Will we live to see the first cloned human.

Films and science fiction books have often played with the idea of reproducing exact copies of people. Today, science fiction has become science fact. We have our first real clones, though they are not human beings — yet!

The gene revolution began in 1997, when British scientists from Edinburgh University produced the first cloned sheep, Dolly. Since then scientists have cloned mice, cows, dogs and pigs.

Cloning animals opens exciting medical possibilities:

- Many people are in need of tissues and organs for transplantation. But it isn't easy to get such organs as, for example, heart, liver or kidneys. Cloning can solve this problem.

— Many animals are on the brink of extinction. Cloning can be used to preserve them.

— Scientists can create animals which produce more milk, meat and wool, or animals which don't catch certain diseases. This can save the lives of starving people.

Cloning is a controversial issue. Some people are ready to eat cloned fruits and vegetables, but many people are against cloning animals. They think it is morally unacceptable. The question of human cloning is even more controversial.

Suppose we cloned a man.

Are we really sure he will be a man? Who will be responsible for him? Who will bring him up? Will he be happy? Will he have the same rights as we have?

What would happen if a dictator, someone like Hitler, cloned himself?

Would we be able to survive?

Nevertheless, the idea of human cloning seems very exciting.

 

Names

Edinburgh University [,edinbara ^nfvaisiti] Hitler ['hitla] Гитлер

Эдинбургский университет (один из лучших

университетов Великобритании)

 

Vocabulary

to clone [klaun] клонировать, размножать science fiction [,saians 'fikjn] научная фантастика

вегетативным или клеточным путем to reproduce [,ri:pra'dju:s] воспроизводить, порождать

human being [,hju:man bi:irj] человек

gene [d3i:n] ген

to produce [pra'dju:s] создавать, производить

tissue ['tiju:], [lisju:] ткань

transplantation [,traenspla:n'teiln] трансплантация,

пересадка органа или ткани

liver [Miva] печень

kidney ['kidni] почка

on the brink of extinction [ik'stiQkfn] на грани

вымирания

to preserve [prrzaiv] сохранять

to starve [sta:v] голодать, умирать от голода

wool [wul] шерсть

disease [di'ziiz] болезнь

controversial [,kontra'v3:JI] спорный,

дискуссионный

issue [IJu:], [Isju:] вопрос, проблема

unacceptable [,Anak'septabl] неприемлемый

suppose [sa'pauz] предположим, допустим

to be responsible [if sponsibl] for нести

ответственность за

to bring up ['brio 'ЛР! (brought) воспитывать

rights [raits] права

dictator [dik'teita] диктатор

to survive [sa'vatv] выжить, уцелеть

nevertheless [,nevafla'les] тем не менее, все же,

однако

 

Questions

1 Is cloning a controversial issue?

2 Who produced the first cloned sheep?

3 What medical possibilities does cloning animals open?

4 Can cloning be used to preserve endangered species?

5 Scientists say that one day it will be possible to clone a dinosaur.

6 Does the idea seem exciting to you?

7 Do you think cloning can solve the problems of food shortages?

8 Are you for or against cloning animals? Why?

9. it would be exactly like you — from your hair colour to all your diseases. Would you like to have a clone?

10 What would happen if a dictator cloned himself?

11. Are you for or against cloning people?

 

 

Sports

 

 

OLYMPIC GAMES

The Olympic Games have a very long history. They began in 777 BC in Greece and took place every four years for nearly twelve centuries at Olimpia. They included many different kinds of sports: running, boxing, wrestling, etc. All the cities in Greece sent their best athletes to Olimpia to compete in the Games. For the period of the Games all the wars stopped. So the Olympic Games became the symbol of peace and friendship.

In 394 AD the Games were abolished and were not renewed until many centuries later.

In 1894, a Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, addressed all the sports governing bodies and pointed out the significance of sports and its educational value.

Two years later the first modern Olympic Games took place. Of course, the competitions were held in Greece to symbolize the continuation of the centuries-old tradition.

In 1896 the International Olympic Committee was set up. It is the central policy-making body of the Olympic movement. It is formed by the representatives of all countries which take part in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee decides upon the programme of the games, the number of the participants and the city-host for the Games. Over one hundred and fifty countries are represented in the International Olympic Committee now. Besides, each country has its National Olympic Committee.

