Human beings are often asking the question about their future. Many experts have predicted what will happen in the century 1 . George Friedman, founder and chief executive officer of Stratfor, has 2 some startling predictions. In his new book, The Next 100 Years, Friedman provides a look at 3 he believes the world will change over the course of this century.
One of the major issues 4 around the world these days is the challenge of feeding a growing population. But George Friedman believes this concern will be swept aside by the 5 of declining birth rates coupled with the aging of the largest segment (部分) of the current 6 .
And when it 7 climate change, a very real problem, in his opinion, he sees a clean energy future provided by giant solar arrays in nearend orbit.
“In space you have plenty of room to put solar collectors and your only problem is beaming it back to 8 and there are two ways to do that, one is by cable and 9 is by microwave radiation，” Friedman said.
Friedman's book also contains a number of surprising political 10 . He says Poland and Turkey will emerge as major powers and that by the end of this century 11 will challenge the United States for dominance in North America.
He says US irritation over illegal immigration and drug smuggling and Mexican resentment (愤恨) of US dominance will 12 grow stronger, 13 the two countries have strong trade relations.
By midcentury, Friedman says 14 is likely to be a world war involving weapons based in 15 and that Japan may launch a surprise attack on orbiting US battle platforms from bases on the moon, in a sort of “Star Wars” version of the Japanese 16 on the US fleet at Pearl Harbor in 1941.
George Friedman is the first to admit he has no crystal ball and 17 he could be wrong on how 18 will unfold, but he says final judgment 19 his forecasts can only come from those who will be 20 100 years from now.
语篇解读：未来一百年世界将会是什么样子，世界局势有哪些变化呢？乔治·弗莱德曼在他的《未来百年》中做了预测。不过他的预言是否正确，只能等到一百年之后来判定了。
1．A.before B．ahead
C．ago D．coming
解析：选B 通览全文可知，本文与未来百年的预言有关，ahead可以表示将来时间，而before, ago均表示过去，coming修饰名词时应置于其前。故选B项。
2．A.made B．produced
C．created D．contributed
解析：选A make predictions“做出预言”。produce“生产(产品)”；create“创造(前所未有的东西)”；contribute“贡献，捐献”。根据语境可知，B、C、D三项与语境不符。
3．A.what B．how
C．which D．that
解析：选B 在该书中，弗莱德曼向世人展示了在未来一个世纪世界将如何变化。下文就世界变化的趋势做了分析，因此how符合题意。
4．A.changed B．done
C．discussed D．finished
解析：选C 现在世人讨论的主要问题是如何养活不断增长的人口。
5．A.concern B．fact
C．problem D．challenge
解析：选D 弗莱德曼认为这种关注将被人口出生率下降的挑战所取代。concern与about搭配，fact与problem不足以描述问题的严重性。
6．A.situation B．world
C．prediction D．population
解析：选D 由上文的“a growing population”可知，第二段讨论人口问题，这里说的是很大一部分人口的老龄化同样是未来百年人类面临的挑战。
7．A.turns to B．keeps to
C．comes to D．links to
解析：选C 第三段讲了有关气候变化的问题。come to“涉及，论及”；turn to“转向”；keep to“遵守”；link to“联系”均与语境无关，予以排除。
8．A.sun B．earth
C．moon D．space
解析：选B 本段介绍了如何利用太阳能的情况。唯一的问题是将阳光反射到地球上。也就是说在地面上接收太阳能，因此A、C、D三项错误。
9．A.other B．another
C．the other D．the second
解析：选C 前文称有两种方法，一种是用光缆，另一种是通过微波辐射。the other“两者中的另一个”。
10．A.predictions B．problems
C．situations D．challenges
解析：选A 本文与百年预言有关，前面讲了有关人口、气候的预言，这里讲关于政治的预言。
11．A.Poland B．Mexico
C．Turkey D．the United States
解析：选B 由常识可知，墨西哥和美国属于北美国家。再根据下一段美国和墨西哥的争端可知，弗莱德曼预测了墨西哥将称雄北美洲的可能。
12．A.generally B．normally
C．properly D．eventually
解析：选D 墨西哥对美国的霸权的憎恨最终会变得更强烈。
13．A.in case B．even though
C．as though D．as if
解析：选B 从逻辑关系来看，墨西哥对美国霸权的憎恨与两国间牢固的贸易关系形成了对比，因此用表示转折关系的连词even though“尽管”。in case“以防”，as though和as if都是“好像”的意思，这三项与语境无关。
14．A.it B．there
C．that D．one
解析：选B 弗莱德曼称未来有可能发生世界大战。这是一个there be句型，因此B项正确。A、C、D项都不表示存在。
15．A.time B．space
C．the space D．the harbor
解析：选B 这场战争将动用空间武器。根据后面的“platforms from bases on the moon”可以判断，这将是一场空间大战。
16．A.war B．fight
C．battle D．attack
解析：选D 在某种意义上很像《星球大战》版的1941年日本偷袭美国珍珠港军舰。根据前一句的attack暗示，应选D项。
17．A.why B．that
C．whether D．if
解析：选B 这里是admit的两个宾语从句。第二个宾语从句的连词不可省略。admit后接的句子没有疑问或否定意义，因此不用whether或if。
18．A.business B．affairs
C．matters D．events
解析：选D 本文是对未来世纪大事件的预测。而business“商务”，affairs“政务”，matters“琐事”均不符合语境。故选D项。
19．A.about B．on
C．to D．for
解析：选B final judgment on“对……做出最终判决”。但他说对他的预言能够做出最终评判的只能是那些一百年之后还活着的人了。
20．A.live B．alive
C．available D．dead
解析：选B 只有活着的人才可以对弗莱德曼的预言做出评判，因此B项正确。
