People have always wanted to know what our future will look like. Go on reading this text, and you will know what will happen in the next fifty years.

    How can we know what the future will look like? To be able to understand the future, you have to know the past, what has taken us to where we are today and what has changed along the way? The world has changed a lot in the last 150 years, but people are driven by the same basic needs as they were 150 years ago. Will this change in the next 150 years? No.

    What inventions have really made a different in the last 150 years? In the past years, the inventions that have changed most people's everyday life are telephone, radio, television, computer, the car and the internet. Then we of course have a lot of inventions that have made life easier, like new medicine, faster cars, trains, etc. In general, people have been working hard in the last 150 years to make inventions that will make the world a better place. Since there is still much to do in the area, this will be important for at least the next 150 years.

    Why do we need to guess the future? Guessing the future is important for two reasons: First, we need to start to think about what kind of future we would like for ourselves and our children. And then we need to know what decisions we need to make today that will give us the best future.

    My hobby is playing chess — one of the greatest games in the world. My mum taught me how to play when I was seven years old. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But then, on my eighth birthday, I won for the first time. I nearly always beat her now.

    To learn the rules doesn't take long. One day is enough. But if you want to be good, you have to practice for years. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} — just a chess set and someone to play with. Chess sets can be very cheap, or quite expensive. Some people collect chess sets as a hobby, but I enjoy playing.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} We meet on Wednesday every week to practice. I am the best player in the club, and the captain（队长）of the school chess team. This year we won the All England Schools Championship (冠军赛).

    I'm saving up my money to buy a chess computer. They are very expensive, but also very good for practice. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} I'm sure I will be a world chess champion some day.

    Why should students play sports? Some people think that students play sports in order to get exercise. Others think it can help students have fun. But that is not enough. If students play sports, they can get more than healthy bodies. Why? Here are three more reasons.

    Students who play sports do better in school. Some people think that doing exercise will take up student's study time. But a recent study has shown that student who play sports get better scores in school than those who don't. Exercise gets students to learn, remember things and concentrate better.

    Students who play sports develop their teamwork spirit and learn problem solving skills. When they are working together with other to win games and reach goals, they're learning how to be successful in practice. And these skills will be useful to them for study or their future work.

    Playing sports can also improve confidence. Students who play sport feel better about themselves. When they know they can improve and reach their goals by practicing, it builds their confidence. And sports can also help them communicate with others actively and make new friends.

    Now, how about going out to play sports with your friends every day?

根据短文内容，完成下列的表格（每空不超过3个词）

A.

Cutting up the chicken Heating up the oil Putting in the chicken Adding some salt

B.

2 kg of chicken 0.5 kg of carrots 1 bottle of cooking oil 1 bottle of cooking wine

C.

Taking pictures Doing interviews Making a report…

D.

Starting a discussion

Making a decision

Telling group members what to do

...

E.

Washing the dishes

Cleaning the table

Sweeping the floor

Taking away the trash

...

We have a lot of problems in our life, but we have to face them. What can you do when you are feeling unhappy or forget how great you are?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. 

① Look in the mirror (镜子) and say to yourself, "I'm a special person and there's no one in the world can stop me. I can do anything!" {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

② Do something good for someone. Helping others always makes you feel good. 

③Smile!{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Look for the good things in your friends and family. 

④ Learn something new. Have you always wanted to have your own room beautiful or learn how to swim? Go for it! New challenges (挑战) are interesting and make you feel successful when you finish them. 

⑤Stay with your family.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Talk with your parents or maybe even your cousin.