Summer and Winter Games are held separately. There are always several cities wishing to host the Games. The most suitable is selected by the International Committee. After that the city of the Games starts preparations for the competitions, constructs new sports facilities, stadiums, hotels, press centres. Thousands of athletes, journalists and guests come to the Games, and it takes great efforts to arrange everything. There is always an interesting cultural programme of concerts, exhibitions, festivals, etc., for each Games.

Russia joined the Olympic movement in 1952. Since then it has won a lot of gold, silver, and bronze medals. In 1980 Moscow hosted the Twenty- Second Olympic Games.

The latest Olympic Games were held in Sydney. Russian sportsmen got medals for their records in many sports events.

 

Names

Olympic Games [a,limpik 'geimz] Олимпийские игры

Baron Pierre de Coubertin f'baeran pi,ea da,ku:ba'taer)]

барон Пьер де Кубертен (французский общественный

деятель, педагог, основатель международного

олимпийского движения)

Olympia [alimpia] Олимпия

the International [jnta'naefnl] Olympic

Committee [ka'miti] Международный

олимпийский комитет

Sydney ['sidni] Сидней (один из крупнейших

городов Австралии)

 

Vocabulary

ВС [,bi:'si:] до нашей эры (сокр. от

Before Christ [kraist])

wrestling ['resliij] борьба

athlete f'aeSlht] атлет

to compete [kam'pht] соревноваться

AD [,ei'di:] нашей эры (сокр. от лат. Anno Domini)

to abolish [a'bolif] отменять, упразднять

to renew [ri'nju:] возобновлять

governing ['g/wanig] административный,

руководящий

body ['bodi] орган, комитет

to point out указывать (на)

significance [sig'nifikans] значимость, важность

value ['vaelju:] ценность, важность, значение

to be held проводиться

to symbolyze ['simbalaiz] символизировать

to set up организовать, создать

policy-making ['polisi] body орган, определяющий

политику, цели (олимпийского движения)

representative [,repri'zentativ] представитель

participant [partisipant] участник

city-host [,siti'haust] город-хозяин Олимпийских

игр

national ['naejnl] национальный, государственный

separately ['sepratli] отдельно

to host [haust] принимать гостей, быть хозяином

suitable ['sju:tabl] подходящий

to select [si'lekt] отбирать, выбирать

sports facilities [fa'silitiz] спортивные сооружения

stadium ['steidjam] стадион

it takes great efforts ['efets] нужны большие усилия

to arrange [a'reinds] устраивать, организовывать

gold [gauld], silver ['silva] and bronze ['bronz]

medals ['medlz] золотые, серебряные и

бронзовые медали

record ['reko:d] рекорд

sports event [i'vent] спортивное соревнование

 

Questions

1. When and where did the Olympic Games begin?

2. Why did the Olympic Games become the symbol of peace and friendship?

3. When did the Games in Greece stop?

4. Who renewed the Olympic movement?

5. When and where did the first modem Games take place?

6. When was the International Olympic Committee set up? What is its function?

7. Are Summer and Winter Games held separately?

8. How does the city-host prepare for the Olympic Games?

9. When did Russia join the Olympic movement?

10. Where were the latest Olympic Games held?

 

SPORTS IN GREAT BRITAIN

The British are known to be great sports-lovers, so when they are neither playing, nor watching games, they like to talk about them. Many of the games we play now have come from Britain.

One of the most British games is cricket. It is often played in schools, colleges, universities and by club teams all over the country. Summer isn't summer without cricket. To many Englishmen cricket is both a game and a standard of behaviour. When they consider anything unfair, they sometimes say: "That isn't cricket."

But as almost everywhere else in the world, the game which attracts the greatest attention is Association football, or soccer. Every Saturday from late August till the beginning of May, large crowds of people support their favourite sides in football grounds. True fans will travel from one end of the country to the other to see their team play. There are plenty of professional and amateur soccer clubs all over Britain. International football matches and the Cup Finals take place at Wembley.

Rugby football is also very popular, but it is played mainly by amateurs.

Next to football, the chief spectator sport in British life is horse-racing. A lot of people are interested in the races and risk money on the horse which they think will win. The Derby is perhaps the most famous single sporting event in the whole world.

Britain is also famous for motor-car racing, dog-racing, boat-racing, and even races for donkeys. The famous boat-race between the teams of Oxford and Cambridge attracts large crowds of people.

A great number of people play and watch tennis. Tennis tournaments at Wimbledon are known all over the world. The innumerable tennis courts of Britain are occupied by people between the ages of 16 and 60 who show every degree of skill — from practically helpless to the extremely able.

