1 Technology and society

1. Read and memorize the following words.

purpose	призначення
adapt	пристосовуватись
power	продуктивність
trade	обмін, угода
efficient	умілий, кваліфікований

2. Read and translate the text.

The purpose of technology is to produce applications which improve our material environment. The people who design, test, and make these applications are called technicians, technologists, and engineers. They work in areas such as civil, mechanical, electrical, electronic, and marine engineering, and in newer fields such as information technology (IT). They use scientific knowledge and technological experience in their work. They often adapt older existing technology (e.g. radio waves) to create new applications (e.g. mobile phones). Technology is all around us and affects every aspect of our lives. Here are some examples:

• transport – road, sea, and air travel; space exploration

• telecommunications – mobile phones, fibre-optics, internet, satellites

• trade – credit and debit cards, bank ATM machines

• work efficiency – washing machines, microwave ovens, computer software

• power – heating, lighting, air conditioning

• health – lasers in eye surgery, medicines

Because technology is so important in society, technicians, technologists, and engineers always have to think about values, that is, whether something is good or bad. Unfortunately, some technology has both positive and negative effects on society. Using minerals such as oil, coal, iron, and uranium improves our standard of living but can also pollute the air, water, and ground. The same rockets that allow space exploration can carry nuclear weapons. Road vehicles and planes allow fast travel but also cause accidental deaths and create global warming. The challenge for technology is how to increase the positive effects on society but reduce or eliminate the negative effects.

3. Complete the sentences with the correct words.

1. This _________ is broken, so please call a _______ to repair it.

Mechanic/mechanical/mechanism

2. A __________ is someone who has been trained in _____

Technical/ technology/ technician

3. After the _______installation, the building will have ______

Electricity/ electrical/ electrician

4. Study ______ at university if you want to become an ______

Engine/ engineer/ engineering

5. He has a diploma in ______and now he repairs ________ equipment.

Electron/ electronics/ electronic

4. Complete the table with adjectives from the list. Put one simple adjective next to the correct rule. Then write its comparative form.

bad	combustible	fast	portable
big	early	large	safe
cheap	far	noisy	slim

Rule	Simple	Comparative
Add –er	quiet ____________(1)	quieter _______________(2)
Add –r	wide ____________(3)	wider _______________(4)
Double final letter and add –er	thin ____________(5)	thinner _______________(6)
Change final –y to –i and add –er	heavy ____________(7)	heavier _______________(8)
Change the word (irregular)	good ____________(9)	better _______________(10)
Use more	expensive ____________(11)	more expensive _______________(12)