- •Science and technological progress
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary practice
- •2 Fill in the blanks using a word or word combination from the following list:
- •3 Fill in the correct word derived at the end of the sentence.
- •Discussion
- •Public opinion poll
- •Reading
- •Work on the text
- •1 Ask each other questions based on the text. Do it in pairs.
- •2 Answer the following questions using the information from the text or from any other sources.
- •Summary 1
- •Summary 2
- •Reading (ib)
- •1 Read the passage as fast as possible. From the four titles presented below choose the one which better expresses the main idea. Explain your choice.
- •Reading (ic)
- •2 Read carefully the second paragraph of the text and say a few words about the possible fields of investigation in the 21st century.
- •3 Read the passage carefully and find answers to the following questions.
- •4 Look through the passage and find English equivalents for the following Russian phrases.
- •5 Topics for discussion.
- •Reading (1d)
- •Work on the text
- •1 Look through the passage and find English equivalents for the following Russian phrases.
- •2 Examine each paragragh of the text above carefully and find answers to the following questions.
- •3 Look through the passage and fill in the blanks with the proper information. In some cases grammatical changes are necessary.
- •Supplementary reading
- •1 Answer the following questions.
- •2 Make a report about the houses described in this article paying attention to their shape and the materials they are made of.
- •Uses of the internet
- •Work on the text
- •1 Ask each other questions based on the text. Do it in pairs.
- •2 Tell the group whether these statements are true or false.
- •Shaping the future
- •Discussion
- •1 Read the following and discuss the likelihood of the predictions using the expressions in the box.
- •2 Which of these technologies would:
- •4 Complete the sentences with one word from the boxes. Then finish at least five with some predictions of your own concerning business, politics, the environment, leisure or life in general.
- •5 Read out the predictions you made in 4 to the rest of the group. Be prepared to support your views. Reading
- •1 Skim the extracts and match the extracts with the people.
- •2 Read the extracts for the second time and match the extracts with each speaker’s attitude towards technology, listed a – h.
- •The futurists
- •1 What are the latest trends and developments that you know or have heard about?
- •3 Team up with people from the other group. Explain your choice of titles, summarise what you read and discuss possible implications and opportunities for:
- •Listening
- •4 Listen to six business people’s opinions on the issues in 3 and compare your views. Choose one extract you like most. Explain why? Speaker 1
- •Speaker 2
- •Speaker 3
- •Speaker 4
- •Speaker 5
- •Speaker 6
- •For and against
- •1 Work in groups. Read one of the texts about modern technologies. Share your ideas with your partners.
- •2 Discuss the technology you’ve read about with the other group. Compare them according to:
- •3 Work in 3 groups. Read one of the extracts and make a short presentation of it.
- •4 Team up with the people of the other group and discuss possible technological implications and opportunities for:
- •Writing
- •1 Read the following and write an essay, giving your opinions on the statement.
- •Feedback
- •1 Share your opinion about the unit on the following:
- •2 Summarise your information (use the essay). Supplement
- •1 Read the following vision of the future. Then summarise and present the themes in your text to a partner.
- •2 Discuss the following questions in pairs or small groups.
- •1 Read the following vision of the future. Then summarise and present the themes in your text to a partner.
- •2 Discuss the following questions in pairs or small groups.
- •Innovations in transport
- •1 Read the text.
- •2 Answer the questions.
- •Reading and comprehension
- •Learn the meaning of the following words:
- •Read the text about electric cars and answer the questions below.
- •Reading and comprehension
- •3 Answer the questions.
- •4 Are these sentences about the text true or false?
- •5 Here are notes on the main points of “The Train with No Wheels”. Make full sentences and write a paragraph using the conjunction.
- •Future trends of a modern car warm up
- •1 Discuss the point how future-oriented you are.
- •2 Do this quiz. Answer the questions? Choose the variants that suits you more and find out your prospects.
- •Reading and comprehension
- •1 Study the meaning of these words so that you can understand the text better.
- •Try and guess the meaning of the following derivative and compound words:
- •Read the text about the car of the future and do the tasks that follows.
- •Discussion
- •Writing
- •Feedback
- •Listening
- •3 Complete the sentences.
- •4 Which speaker is:
- •5 Match words from the two columns to make expressions from the texts.