The British also like to play golf, baseball, hockey, grass-hockey. Various forms of athletics, such as running, jumping, swimming, boxing are also popular. You can sometimes hear that there are no winter sports in England. Of course the English weather is not always cold enough to ski, skate, or toboggan, but winter is a good season for hunting and fishing. Indeed, sport in one form or another is an essential part of daily life in Britain.

 

Names

Wembley [-wembli] стадион Уэмбли в Лондоне Wimbledon ['wimbldan] Уимблдон (предместье

the Derby ['da:bi] Дерби (ежегодные скачки Лондона, в котором находится Всеанглийский

лошадей-трехлеток на ипподроме Epsom

Downs " близ Лондона; по имени графа Дерби) теннисный и крикетный клуб)

 

Vocabulary

cricket f'krikit] крикет (английская национальная rugby ['глдЫ] football регби (разновидность

спортивная игра; отдаленно напоминает футбола; по названию привилегированной

русскую лапту) средней школы "Rugby", где в 1823г. впервые

standard ['staendad] норма, образец стали играть в эту игру)

behaviour [bi'heivja] поведение next to football на следующем месте после

to consider [karrsida] считать, рассматривать футбола

unfair [лп-fea] нечестный, несправедливый chief [tji:f] главный, основной

to attract [a'traekt] attention привлекать внимание spectator [spek'tekjula] sport зрелищный вид спорта

crowd [kraud] толпа racing бега (конские, собачьи и пр.)

association [a,sausi'eijn] football футбол (по boat-race гребные гонки

названию английской Футбольной ассоциации, tournament ['tuansmant] турнир

разработавшей правила современного innumerable [Knjuimarebl] бесчисленный

футбола); разг. soccer ['soka] degree [di'gri:] степень, уровень

to support [sa-po:t] поддерживать, болеть skill умение

football ground футбольное поле helpless беспомощный

fan болельщик extremely чрезвычайно

professional [pra'fefanl] профессиональный able ['eibl] умелый

amateur ['aemeta] любительский to toboggan [ta'bogan] кататься на санях, санках

 

Questions

1. What do the British do when they are neither playing, nor watching games?

2. What kind of sport is especially associated with Britain?

3. What is cricket for an Englishman?

4. What is the most popular game in the world?

5. Where do the Cup Finals take place?

6. Is rugby played by professionals?

7. What kinds of racing are popular in Britain?

8. What do you know about Wimbledon?

9. What other games do the British play?

10. What winter sports are popular in Britain?

 

 

SPORTS IN RUSSIA

Sport has always been popular in our country. There are different sporting societies and clubs in Russia. Many of them take part in different international tournaments and are known all over the world. A great number of world records have been set by Russian sportsmen: gymnasts, weightlifters, tennis players, swimmers, figure skaters, runners, high jumpers. Our sportsmen take part in the Olympic Games and always win a lot of gold, silver and bronze medals.

Millions of people watch figure skating competitions, hockey and football matches, car races, tennis tournaments and other sports events. Certainly watching sports events and going in for sports are two different things.

In the past it was never admitted that professional sport existed in our country. The official point of view was that our sport was totally amateur. Now everybody knows that sport can be a profession and a business.

But sport can be fun as well. Besides, it helps to stay in good shape, to keep fit and to be healthy.

Doing sports is becoming more and more popular. Some people do it occasionally — swimming in summer, skiing or skating in winter — but many people go in for sports on a more regular basis. They try to find time to go to a swimming pool or a gym at least once a week for aerobics or yoga classes, body building or just work-out on a treadmill. Some people jog every morning, some play tennis.

For those who can afford it there are clubs where they give lessons of scuba diving or riding. In spring and summer young people put on their rollerskates and skate in the streets and parks.

