Reading
Reading
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Spacemail：liqiang299A@GreatAdventureSpaceStation.com
15/11/3008(Earthtime)
Dear Mum and Dad，
I still cannot believe that I am taking up this prize that I won last year.I have to remind myself constantly that I am really in AD 3008.Worried about the journey，I was unsettled for the first few days.As a result，I suffered from “time lag”．This is similar to the “jet lag” you get from flying，but it seems you keep getting flashbacks from your previous time period.So I was very nervous and uncertain at first.However，my friend and guide，Wang Ping，was very understanding and gave me some green tablets which helped a lot.Well­known for their expertise，his parents’ company，called “Future Tours”，transported me safely into the future in a time capsule.
I can still remember the moment when the space stewardess called us all to the capsule and we climbed in through a small opening.The seats were comfortable and after a calming drink，we felt sleepy and closed our eyes.The capsule began swinging gently sideways as we lay relaxed and dreaming.A few minutes later，the journey was completed and we had arrived.I was still on the earth but one thousand years in the future.What would I find?
At first my new surroundings were difficult to tolerate.The air seemed thin，as though its combination of gases had little oxygen left.Hit by a lack of fresh air，my head ached.Just as I tried to make the necessary adjustment to this new situation，Wang Ping appeared.“Put on this mask，” he advised.“It’ll make you feel much better.” He handed it to me and immediately hurried me through to a small room nearby for a rest.I felt better in no time.Soon I was back on my feet again and following him to collect a hovering carriage driven by computer.These carriages float above the ground and by bending or pressing down in your seat，you can move swiftly.
Wang Ping fastened my safety belt and showed me how to use it.Soon I could fly as fast as him.However，I lost sight of Wang Ping when we reached what looked like a large market because of too many carriages flying by in all directions.He was swept up into the centre of them.Just at that moment I had a “time lag” flashback and saw the area again as it had been in the year AD 2008.I realized that I had been transported into the future of what was still my hometown！Then I caught sight of Wang Ping again and flew after him.
Arriving at a strange­looking house，he showed me into a large，bright clean room.It had a green wall，a brown floor and soft lighting.Suddenly the wall moved—it was made of trees！I found later that their leaves provided the room with much­needed oxygen.Then Wang Ping flashed a switch on a computer screen，and a table and some chairs rose from under the floor as if by magic.“Why not sit down and eat a little？” he said.
“You may find this difficult as it is your first time travel trip.Just relax，since there is nothing planned on the timetable today.Tomorrow you’ll be ready for some visits.” Having said this，he spread some food on the table，and produced a bed from the floor.After he left，I had a brief meal and a hot bath.Exhausted，I slid into bed and fell fast asleep.
More news later from your loving son，
Li Qiang
第一印象
太空邮件：
liqiang299A@GreatAdventureSpaceStation.com
15/11/3008(地球时间)
亲爱的爸爸妈妈：
我仍然不能相信我是在接受去年获得的这个奖励。我得不断提醒自己，我真地已经进入到公元3008年了。
我很担心这次旅行，所以头几天心里总是不踏实。结果，我得了“时间滞后症”。这就与你们乘坐飞机会产生时差反应相似，所不同的是，在你们脑子里似乎会不断闪现以前的时光。因此，我一开始就感到神经紧张和心神不定。但是，我的朋友兼导游王平很细心体贴，给了我几粒绿色药片，倒是挺起作用的。他父母的公司叫做“未来之旅”，以其技术高超而闻名，用时间舱平安地把我送入了未来。
我仍然记得女乘务员让我们都进入时间舱。我们都通过一个小入口爬进去。座位是很舒适的，喝了点镇静剂以后，我们感到很困，就闭上了眼睛。时间舱在轻轻地左右摇晃，我们放松地躺在那里做梦。几分钟以后，旅程结束，我们到了。我仍然在地球上，但是进入了未来的一千年。我会看到什么呢？
开始新的环境很难忍受，空气似乎很稀薄，好像在混合的气体中剩下的氧气很少。由于缺乏新鲜空气，我感到头痛。正当我努力调整自己适应新环境时，王平出现了。“把这个面罩戴上，它会使你感觉好得多。”他建议说。他把面罩递给我，然后把我快速带到一个附近的小房间里休息。我立刻就感到舒服些了。一会儿我就又站起来，跟着他去领取了一台由电脑驱动的汽垫车。这些汽垫车是在地面上漂浮着的，只要把座位打弯或压下，你就可以迅速地移动。王平给我系好安全带并且教我如何使用。
很快，我就跟王平飞得一样快了。但是，当我们到达一个看上去像是大市场的地方时，王平不见了，因为很多汽垫车都四面八方地从身边飞奔。他被卷入到这群车队中去了。就在这个时候我得了一次“时间滞后”的回闪，这样我就再次看到了公元2008年的那个地区了。我这才懂得我被送到了未来，但却仍然在自己的家乡！然后我又见到了王平，于是又跟在他后面飞去。
来到一个形状奇怪的房子面前，他把我带到一个明亮而洁净的大房间。那里有绿色的墙，棕色的地板，柔和的灯光。突然，墙壁移动了——原来是树形成的！后来我才发现，就是这些树的叶子为这栋房屋提供了急需的氧气。然后王平在电脑荧屏上闪了一下开关，于是一张桌子和几把椅子就像变魔术一样从地板下面升了起来。“为什么不坐下来吃点东西呢？”他说道，“你第一次做这样的时间旅行，可能会感到有些困难。今天没有任何出行计划，你可以好好休息一下。明天你还要准备参观几个地方。”说完这些，他把食物摆在桌子上，又从地板下拿出一张床来。他离开后，我快速吃了些东西，洗了个热水澡。我感到累极了，溜到床上就睡着了。
以后再谈吧！
你们亲爱的儿子，
李强
Using Language
I HAVE SEEN AMAZING THINGS
My first visit was to a space station considered the most modern in space.Described as an enormous round plate，it spins slowly in space to imitate the pull of the earth’s gravity.Inside was an exhibition of the most up­to­date inventions of the 31st century.A guide (G) showed us around along a moveable path.