- •Speaking
- •1 Complete the table with these phrases used to talk about the future.
- •2 Work with your partner. Prepare a short presentation on one of these topics.
- •Reading and comprehension
- •1 Go through the vocabulary below to avoid difficulties of understanding:
- •2 Answer the following questions:
- •Supplement texts for reading
- •Contents
- •Технический прогресс
- •246653, Г. Гомель, ул. Кирова, 34.
Work on the text
1 Ask each other questions based on the text. Do it in pairs.
2 Tell the group whether these statements are true or false.
1) Kulibin is well-known all over the world.
2) Kulibin was invited to come to St. Petersburg by Vladimir Orlov, the Director of the Academy of Sciences.
3) In 1770 he began service at the Academy of Sciences teaching the academy’s artists his mechanical skills.
4) Kulibin’s most famous projects, never realized, was the design and scale model of a single-arch bridge.
5) This bridge was built in 1776 and Kulibin was awarded 2,000 rubles and a gold medal for his design.
6) Kulibin often worked on problems that had already been solved, wasting time and talent.
7) Like his gifted grandfather, Nikolai Kulibin received an excellent education in Russia and abroad.
Read the following text. Choose one word or phrase that best keeps the meaning of the original sentence if substituted for the word in bold type.
LANDMARK INVENTIONS OF THE MILLENNIUM
The last 1,000 years have produced an (1) incredible number and variety of scientific and technological (2) breakthroughs – but which of these were the most important? Narrowing a list of the thousands of inventions made since the year 1000 to the ten greatest requires some (3) exact criteria. The qualifying inventions either provided (4) radically new ways to do an important job, or they made possible tasks that were previously unimagined. Their (5) impact was felt, if not (6) right away then eventually, by a large portion of humanity. These developments have (7) enabled significant new technological innovations and scientific discoveries. And finally, they have had a(n) (8) enduring effect on the world.
The inventions that meet these criteria, in (9) chronological order, are the compass, the mechanical clock, the glass lens, the printing press, the steam engine, the telegraph, electric power, wireless communications, antibiotics, and the transistor. Missing from this list are many extremely significant technological advances, including the airplane, telephone, automobile, and computer. In many cases these inventions were (10) omitted because they are based on earlier developments or breakthroughs.
In considering the ten most significant inventions of the past 1,000 years, a (11) subtle distinction must be made: The difference between "invention" and "discovery" is not as (12) clear as one might think. A discovery can be as simple as the observation of a (13) previously unnoticed phenomenon, while an invention is a human-devised machine, tool, or apparatus that did not previously exist. For example, ancient people discovered that drops of water and certain gemstones distorted light in a predictable way. (14) However, it was not until medieval times that others tried to reproduce this effect by applying new glass-shaping technology to the formation of lenses – the (15) basic elements of spectacles, microscopes, telescopes, and cameras. (16) Similarly, people knew about and studied electricity as a force of nature for thousands of years, but it was the technological (17) leap of mass-producing electricity and (18) delivering it to homes and factories in the early 20th century that (19) transformed the world.
1) A improper |
C impossible |
B impressive |
D unbelievable |
2) A advantages |
C advances |
B advents |
D adventures |
3) A exaggerate |
C accurate |
B precaution |
D penetrating |
4) A fantastically |
C far |
B fundamentally |
D further |
5) A affect |
C pressure |
B affection |
D influence |
6) A instantaneously |
C initially |
B instant |
D once |
7) A made available |
C made after |
B made away |
D made change |
8) A long-expected |
C long-acting |
B long-term |
D long-day |
9) A such-and-such |
C sequential |
B suchlike |
D suchwise |
10) A passed down |
C passed from |
B passed for |
D passed over |
11) A delicate |
C deliberate |
B subtractive |
D slender |
12) A decisive |
C persistent |
B definite |
D persuading |
13) A formally |
C later |
B former |
D formerly |
14) A obviously |
C nevertheless |
B apparently |
D evidently |
15) A essential |
C final |
B extreme |
D fine |
16) A likely |
C alike |
B likably |
D likewise |
17) A arise |
C attack |
B spring |
D overrun |
18) A going |
C bringing |
B coming |
B bearing |
19) A altered |
C exchanged |
B alternated |
D attained |
U N I T 2