 

Vocabulary

sporting society [sa'saiati] спортивное общество point of view [vju:] точка зрения

tournament ['tuanamant] турнир, чемпионат totally ['tautali] полностью

record [Teko:d] рекорд amateur ['aemata] любительский

gymnast ['d3imnast] гимнст fun удовольствие

vveightlifter ['weitlifta] тяжелоатлет in good shape в хорошей форме

figure skater ['flga,skeita] фигурист fit зд. в хорошем состоянии, в хорошей форме

high jumper прыгун в высоту to do sports заниматься спортом

to admit [ad'mit] признавать on a more regular basis ['beisis] более регулярно

professional [pra'fe/anal] профессиональный gym [djim] тренажерный зал

aerobics [ea'raubiks] аэробика to jog [41309] бегать трусцой

yoga ['jauga] йога to afford [a'fo:d] позволить себе

body-building ['bodibildirj] бодибилдинг scuba diving ['sku:ba /JaMrj] дайвинг, плавание с

work-out ['wa:kaut] тренировка аквалангом

treadmill [iredmil] тренажер "беговая дорожка" roller skates ['raula,skeits] роликовые коньки

 

Questions

1. Why is sport so important in our life?

2. Do Russian sportsmen take part in the Olympic Games?

3. Do they often win medals?

4. Was there a gym or a sports ground in your school?

5. What professional sporting societies or clubs do you know?

6. Are there any keep-fit centres in your neighbourhood? Do you go there?

7. Do you go in for sports or do you prefer to watch other people playing?

8. What team are you a fan of?

9. What is your favourite kind of sport?

10. How long have you been playing it?

11. Do you take part in competitions?

12. What games are popular in Russia?

 

Customs and Traditions

 

HOLIDAYS IN GREAT BRITAIN

There are fewer public holidays in Great Britain than in other European countries. They are: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday and Summer Bank Holiday. Public holidays in Britain are called bank holidays, because the banks as well as most of the offices and shops are closed.

The most popular holiday is Christmas. Every year the people of Norway give the city of London a present. It's a big Christmas tree and it stands in Trafalgar Square. Central streets are beautifully decorated.

Before Christmas, groups of singers go from house to house. They collect money for charity and sing carols, traditional Christmas songs. Many churches hold a carol service on the Sunday before Christmas.

The fun starts the night before, on the 24th of December. Traditionally this is the day when people decorate their trees. Children hang stockings at the end of their beds, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night and fill them with toys and sweets.

Christmas is a family holiday. Relatives usually meet for the big Christmas dinner of turkey and Christmas pudding. And everyone gives and receives presents. The 26th of December, Boxing Day, is an extra holiday after Christmas Day. This is the time to visit friends and relatives or perhaps sit at home and watch football.

New Year's Day is less popular in Britain than Christmas. But in Scotland, Hogmanay is the biggest festival of the year.

Besides public holidays there are some special festivals in Great Britain. One of them takes place on the 5th of November. On that day, in 1605, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I. He didn't succeed. The King's men found the bomb, took Guy Fawkes to the Tower and cut off his head.

Since that day the British celebrate the 5th of November. They burn a dummy, made of straw and old clothes, on a bonfire and let off fireworks.

This dummy is called a "guy" (like Guy Fawkes) and children can often be seen in the streets before the 5th of November saying, "Penny for the guy." If they collect enough money they can buy some fireworks.

There are also smaller, local festivals in Britain.

 

Names

Christmas ['krismas] Day Рождество (25 декабря) New Year's Day Новый год

Boxing ['boksiQ] Day второй день Рождества, день

рождественских подарков (в этот день принято

дарить подарки)

Good Friday Великая пятница (пятница на

страстной неделе)

Easter [1:sta] Monday первый понедельник после

Пасхи

May Day майский праздник, праздник весны

(отмечается в первое воскресенье мая)

Spring Bank Holiday весенний день отдыха

(в мае или начале июня)

Summer Bank Holiday летний день отдыха

(в августе или сентябре)

Trafalgar Square [tra;fselga 'skwea]

Трафальгарская площадь

Norway ['no-.wei] Норвегия

Father Christmas Рождественский дед, Дед Мороз

Hogmanay ['hogmanei] хогманей, канун Нового

года

Guy Fawkes [,gai 'fo:ks] Гай Фокс (глава

"Порохового заговора")

the Houses of Parliament ['pavement] здание

английского парламента

King James I [,d3eimz da "f3:st] Джеймс I (король

Англии с 1603 no 1625г.)

the Tower ['taua] Тауэр

 

