Unit+4+A+glimpse+of+the+future+Starting+out 高中英語(yǔ)外研版（2019）選擇性必修第三冊(cè)

外研版（2019）選擇性必修三Unit

4

A

glimpse

of

the

futureLookatthepicturesandanswerthequestions.Haveyouwatchedanyofthesefilms?Whatstoriesdotheytellaboutthefutureofourworld?Doyouthinktheeventsinthesefilmscouldcometrue?Whatdoyouthinktheworldwillbelikeinthefuture?InterstellarEarthiscomingtoanendthroughdisasters,faminesanddroughts.Ateamofastronautsboardaspaceship,travellingthroughanewlydiscoveredwormholetofindanotherplanetthatmayhavetherightenvironmentforhumanstosettle.AvatarThisfilmissetinthe22ndcentury.Earthissufferingasevereenergycrisis.ScientistshavefoundanotherplanetcalledPandora,whichisinhabitedbytheNa'vi.Itisrichinnaturalresources,yetitsatmosphereispoisonoustohumans.ToexplorePandoraandexploititsresources,scientistsuseanewtechnology,creating“avatars"operatedbygeneticallymatchedhumans.ReadyplayeroneThisfilmissetintheyear2045,whentherealworldisaharshplace.ManypeopleescaperealitybyspendingtheirdaysinavirtualrealityuniversecalledOASIS,whereonecangoanywhere,doanythingorbeanyone.WALL·EInthisfilm,humansabandonEarthbecausethereistoomuchrubbishonit,leavingbehindsomerobotstodothecleaningup.Overtime,therobotsbreakdownonebyone,untilWALL·EistheonlyrobotleftworkingonEarth.Oneday,hemeetsanotherrobotfromspacewhichhasreturnedtoEarth.Intheend,theyfindawaytosavetheplanet.Readthepassageandanswerthequestions.FutureorFantasy?Notsoverylongago,theideaofflyingacrosstheAtlanticOceaninjustafewhourswouldhavebeenpurefantasy.TheAmericanaviatorOrvilleWrightevendeclaredin1908that“NoflyingmachinewilleverflyfromNewYorktoParis...”Yet,today,wethinklittleofhoppingonaplanetotakesuchajourney.Lookingbackatsomeofthepredictionsthroughouthistory,whatisperhapsmostremarkableisthattheyweremadedecadesorevencenturiesbeforebecomingreality.Morethan300yearsago,theworld'sfirstscientificbody,theRoyalSociety,wasfoundedinLondon.ItsmottoNulliusinverba,meaning“takenobody'swordforit”,reflecteditsfounders'spiritofinvestigation-aspiritthatledthemtopredictflyingmachines,organtransplantationand“perpetuallight”withextraordinaryaccuracy.Butit'snotonlyscientistswhohavelookedintothefuture.Predictionshavealsobeenmadebywriters.Atthestartofthetwentiethcentury,H.G.WellspredictedtheinventionoftheatombombinhisnovelTheWorldSetFree.Andinthe1940s,authorArthurC.Clarkeproposedthatspacestationswouldonedaybroadcasttelevisionsignalsallovertheglobe.Notallpredictions,however,haveturnedouttobequitesoaccurate.ThomasWatson,chairmanofIBM,wasquotedassayingin1943that“thereisaworldmarketformaybefivecomputers”.Asforthe1955predictioninTheNewYorkTimesthat“nuclear-poweredvacuumcleanerswillprobablybearealityin10years”——well,eventodaythatsoundsratheralotlikesciencefiction.Correctandincorrect,thegreatnumberofinsightsintotheunknownindicatesthatthefutureisfilledwithunlimitedpossibilities.Whoknowswhatwewillbeabletocreatetomorrow?Onlytimewilltell.Whatpredictionsaboutthefutureweremade?Weretheycorrect?FlyingmachinesPerpetuallightTheatombombOrgantransplantationAworldmarketformaybefivecomputersNuclear-poweredvacuumcleanersSpacestationWhatisyourunderstandingof“thefuturehasunlimitedpossibilities”?Thereisnounexpected,onlycannotdo.Or:Thepredictionsaboutthefuturewouldcometrueinthefuture.Whatpredictionsaboutthefutureweremade?Weretheycorrect?Correctpredictions:flyingmachines,organtransplantation,“perpetuallight”,theatombomb,spacestationswouldbroadcasttelevisionsignalsallovertheglobeIncorrectpredictions:aworldm