Unit 9 Section A Looking to the 21st Century I Background Information 1. THE FUTURIST The futurist is a bi-monthly magazine published since 1967 by the World Future Soci a principal benefit of membership, read by 25,000 members worldwide. Edited by Cornish, former president of the World Future Society, THE FUTURIST takes no stand on what the future will or should be like. The magazine strives to serve as a neutral clearinghouse of ideas Each article and department item includes the name and address of an author or source to contact for more information and expand your network. Each issue contains feature articles written by outstanding experts in a wide range of fields: business, creativity, education, economics environment and resources, values, and more. In addition, several departments offer shorter news briefs, book reviews, and other items of interest from a variety of sources 2. The World Future Society to anyone who would like to know more about what the future will hold. The society was founded in 1966 and is chartered as a Washington D. C, united states. The Society strives to serve to serve as a neutral clearinghouse for ideas about the future. Ideas about the future include forecasts. recommendations. and alternative scenarios. These ideas help people to anticipate what may happen in the next 5, 10, more years ahead. When people can visualize a better future, then they can begin to create it 3. More Recent Advances in computer Science The trend during the 1970,s was, to some extent, moving away from very powerful, single continuous-process manufacturing, such as petroleum refining and electrical-power distribution systems,now used computers of smaller capability for controlling and regulating their jobs.In the 1960s, the problems in programming applications were an obstacle to the independence of medium sized on-site computers, but gains in applications programming language technologies removed these obstacles. Applications languages were now available for controlling a great range of manufacturing processes, for using machine tools with computers, and for many other things. Moreover, a new revolution in computer hardware was under way, involving shrinking of computer-logic circuitry and of components by what are called large-scale integration(LSI) techniques. In the 1950s it was realized that "scaling down"the size of electronic digital computer circuits and parts would increase speed and efficiency and by that, improve performance, if they could only find a way to do this. About 1960 photo printing of conductive circuit boards to eliminate wiring became more developed. Then it became possible to build resistors and capacitors into the circuitry by the same process. In the 1970s, vacuum deposition of transistors became the norm, and entire assemblies, with adders, shifting registers, and counters, became available on tiny "chips. In the 1980s, very large scale integration(VLSi),in which hundreds of thousands of transistors were placed on a single chip, became more and more
Unit 9 Section A Looking to the 21 st Century I. Background Information 1. THE FUTURIST The futurist is a bi-monthly magazine published since 1967 by the World Future Society and is a principal benefit of membership, read by 25,000 members worldwide. Edited by Edward Cornish, former president of the World Future Society, THE FUTURIST takes no stand on what the future will or should be like. The magazine strives to serve as a neutral clearinghouse of ideas. Each article and department item includes the name and address of an author or source to contact for more information and expand your network. Each issue contains feature articles written by outstanding experts in a wide range of fields: business, creativity, education, economics, environment and resources, values, and more. In addition, several departments offer shorter news briefs, book reviews, and other items of interest from a variety of sources. 2. The World Future Society Located in Maryland, it produces five publications, manages a bookstore. Membership is open to anyone who would like to know more about what the future will hold. The society was founded in 1966 and is chartered as a nonprofit educational and scientific organization in Washington D.C., united states. The Society strives to serve to serve as a neutral clearinghouse for ideas about the future. Ideas about the future include forecasts, recommendations, and alternative scenarios. These ideas help people to anticipate what may happen in the next 5, 10, or more years ahead. When people can visualize a better future, then they can begin to create it. 3. More Recent Advances in computer Science The trend during the 1970's was, to some extent, moving away from very powerful, single - purpose computers and toward a larger range of applications for cheaper computer systems. Most continuous-process manufacturing, such as petroleum refining and electrical-power distribution systems, now used computers of smaller capability for controlling and regulating their jobs. In the 1960's, the problems in programming applications were an obstacle to the independence of medium sized on-site computers, but gains in applications programming language technologies removed these obstacles. Applications languages were now available for controlling a great range of manufacturing processes, for using machine