Have you ever forgotten to lock the door of your house? Or, have you ever forgotten to switch off the TV or computer? These kinds of things happen to us all the time, waste resources, and can sometimes lead to problems. However, in the not-too-distant 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, save us energy, and provide a more comfortable environment to live in.
we will be living in smart homes 使用将来进行时,表示在未来某段时间内正在进行的动作,比 will do 更有"自然而然"的意味。
例:This time tomorrow, I will be lying on the beach. 明天这个时候,我将在沙滩上躺着。
Today, we have to use switches for our lights, knobs for our appliances, and remote controls for our TVs and air conditioners. In the future, we will be using advanced technology every day for automatic control of just about everything in our home. The future home will use integrated sensors to tell when you leave home each morning, and then go into an energy-efficient mode 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 and preferences, so everything will be ready for you when you get home each evening. Your lights will come on the instant 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, so if you want to change your routine, you just say aloud what you want and the home system will obey.
the instant (that) 可直接引导时间状语从句,意为"一……就……",相当于 as soon as。
类似用法的名词短语:the moment, the minute, the second
例:The instant I saw her, I knew something was wrong. 我一见到她,就知道出事了。
In addition, your smart home will be monitoring 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 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 your health as well. They can warn you early on if there is something abnormal or if you have a critical illness, such as cancer, and potentially save your life.
本段多次使用将来进行时(will be monitoring / will be checking / will be keeping),表示未来某个时间段内持续进行的动作。
将来进行时与一般将来时的区别:will be doing 强调"正在持续",will do 强调"将要发生"。
Smart homes will be able to prevent serious damage from accidents. For example, if a water pipe starts leaking, or if there is a short in the electrical wiring, your smart home will detect it and provide you with the relevant information. This way, you will be able to fix the problem before your home becomes flooded or catches fire.
主句用将来时(will be able to),if 条件从句用一般现在时(starts / is),这是主将从现原则。
例:If it rains tomorrow, we will stay at home. 如果明天下雨,我们就待在家里。
This smart technology is not a fantasy. Many of these new innovations are already available and being used in some homes. In this sense, the home of tomorrow is already the home of today. Nevertheless, it will take some years before most new homes begin to use this new technology.
It will take some time before... 意为"还要过些时间才……",before 在此表示"才"。
例:It will take some years before the project is completed. 还要过几年这个项目才能完成。
类似结构:It will be long before... 还要很久才……
要点摘要
未来智能家居将自动锁门、关电器,提供安全舒适的环境
集成传感器实现自动控制:了解日程、语音响应、自动准备
智能床和马桶持续监测健康,及早预警疾病
智能家居能检测漏水短路,防止灾害
技术已部分实现,但大规模普及仍需时日
Reading for Writing
SHOULD WE FIGHT NEW TECHNOLOGY
我们是否应该抵制新技术
This morning, I saw the shocking headline: "Passenger Dies When Car Crashes in Driverless Mode". In the article, various people said that the public should oppose the idea of developing driverless cars. They said that some advances in technology were unnecessary and could even be dangerous. Hence, we should cease accepting technology just because it is new. The newspaper reported that the car company had already apologised for the accident, but the families of the deceased said it was not enough. Nevertheless, the company still claimed that most people would be travelling in driverless cars one day soon.
various people said that the public should oppose... 中 that 引导宾语从句,嵌套在主句中。
注意:宾语从句用陈述语序,时态与主句呼应。
过去完成时 had apologised
had already apologised 为过去完成时,表示在 reported(过去时)之前已经发生的动作。
例:By the time I arrived, he had left. 我到的时候他已经离开了。
On the one hand, there are many different groups of people around the world who live happily in the absence of new technology. Probably the most well known are the Amish, a group of Christians living in rural 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 probably will be living the same way in the distant future. They advocate a simple life with an emphasis on hard work, family, and community. They think that is better than caring about luxuries or following the lives of the rich and famous. It could even be argued that the Amish's quality of life is better since they live in and appreciate the natural environment rather than living in large, polluted cities.
It could even be argued that... 中 It 为形式主语,that 从句为真正主语。
类似结构:It is said / believed / reported / estimated that...
例:It is reported that the population is growing. 据报道人口在增长。
On the other hand, new technology has provided people everywhere with many benefits over the years. For example, the latest weather-tracking computer programmes give people lots of warnings about potential natural disasters, which saves many lives. Moreover, the Internet has made it possible for friends and family to keep in touch easily even if they are on opposite sides of the world. It has also made finding opportunities in life much easier, as it allows people to make larger networks of friends through using social media.
made it possible for friends and family to keep in touch 中 it 为形式宾语,possible 为宾补,to keep in touch 为真正宾语。
例:The Internet makes it easier for us to learn English. 互联网使我们学习英语更容易了。
which引导非限制性定语从句
which saves many lives 中 which 指代前整个句子的内容(天气预报拯救生命),引导非限制性定语从句。
例:He passed the exam, which made his parents happy. 他通过了考试,这让他的父母很高兴。
Personally, I have benefited quite a lot from technological advances. I found my career 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 of my life. Of course, when new technology changes the way we live, it can be a scary prospect. Nevertheless, I will always look on the positive side of change and accept it rather than resist it.