- •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.
2 Discuss the following questions in pairs or small groups.
a) Which predictions do you think will come true?
b) Which ones are you skeptical about?
c) Which ones would be beneficial/harmful to your business/industry?
d) How is your business preparing to respond to the conditions described in the predictions?
e) What other trends do you predict for the world of business in the future?
Student B
1 Read the following vision of the future. Then summarise and present the themes in your text to a partner.
MOBILE FUTURE
Mobility is the key to the future. Mobile in terms of where people and companies are based, and flexible about the way work is done at every level. People will no longer have to go to work to work. The technological revolution that has enabled this to occur is already here. People can work online from home, only having to go into the office for occasional team meetings. This will increasingly reduce the need for office space and help to make individuals more efficient; they will no longer have to waste huge amounts of time commuting to and from work. Traditional company hierarchies are likely to disappear. In this environment, only results matter, not the number of hours you put in at the office. Employees will no longer stay with one company for their whole career or think in terms of a “job for life.” Think in terms of co-operative networks of highly-skilled individuals forming strategic alliances and working on short- or medium-term projects. The knowledge-based industries will take over, particularly in the developed world. Manufacturing jobs will be mobile in a different way too. High tech, specialist manufacturing will be done in developed countries, with lower-level manufacturing done in developing countries where labour and manufacturing costs will be cheaper.
2 Discuss the following questions in pairs or small groups.
a) Which predictions do you think will come true?
b) Which ones are you skeptical about?
c) Which ones would be beneficial/harmful to your business/industry?
d) How is your business preparing to respond to the conditions described in the predictions?
e) What other trends do you predict for the world of business in the future?
U N I T 3
Innovations in transport
-
It is only when they go wrong that machines remind you how powerful they are.
Clive James (Australian critic)
THE SPEED OF TRAVEL
WARM UP
1 Read the text.
All sectors of the transport system – from high-speed motorways and railways to local and international airports – are witnessing radical changes. The transport is addressing clients’ needs and departing from post-war priorities which were aimed at establishing a transport infrastructure to assist industry and export. Key feature are travelers’ comfort, a responsible attitude to environmental pollution and the guarantee of safety even in the event of natural disasters.
Means of travelling on foot horseback stage coach train plain jet plain supersonic transport orbital space station manned rocket to Mars |
Distance travelled in 12 hours – 20 miles – 40 miles – 75 miles – 550 miles – 1,250 miles – 5,500 miles – 10,000 miles – 240,000 miles – 600,000 miles |