阅读理解。
Michael, a normal American, stays home on workdays. He plugs into his personal computer terminal in
order to connect with the office. After work he puts on his headphones, watches a movie on his home video
recorder or plays baseball on the computer. On many days, Michael doesn't talk to any other human beings,
and he doesn't see any people except the ones on television.
Michael is imaginary, but his life style is very
possible. The inventions of modern technology seem to be cutting us off from communicating with our fellow
human beings.
The world of business is one area in which technology is separating us. Experts say, for example, that
many people will soon be able to work at home. With access to a large central computer, employees such as
office clerks, insurance agents, and accountants could do their job at display terminals in their own homes.
They would never have to actually see the people they're dealing with. Also, the way employees are paid will
change. Workers' salaries will be automatically paid into their bank accounts, making paper checks
unnecessary. No workers will stand in line to receive their pay or cash their checks. Personal banking will
change, too. Customers will deal with machines to put in or take out money from their accounts.
Another area in which technology is changing is entertainment. Music, for instance, was once a group
experience. People listened to music at concert halls or in small social gatherings. For many people now,
however, music is an individual experience. Walking along the street or sitting in their living rooms, they wear
headphones to build a wall of music around them. Movie entertainment is changing, too. Movies used to be
social events. Now, fewer people are going out to see a movie. Many more are choosing to wait for a film to
appear on television or are borrowing videotapes to watch at home. Instead of laughing with others, viewers
watch movies in their own living rooms.
1. The underlined sentence in the first paragraph means _____.
[ ]
A. Michael is a person full of imagination and his dreams can come true
B. Michael is not a real person but the life style does exist
C. Michael has ambitions but he can't make his dreams come true
D. Michael is full of imagination and his life style is common nowadays
2. What does the author discuss in the last paragraph?
[ ]
A. Technology is changing ways of entertainment.
B. People will never go to the concert in future.
C. How to borrow videotapes at home.
D. How to see a movie at home.
3. What is the main idea of the passage?
[ ]
A. We may no longer need to communicate with other people.
B. Modern technology seems to be separating people.
C. We may no longer need to work in the office.
D. Modern technology makes it possible for us to work at home.