English is my cup of tea. Part 5. Учебное пособие

Contents

УДК 881.111(075.8)

ББК 81.2Англ-92

П752

Печатается по решению кафедры лингвистического образования Института управления в экономических, экологических и социальных системах Южного федерального университета

(протокол № 6 от 30 января 2017 г.)

Рецензенты:

кандидат филологических наук, доцент кафедры лингвистического образования Института управления в экономических, экологических и социальных системах Южного федерального университета О. Г. Мельник

кандидат филологических наук, доцент кафедры русского и иностранных языков Таганрогского института имени А. П. Чехова (филиал)

«РГЭУ (РИНХ)» М. Г. Аханова

Привалова, Ю. В.

П752 English is my cup of tea. Part 5 : учебное пособие / Ю. В. Привалова,

В. П. Овчаренко ; Южный федеральный университет. – Ростов-на- Дону ; Таганрог : Издательство Южного федерального университета,

2018. – 75 с.

ISBN 978-5-9275-3120-2

Данное пособие предназначено для студентов-лингвистов, изучающих практический курс английского языка. Пособие также может быть использовано широким кругом лиц с различным уровнем владения языком для совершенствования иноязычной коммуникативной компетенции. Пособие содержит материал, предназначенный для совершенствования коммуникативной компетенции студентов по темам «Наука и технологии», «Путешествия и транспорт».

УДК 881.111(075.8)

ББК 81.2Англ-92

ISBN 978-5-9275-3120-2

©Южный федеральный университет, 2018

©Привалова Ю. В., Овчаренко В. П., 2018

©Оформление. Макет. Издательство Южного федерального университета, 2018

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Contents

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Science and Technology

person remove this panel'. Well, you are unqualified, (15)...........? What do you

II. Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one word in each space.

Electronic Intelligence

Science fiction films and books are full of robots that look, and even think, exactly (1) ………….... humans. Some people believe it will not be long (2) ………….... such machines become a reality. However, most advanced electronic machines still look (3) …………. like people. These machines cannot yet think in the same way (4) ………… a person; some say they never (5) ………... But they are able to make decisions and solve problems. An airliner's automatic pilot, for example, can control (6) ………….. plane, even during take-off and landing.

Computers issue detailed instructions in order (7) …………… control the way robots act. The simplest robots just follow a set (8) …………. instructions and repeat the same movements again and again. Many factories rely (9) ………... such robots to carry out the sort of tasks that a human worker (10) …….... certainty find very boring and they can do many jobs more

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IT and Computers

rapidly and with great accuracy. Very advanced robots have sensors with

(11) . ………….... they can collect information (12) ………….... their surroundings. These robots can move (13) ……….... place to place, using tiny television cameras to find (14) …………..way.

Many scientists are convinced that robots will soon be intelligent

(15) ………… to explore other planets more effectively (16) ……….... humans.

III. Look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a word which should not be there. Tick each correct line. If a line has a word which should not be there, write the word in the space.

The electronic age

LISTENING

I. Listen to Mary De Souza, who teaches computer science in an American college. Which two of her examples are illustrated in the photos? Which other uses does she mention?

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Science and Technology

II. Mary's father disagrees with her about computers. Listen to her again and give her views about these points made by her father.

1."Supermarkets make more money, but the service is worse for the customer."

2."You can't trust computers. They make mistakes."

3."Computers have reached the end of the line; there's nothing left for them to do."

4."Robots actually cost more than the people which they replace."

5."Books are easier to use."

6."People still print out most documents, often two or three times."

VIDEO

Watch the video and fill in the gaps with the appropriate words.

1.Over time, people began to wonder if a machine could be designed and

______ to help us with the thinking work we do.

2.These machines would need to be designed to _________ information.

3.It (a computer) would need take input, store information, process it, and then ________the results.

4.The earliest computers were made out of ______ and metal with

_______levers and gears.

5.A touchscreen can actually _______ your finger and it takes that as input on what it's doing.

6.A computer _______ can show texts, photos, videos, or interactive games, even ______ reality.

7.And when computers _____ over the internet, the output from one computer becomes the _____ to another, and vice versa.

DISCUSSION

I. Computers do some jobs much quicker and cheaper than humans. Do you think that computers cause unemployment?

II. We are in the middle of an "information revolution"; computers, the Internet and mobile phones. In what ways can these technologies be good for the environment?

III. It is the responsibility of the individual to censor what he/she views on the Internet?

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Technology and Machines

TECHNOLOGY AND MACHINES

Engines and cars

Look at these conversations. The second speaker uses an idiom to agree with what the first speaker says.

Eva: We'll have to get ready to start work on the new system.

Lars: Yes, we'll have to get into gear, I suppose, (like putting a car into gear before driving)

Ron: I hate having Lisa in my can She always tells you what you're doing wrong, or when the lights have gone red, and so on.

Peter: Yes, she's a real back-seat driver, isn't she?

Olga: I think we've spent over the budget these last three months. We'll have to be more careful.

Mick: Yes, we'll have to put the brakes on our spending; we've paid out some large sums.

Hugh: Things are going well these days, aren't they? Everything's working quietly and smoothly.

Ben: Yes, things are ticking over nicely.

(A car engine ticks over when it is running quietly, but the car is not moving.)

Will: Well, it was quite an angry meeting, but I think it was good that people could just say exactly what they were thinking and get angry if they wanted to.

Mia: Yes, I think it was good that they were able to let off steam.

(like a steam engine which lets off steam to reduce the high pressure that has built up)

Jim: I'm glad we organised our own travel instead of going with a group, aren’t you?

Russ: Yes, I'm glad we decided to go under our own steam.

Electricity, phones and radio

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Science and Technology

Other idioms from the world of technology and machines

The government is back-pedalling over its plans to lower taxes. [is beginning to say the opposite of what it said before, like pushing the pedals of a bicycle backwards]

His comments really put/threw a spanner in the works. [spoilt something, e.g. a plan, or prevented it from succeeding]

She always buys the latest, state-of-the-art computer. [one which has all the newest features]

Plans for a new bridge across the river are in the pipeline. [are being discussed/prepared but are not public yet]

VOCABULARY EXERCISES

I. Advertisements often use idioms to sell products. Match each slogan with its text.

Want to let off steam tonight? We're on your wavelength.

State-of-the-art digital technology in your home. Give us a buzz for lower bills.

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