Vocabulary

Christmas tree рождественская елка

to decorate ['dekareit] украшать

charity ['tfaeriti] благотворительность

carol ['kaeral] кэрол (рождественская песня

религиозного содержания, славящая

рождение Христа)

service ['saivis] служба (церковная)

to hang (hung) развешивать

stocking t'stokir)] чулок

chimney ftjimni] труба

relative f'relativ] родственник

turkey ['ta:ki] индейка

Christmas pudding ['pudio] рождественский

пудинг (с изюмом, цукатами и пряностями)

festival ['festival] празднество, праздник

to blow up взорвать

to succeed [sak'shd] достигнуть цели, добиться

bomb [bom] бомба

to cut off smb's head отрубить кому-либо голову

to celebrate ['selibreit] праздновать, торжественно

отмечать

to burn [Ьз:п] жечь, сжигать

dummy [Шт1] кукла, чучело, манекен

straw [stro:] солома

bonfire ['bonfaia] костер

to let off fireworks ['faiawarks] устроить фейерверк

penny ['peni] пенни, пенс

local ['laukl] местный

 

Questions

1. Are there many holidays in Great Britain?

2. What is a "bank holiday"?

3. What is the most popular holiday in Britain?

4. When is Christmas celebrated?

5. What are the traditional Christmas songs called in Britain?

6. What do children leave at the end of their beds and why?

7. What do the British do on Boxing Day?

8. What is the name of New Year's Eve in Scotland?

9. When is Guy Fawkes Night celebrated?

10. What do you know about Guy Fawkes?

 

HOLIDAYS IN RUSSIA

There are many national holidays in Russia, when people all over the country do not work and have special celebrations.

The major holidays are: New Year's Day, Women's Day, May Day, Victory Day, and Independence Day.

The first holiday of the year is New Year's Day. People see the new year in at midnight on the 31st of December. They greet the new year with champagne and listen to the Kremlin chimes beating 12 o'clock.

There are lots of New Year traditions in Russia. In every home there is a New Year tree glittering with coloured lights and decorations. Children always wait for Father Frost to come and give them a present. Many people consider New Year's Day to be a family holiday. But the young prefer to have New Year parties of their own.

A renewed holiday in our country is Christmas. It is celebrated on the 7th of January. It's a religious holiday and a lot of people go to church services on that day.

On the 8th of March we celebrate Women's Day when men are supposed to do everything about the house, cook all the meals and give women flowers.

The greatest national holiday in our country is Victory Day. On the 9th of May, 1945, our army completely defeated the German fascists and the Great Patriotic War ended. We'll never forget our grandfathers and grandmothers who died to defend our Motherland. We honour their memory with a minute of silence and put flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Independence Day is a new holiday in our country. On the 12th of June, 1992, the first President of Russia was elected.

We also celebrate Day of the Defender of Motherland on the 23d of February, Easter, Day of Knowledge and lots of professional holidays which are not public holidays and banks, offices and schools do not close.

 

Names

Independence [Jndi'pendans] Day День

независимости

Father Frost Дед Мороз

Christmas f'krismes] Рождество

Easter ['i:sta] Пасха

Day of the Defender [di'fenda] of Motherland

День защитника Отечества

Day of Knowledge ['пэМз] День знаний

Vocabulary

celebration [,seli'breijn] празднование

major ['meidja] главный

to see the new year in встречать новый год

to greet [gri:t] встречать (возгласами,

аплодисментами)

champagne [Jxnrpein] шампанское

chimes [tjaimz] куранты

to beat [bi:t] (beat, beaten) бить, отбивать

a New Year tree новогодняя елка

to glitter ['glita] блестеть, сверкать

to consider [kan'sida] считать

the young молодежь, молодые люди

renewed [ri'nju:d] возобновленный,

восстановленный

religious [ri'lidsas] религиозный

service ['sa:vis] служба

men are supposed [sa'pauzd] to... предполага-

ется (подразумевается), что мужчины...

to defeat [di'fi-.t] наносить поражение, разбивать

fascist ['fsejist] фашист

to elect [i'lekt] избирать

public ['рлЬНк] общенародный, общественный

 

Questions

1. What public holidays are celebrated in Russia?

2. What is your favourite holiday?

3. How is New Year's Day celebrated in your family?

4. Do you see the new year in at home?

5. What New Year traditions do you know?

6. When is Christmas celebrated?

7. What holiday do we celebrate on the 8th of March?

8. What is the greatest national holiday in our country?

9. Why is the 9th of May so sacred (священный) for the Russian people?

10. What other Russian holidays do you know?

 

SUPPLEMENTARY READER

 

 

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

THE FUTURE OF ENGLISH

Have you ever wondered how many people there are who speak English?

It's quite a number!

