The Science of the Future

Until recently, the "science of the future" was supposed to be electronics and artificialintelligence. Today it seems more and more likely that the next great breakthroughs intechnology will be brought through a combination of those two sciences with organic chemistryand 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 alsoto absorb moisture. Nothing that we have been able to produce so far comes anywhere near thecombination of strength, lightness and flexibility that we fred 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 heartsand eyes" which can replace diseased organs in human beings. These will not be rejected by thebody, as is the case with organs from humans.

The application of biotechnology to energy production seems even more promising. In1996 the famous science-fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke, many of whose previous predictionshave come true. He said that we may soon be able to develop remarkably cheap and renewablesources of energy. Some of these power sources will be biological. Clarke and others havewarned us repeatedly that sooner or later we wi/1 have to give up our dependence on non-renewable power sources. Coal, oil and gas are indeed convenient. However, using them alsomeans creating dangerously high levels of pollution. It will be impossible to meet the growingdemand for energy without increasing that pollution to catastrophic (災(zāi)難性的) levels unlesswe develop power sources that are both cheaper and cleaner.

It is attempting to think that biotechnology or some other "science of the future" can solveour problems. Before we surrender to that temptation we should remember nuclear power.Only a few generations ago it seemed to promise/imit/ess, cheap and safe energy. Today thosepromises lie 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 dangerousway.

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 wool

B.as good as an insect's 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：

31-35　BADAC

36-40CAABD

41-45BCDBC

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（責(zé)任編輯：vstara）

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