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UNIT 1
Text 1
Technology in Our Lives
I. First Thoughts
The world has incredibly changed, hasn’t it?
What made the world change so greatly in the past
years. Give examples.
II. Study the words. Make sure you know them.
operator, register, cashier, scanner, home-owner, miniature.
III. Read the text and say how we can meet our daily needs
without connecting other people.
Technology plays a role in all aspects of our lives - the way
we work, and the way we live at home. The speed of techno-
logical change in the past 100 years has been incredible.
The early telephones were large, and they didn't even have
dials or buttons. You picked up a receiver and talked to an
operator who made the call for you. Nowadays, cellular tele-
phones fit in our pockets, and we can use them to make phone
calls from anywhere to anywhere. In grocery stores, cashiers
used to punch keys on cash registers to enter the price of each
item. These days, scanners read bar codes on products
packaging, and the prices are recorded by a computerized cash
register. In the past, we made a trip to the bank to deposit or
withdraw money. Now we can use ATMs (automated teller
machines). And many people now do their bank transactions at
home online.
Modern technology has dramatically improved our lives.
Personal computers enable us to create documents, store in-
formation, and analyze data - at work or at home. The Inter-
net allows us to send and receive e-mail messages, connects us
to the World Wide Web, and allows us to go shopping online
from our homes. Miniature cameras that patients can swallow
permit doctors to diagnose medical conditions without surgery.
"Smart homes" operated by computers turn lights on and off as
people enter or leave rooms and enable homeowners to "call
their houses" to turn on the heat or air conditioning.
Many people feel, however, that technology has its price.
With automated supermarket checkout lines, ATMs and online
banking, and Internet shopping, we can meet our daily needs
without having contact with other people. Life with technology
can be very lonely! Also, many people are concerned about
privacy. Technology makes it possible for companies or the
government to monitor our use of the Internet. Our credit card
numbers, bank account information, medical information, and
other personal data are all stored on computers. Protecting that
information will be an important issue in the years ahead. Bliss.
IV. Comprehension Check.
1. Match the words and their meanings by placing a proper
letter on each blank.
_1. to pick (up) a. to collect and keep for future use
_2. to fit in b. to take hold of or lift
_3. to punch (on) c. to make holes on surfaces
_4. to turn on (off) d. be in a suitable relation; be in
_5. to store e. to start (on, off)
2. Use the words from each box to make word partnerships