G：Good morning to all our visitors from 2008.First we’re going to examine one of the latest forms of communication among our space citizens.No more typists working on a typewriter or computer！No more postage or postcodes！Messages can now be sent using a “thoughtpad”．You place the metal band over your head，clear your mind，press the sending button，think your message and the next instant it’s sent.It’s stored on the “thoughtpad” of the receiver.It’s quick，efficient and environmentally friendly.The only limitation is if the user does not think his or her message clearly，an unclear message may be sent.But we cannot blame the tools for the faults of the user，can we?
During the explanation I looked at the pair of small objects called “thoughtpads” on a table.They just looked like metal ribbons.So ordinary but so powerful！While I was observing them，the path moved us on.
G：And now ladies and gentlemen，we are in the “environment area”．People used to collect waste in dustbins.Then the rubbish was sent to be buried or burned，am I right？(We nodded)．Well，now there’s a system where the waste is disposed of using the principles of ecology.A giant machine，always greedy for more，swallows all the waste available.The rubbish is turned into several grades of useful material，such as “fertilizer” for the fields and “soil” for deserts.Nothing is wasted，and everything，even plastic bags，is recycled.A great idea，isn’t it?
I stared at the moving model of the waste machine，absorbed by its efficiency.But again we moved on.
G：Our third stop shows the changes that have happened to work practices.Manufacturing no longer takes place on the earth but on space stations like this one.A group of engineers programme robots to perform tasks in space.
The robots produce goods such as drugs，clothes，furniture，hovering carriages etc.There is no waste，no pollution and no environmental damage！However，the companies have to train their representatives to live and work in space settlements.They have to monitor the robots and the production.When the goods are ready they’re transported by industrial spaceship back to earth.
My mind began to wander.What job would I do？My motivation increased as I thought of the wonderful world of the future.
我看到了奇妙的东西
我首先参观的是一座太空站，这个站被认为是太空中最现代化的地方。像是一个巨大的圆盘，太空站在太空中缓缓地旋转，模仿地球重心的拉力。里面展示了3l世纪最先进的发明。一个导游领我们在一个移动通道上参观了一下。
导：2008年来的游客你们早上好。首先我们要仔细看看我们太空居民使用的最新通信形式之一。再也不需要打字员在打字机或电脑上工作了！不会再有邮资和邮政编码了！现在信息能够通过“思维发射器”传递。你把金属箍戴到头上，整理思绪，按下发送键，集中精神想你要发送的信息，片刻工夫信息已经发送出去了。信息被保存在接收者的“思维发射器”上。这样做很快速、高效和环保。唯一的限制就是如果使用者不想清楚要传递的信息，发送的信息会不清楚。但是我们不能因为使用者的错误而责怪工具，不是吗？
在讲解过程中我看着放在桌子上的被称为“思维发射器”的一对小物体。它们看起来就像金属带子。这么普通，但是却神通广大！我正观察着，通道向前移动了。
导：女士们、先生们，现在我们来到了“环境区”。人们过去使用垃圾箱收集垃圾。然后垃圾会被送去埋掉或烧掉，我说的没错吧？(我们都点头。)现在，这里是一个使用生态学原理处理垃圾的系统。一架巨大的机器，总是吞食掉所有的垃圾，而且总是贪得无厌。垃圾被分解为几种有用的物质，比如说庄稼地的“肥料”和沙漠中的“土壤”。什么都不浪费，所有的垃圾，甚至塑料袋也被回收利用。很伟大的想法，不是吗？
我凝视着正在运转的垃圾处理机器模型，被它的高效所吸引。我们再次向前移动。
导：我们的第三站展示了工作行为的变化。批量生产不再在地球上进行，而是在这样的太空站上进行。一组工程师编程机器人在太空里执行这些任务。
这些机器人制造像是药品、衣服、家具、汽垫车等的货物。没有废料、没有污染并且没有环境破坏。但是，公司需要培训代表在太空定居点居住和工作。他们需要监控机器人和生产。当货物造好后，使用工业太空船运回地球。
我不禁浮想联翩。我能做什么工作呢？当我想到未来的美妙世界时，我兴趣倍增、干劲十足。