- •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.
4 Team up with the people of the other group and discuss possible technological implications and opportunities for:
– society as a whole;
– you personally.
Writing
1 Read the following and write an essay, giving your opinions on the statement.
Some scientists predict that advances in robotics, genetic engineering and nanotechnology will lead to a world populated by superorganisms both biological and mechanical. When we built machines that are like us, only smarter, stronger and more easily produced, they say, we are in fact creating our own worst enemy. These machines will develop new forms of thinking that will be beyond our comprehension. If we can’t understand what we have built, we will not be able to control it. The scientists say that we have some 20 years of intellectual superiority over computers. By that time the robots will have learnt a lot. They will deserve the same right and privileges because they will be like humans.
We’re probably decades away from having to worry about anything more than running out of batteries. Still, it seems clear that big changes are coming, and as with any new technology, there will certainly be some unintended, and quite possibly unpleasant, consequences as robots begin to play a regular role in our day-to-day lives. But the potential benefits outweigh the risks. Let’s hope that the society is strong and wise enough to stop abuses without stopping science.
Feedback
1 Share your opinion about the unit on the following:
a) was any of the information new?
b) was it interesting or did it arouse other emotions?
c) what was the weakest/best point?
d) were there any other questions you’d like to discuss?
2 Summarise your information (use the essay). Supplement
XXI-CENTURY BUSINESS
Student A
1 Read the following vision of the future. Then summarise and present the themes in your text to a partner.
CULTIVATING THE CUSTOMER
In the next century, people will have more information and less time. What customers want will continually evolve. It’s easy to predict some individual products of the future such as intelligent fridges, mobile internet phones, e-banking, but most new ideas cannot be anticipated. The only thing we know for sure is that new products will be superseded sooner rather than later. In this environment, the success of a company will not be based on the individual products or services that they provide, but on the customers that they cultivate. The worth of the future company will be measured by the hold it has on these customers. The companies that offer their customers a “total experience” will survive. This means all the products and services related to the core business, a complete offer that saves their customers time and effort. So rather than buying gas, electricity, water and telephone services from different companies, consumers will be choosing one provider for all these services to save them time and money. The companies that provide this “total experience” will win customers. Any company that expects to prosper in the old way, by focusing on its core products alone, will struggle.