Until recently, the "science of the future" was supposed to be electronics and artificial intelligence. Today it seems more and more likely that the next great breakthroughs in technology will be brought through a combination of those two sciences with organic chemistry and genetic engineering. This combination is the science of biotechnology.
Organic chemistry enables us to produce marvelous synthetic (合成的) materials. However, it is still difficult to manufacture anything that has the capacity of wool to conserve heat and also to absorb moisture. Nothing that we have been able to produce so far comes anywhere near the combination of strength, lightness and flexibility that we find in the bodies of ordinary insects.
Nevertheless, scientists in the laboratory have already succeeded in "growing" a material that has many of the characteristics of human skin. The next step may well be "biotech hearts and eyes" which can replace diseased organs in human beings. These will not be rejected by the body, as is the case with organs from humans.
The application of biotechnology to energy production seems even more promising. In 1996 the famous science-fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke, many of whose previous predictions have come true. He said that we may soon be able to develop remarkably cheap and renewable sources of energy. Some of these power sources will be biological. Clarke and others have warned us repeatedly that sooner or later we will have to give up our dependence on non-renewable power sources. Coal, oil and gas are indeed convenient. However, using them also means creating dangerously high levels of pollution. It will be impossible to meet the growing demand for energy without increasing that pollution to catastrophic (灾难性的) levels unless we develop power sources that are both cheaper and cleaner.
It is attempting to think that biotechnology or some other "science of the future" can solve our problems. Before we surrender to that temptation we should remember nuclear power. Only a few generations ago it seemed to promise limitless, cheap and safe energy. Today those promises lie buried in a concrete grave in a place called Chernobyl, in the Ukraine. Biotechnology is unlikely, however, to break its promises in quite the same or such a dangerous way.
单选题
According to the passage, the science of the future is likely to be ______.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。利用题干关键词science of the future可以定位到文章第一段，最后一句“This combination is the science of biotechnology.”意为“这种组合是生物技术科学。”所以选项B为正确答案。
单选题
Organic chemistry helps to produce materials that are ______.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。利用题干关键词chemistry和material可以定位到文章第二段“Organic chemistry enables us to produce marvelous synthetic (合成的) materials. However, it is still difficult to manufacture anything that has the capacity of wool to conserve heat and also to absorb moisture”，即“有机化学能使我们生产出神奇的合成材料，但是很难制造出像羊毛那样具有保温和吸潮能力的材料”，可知生物化学虽然可以帮助我们生产出新的材料，但这些材料的质量很难达到天然产品的程度。所以选项C为正确答案。
单选题
According to the passage, it may soon be possible ______.
单选题
In 1996, Arthur C. Clarke predicted that ______.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 利用题干关键词Arthur C. Clarke和1996可以定位到文章第四段第二句“In 1996 the famous science fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke, many of whose previous predictions have come true, said that we may soon be able to develop remarkably cheap and renewable sources of energy.”意为“1996年，Arthur C. Clarke说可能很快能够开发出相当便宜并且可再生的能源”。所以选项B正确。