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Technological
Progress
For centuries people have been inventing things to make life
easier. Among the greatest inventions of the past are the
automobile, the steam engine, the electricity, the telephone and
television. Since the beginning of the 20th century people have
made a huge step in technology. Now we live in flats, talk to
people who live in other parts of the world, travel from one
place to another by plane. All these things are a product of
technological progress and it is still growing rapidly.
Today we live in the world of machines and computers. Every day
more and more gadgets appear and all of them make our life
easier. Some of the new inventions have become so affordable and
common, that now people cannot imagine life without them. For
example, the mobile phone has turned from an expensive portable
phone into an inexpensive data, e-mail, and voice service that
almost anyone can afford. At the speed that mobile phones are
evolving they may one day replace in-home phone services. Years
ago mobile phones were bulky and required large batteries in a
carrying case. Today's mobiles fit in a pocket and can replace a
computer.
Another example of modern high-tech inventions is the Internet.
Almost every company in the world has its own website. The
Internet provides any kind of information on any topic. Of
course, some of the sources are not reliable, but the Internet
gives a very good opportunity to shop, book rooms and flights,
watch films, listen to music and many other things. The Internet
also gives an opportunity to make new friends and find old ones
thanks to social networking sites such as Facebook or Vkontakte.
Computer technology has influenced production processes and made
work easier. Toy companies, for example, incorporate computer
chips in toys which make them move, talk and sing on their own.
The car industry has computer systems installed in cars and they
give information on car's condition, including tire pressure,
headlights or the temperature inside and outside. Printing has
become much easier with the computer-based printing machines.
Tablet PCs are becoming more and more popular today. They are
much lighter than notebooks or netbooks and they contain all the
software that is needed for business, studies and pleasure.
EBook readers are a new invention too. This is a very convenient
gadget that allows uploading books in different electronic
formats. Instead of carrying one paperback book in a bag, you
can carry one eBook reader with thousands of books on it.
Surely, these new inventions are not the last ones that humanity
has developed and many others will be developed year upon year.
ПЛАН-ОТВЕТ. TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS
1. Вступление (have been inventing things for centuries/the
automobile/the steam engine, etc.; technological progress now).
2. Рассказать о технологическом процессе в современном мире (the
world of machines and computers, more and more gadgets appear,
so affordable and common, the mobile phone: bulky, large
batteries, etc.)
3. Рассказать о новых изобретениях и об их роли в нашей жизни
(the Internet: any kind of information, good opportunity to
shop, book rooms and flights, watch films, social networking
sites, computer technology, toy companies, the car industry,
printing; tablet PCs: lighter than notebooks, the software that
is needed, for business, studies and pleasure; eBook readers:
convenient, uploading books, thousands of books).
4. Заключение (Surely, these new inventions are not the last
ones that humanity has developed and many others will be
developed year upon year.).
QUESTIONS
1. Why have people been inventing new things for many
centuries?
2. What are the basic greatest inventions of the past?
3. What does the modern world look like?
4. How can you describe technological progress now?
5. What can you say about mobile phones as inventions?
6. Have you got a mobile phone?
7. Can you live without a mobile now? Why (not)?
8. Do you consider the Internet a great invention? Why (not)?
9. How often do you browse the Net?
10. What are your favourite sites?
11. Do you have an account on any of the social networking
sites?
12. Have you got a tablet PC? Would you like to have it and why?
13. Do you think that eBook readers are a great invention?
14. Do you use such a reader?
15. Do you think that eBooks will replace paperback books in the
future? Why (not)?
16. What other inventions do you know? What can you tell about
them?
USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES
Inventions Изобретения
antibiotics антибиотики
automobile автомобиль
battery батарейка
eBook литературное произведение в
электронном формате (электронная книга)
eBook reader устройство для чтения электронных книг
electronic money электронные деньги
GPS technology система спутниковой навигации
jet airliner реактивный самолёт, лайнер
LED (light emitting diods) светодиоды
mobile/cell (AmE) phone мобильный телефон
МРЗ-player трЗ-плеер
netbook нетбук
printing press книгопечатаный станок
social networking/media site социальная сеть
steam engine паровой двигатель
tablet PC/pad планшетный компьютер, «таблетка»
telescope телескоп
television телевидение
text messages/SMS CMC-сообщения
walkman кассетный плеер
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