tools with computers, and for many other things. Moreover, a new revolution in computer hardware was under way, involving shrinking of computer-logic circuitry and of components by what are called large-scale integration (LSI) techniques. In the 1950s it was realized that "scaling down" the size of electronic digital computer circuits and parts would increase speed and efficiency and by that, improve performance, if they could only find a way to do this. About 1960 photo printing of conductive circuit boards to eliminate wiring became more developed. Then it became possible to build resistors and capacitors into the circuitry by the same process. In the 1970's, vacuum deposition of transistors became the norm, and entire assemblies, with adders, shifting registers, and counters, became available on tiny "chips." In the 1980's, very large scale integration (VLSI), in which hundreds of thousands of transistors were placed on a single chip, became more and more
ommon. Many companies, some new to the computer field, introduced in the 1970s programmable minicomputers supplied with software packages. The"shrinking"trend continued with the introduction of personal computers(PCs), which are programmable machines small enough and inexpensive enough to be purchased and used by individuals. Many companies, such as Apple Computer and Radio Shack, introduced very successful PC's in the 1970s, encouraged in part by a fad in computer(video) games. In the 1980s some friction occurred in the crowded PC field, with Apple and IBM keeping strong. In the manufacturing of semiconductor chips, the Intel and Motorola Corporations were very competitive into the 1980s, although Japanese firms were making strong economic advances, especially in the area of memory chips. By the late 1980s, some personal computers were run by microprocessors that, handling 32 bits of data at a time, could process about 4,000,000 instructions per second. Microprocessors equipped with read-only memory(ROM), which stores constantly used, unchanging programs, now performed an increased number of process-control, testing, monitoring, and diagnosing functions, like automobile ignition systems, automobile-engine diagnosis, and production-line inspection duties Cray Research and Control Data Inc. dominated the field of supercomputers, or the most powerful computer systems, through the 1970s and 1980s. In the early 1980s, however, the government announced a gigantic plan to design and build a new generation of supercomputers. This new generation, the So-called"fifth"generation, is using new technologies in very large integration, along with new programming languages, and will be capable of amazing feats in the area of artificial intelligence, such as voice recognition. Progress in the area of software has not matched the great advances in hardware Software has become the major cost of many systems because programming productivity has not increased very quickly. New programming techniques, such as object-oriented programming, have been developed to help relieve this problem. Despite difficulties with software, however, the cost per calculation of computers is rapidly lessening, and their convenience and efficiency are expected to increase in the early future. The computer field continues to experience huge growth. Computer networking, computer mail, and electronic publishing are just a few of the applications that have grown in recent years. Advances in technologies continue to produce cheaper and more powerful computers offering the promise that in the near future, computers or terminals will reside in most if not all homes offices. and schools II. Text Analysis Text structure The passage views the tremendous changes in the 21st century from eight aspects, and predicts the important roles that the computers will p Part I(paras. 1-4) your future is decided by your own actions Part ll(paras. 5-8 )One's brainwave can help in measuring one's ability Partlll(paras. 9-11)computers can help the doctor to diagnose your disease PartlV(paras. 12-16) your car will be almost entirely controlled by computers PartV(paras. 17-21)Computers will be a necessity at home Part VI(paras. 22-27) New trends in work. PartVIll(paras 28-31)More and more people concern about the environment PartVll (paras. 32-35)New ideas about health
common. Many companies, some new to the computer field, introduced in the 1970s programmable minicomputers supplied with software packages. The "shrinking" trend continued with the introduction of personal computers (PC's), which are programmable machines small enough and inexpensive enough to be purchased and used by individuals. Many companies, such as Apple Computer and Radio Shack, introduced very successful PC's in the 1970s, encouraged in part by a fad in computer (video) games. In the 1980s some friction occurred in the crowded PC field, with Apple and IBM keeping strong. In the manufacturing of semiconductor chips, the Intel and Motorola Corporations were very competitive into the 1980s, although Japanese firms were making strong economic advances, especially in the area of memory chips. By the late 1980s, some personal computers were run by microprocessors that, handling 32 bits of data at a time, could process about 4,000,000 instructions per second. Microprocessors equipped with read-only memory (ROM), which stores constantly