Geographically, English is the most widespread language on earth, and it is second only to Chinese in the number of people who speak it. It is spoken in the British Isles, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and much of Canada and South Africa. That"s about 400 million people.

English is also a second language of another 300 million people living in more than 60 countries.

If you add to this the enormous number of people who learn to understand and speak English (like yourself), you will realise that English is indeed a "world language".

In Shakespeare's time only a few million people spoke English. All of them lived in what is now Great Britain.

Through the centuries, as a result of various historical events, English spread throughout the world. Five hundred years ago they didn't speak English in North America: the American Indians had their own languages. So did the Eskimos in Canada, the aborigines in Australia, and the Maoris in New Zealand. The English arrived and set up their colonies...

Today, English is represented in every continent and in the three main oceans — the Atlantic, the Indian and the Pacific.

English is mixing with and marrying other languages around the world. It is probably the most insatiable borrower.

Words newly coined or in vogue in one language are very often added to English as well. There are words from 120 languages in its vocabulary, including Arabic, French, German, Greek, Italian, Russian, and Spanish.

Other languages absorb English words too, often giving them new forms and new meanings. So many Japanese, French and Germans mix English words with their mother tongues that the resulting hybrids are called Japlish, Franglais and Denglish. In Japanese, for example, there is a verb Makudonaru, to eat at McDonald's.

One of the many "Englishes" spoken and written today is Euro-English. Euro- English has its origins in the political arena of the European community.

A century ago, some linguists predicted that one day England, America, Australia and Canada would be speaking different languages. However, with the advent of records, cinema, radio, and television, the two brands of English have even begun to draw back together again.

Britons and Americans probably speak more alike today than they did 50 or 60 years ago. (In the 1930s and 1940s, for example, American films were dubbed in England. It's no longer the practice today).

People have long been interested in having one language that could be spoken throughout the world. Such a language would help to increase cultural and economic ties and simplify communication between people. Through the years, at least 600 universal languages have been proposed, including Esperanto. About 10 million people have learned Esperanto since its creation in 1887, but English, according to specialists, has better chances to become a global language. So why not learn it?

(from Speak Out, abridged)

 

 

SOME FACTS ABOUT ENGLISH

• There were only 30,000 words in Old English. Modern English has the largest vocabulary in the world — more than 600,000 words.

• There are about 60,000 words in common use.

• About 450-500 words are added to the English vocabulary every year.

• 70 per cent of the English vocabulary are loan words and only 30 per cent of the words are native.

• There are are words from 120 languages in English, including Russian.

• The most frequently used words in written English are: the, of, and, to, a, in, that, is, I, it, for and as.

• The most frequently used word in conversation is I.

• The longest word in the English language is: Pneumonoultamicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (a lung disease).

• The commonest letter is "e".

• More words begin with the letter "s" than any other.

• The most overworked word in English is the word set. It has 126 verbal uses and 58 noun uses.

• The newest letters added to the English alphabet are "j" and "v", which are of post- Shakespearean use.

• The largest English-language dictionary is the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary, with 21,728 pages.

• The commonest English name is Smith. There are about 800,00 people called Smith in England and Wales, and about 1,700,000 in the USA.

(from Speak Out, abridged)

 

HOT ISSUES

WHAT WILL OUR LIFE BE LIKE?

Can you imagine what our life will be like in the year 2050? What will our cities be like in the future? How will we live and behave? Will medical science win its battle against the terrible illnesses that mankind continues to suffer from?

If things go as researchers plan, by 2050 computers and Internet connections will be in every room in the home, and so will robots!

By 2010 most of us will be working on the move. Your office will be wherever you are. It'll be possible to have a virtual meeting instantly. Simply say to your computer "I want to have a meeting with my team at 11 o'clock" and they'll appear before your eyes on the screen of your wearable computer.

By 2025 we will have cars that drive themselves. By 2040 we could be driving on fully automated highways. Some scientists believe one day there will be flying cars, too.

Our power will come from sources cleaner than coal, oil and gas.

In the near future, progress in technology, electronics and genetic engineering will make it possible to regulate DNA. We'll become healthier and will be able to live longer.

In the next thirty years, we may all know someone who has travelled in space. Space travel is really expensive at the moment, but scientists are trying to find a solution.

"Fly me to the moon" may become a common demand, with package tours to lunar resorts.

By the end of the century we could travel to Mars as easily as we do to New York.

Mars could be the base for space exploration into the outer regions of the solar system and the Earth may even become a quieter planet