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average 2) ______ way beyond that of our ancestors. Incredible 3) ______ such
as television have changed the way we spend our leisure hours. Perhaps the
most important 4) ______, however, has been the microchip. Nobody could have
imagined, when it was first 5) _______, that within a matter of years, this tiny
piece of silicon and circuitry would be found in almost every household object
from the kettle to the video recorder. And nobody could have predicted the
sudden proliferation of computers that would completely change our lives,
allowing us to access information from the other side of the world via the 6)
______ or send messages around the world by 7) _____ at the touch of a button.
Meanwhile, 8) ______ into other aspects of information technology is making
it easier and cheaper for us to talk to friends and relations around the world. Good
news for 9) ________ who love modern technology, bad news for the 10) _____
who would prefer to hide from these modern miracles.
But everything has a price. The development of 11) _______ led to mass
automation in factories, which in turn led to millions losing their jobs. The genius
of Einstein led to the horrors of the atomic bomb and the dangerous uncertainties
of 12) _______ (we hear of accidents and mishaps at nuclear power stations
around the world, where 13) ___________ to prevent accidents were inadequate).
The relatively new science of 14) ________ has been seen as a major step
forward, but putting modified foods onto the market before scientists had properly
15) ______ them was perhaps one of the most irresponsible decisions of the
1990s.
Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies continue to 16) ______ on animals, a
move that many consider to be cruel and unnecessary.
Of course we all rely on modern science and technology to improve our lives.
However, we need to make sure that we can control it before it controls us.
15 Work in pairs. Look at these sentences and decide which
object is being described in each one. Use the words in bold to help you.
1) The most important part of this object is a strip of two different metals, one on
top of the other. As they heat up, both metals expand, but one does it faster than
the other. The strip bends and connects with a switch, which turns off the power
supply. When the strip cools down, the metals contract and the switch is
disconnected.
2) This object has several component parts, most of which are made of plastic. A
disc inserted into the object spins quickly. At the same time a thin beam of light
strikes the disc and converts digital symbols into sounds. These sounds can be
increased or decreased in volume by means of a button or dial.
3) Liquid and gas are compressed in a hard metal tube. This can be released by
pushing or squeezing a button which opens a valve. When the liquid-gas
combination leaves the tube and is mixed with oxygen, it rapidly expands.
4) This object is mainly made of aluminum. As it moves forward, air flows over
two horizontal sections. As it accelerates, a vacuum is formed over the horizontal
sections and the object is pulled into the air by the force of this vacuum.
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