used, unchanging programs, now performed an increased number of process-control, testing, monitoring, and diagnosing functions, like automobile ignition systems, automobile-engine diagnosis, and production-line inspection duties. Cray Research and Control Data Inc. dominated the field of supercomputers, or the most powerful computer systems, through the 1970s and 1980s. In the early 1980s, however, the Japanese government announced a gigantic plan to design and build a new generation of supercomputers. This new generation, the so-called "fifth" generation, is using new technologies in very large integration, along with new programming languages, and will be capable of amazing feats in the area of artificial intelligence, such as voice recognition. Progress in the area of software has not matched the great advances in hardware. Software has become the major cost of many systems because programming productivity has not increased very quickly. New programming techniques, such as object-oriented programming, have been developed to help relieve this problem. Despite difficulties with software, however, the cost per calculation of computers is rapidly lessening, and their convenience and efficiency are expected to increase in the early future. The computer field continues to experience huge growth. Computer networking, computer mail, and electronic publishing are just a few of the applications that have grown in recent years. Advances in technologies continue to produce cheaper and more powerful computers offering the promise that in the near future, computers or terminals will reside in most, if not all homes, offices, and schools. II. Text Analysis Text structure The passage views the tremendous changes in the 21 st century from eight aspects, and predicts the important roles that the computers will play. Part I (paras.1—4) your future is decided by your own actions. PartⅡ (paras.5—8) One’s brainwave can help in measuring one’s ability. PartⅢ (paras.9—11) computers can help the doctor to diagnose your disease. PartⅣ (paras.12—16) your car will be almost entirely controlled by computers. PartⅤ (paras.17—21) Computers will be a necessity at home. PartⅥ (paras.22—27) New trends in work. PartⅦ (paras.28—31) More and more people concern about the environment. PartⅧ (paras.32—35) New ideas about health
The writer presents the prediction for the 21st century with general statements, which are supported by details. Each general statement has been numbered for quick scanning Just look at Number 6 in the reading passage. We find that the topic for this part is hanging face of work and the workplace". To describe the changes, the writer organizes five paragraphs in this part. The first paragraph is about the general statement The second one is about the women's role in work The third one is about peoples changing career. The fourth one is about the role of information and knowledge at workplace The fifth one is about the role of specialists And from the second paragraph to the fifth paragraph are details to support the general statement in the first paragraph III. Language points New words phrases 1. editor: n a person who prepares( a boo, newspaper, film, etc e.g. a chief editor主编,总编辑 a managing editor编辑主任 edit:v. a: to prepare(as literary material) for publication or public presentation b: to assemble (as a moving picture or tape recording) by cutting and rearranging c: to alter, adapt, or refine especially to bring about conformity to a standard or to suit a particular purpose <carefully edited the speech> <edit a data file> eg. The teacher is editing famous speeches for use in school books.老师正在把有名的讲稿 编辑成学校教科书 2. impose on(upon): force on; place on e.g. Parents should not impose their own tastes on their children.父母不应该将自己的爱好强 加给孩子 The university is unwilling to impose upon students the heavy responsibility of choosing their own courses.这所大学不愿将选择课程的重大责任强压给学生。 3. beyond prep. Outside the limits of e.g. beyond our power非我们能力所及 beyond doubt毫无疑义 beyond compare无与伦比的 beyond praise令人赞叹不已的 4. work on( upon): have( something) as the subject of thought or effort e.g. The scientists are still working on inventing new methods of reaching outer space. Fs 仍在努力探索进入外层空间的新方法 Is Tom still working on the new book that he promised?汤姆还在写那本他答应写的书吗? 5. predict: v. say in advance e.g. One can look to the future but can't predict the future.人可以展望未来,但无法预测未 来 They predict that about twenty percent of the students will fail to pass the examination. ftbl 预测将有20%的学生考试不及格。 6. analysis: n. examination of something e.g. The analysis of the samples on the murder spot showed some valuable clues to the polie 对谋杀现场标本的分析为警察提供了一些有价值的线索
The writer presents the prediction for the 21 st century with general statements, which are supported by details. Each general statement has been numbered for quick scanning. Just look at Number 6 in the reading passage. We find that the topic for this part is “the changing face of work and the workplace”. To describe the changes, the writer organizes five short paragraphs in this part. The first paragraph is about the general statement. The second one is about the women’s role in work. The third one is about people’s changing career. The fourth one is about the role of information and knowledge at workplace. The fifth one is about the role of specialists. And from the second paragraph to the fifth paragraph are details to support the general statement in the first paragraph. III. Language Points New Words & Phrases 1. editor: n. a person who prepares ( a boo, newspaper, film, etc.) e.g. a chief editor 主编，总编辑 a managing editor 编辑主任 edit: v. a : to prepare (as literary material) for publication or public presentation b : to assemble (as a moving picture or tape recording) by cutting and rearranging c : to alter, adapt, or refine especially to bring about conformity to a standard or to suit a particular purpose <carefully edited the speech> <edit a data file> e.g. The teacher is editing famous speeches for use in school books. 老师正在把有名的讲稿 编辑成学校教科书。 2. impose on (upon) : force on; place on e.g. Parents should not impose their own tastes on their children. 父母不应该将自己的爱好强 加给孩子。 The university is unwilling to impose upon students the heavy responsibility of choosing their own courses. 这所大学不愿将选择课程的重大责任强压给学生。 3. beyond : prep. Outside the limits of e.g. beyond our power 非我们能力所及 beyond doubt 毫无疑义 beyond compare 无与伦比的 beyond praise 令人赞叹不已的 4. work on ( upon) : have ( something) as the subject of thought or effort e.g. The scientists are still working on inventing new methods of reaching outer space. 科学家 仍在努力探索进入外层空间的新方法。 Is Tom still working on the new book that he promised? 汤姆还在写那本他答应写的书吗？ 5. predict: v. say in advance e.g. One can look to the future but can’t predict the future. 人可以展望未来，但无法预测未 来。 They predict that about twenty percent of the students will fail to pass the examination. 他们 预测将有 20%的学生考试不及格。 6. analysis : n. examination of something e.g. The analysis of the samples on the murder spot showed some valuable clues to the police. 对谋杀现场标本的分析为警察提供了一些有价值的线索
analyze 1.分析 analyst n.分析家,化验员 analytic a.分析的,解析的 7. monitor: vt. Watch for a period of time for a special purpose φ、g. The instruments monitor the patient's heartbeats.这些仪器监测着病人的心跳。 more and more: increasing over time e.g. As time went on, he found it more and more difficult to support his family.随着时间的推 移,他发现养家越来越困难了。 Her life was heading more and more where she wanted it to go.她的生活正越来越朝着她 所希望的方向发展 9. diagnosis: n discovery of the nature of a disease eg. The doctor' s diagnosis is that he' s just got a bad cold.医生诊断他只得了重感冒 diagnose: vt. discover the nature of a disease 10. interactive a 1)communicating between the user and the machine e.g. This will make computer games more interactive than ever.这使得电脑游戏中人机之间 比以前更能互通信息 )acting on each other eg. Student-centered teaching is interactive teaching in the classroom.以学生为中心的教学 是一种在课堂上师生双向互动的教学方法。 interact: y to communicate with or react to e.g. Dominique's teacher says that she interacts well with the other children It's interesting at parties to see how people interact socially We are studying how these two chemicals interact Interaction n 11. alternative 1)a. giving a choice from among more than two things e.g. I will not be able to meet you on Monday, you must think of an alternative plan.我周一不 能见你,你得另作安排。 2)n serious choice: something that can be chosen instead e.g. If you want to reach Boston in time for the meeting, you must go by air; there is no alternative如果你想按时到波士顿参加会议,只能坐飞机去,别无选择 1)suffer the result of e.g. He stopped me from getting that job and I' m going to make him pay for it.当初他不让我 接那个工作,现在我要让他为此付出代价 2) pay some money to acquire something e.g. I paid $50 for that coa bill for: give or send a bill stating how much money one has to pay for goods or services e.g. He has been billed for not parking in the right place.他因停车地方不当而吃了罚单 e.g. How do you wish to pay for your purchase?你希望以何种方式付款 2)vt buy e.g. They've just purchased a new house in the country 14. survive: v continue to live especially after coming close to death
analyze vt. 分析 analyst n. 分析家，化验员 analytic a. 分析的，解析的 7. monitor: vt. Watch for a period of time for a special purpose e.g. The instruments monitor the patient’s heartbeats. 这些仪器监测着病人的心跳。 8. more and more: increasing over time e.g. As time went on, he found it more and more difficult to support his family. 随着时间的推 移，他发现养家越来越困难了。 Her life was heading more and more where she wanted it to go. 她的生活正越来越朝着她 所希望的方向发展。 9. diagnosis : n. discovery of the nature of a disease e.g. The doctor’s diagnosis is that he’s just got a bad cold. 医生诊断他只得了重感冒。 diagnose : vt. discover the nature of a disease 10. interactive : a. 1) communicating between the user and the machine e.g. This will make computer games more interactive than ever. 这使得电脑游戏中人机之间 比以前更能互通信息。 2）acting on each other e.g. Student-centered teaching is interactive teaching in the classroom.以学生为中心的教学 是一种在课堂上师生双向互动的教学方法。 interact: v to communicate with or react to: e.g. Dominique's teacher says that she interacts well with the other children. It's interesting at parties to see how people interact socially. We are studying how these two chemicals interact. interaction : n. 11. alternative : 1) a. giving a choice from among more than two things e.g. I will not be able to meet you on Monday; you must think of an alternative plan. 我周一不 能见你，你得另作安排。 2）n. serious choice; something that can be chosen instead e.g. If you want to reach Boston in time for the meeting, you must go by air; there is no alternative.如果你想按时到波士顿参加会议，只能坐飞机去，别无选择。 12. pay for : 1) suffer the result of e.g. He stopped me from getting that job and I’m going to make him pay for it. 当初他不让我 接那个工作，现在我要让他为此付出代价。 2）pay some money to acquire something e.g. I paid $50 for that coat. bill for : give or send a bill stating how much money one has to pay for goods or services e.g. He has been billed for not parking in the right place.他因停车地方不当而吃了罚单。 13. purchase: 1) n. something that you buy e.g. How do you wish to pay for your purchase?你希望以何种方式付款? 2) vt. buy e.g. They’ve just purchased a new house in the country. 14. survive : v. continue to live especially after coming close to death
