- •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.
Reading and comprehension
Guess from the title: what is the name of this train?
2 The vocabulary list below will help you to avoid difficulties of understanding.
bump (n) – столкновение
concept (n) – понятие, идея, общее представление
levitation (n) – подъем
track (n) – путь, трасса
maintenance (n) – содержание и техническое обслуживание
steep (adj) – крутой
friction (n) – сила трения
THE TRAIN WITH NO WHEELS
You are sitting in a train at London’s Euston Station. You feel a little pressure on your back as the train starts to move. After that, nothing: no bumps, nothing. Half an hour later you are in Bristol, 190 kilometres from London. What’s the secret? Your train has no wheels – that’s the secret.
The world’s first commercial “no wheels” railway has been operating in Birmingham between the local airport and the National Exhibition Centre for several years now. The basic concept is called maglev (magnetic levitation). It uses magnets to lift the train about one centimeter above the track, so that it has no contact with the track. This is what makes it so comfortable. The maglev has one further advantage: as there is no contact between rail and track, there is no friction.
In fact, there are no moving parts anywhere in the train, and so there is little need for expensive maintenance and repairs. In addition, it is faster and can climb steeper hills than normal trains.
The Birmingham railway is less than a kilometre in length and a top speed of 60 kilometres per hour. But in Germany engineers have developed their own maglev train. Their test track is 31 kilometres long and they plan to reach speeds of up to 400 kilometres per hour. They intend to develop and sell all over the world a train that will carry passengers long distances at high speeds. At present this system is used in Los Angeles, Monreal and Saudi Arabia.
3 Answer the questions.
1) The maglev train has no wheels. Explain how it is possible.
2) Why is maintenance cheap on the maglev train?
3) Over what distances do you think a maglev train will be best? Compare it with underground trains and aeroplanes.
4 Are these sentences about the text true or false?
– The maglev train travels on a track that is one centimeter high.
– The main commercial development of the maglev is taking place in Germany.
– Normal trains cannot climb hills as well as maglev trains.
5 Here are notes on the main points of “The Train with No Wheels”. Make full sentences and write a paragraph using the conjunction.
maglev train: (so) (also) (therefore) (Birmingham) (but) (however) (Germany) (in fact) (and) |
magnets to lift itself above track no contact train and track train very fast; climb steep hill journeys= quick, comfortable at present only one train operating commercially track short, top speed only 60 km/h engineers developing much faster train hope reach speed of up to 400 km/h plan sell train all over world |