Unit 9: Cities Of The Future - Reading

Now is the year 2060. Barbara is an engineer working for Hi-tech Operation Centre of Superstar City. Her job is to detect and analyse any threats to public safety such as floods, earthquakes, and even pollution. Thanks to various sensors installed (1)____every home and public place, Barbara's centre can (2)____ probable disasters, identify their locations and send a rescue team to help the people in danger. If warnings and assistance are given in good time, people’s lives are well protected.   Barbara's husband, Mark, is working for Eco (3)_____ Network, whose main function is to deal with urban(4)____ problems to make Superstar City greener, cleaner and more sustainable. Mark and his colleagues are city planners. They design and carry out projects aiming to reduce fossil fuel consumption, find renewable fuels for public transport, and promote other clean air efforts. Thanks to these projects, city dwellers mainly use wind and sun energy for cooking, lighting and heating their homes. To ensure there is no (5)______ of fresh water, wastewater is treated and turned into drinking water. These projects have proved to be very (6)____ in dealing with global climate change, which was considered an insoluble problem in the first thirty years of this century.   Like most Superstar City dwellers, Barbara and Mark are quite happy with their life and work. They have to work only four days a week, four hours a day. Everybody has more time for study, entertainment and relaxation. This safe, environmentally friendly city is like a paradise for its inhabitants who can enjoy the highest quality of life.