人教版高中英语选必一Unit 2 预习单

      SMART HOMES TO MAKE LIFE EASIER

Have you ever forgotten to lock the door of your house? Or, have you ever forgotten to switch off(关掉) the TV or computer? These kinds of things happen to us all the time, waste resources(n.资源), and can sometimes lead to problems. However, in the not-too-distant(不太久远的) future, we will be living in smart homes that will lock the door for us when we are away and remember to switch off the TV when we forget. These smart homes will keep us secure(adj.安全的), save us energy（n.能源）, and provide a more comfortable environment to live in.

Intelligent Controls（智能控制）

Today, we have to use switches for our lights, knobs(n.旋钮) for our appliances(n.电器), and remote controls(遥控器) for our TVs and air conditioners（空调）. In the future, we will be using advanced technology every day for automatic(adj.自动的) control of just about everything in our home. The future home will use integrated sensors(集成传感器) to tell when you leave home each morning, and then go into an energy-efficient mode(节能模式) all by itself. You will no longer have to think about turning switches on and off yourself. Your home will also learn your daily routine(日常作息) and preferences(n.偏好), so everything will be ready for you when you get home each evening. Your lights will come on the instant(一……就) you enter the door along with your favourite music or TV programmes, and you will find your dinner already prepared for you. All controls will respond to voice commands(语音指令), so if you want to change your routine, you just say aloud what you want and the home system will obey（v.遵守）.

Regular Health Checks（定期健康监测）

In addition（此外）, your smart home will be monitoring(v.监测) your health for you every day. Your bed, for example, will record how well you sleep every night. It will also be checking your body weight. If you start to have sleep or weight problems, it will send a warning(n.警告) to your phone. It will also give you suggestions on a healthier diet and how to sleep better. Smart toilets will be keeping constant track of(持续追踪) your health as well（也）. They can warn you early on（早先）if there is something abnormal(adj.异常的) or if you have a critical (adj.严重的)illness, such as cancer（n.癌症）, and potentially(adv.潜在地；可能地) save your life.

No More Disasters（防范灾害）

Smart homes will be able to prevent serious damage from（防止...的伤害）accidents. For example, if a water pipe starts leaking(v.漏水), or if there is a short in the electrical wiring(电线短路), your smart home will detect(v.探测) it and provide you with the relevant(adj.相关的) information. This way, you will be able to fix the problem before your home becomes flooded or catches fire（着火）.

This smart technology is not a fantasy(n.幻想). Many of these new innovations(n.创新) are already available(adj.可获得的) and being used in some homes. In this sense（从这种意义上来讲）, the home of tomorrow is already the home of today. Nevertheless(adv.然而), it will take some years before most new homes begin to use this new technology.

Should We Fight New Technology?

This morning, I saw the shocking headline（n.新闻标题）: “Passenger（n.乘客） Dies When Car Crashes(v.撞车) in Driverless(adj.无人驾驶的) Mode”. In the article, various(adj.各种各样的) people said that the public should oppose(v.反对) the idea of developing driverless cars. They said that some advances(n.进步，进展) in technology were unnecessary and could even be dangerous. Hence(adv.因此，所以), we should cease(v.停止) accepting technology just because it is new. The newspaper reported that the car company had already apologised(v.道歉) for the accident, but the families of the deceased(n.死者，遇难者) said it was not enough. Nevertheless(adv.尽管如此，然而), the company still claimed(v.宣称，声称) that most people would be travelling in driverless cars one day soon.

On the one hand, there are many different groups of people around the world who live happily in the absence of(短语：没有，缺乏) new technology. Probably the most wellknown are the Amish(n.阿曼门诺派), a group of Christians (n.基督教徒)living in rural(adj.农村的，乡村的) America. They do not own or drive cars, watch TV, or use the Internet. They have lived mainly as farmers since the 18th century, and they will probably be living the same way in the distant(adj.遥远的) future. They advocate(v.倡导，主张) a simple life with an emphasis(n.重点，强调) on hard work, family, and community(n.社区，群体). They think that is better than caring about luxuries(n.奢侈品) or following the lives of the rich and famous. It could even be argued(v.主张，认为) that the Amish’s quality of life is better since they live in and appreciate(v.欣赏；珍视) the natural environment rather than living in large, polluted(adj.被污染的) cities.

On the other hand, new technology has provided people everywhere with many benefits(n.益处，好处) over the years. For example, the latest weathertracking computer programs give people lots of warnings(n.警示，警告) about potential(adj.潜在的) natural disasters(n.灾难), which saves many lives. Moreover(adv.此外，而且), the Internet has made it possible for friends and family to keep in touch(短语：保持联系) easily even if they are on opposite(adj.相反的；对面的) sides of the world. It has also made finding opportunities in life much easier, as it allows people to make larger networks(n.人际网，网络) of friends through using social media.

Personally(adv.就个人而言), I have benefited(v.获益，受益) quite a lot from technological(adj.科技的) advances. I found my career(n.职业) as an AI designer through a social media network. My health monitor, which I wear all the time, has also helped me get into the best shape(n.身体状态) of my life. Of course, when new technology changes the way we live, it can be a scary prospect(n.前景；可能性). Nevertheless(adv.尽管如此), I will always look on the positive(adj.积极的) side of change and accept it rather than(而不是)resist(v.抵制，抗拒) it.