«Признавать»

1. Они отказались признать новое прави­ тельство.

2. Этот метод учета признан во всем мире.

3. Городские власти признают необходимость улучшения экологической ситуации.

4. Многие кредитные карточки признаны во всем мире.

228

Unit 6

1. The World We Live In

229

to affecl

Syn. to have an effect on

Discuss (lie questions with your partner.

1. Does smoking affecl health?

2. Does poor housing affect people?

3. Do newspapers (the media) affect the outcome of elections?

4. Are industiia! areas of Russia affected by pollution?

to disappoint, to be (get) disappointed, to embarrass, to be (gel) embar­rassed

Studies of children whose teachers use and do not use computers in the classroom suggest that the hopes for computers are just as wrong as those for classroom movies, radio and television.

The researchers found no evidence Ihat the use of computers improved children's test scores. In fact, they found the reverse. There are signs that com­puters may even impede learning. It's obvious that young children, in partic­ular, learn best when they face the teacher. Educational software is one-size -fits-all; it is not tailored to the varied abilities of pupils in a class.

Money should he spent to cut class size and to improve teacher training.

Words you may need

Answer the questions:

1) In what situation would you feel disappointed (embarrassed)?

2. What disappoints people?

3. What may embarrass people?

access

to provide access, to have access to (иметь доступ), to gain access to (по­лучить доступ)

Discuss with your classmates.

1. Do young people in this country have access to high-quality education?

2. Do many young people have access to the Internet? Does the system pro­ vide easy access lo information?

3. Do people in this country have access to information?

4. Do people in this tfountry have difficulty gaining access lo social services?

5. Do students of your university have easy access to the books they need, sports facilities, and computers?

Ex. 15. a) Read the text. Explain the use nf the articles in bold type, b) Sav what you think about using video, tapes, and computers in learniug different subjects, c) Explain the drawback of educational software, d) Do you agree with the con­clusion made at the end of the text?

Computers in Education

First it was the movie, then the radio receiver, and then the television. Each was once seen as magical technology that would transform education. Now it is the computer. Many governments have equipped schools with com­puters, convinced that their presence would improve the pace and efficiency of learning.

Some thought thai installing computers was a good way to teach children and to fit them for the 21^st century.

the reverse n — обратное impede v - затруднять tailor v — зд. специально приспосаб­ливать для какой-л. цели

magical adj - волшебный transform v - преобразовывать pace n — темп, скорость install v — устанавливать evidence n - свидетельство, доказа­тельство

Ex. 16. Sum up Text С (orally/in writing),

Situation: You are puzzled (озадачены) by the facts in the article "Computers in Education" (see Ex. 15). Discuss it through the Internet with your for­eign friends. Compare your ideas.

Ex. 17. Discussion questions.

1. What technological breakthroughs will have the greatest effect on our lives in the near future?

2. How will life have changed on Earth by 2050?

3. Which is the most important social issue in your opinion? AIDS, alco­ hol abuse, gun control, homelessness, illiteracy, street crime etc.?

4. Do you think that individuals can make important contributions to solv­ ing social problems? Why or why not?

5. What challenges do you think the world will face in the twenty-first cen­ tury?

6. Which problems concern you most? (drug trafficking, famine, global warming, the homeless, incurable diseases, poverty) Do you think the human race will survive? What will happen if the problem isn't solved?

7. What do you like about your city/town/the place you live in? What don't you like about it?

8. Have you thought about what you will be doing next year?

230

Unit 6

I. The World We Li vein

231