Questions

Words and expressions

era	-эра
exciting	- волнующий
to predict	- предсказывать
daily	- повседневный
to automate	- автоматизировать
creative	- творческий
to type up	- печатать
gadget	- приспособление
solution	- решение
urgent	- неотложный
cancer	- рак
AIDS	- СПИД
famine	- голод
safe	- безопасный
atmospheric pollution	- атмосферное загрязнение
criminal	- преступник
wise	- мудрый
superpower	- сверхдержава
are walking up to Green issues	- начинают осознавать экологические проблемы

Questions

1. Are you optimistic about the future?

2. Do you believe that the robots will do all the dangerous and dirty work for us in future?

3. Do you think that children will go to school in future?

4. What's the difference between a telephone and a videophone?

5. Will the hand writing become the thing of the past?

Lesson 18

A HIGH-TECH LIFE. WHAT ARE PROS & CONS?

1. Some people think that technology will save the world and make it better, some others think that technology will ruin the society because we are too dependent on electric and electronic gadgets and machines.

Group work

Which inventions that you've learned about are invaluable (extremely useful) for you and which are junk (really useless), according to your opinion?

1) Work in a group of about five persons. Name three things that you can hardly live without and three things that you can sacrifice without too much reluctance.

2) Compare your list with the lists of your classmates. Which things were named most often in the first category? And in the second category?

2. Some pieces of technology are more important for us than others.

1) What piece of technology couldn't people below live without?

Why are they important for these people? (reading / listening for specific information)

I couldn't live without my computer at home. I use it all the time. It is like a typewriter and address book for me and it is also used for checking my spelling. Besides I can go on the Internet and discover everything about anything, it's a brilliant source of information. I've designed my own website and I'm getting loads of information for school. Besides some websites are packed with quizzes, games and competitions, it's all you need for hours of fun on your computer. You can play and learn on it. It is absolutely essential. I don't know how I ever managed without it. But my elder sister thinks people are getting a bit too dependent on computers. She thinks that we rely on them too much. My sister says, "You can't rely on all the information, you don't know who it has been written by or where it's coming from. To be dependent on anything, especially a lifeless machine, that quite easily break down, is not good. Besides computers shouldn't replace seeing your friends.

Kate

I couldn't possibly live without my car. Convenience seems to be the most common and most logical answer: cars take you where you want to go and when you want to go there. I can travel freely and comfortably wherever I want.

Besides it allows me to live where I want as I can easily get to the place I need with the help of the car. Besides a car is a way of self-expression. I really hate to be without it. I think a car is a necessity rather than a luxury. But my wife thinks there are too many cars in our cities. Some people use them in cases when they could go on foot for example when going to buy a newspaper in a kiosk. It's necessary to give thought to problems caused by cars. Pollution, accidents and so on. She says that cars are useful but not essential and it's nice when cars are banned from the central shopping areas. I don't agree with such situation but I have to accept it. My wife prefers to go to work using intercity transportation system. She says that during the rush hour, a trip from our home to her work by car takes much more time than a trip on foot. But I prefer to use my car. It suits me.

John

I couldn't imagine my life without my phone or I should say phones because I've got a mobile, too. I need a telephone to get in touch with my friends or to call the police or an ambulance. It is almost impossible for me to live without my phones. At home I've got a cordless telephone, I think it saves time when you have a receiver just at hand. But my mum was against buying a cordless phone because if there is some problem with electricity it wouldn't work and you'll be totally lost. She also thinks that it is a luxury to have a mobile, it is too expensive, it is more trouble than it's worth. Besides she says that mobiles are dangerous for health. The rays may cause headaches and even more dangerous diseases. I don't believe her. For me my telephones are really invaluable.

Ann

3. Are the statements below true or false?

1. Kate uses her PC for typing and keeping information.

2. Kate uses her computer to get information from the Internet.

3. Kate's sister thinks it's not clever to believe all facts stored on the Internet.

4. Kate's sister considers electronic devices not reliable.

5. John doesn't like his car but he needs it.

6. John's wife most probably goes to work by bus than by car.

7. John doesn't like the situation when he can't use his car for going shopping.

8. John's wife spends less time to get to her work when she walks than when she goes by car.

9. Ann doesn't agree to have one phone.

11. Ann's and her mum's opinions about the phone are different.

10. Ann's mum thinks that telephones are more trouble than profit.

12. There are some problems with computers, cars and telephones.

Lesson 19

Everything will be better in the future. In small groups think about the future technological progress. Write what you are thinking about it (10 sentences). Choose 5 main ideas about the future and read them out to the class.

Model: Cars will run on batteries. We won't need I petrol or diesel fuel.

Lesson 20 - 21

CHOICE OF PROFESSION

What profession to choose? This question is the most important and difficult for everybody. Every job is both interesting and difficult. I think that all profes­sions are very important in our life. But to choose the right occupation is very difficult, because we must consider many factors. We must consider our personal tastes and at the same time we must satisfy the re­quirements of our society.

Some people keep family traditions and choose the profession of their parents. Very often young people themselves make the choice of profession. Some may prefer to work in factories or at big plants, others want to go into construction: to take part in building power stations and new towns. Many opportunities are offered in the sphere of services, transport, communi­cations and many others. Young men can work and satisfy at the same time the requirements of society and their own personal interests.

The end of school is the beginning of an independ­ent life, the beginning of more serious examinations. Some boys and girls try to enter Institutes and Uni­versities where they can use the knowledge and educa­tion received at school. Some are trying to find a good job.

I have decided to become a …. I like this profession because it is very interesting.