ries have moved underground. The chimneys have become something of the past.

In the afternoon, I fly to Lanzhou to meet Mr. Tom Peterson who is in charge of the Space Immigration Center. As soon as I got off the plane, I walk into a beauty saloon③ to get refreshed④. My trip to Lanzhou is brief but fruitful. Tom says my wife and I will be permtitted to move to the moon if we pass the health examination. Immediately I call my wife to tell her the good news. From a small screen I can see she is as excited as I am. I am even more overjoyed when I am told on the phone that I will be welcomed home with a delicious dinner cooked by my wife HERSELF.

（选自《英语学习》1991年第11期）

【词语解释】

①villa[＇vil+]n. 别墅

②computer-programmed 计算机编制程序的

③saloon[s+＇lu:n]n. 雅致的大会客室

④refresh[ri＇freM]v. 使精力恢复；使精神振作

【写法指要】

本文是对40多年后的一天生活的展望。作者采取平铺直叙的手法，把未来人们从早到晚的工作与生活情景呈现在我们面前：机器人做饭，交通由计算机管制，美丽清洁的自然环境，看不见的工厂，飞机的神速，去月球定居，可视电话的使用等等。全文文字简洁，形象具体。为使文章生动，作者在全文用的都是现在时态。