2 Work in pairs. Answer the following questions according to the author.

Why doesn't a PC save you time?

Why do people have to replace their computers so often?

Why is it easy for help desks and call centres to not 'take responsibility'?

What is the problem with digital TV?

What three effects is text messaging having on young people?

Do you think the author is male or female, young or middle-aged? What makes you think this?

Do you agree with him/her or do you think he/she is living in the past?

3 Think of some more ways in which technology drives you mad. Or Make your own list of 'seven reasons to love technology'.

Choose people to start а space colony

1 Imagine you had to survive оn а space colony. Add to the lists of things you would need, and the kind of people you would need to have with you.

Things you would need

air

space suit

People you would take with you

а doctor

an expert on …

2 Read about the new planet Hero and answer the questions.

Why do scientists think that humans will be able to live оn Hero?

Is there any alien life on Hero?

How many people will they send to Него, and why?

When will these people come back Earth?

Will other people join the space colony later?

What will the volunteers take with them?

How long will it take to travel to Hero?

How many people have volunteered to go?

THE NEW PLANET HERO

Scientists have discovered a new planet, Hero. They are very confident that human beings will be able to live there as it has plenty of water, light and oxygen, and the temperature and air are all very similar to those on Earth. They have done tests and know that plants can grow there. They have not found any alien life there, though they cannot be sure it doesn’t exist.

They have decided to send a spaceship of people to Hero from Earth to start a space colony, and a new human society. But the spaceship can only carry six people: any volunteers with children will have to stay on Hero for the rest of their lives. No one else will be able to join the space colony for at least a hundred years, together with four guns to protect themselves, and blankets, space-tents, etc. The spaceship will be controlled from Earth, so there will not be a pilot. The journey to Hero will last about ten weeks.

The organisers have asked for volunteers, but only ten people have come forward. The space ship must leave in ten days’ time, so there is no time to find new volunteers.

3 Read about the ten candidates. Decide which six candidates you want to take. Underline the reasons that make them suitable to travel and put a line through any things that make them unsuitable.

Name	Age, nationality, N of children	Occupation	Health
Natalya f	38, Russian, no children	Teacher	Very good
Jack m	42, US, divorced, no children	Engineer	Was treated for cancer 2 years ago
Renato m	76, Italian, 7 children	Retired doctor	Ok
Claudette f	22, US, 6 months pregnant	Factory worker, married to Brandon	Heavy smoker
Brandon m	25, US, wife pregnant	Unemployed, 1 year in prison for violent crime, married to Claudette	Very good
Gheeta f	29, Indian, single, no children	Nurse	Suffers from depression
Yong m	56, Korean, widower, 1 child	Lawyer	Good
Luciana f	17, Brazilian, unmarried, no children	Wants to be a pop star	Very good
Chan m	31, Chinese, divorced, 3 children	Policemen	Very good
Lourdes f	43, Spanish, 1 child	Agricultural scientist	Ok