牛津版（深圳•广州）初中英语八年级下册Module 4 小测验（1）

    After the Second World War, there were many reports of mysterious "flying saucers (飞碟)". They1throughout the world. For quite a long time strange shapes had been reported in2parts of the world, but it was not until recent times that these were seriously studied. Pictures and films3of flying saucers, or UFOs seen in the sky. Some pilots of4reported that round flying machines had followed5, and moved at great speed. Some unofficial (非官方的) experts and6suggested that some creatures from other planets were watching us. Some reports said a UFO had7the Earth. A space creature8the UFO, moved around, and then flew off again. But none of the landings was ever proved (被证实) to be true.

    What lies ahead of us? We do not know.9we can be sure that whatever happens, we are living in an age which will grow steadily10.

    Artificial intelligence (人工智能) , or AI in short, is the science of giving computers and machines ability to think and work like humans.

    AI is rapidly catching up with the human ability to read faces. As a result, facial recognition (识别) is used a lot in the world. Chinese police use this technology to identify criminals (罪犯).It also checks the ID of ride-hailing (约车) drivers and lets people pay for things with a smile.

    Most drivers may wave or nod at passers—by to let them cross the street, but self—driving cars don't have this ability. Carmakers are testing a light signal system to help them "speak" to humans.For example, if a driverless car is yielding (让路) , it will flash two white lights side to side. A rapidly flashing light tells passers-by that the car is about to speed up.

    Service robots also show you how powerful AI is. Imagine this—you come back from school and your robot housekeeper is waiting for you at the door. After dinner, he teaches you to play the piano, just like a real music teacher. Such thoughts will soon happen in the real world.AI is so powerful that it can help human beings and even replace us in many jobs.

1）想象一下未来生活会是什么样子；

2）具体介绍一下未来的生活：很多事情都由电脑和机器人完成。例如：做家务、购物、看病、孩子们通过网络把课堂搬到家里、人们可以活到200岁等；

3）为了未来的生活，我们现在应该努力学习，实现理想。

要求：1）语句通顺，内容完整，语法正确；

2）不要逐字翻译提示的内容，想象内容需合情、合理。

The life in the future

    In the mid 1990s, people started doing business on the Internet. At that time, there were two kinds of companies. First, there were traditional companies which sold things in shops. Then, there were Internet companies which didn't have shops; they sold things only over the net.

    Traditional companies didn't want to lose any business. Quickly, they created their own website and began selling things over the net. These are the so-called "brick and click" companies. Many shops are made of brick, and you click on your mouse to buy things with your computer. That's where the name "brick and click" comes from.

    By the late 1990s, e-businesses like Amazon.com and Buy.com were in trouble. Their profits were not very high, and there was a lot of competition. Many of these businesses lost a lot of money, and in 2000, many e-businesses went out of business.

    Why are "brick and click" companies, like Barnes & Noble, Toys "R" Us, and Walmart so successful? First, many customers know and trust their names. Their websites, like walmart.com, are easy to remember. These companies also have a lot of experience. They know how to run a successful business.

    In the world of e-commerce, companies are fighting for every dollar and every customer. Will "brick and click" companies win the war? Only time will tell.

    Have you ever (hear) of the Stonehenge? Every year it (receive) more than 750, 000 visitors. People like to go to this place especially June as they want to see the sun (rise) on the longest day of the year.

    For many years, historians believed Stonehenge was a temple where ancient leaders (try) to communicate with the gods.

    , historian Paul Stoker thinks this can't (be) true because Stonehenge was built so (much) centuries ago. Other people believe the stones have a medical purpose. They think the stones can prevent illness and keep people (health).

    No one is sure what Stonehenge was used for. Some think it might be a burial place or a place to honour ancestors. Others think was built to celebrate a victory over an enemy.