e.g. Only the young couple survived, but others died in the accident.只有那对年轻夫妇幸免 于难,其他人都在这场事故中丧生了。 It was uncertain whether we could survive the terrible storm 5. at risk: in danger eg. The disease is spreading, and all children under 5 are at risk.疾病正在蔓延,5岁以下的 儿童都有被传染的危险 16. under siege: in a state of being cut off from other contact or under a long attack e.g. We should try our best to send supplies to the city that has been under siege我们应尽力向 被围困的城里输送供给品。 17. prescribe: v D)order as a medicine or treatment eg. The doctor prescribed a new medicine for the pain in my bones.医生开了一种新药治我的 关节痛。 2)state( what must be done) eg. The agreement prescribes the price of the things we are going to purchase.协议规定了我 们要买的东西的价格 Sentences Paraphrase 1. The responsibility we have for the future begins when we recognize that we ourselves create the future that the future is not something imposed upon us by fate or other forces beyond our control Meaning: It is we who are responsible for the future. When we know that we the future, that is, when we realize that it is we, not fate nor other forces beyond our control who determine the future, our responsibility begins Note: The second that-clause is the explanation of the first that-clause 2. Frequent computer analysis could tell whether workers, like air traffic controllers, are seeing all activity clearly enough to monitor it properly Meaning: Frequent computer analysis could tell us whether workers, such as air traffic controllers, have a clear picture of all the activity in front of them so that they can control the activity in a proper way Note: here"it” refers to“ activity” 3. Home computers will enable you to answer interactive questions about your health and show the alternative results should you act in a certain way Meaning: Home computers will enable you to answer your and the computer's questions about your health and show the difference results for you to choose if you decide to act in a certain Note:here“ should" is used in place of“if Iftsubjecttshould-+verb"is often used as"Should+subject+ verb"in British English e.g. Should you change your mind, let us know.(= If you should change your mind, let us know)如果你改变了主意,就告诉我们 Should you see Harry, give him my regards. ( If you should see Harry, give him my regard.)要是你见到哈利,替我问候他 4. Computer enable homework assignments to be done with worldwide resources, using sites like museums and science facilities around the world
e.g. Only the young couple survived, but others died in the accident. 只有那对年轻夫妇幸免 于难，其他人都在这场事故中丧生了。 It was uncertain whether we could survive the terrible storm. 15. at risk : in danger e.g. The disease is spreading, and all children under 5 are at risk. 疾病正在蔓延，5 岁以下的 儿童都有被传染的危险。 16. under siege: in a state of being cut off from other contact or under a long attack e.g. We should try our best to send supplies to the city that has been under siege.我们应尽力向 被围困的城里输送供给品。 17. prescribe : v. 1) order as a medicine or treatment e.g. The doctor prescribed a new medicine for the pain in my bones.医生开了一种新药治我的 关节痛。 2) state ( what must be done) e.g. The agreement prescribes the price of the things we are going to purchase. 协议规定了我 们要买的东西的价格。 Sentences Paraphrase 1. The responsibility we have for the future begins when we recognize that we ourselves create the future ------- that the future is not something imposed upon us by fate or other forces beyond our control. Meaning: It is we who are responsible for the future. When we know that we ourselves create the future, that is, when we realize that it is we, not fate nor other forces beyond our control, who determine the future, our responsibility begins. Note: The second that-clause is the explanation of the first that-clause. 2. Frequent computer analysis could tell whether workers, like air traffic controllers, are seeing all activity clearly enough to monitor it properly. Meaning: Frequent computer analysis could tell us whether workers, such as air traffic controllers, have a clear picture of all the activity in front of them so that they can control the activity in a proper way. Note: here “it” refers to “activity” 3. Home computers will enable you to answer interactive questions about your health and show the alternative results should you act in a certain way. Meaning: Home computers will enable you to answer your and the computer’s questions about your health and show the difference results for you to choose if you decide to act in a certain way. Note: here “should” is used in place of “if” “If+subject+should+verb” is often used as “ Should+subject+verb” in British English. e.g. Should you change your mind, let us know. ( = If you should change your mind, let us know.) 如果你改变了主意，就告诉我们。 Should you see Harry, give him my regards. ( = If you should see Harry, give him my regard.) 要是你见到哈利，替我问候他。 4. Computer enable homework assignments to be done with worldwide resources, using sites like museums and science facilities around the world