Lesson 9

Man or Machine?

  1. Look at this picture and answer the questions:

  • Which invention was the most important, do you think: TV, cars or computers? Why?
  • Have you ever seen films with robots in? What were they about? Did you like them?
  • Would you like to have a robot? Why? Why not?
  1. Match beginnings a-h with endings 1-8 to make 8 words connected with technology. Find these words in the crossword

  1. Match verbs in A to the words/phrases in B:

Which of the things can robots do?

  1. Listen to an interview with Dr Dylan Evans (Track 1), a robotics expert. Tick the things he talks about:
  • things robots can do now
  • robots and sport
  • intelligent robots
  • robots in the home
  • robots in 2020
  • robot toys for children
  • robot animals
  • robots on TV
  1. Listen again. Which of these sentences does Dr Evans think are true?
  1. At the moment robots can move around easily.
  2. By 2020 robots will be able to walk and run.T
  3. By 2050 robots might win the Football World Cup.T
  4. Not many people will have robots in their homes
  5. Domestic robots won’t look like humans.T
  6. Robots will take over the world.
  1. Say two things that go with these verbs:

E.g.do the housework

do your homework

  1. Let’s learn some more vocabulary about technology and have fun!
  1. Device? Equipment? Gadget? Appliance? Feel the difference!

Fill in the gaps with the correct word from the table:

  1. There's plenty of space for all the usual kitchen _appliances______.
  2. Some banks have one of those _gadgets______that sorts coins
  3. A lot of money was spent on the _equipment______of the new hospital.
  4. Nowadays, we have a __device_____ for separating plastic from garbage
  1. What about using electronic devices? Match phrases with pictures.

turn onchargeuploadunplugdisconnect

turn offdownloadplug inconnectreplace

  1. Look at the pictures. Complete the instructions. Use the vocabulary above.
  1. Imagine that you work for a robot design company. You and your team are responsible for designing the next generation of robots for the home.

• What will your robot be able to do?

• What will your robot look like?

• How much will your robot cost to buy?

• What type of people will want to buy your robot?

• What brand name will you give your robot?

Thank you for the lesson!

Home task

  1. Match verbs to phrases
  1. Fill in the gaps with the phrases from Exercise 1
  1. Match the vocabulary with the correct definition and write a–j next to the numbers 1–10.

4.What are the latest inventions that you remember? Listen to Track 2 and find out about new inventions. Say if the sentences are True or False:

  1. Wing-suits allow people to fly or glide.T
  2. Wing-suits are getting cheaper.T
  3. Gabriele Diamanti's water distiller is powered by the sun.T
  4. The "enable talk gloves" help people to use sign language in really cold conditions.F
  5. James Cameron invented a new underwater camera.F
  6. MIT students have invented a new type of ketchup.F
  7. The last invention is a way of producing clouds indoors.T
  8. The science correspondent thinks the clouds are ugly.F