Interviewer: Life is change, and th

Interviewer: Life is change, and the only thing that's certain about the future is that it is uncertain. So what does the future hold for us? A step forward in humanity's striving for perfection? A general nervous breakdown as the environment changes faster than we can adapt to it? We asked Clark Frinton, a theoretical physicist, for his views. Clark, are you optimistic about the future? Frinton: Generally speaking, yes. But we have serious problems to solve, and I don't think we will have solved them all by the middle of the century. Our prime goal must be to ensure our survival, and I think, there are two main problems we need to solve in this respect: ensuring enough energy and food while preserving our environment. To take energy first, at the moment we are largely using fossil fuels that pollute our environment and contribute to the global warming that could lead to rising sea levels and to the depletion of the ozone layer that lets in solar radiation that could endanger mankind's existence. The present alternative is nuclear fuel, which, while not directly polluting the environment, contains untold dangers from radiation — remember the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear power plants catastrophes. Therefore, we need an alternative source of energy. I think the future lies in fusion' power. Interviewer: But as I understand it, it takes more energy to initiate a fusion reaction than the process actually produces. Frinton: Yes, that's true at the moment, but we're making progress. If we can solve that problem. then we'll have unlimited cheap power, and we should reduce the greenhouse gases and global warming. We may even be able to heat our houses and power our cars in this environmentally-friendly way. Interviewer Clark, you mentioned energy and food. What about food? Frinton: Well, considering the expected increase in population, I think, our only answer is the greater use of genetically modified food. To feed the extra billions, we have to develop new methods of growing crops and increasing yields. Farmers will be using synthetic soils, and new forms of micro-organisms. plants and animals will become commonplace. Soon we'll be seeing fields of identical sheep, genetically engineered for their meat or their wool, if there is space available. Interviewer: But if we interfere with the genetic structure of the food we eat, might we not also interfere with out own genetic structure? Frinton: That's theoretically true, and GM food must be thoroughly2 tested. But my belief is that we will be able to produce safe GM food, and that most people on this planet will be eating it as pad of their normal diet.
Interviewer So we'll be eating perfectly straight bananas to save packing space. Frinton: And buying milk that will never go bad and which contains proteins against illnesses as well. Interviewer: What about society? Do you see major changes there? Frinton: Well, I see major changes resulting from advances in robotics and the Internet. To take robotics first, robots and other automated machinery will be commonplace in the factory, agriculture, building and construction, undersea activities, space, mining and elsewhere. This will cause us to completely redefine' the concept of 'working class'. In addition, soon more shopping will be done over the Internet than in shops. There will be a huge increase in 'labour-saving' devices and a consequent reduction in the need for labour. This could also mean a considerable increase in our free time, allowing us more time to be with our friends and families and to pursue' our own interests. Interviewer: Might not this lead to massive unemployment? How will people earn their livelihood? Frinton: That's a good question. There will certainly be a change in workplace. Many people will be working from home through the Internet, and there won't be the need for offices to be situated in city centres or a need for schools, for that matter, since education could be performed via the Internet. I suspect that the majority of jobs will be short-time contract work with a resulting lack of job security. Interviewer: And there could be an increase in the gap between the haves and the have-nots in society, which could cause social unrest.
Frinton: True, but there should be an increase in democracy through the developments in communications. Voting via the Internet could become routine, so the ordinary person will have more of a say in political life. Interviewer: But what about the 'info-poor', that is, the segment of the world's population without access to information? Frinton: Well, new technology is always expensive at first, but then prices fall. Only the very wealthy could afford radios, telephones and TVs when they were first introduced. Now everyone has them. Interviewer: But don't you think that those in power will use developments in technology to suppress their populations? Frinton: On the contrary. I believe that governments will have less control over the thinking of their populations. Again, largely through developments in communications and especially the Internet. In fact, I can see the day when, as the world's population logs on, users will create 'cybernations' of highly-informed people sharing mutual ideals, and national boundaries will become irrelevant'. Interviewer: One final question. Will we be able to cope with all these changes? In Darwinian terms, can we evolve fast enough to keep pace with the rate of progress?
Frinton: Well, I believe that it's precisely the ability to adapt that has allowed humanity to evolve to where it is today. And, despite the changes, we'll still be going to the toilet in the morning, falling in love, having our hearts broken, dealing with our ambitions and frustrations2, and trying to find out who we are.

WORD FILE an advance lad'va:ns] a breakdown rbreikdaon] an existence Eigizistans) a fossil rfosli a fuel Vlinrall an implication 1,Impliikegnj radiation 1,reldreiSnj reduction irirclAkSn1 survival IsaivaivIl a yield [jildl global warming [,glaobl 'wa:mig] greenhouse gas [,gri:nhaos 'gRs1 ozone layer [aozaon leia] to preserve [pri'13:v] consequent l'konsikwant] nuclear Nu:klia1 despite smth faspait) • in this respect • to become commonplace • to cope with smth • to keep pace with • to strive for perfection

Результаты (русский) 1:

