- •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 Answer the questions.
1) Which methods of transport do you like and dislike?
2) The speed of travel has greatly increased in this century. Why do you think we always go faster?
3) What effect does faster travel have on our lives?
Reading and comprehension
Learn the meaning of the following words:
сonsume (v) – тратить, расходовать
average (adj) – средний, обыкновенный
vehicle (n) – транспортное средство
recharge (v) – перезаряжать
range (n) – зд. предел, диапазон
convetional (adj) – обычный, традиционный
consumption (n) – потребление
Read the text about electric cars and answer the questions below.
– What fact suggests that the ideal car should be: small – silent – clean – economical?
– List the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars.
– Describe what a hybrid car is.
ELECTRIC CARS: AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM?
FACT: In 1980 the traffic on German roads consumed 120 million tons of oil.
FACT: In Britain 86 % of all car journeys transport one or two people. The average journey is only six miles.
FACT: Noise and pollution are increasing problems in towns and cities.
The ideal modern car would seem to be a small, silent, non-polluting vehicle, which uses fuel economically. There is only one car which can do all that: the electric car. It recharges at night, when there is plenty of electricity; a small box of electronics replaces complex engine and transmission systems; and the fuel costs are extraordinarily low.
So why aren’t our cities full of electric cars? There have in fact been a lot of electric cars, but none has yet solved the basic problems. First of all, the range of the batteries is only about 40 miles. Secondly, their speed and acceleration are not very good, and lastly they are in fact much more expensive than conventional cars. However, new developments are taking place, which may make the future of the electric car quite different. Scientists are working on a new “high energy” battery which would have an operating range of 159 miles or four times the distance of a traditional battery. The high energy battery would also give a car acceleration equal to that of a motor car.
Another important development is the “hybrid car”. Hybrid cars contain both petrol and electric motors which can be used separately or together. In the town the economical electric motor can drive the car, but once on the motorway the driver can switch to the petrol motor for more power and acceleration. While the petrol motor is on, the electric motor acts as a generator and charges the battery. Moreover, the petrol and the electric motor can also work together at the same time and this keeps petrol consumption low.
Perhaps the electric car is not a dream after all. Maybe one day we will spend more time charging batteries than filling up with petrol.
3 Are these sentences about the text true or false?
– In Britain most car journeys are short.
– An electric car motor is technically simpler than a petrol one.
– With the high energy battery an electric car can go as fast as a motor car.
4 Change the following into shortened relative clauses and complete them yourselves.
e.g.: People who live/ are living in Edinburgh… – People living in Edinburgh…
1) People who lived 10,000 years ago…
2) The cars which driving in our towns…
3) The experts who talk about the future…