People cannot reach an agreement on the use of science and technology. For example, will radiation from electronic equipment destroy the environment? Should medical scientists change gene structures to prevent genetic disease or to create “more perfect” human beings? While people are arguing about these and others, technology continues to influence our everyday lives—the home, health and education, entertainment and communication, and so on.

   Some people carry on active social lives with computers —their own or the ones in public places like cafes, social centers, libraries, and so on. Communicating with others in chat rooms,  computer users can get to know people they might never meet in traditional ways. With live online video connections, two people with cameras in their computers can see and talk to each other from separate places.

   With modern telephone technology, most people stopped writing lettters—especially personal letters and notes. But now, writing to communicate has returned in electronic form, or e-mail, which is a way of sending messages from one computer to another. For some computer users, the wish to communicate intelligently or creatively with others makes them want to write better.

   Computer technology has also made it possible to run a house electronically. From turning lights on and off to starting the coffee and cooking the hot meal, computers are taking care of people at home. Many modern machines have computer chips that allow their owners to program them. For instance, you can “instruct” a microwave oven how to cook a dish. Most entertainment equipment operates with computer technology too. Computers can even start cars automatically so that on cold winter mornings you can get into a warmed-up vehicle and drive off.

   Although much of the technology in our everyday lives has good effects, there are some uses that raise questions. For example, are interactive media ( i.e., a combination of television, telephone, and computer) going to control minds, cause people to forget about family life and personal relationships? What effects will the genentic engineering of food have on people’s health? High-tech medical treatments can make a person live a much longer life, but can they improve the health and happiness of human beings? Only time will tell, but, in the meantime, science and technology will continue to move forward. 

1. What does the underlined word “ chips” mean?

A. thin pieces of potatoes  B. small holes    C. small pieces of wood   D. central parts

2.We can know from the passage that _________.

   A. technology never stops changing our everyday lives 

   B. with computers each of us can live a comfortable life

   C. people can do more activities with computers

   D. the more you use computers, the better you might write

3.What can we infer from the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?

A. The longer you live, the happier you are.

B. High-tech medical treatments can’t improve our health and happiness.  

C. High-tech medical treatments can’t help us with everything.

D.The writer questioned high-tech medical treatments somehow.

4.What is the best title for the passage?

   A. Science and New Technology        B. Computers Change Our Lives

   C. Everyday Uses of Technology        D. Only Time Will Tell

用方框中所给单词的适当形式填空，使短文完整正确。（每个单词限用一次）

Think of life as a game in which you are playing with five balls in the air. You name them work, family, health, friends and spirit (精神) and you keep all of them in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce (弹跳) back.
But the other four balls, family, health, friends and spirit, are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be broken. They will never be the same. You must understand that and try to have balance in your life. How?
Don’t look down on your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different and each of us is special.
Don’t let other people set goals for you. Only you know what is best for yourself.
Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
Don’t be afraid of difficulties. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible. The quickest way to receive love is to give it; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly (紧紧地); the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going.
Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is a treasure (珍宝) you can always carry easily.
Don’t use time or words carelessly. You can’t get them back. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery (秘密), and today is a gift; that’s why we call it “the present”. Life is not a competition, but a trip, step by step.
【小题1】The passage tells us not to _________ because everyone is special.

词汇运用，根据句子意思和括号中英文提示填空。（每空一词，计10分）
【小题1】We all like her bright,         (smile) eyes.
【小题2】The news of his         (arrive) made each of us excited.
【小题3】The weather will become         (bad) on Monday than today.
【小题4】We enjoyed        (we) at the party last Saturday evening.
【小题5】Look! A lot of       (tour) names are on the wall. They come to help do a bird count.
【小题6】People always run         (失去控制地) when the earthquake happens.
【小题7】Nothing can make my father        (平静下来) down.
【小题8】I felt a slight shaking         (穿过) my body.
【小题9】Swans fly to         (北方的) countries when summer comes.
【小题10】I learnt the rainstorm        (警告) from the newspaper.