Интервьюер: Жизнь меняется, и единственное, что определенные о будущем является неопределенным. Так что сулит будущее для нас? Шаг вперед в стремлении человечества к совершенству? Общий нервный срыв как изменения окружающей среды, быстрее, чем мы можем адаптироваться к нему? Кларк Frinton, физик-теоретик, мы попросили его взгляды. Кларк, ты оптимизм в отношении будущего? Frinton: Вообще говоря, да. Но у нас есть серьезные проблемы, и я не думаю, что мы будет решена их всех к середине века. Нашей главной целью должно быть для обеспечения нашего выживания, и я думаю, есть две основные проблемы, нам необходимо решить в этом отношении: обеспечение достаточно энергии и продовольствия при сохранении нашей окружающей среды. Чтобы взять энергию во-первых, на данный момент, мы главным образом с использованием ископаемого топлива, которые загрязняют окружающую среду и способствуют глобальному потеплению, может привести для повышения уровня моря и истощением озонового слоя, что позволяет в солнечной радиации, которая может поставить под угрозу существование человечества. Настоящей альтернативой является ядерного топлива, которые, хотя прямо не загрязнение окружающей среды, содержит неописуемые опасности от излучения — Помните, Чернобыльской АЭС Фукусима ядерной электростанции и катастроф. Таким образом нам нужен альтернативный источник энергии. Я думаю, что будущее находится в fusion' власть. Интервьюер: Но как я понимаю, это требует больше энергии, чтобы начать реакции сплавливания, чем процесс на самом деле производит. Frinton: Да, это правда, на данный момент, но мы делаем прогресс. Если мы можем решить эту проблему. Тогда мы будем иметь неограниченное дешевой электроэнергии и мы должны сократить парниковые газы и глобальное потепление. Мы может даже быть в состоянии нагреть наши дома и наши автомобили таким образом экологически чистые. Интервьюер Кларк, вы упомянули, энергию и продовольствие. Как насчет питания? Frinton: Ну, учитывая ожидаемое увеличение населения, я думаю, нашим единственным ответом является более широкое использование генетически модифицированных продуктов питания. Чтобы прокормить дополнительные миллиарды, мы должны разработать новые методы выращивания сельскохозяйственных культур и повышения урожайности. Фермеров будет использовать синтетические почвы и новых форм микро-организмов. растения и животных станут обычным явлением. Скоро мы будем видеть поля идентичных овец, генной инженерии для их мясо или их шерсть, если есть свободное место. Ведущий: Но если мы вмешиваться с генетической структуры пищи, которую мы едим, мы также не помехой с собственной генетической структуры? Frinton: Это теоретически верно, и ГМ продуктов питания должны быть испытаны thoroughly2. Но мое убеждение состоит в том, что мы сможем производить безопасные ГМ продуктов питания, и что большинство людей на этой планете будет есть это как коврик для их нормальной диете. Interviewer So we'll be eating perfectly straight bananas to save packing space. Frinton: And buying milk that will never go bad and which contains proteins against illnesses as well. Interviewer: What about society? Do you see major changes there? Frinton: Well, I see major changes resulting from advances in robotics and the Internet. To take robotics first, robots and other automated machinery will be commonplace in the factory, agriculture, building and construction, undersea activities, space, mining and elsewhere. This will cause us to completely redefine' the concept of 'working class'. In addition, soon more shopping will be done over the Internet than in shops. There will be a huge increase in 'labour-saving' devices and a consequent reduction in the need for labour. This could also mean a considerable increase in our free time, allowing us more time to be with our friends and families and to pursue' our own interests. Interviewer: Might not this lead to massive unemployment? How will people earn their livelihood? Frinton: That's a good question. There will certainly be a change in workplace. Many people will be working from home through the Internet, and there won't be the need for offices to be situated in city centres or a need for schools, for that matter, since education could be performed via the Internet. I suspect that the majority of jobs will be short-time contract work with a resulting lack of job security. Interviewer: And there could be an increase in the gap between the haves and the have-nots in society, which could cause social unrest. Frinton: True, but there should be an increase in democracy through the developments in communications. Voting via the Internet could become routine, so the ordinary person will have more of a say in political life. Interviewer: But what about the 'info-poor', that is, the segment of the world's population without access to information? Frinton: Well, new technology is always expensive at first, but then prices fall. Only the very wealthy could afford radios, telephones and TVs when they were first introduced. Now everyone has them. Interviewer: But don't you think that those in power will use developments in technology to suppress their populations? Frinton: On the contrary. I believe that governments will have less control over the thinking of their populations. Again, largely through developments in communications and especially the Internet. In fact, I can see the day when, as the world's population logs on, users will create 'cybernations' of highly-informed people sharing mutual ideals, and national boundaries will become irrelevant'. Interviewer: One final question. Will we be able to cope with all these changes? In Darwinian terms, can we evolve fast enough to keep pace with the rate of progress? Frinton: Well, I believe that it's precisely the ability to adapt that has allowed humanity to evolve to where it is today. And, despite the changes, we'll still be going to the toilet in the morning, falling in love, having our hearts broken, dealing with our ambitions and frustrations2, and trying to find out who we are. WORD FILE an advance lad'va:ns] a breakdown rbreikdaon] an existence Eigizistans) a fossil rfosli a fuel Vlinrall an implication 1,Impliikegnj radiation 1,reldreiSnj reduction irirclAkSn1 survival IsaivaivIl a yield [jildl global warming [,glaobl 'wa:mig] greenhouse gas [,gri:nhaos 'gRs1 ozone layer [aozaon leia] to preserve [pri'13:v] consequent l'konsikwant] nuclear Nu:klia1 despite smth faspait) • in this respect • to become commonplace • to cope with smth • to keep pace with • to strive for perfection