6.1 FUTURE GAZING: PREDICTIONS

You are going to read a text that predicts the Earth's future 1,000 years or more from now. What do you think it might say about the following:

buildings, language, global disasters, monuments like the Pyramids of Giza, the Earth's temperature

buildings

buildings: most will be destroyed by 3,000

language

most words commonly used today will become extinct by 3,000 due to the rapid evolution of language

global disasters

a global disaster may well have happened by 100,000; either a super-volcano or a large climate-altering asteroid

monuments like the Pyramids of Giza

monuments like the Pyramids of Giza might still exist in 1,000,000

the Earth's temperature

the Earth's temperature will be higher; by 4,000, the ice in Greenland will have melted because of extreme global warming

The text says gamma radiation will trigger mass extintions. What is a trigger? What does the verb mean here?

A trigger is the part of a gun that you squeeze to make it fire. Here, "trigger" means "start a rapid or powerful process".

The text says "Africa will have collided with Eurasia" and "all continents will be fused together". What is the difference between "collide" and "fuse together"? Which is the more violent action?

"Collide" means "crash into". "Fuse together" means "slowly become one mass". "Collide" is the more violent action.

The text say an area of land will "erode", titanium will "corrode" and glass will "decompose". What is the difference between these verbs?

"Erode" describes the process of land being destroyed over many years. "Corrode" means "destroyed by a chemical action", e.g. metal. "Decompose" is used about organic matter, e.g. food.

One synonym for "cease to exist" is "die out". Find two others synonyms in the text with the same meaning. They both use the verb become.

become extinct, become a thing of the past.

Look at the expressions in bold in the text.

Which refer to:

predictions with a link to the past?

a distant memory, become a thing of the past

predictions that are highly possible?

may well, is likely to

the evidence for a prediction?

The signs are

a situation that will stop because of changing conditions?

the days of living on islands will be over

Look at the expressions below.

They are similar to two of the expressions in Exercise 3A. Which two?

The facts suggest/The figures point to

the signs are

is bound to/is destined to

is likely to

Read some predictions about global developments.

Complete the paragraphs with suitable prepositions.

India is (?) track to surpass China as the most populated country by 2035.

India is on track to surpass China as the most populated country by 2035.

In India, 48,000 babies are born every day (?) average.

In India, 48,000 babies are born every day on average.

In future, India's resources such as schools and hospitals will be permanently (?) trial as they try to keep up with rising demands.

In future, India's resources such as schools and hospitals will be permanently on trial as they try to keep up with rising demands.

Millions of children are (?) risk of contracting diseases from dirty water.

Millions of children are at risk of contracting diseases from dirty water.

Only sixty percent of the world's population has easy access to drinking water (?) present.

Only sixty percent of the world's population has easy access to drinking water at present.

In the future, it is hoped that (?) least ninety-five percent of people will have running water in their homes, but there are no guaranties of this.

In the future, it is hoped that at least ninety-five percent of people will have running water in their homes, but there are no guaranties of this.

As humanity's need for resources and industries has grown, it has become clear that man is (?) far the most destructive animal on Earth.

As humanity's need for resources and industries has grown, it has become clear that man is by far the most destructive animal on Earth.

We are, (?) nature, extraordinarily prolific polluters of the planet.

We are, by nature, extraordinarily prolific polluters of the planet.

In future, everyone will have to monitor their pollution (?) law.

In future, everyone will have to monitor their pollution by law.

While the number of humans has risen, the number of wild animals such as lions has been (?) decline for decades.

While the number of humans has risen, the number of wild animals such as lions has been in decline for decades.

We are now preserving the genetic codes of animals that are (?) danger of extinction.

We are now preserving the genetic codes of animals that are in danger of extinction.

In future, we hope to be able to, (?) effect, "recreate" these animals.

In future, we hope to be able to, in effect, "recreate" these animals.

In the early twenty-first century, corruption in business has started getting (?) control.

In the early twenty-first century, corruption in business has started getting out of control.

Corporations have tried to keep a number of scandals (?) sight.

Corporations have tried to keep a number of scandals out of sight.

In future, (?) necessity, stricter anti-corruption laws will be passed.

In future, out of necessity, stricter anti-corruption laws will be passed.

Replace the underlined words below with prepositional phrases from Exercise 10A.

Then use your own ideas to complete as many of the predictions as you can.

In the future, people will be vulnerable to catching a new disease called...

In the future, people will be at risk of catching a new disease called...

Birth rates are falling fast, so soon...

Birth rates are in decline, so soon...

Inflation will get completely crazy, which will lead to...

Inflation will get out of control, which will lead to...

By 2040 there will be a minimum of ten billion people alive, and this will cause...

By 2040 there will be at least ten billion people alive, and this will cause...

In future, legally people will have to register their...

In future, by law people will have to register their...

To protect animals that are close to becoming extinct, we will...

To protect animals that are in danger, we will...

People will, generally, have only one...

People will, on average, have only one...

Right now, robots aren't very intelligent, but by 2040,...

At present, robots aren't very intelligent, but by 2040,...

Match the prepositional phrases in bold

with phrases a), b) or c).

The ship was hit by the typhon and blown off course. Now it's lost.

away from a scheduled path

I started the race OK, but soon realised I was off the pace and have to give up.

too slow to keep up

You can't get power into a golf shot if you're off balance.

in an unsteady position

We are not investigating the president. He's above suspicion.

assumed to be inocent

We never do anything illegal. Everything is above board.

legal

The planes are fast and comfortable, but above all they're safe.

the most important thing is

The manager said that, aged sixty-five, I was over the hill so he fired me.

past my best (too old now)

When I won first prize I was over the moon. I celebrate a lot.

extremely happy

Her celebrations were excessive. They were over the top.

too much

I didn't go to work because I was feeling under the weather.

a little bit sick

Oh, do I have to cook dinner? I was under the impression you'd do it!

thinking (probably wrongly)

When you testify in court, remember you are under oath and cannot lie.

obliged by the law to tell the truth in court

Complete the text

by adding one word in each gap.

The idea of resurrecting extinct species used to be science fiction, but this development (?) well come true.

The idea of resurrecting extinct species used to be science fiction, but this development could/might/may well come true.

The science already exist. The recent explosion (?) genoma research tells us that the recipe for making a creature lies in its DNA.

The science already exist. The recent explosion in genoma research tells us that the recipe for making a creature lies in its DNA.

Creating animals from a genoma sequence is impossible now, but the (?) are it will happen soon.

Creating animals from a genoma sequence is impossible now, but the signs/chances are it will happen soon.

When an animal dies in a dry cave or in ice,

we can find intact genome sequences.

We then need a surrogate species to give birth to the animal.

If we wanted to bring back a mammouth, the surrogate would be an elephant.

As a result of this development, fears about the extinction of some species could become a (?) memory.

As a result of this development, fears about the extinction of some species could become a distant memory.

As the science gathers pace, conservationists are getting ready;

they have begun freezing tissue samples of these animals.

The days of campaigns to save the whale and so many other species could (?) over,

The days of campaigns to save the whale and so many other species could be over,

as extinction becomes a (?) of the past!

as extinction becomes a thing of the past!