author Adrian Berry believes the average human life span will reach 140 years and that the digital storage of human personalities will enable a computerized state of living forever. Humans will farm the oceans, travel in starships and reside in both lunar and Martian colonies while robots explore the outer cosmos.

1.Why does the author mention the Little Ice Age in the first paragraph?

A. To show the severity of the current global warming.

B. To stress the close connection with the current climate.

C. To provide contrast to the prediction of future climate.

D. To illustrate the importance of protecting the environment.

2.The prediction that Earth will cool down is based on _____.

A. changes in solar activity    B. ongoing climate change

C. previous general assumptions    D. current consumption of fossil fuel

3.What effect will the 26^th century technologies have on human beings?

A. Humans will suffer from severe global warming.

B. Cyber technology helps human personalities survive.

C. Humans needn’t work with the application of robots.

D. Highly intelligent machines will replace humans.

Answer

1. C

2. A

3. B

【解析】

本文为科普文。本文对5个世纪后的地球气候做了预测。

1.篇章结构题。由第二段首句But what if we could look 500 years into the future and glimpse the Earth of the 26th century?但是，如果我们能够展望未来500年并窥见26世纪的地球呢？可推断，第一段作者谈论历史出现的Litter Ice Age是为了和5世纪后的预测形成对比。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据设问中“cool down”得知考查的是地球将变凉快的假设，根据文章第三段第二句“Some solar output models suggest that by the 2500s, Earth’s climate will have cooled back down to near Little Ice Age conditions.” 一些太阳输出模型表明，到2500年，地球气候将会冷却到接近冰河期的水平，可知地球会变冷的预言是基于太阳活动变化。选A。

3.细节理解题。通过最后一段第二句Futurist and author Adrian Berry believes the average human life span will reach 140 years and that the digital storage of human personalities will enable a computerized state of living forever.可得知人类个性的数字存储将使计算机化的永生状态成为可能，故选B。