LIFE IN THE FUTURE

Review
Fill in the blank: rural, rural, increase, emerging, economic growth, achievable, industrial,
investment, sustainable, exports, economists, living standards, reforms, market economy.

China's economic targets (Nov, 2012)

Judging by China's recent performance, Hu Jintao's target might be seen as easily____________. It
implies _______________ of about 9.6% a year, which is rather less than the average over the last
three decades. But that growth was based on some elements that can't last indefinitely.
In common with many __________ countries, China's economic success has involved a rapid
___________in the number of ___________workers, many of them moving from ______
to_______ areas. There is a limit to that process, and China might be close to it already. Very high
levels of __________ have also been important, but they are not seen as____________.
There is also the central role that ___________have played in China's growth. The uncertain
outlook in many rich country markets casts a shadow over that too. Most ________ think the
transition that's needed is to an economy driven much more by spending by China's own consumers.
As incomes have risen, so has consumer spending, but its share in economic activity remains
unusually low.
The World Bank has set out ___________ that might help change that, by reducing incentives to
focus on exports, and industrial investment. The Bank also suggests a wider reform effort to make
China more of a_______________. If that analysis is right, the prize could be many more years of
strong economic performance and rising Chinese______________.
Words
- Judge by: based on
- Imply
- Outlook: Likely future situation
- Cast a shadow: make sth unpleasant/uncertain
- Set out: present
Reading 1
(A) It’s now 11:55, Carol and Phil are sitting in a restaurant, expecting the first moment of the year
2050. Carol knows that when the clock strikes 12, Phil will kneel at her feet to propose marriage to
her, even though they have lived together for 30 years. Thirty years ago, like most young people of
their age, they decide to cohabit so that they might pursue their own careers without being disturbed
by family responsibilities.
(B) They now have all what they want, except for a child. The only way to have one at the age of 50
is asking the Embryo Bank to sent to the City’s Embryo Hospital the embryos they deposited before
their cohabitation. Tomorrow, they’ll go to the Marriage Registry Office and then to the bank to fill
in a request form. After that, they’ll go to the hospital to tell the doctors what gender, hair color, eye
color, and complexion they want their child to possess – and after around nine months’ time, they’ll
have a real happy family with a cute baby!
(C) These days, both of them often discuss where their child, named Chris, will study when he is 7.
Carol wants to send Chris to a traditional school, a kind of institution that she used to go to as a
school girl. But Phil suggests a modern, world- famous school. This school opens 24 hours a day,
and the students may come at different times. Chris will attend any class he likes: If he’s interested
in math, he’ll go to a math class. In the “class room”, there are no teachers but separate booths
where Chris may turn the teaching machine on and select the teacher he likes. This teacher will
appear on the screen and talk to Chris. To meet individual students’ needs is this school’s aim
(D) Another special thing about this school is that it is environment- friendly. Despite the increasing
oil prices and the energy crisis affecting most people’s life, tuition fees here are quite low and
stable, as the energy provided for the school comes from the sun and wind. Life now is more
convenient but not easier than it was 50 years ago.
Reading 2: