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 syntheticmaterials. 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 catastrophiclevels 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.　　41. According to the passage，the science of the future is likely to be ________　　A electronics.　　B biotechnology.　　C genetic engineering.　　D nuclear technology.　　42. Organic chemistry helps to produce materials that are ________　　A as good as w001.　　B as good as an insects body.　　C not as good as natural materials.　　D better than natural materials.　　43. 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.　　44. 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.　　45. 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.　　參考答案：B C D A C　　答案解析：　　41.正確答案為B。本題問的是未來的科學是屬于什么的?第一段最后一句給出了答案，屬于生物科技，所以選B。　　42.正確答案為C。此題為細節題，問的是生物化學能幫助人們生產出什么樣的產品?第二段告訴我們，生物化學雖然可以幫助我們生產出新的材料，但這些材料的質量很難達到天然產品的程度。這就否定了選項A、B、D，只有選項C為正確答案。　　43.正確答案為D。本題的答案應在第三段里尋找。這段告訴我們，.生物化學可以幫助我們在未來生產出人工器官，以替代人體中發病的器官。故選項D為正確答案。　　44.正確答案為A。本題問的是1996年ArthurC.Clarke預見到了什么?第四段第二句告訴我們，未來人們可以用上生物能源，故選A。　　45.正確答案為C。此題為判斷題，問的是讀了最后一段獲得什么信息?本文最后一段談到了生物能源會存在問題，又以原子能指出新能源的危害，但作者最后一句卻暗示新的生物能源不像原子能那樣危險，故選C。

　　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 syntheticmaterials. 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 catastrophiclevels 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.　　41. According to the passage，the science of the future is likely to be ________　　A electronics.　　B biotechnology.　　C genetic engineering.　　D nuclear technology.　　42. Organic chemistry helps to produce materials that are ________　　A as good as w001.　　B as good as an insects body.　　C not as good as natural materials.　　D better than natural materials.　　43. 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.　　44. 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.　　45. 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.　　參考答案：B C D A C　　答案解析：　　41.正確答案為B。本題問的是未來的科學是屬于什么的?第一段最后一句給出了答案，屬于生物科技，所以選B。　　42.正確答案為C。此題為細節題，問的是生物化學能幫助人們生產出什么樣的產品?第二段告訴我們，生物化學雖然可以幫助我們生產出新的材料，但這些材料的質量很難達到天然產品的程度。這就否定了選項A、B、D，只有選項C為正確答案。　　43.正確答案為D。本題的答案應在第三段里尋找。這段告訴我們，.生物化學可以幫助我們在未來生產出人工器官，以替代人體中發病的器官。故選項D為正確答案。　　44.正確答案為A。本題問的是1996年ArthurC.Clarke預見到了什么?第四段第二句告訴我們，未來人們可以用上生物能源，故選A。　　45.正確答案為C。此題為判斷題，問的是讀了最后一段獲得什么信息?本文最后一段談到了生物能源會存在問題，又以原子能指出新能源的危害，但作者最后一句卻暗示新的生物能源不像原子能那樣危險，故選C。