Superpowers for a super life?

We asked four people what they thought life would really be like if humans had certain superpowers. 

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise first. Then read the text and do the other exercises.

Reading

Superpowers for a super life?

What do you think life would really be like if humans had certain superpowers?

A

If we boasted the superhuman ability to fly, we would no longer need to worry about plunging from balconies or tumbling out of trees. It would also have a significant impact on urban architecture as buildings could soar with no need for lifts, except when transporting heavy loads. In addition to the potential change in city landscapes, dwellings on the sides of steep cliffs and hills would become more accessible, which could affect property prices. On the question of immortality, an obvious drawback would be the strain on the Earth’s resources due to intense overpopulation. It’s difficult to envisage how food and housing would stand up to such a challenge.

B

It would be great if we all possessed superhuman speed like Marvel hero Quicksilver, because we’d be able to stay in bed until the last possible moment without running the risk of being late for school or work. However, the sceptics among us put forward the idea that moving at such speed would ignite our shoes and leave a blaze which would disintegrate everything trailing behind us. This is aside from being blinded by bugs, birds or dirt that happen to get in our path. One superpower I’m not convinced by is immortality. Human existence would become relentlessly monotonous and tedious – a real-life Groundhog Day. Furthermore, any once-in-a-lifetime experiences would completely lose their value. I must admit, I’m intrigued to know to what extent our perception of time would change. As it is, time appears to pass more quickly as we age, but what would happen if we lived for eternity?

C

There are obvious pluses to humans being able to fly, such as a huge reduction in traffic congestion and pollution, not to mention more affordable travel expenses. Needless to say, it would not be without its complications. With the entire population racing around above the ground, some degree of air traffic control would be required to keep chaos at bay. However, we would be at even greater risk if we were able to run at superspeed. Not only would we destroy everything in our path but direct collisions with objects or other people would undoubtedly be fatal. Looking on the bright side, perhaps with so many of us being obliterated on impact, overpopulation from immortality wouldn’t be so likely.

D

In my view, being able to fly would pose a security threat at both national and international level. Border protection would become a major concern and countries would constantly need to patrol their airspace. It would be more difficult to protect individual properties too, which could increase the risk of burglary and personal safety. Air traffic control would be inevitable in towns and cities to bring some order to the skies. With regard to immortality, there is no question it would deplete the planet of its resources and the prospect of living in increasingly overcrowded conditions is far from appealing for most. My superpower of choice would be the ability to move at superhuman speed. With the necessary face and head protection to keep us intact, tardy arrivals would become a thing of the past.

 

Discussion

If you could choose one superpower, which would you like to have? Why? What would life be like?

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Average: 4 (3 votes)
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Comments

Submitted by pomelo on Mon, 04/17/2023 - 15:23

i wish the power all my words will come true it will help me a lot

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Submitted by Tz_ on Tue, 08/23/2022 - 10:14

I really like harry potter spells so of course I would like to have magical powers from harry potter, I could use spells to do my chores with spells, apparate and disaparate at will, read minds, spells could make life much easier

Submitted by lucalvesilva on Thu, 07/14/2022 - 10:05

If I had to choose a superpower, It would be predicting the future because I would be able to make better decisions since I'd know what comes next. Futhermore, I could prevent tragedies and bad situations in my personal life.

Submitted by 10AN615 on Wed, 06/08/2022 - 02:59

I would like to be invisible but if I'm super I don't want to be immortal

Submitted by hermione123 on Mon, 07/26/2021 - 05:03

i kinda think mind reading is awesome. well, actually now we can learn how to read someone's mind by looking at her or his behaviours and body languages. but if i can, it'll be like those legilimens on harry potter. i can detect lies just like voldemort:)) it must be nice if i'm the only one who can read people's mind. it's not going to be fun if every people in this world can do it too. it's not gonna be special.
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Submitted by Giovannichoi on Thu, 05/14/2020 - 12:19

In my opinion, I want to have a power of summon the water, because I can breath underwater, or talk with the sea-creatures, just like Poseidon. And I bet 'm not going to wet if I can use the water, only by my thoughts. Also, I think I can call the waves to come when I'm surfing at the sea, or shoot forward when I participate the swimming contests. So actually, I've been thinking about this since I've watched the movie 'Percy Jackson' and read these original series. I liked Thor, so I've wanted to have something electronic weapons just like stormbraker and Mjolnir. Also, after read the twice series of Percy Jackson, 'The Heros of Olympus', I often imagine myself in my dreams like Jason Grace, tossing the golden drachma and immediately holding the long sword, or Leo Valdez, summon fire and get everything from his magical tool pocket. it means that I want to be a super-powerful legendary demigod: summon water, summon lightning and carrying something wonderful weapon, and also summon the fire too. I think that can make my life more wonderful, because can boast it to my friends or trick them with my powers. But the activity that I mostly want to do if I can be the son of Poseidon so can summon the water, I really want horseback-riding on the Ophiotaurus' back. (It's one of the mythological sea creature, which has cow's head and snakes' body.) This is why I want to summon water.
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Submitted by Youjiro on Sun, 02/10/2019 - 11:47

In my view,I would like to choose knowledge of inteligence person such as mark zuckerberg,jeff bezos,marc benioff. They are super man I think because of unique idea. I'm very inspired them.If I have Idea from they My life will became a good life.They have vision for future 20 decade.I want to know what thinking about them .

Submitted by swojon on Sat, 09/01/2018 - 02:28

If i could afford only one superpower, it would be the power to control the four elements. Fire, water, air and water. these are the basis of our modern civilization. So, by controlling them, I could help take the human race to an even greater height. I could give continuous air flow to provide electricity through turbines, provide water to the people who live in remote and hostile environments. And I could also forecast one of mother natures most devastating natural disaster, earthquakes. and finally, by controlling inferno I could help industries use less fuel to help reduce pollution.
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Submitted by Panama on Sun, 02/18/2018 - 20:19

I have always dreamt about being able to fly or being invisible and I'm not sure which one would I choose, however I would never ever want to be immortal as I consider it to be a kind of nightmare. I don't mind long life but interminable life is totally senseless, as we would stop trying to do anything which has any meaning cause we would have a lot of time for it... Infinity, actually. And, another thing, we all dream about some kind of superpower, but isn't it because of our need to be unique? We want to be like a Marvel hero, the only person in the world being able to fly or being invisible, rather than considering giving a specific superpower to everyone. It would be nice, of course, to be able to fly, but it won't be actually nothing special if everybody can do that, will it?
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