What the future hold?

New Millennium English 10 Lessons 1-2 Unit 8

What the future hold?

COMPUTERS

Read the words and definitions. Three of them are mixed. Find and match them properly

• access (something)

have the ability or right to enter or use

a feeling of being unsure

• doubt

take the place of something or somebody

• current

• on-line

belonging to the present time

• predict (something)

see or describe the future

• provide (somebody with something

to supply

continue to be unchanged

• remain

• replace (something)

connected with the computer network

Fill in the gaps with the words to make the lines rhyme .

access

doubt

doubt

There isn't any ..........

That the book will soon die out

Some of them will still ……….

That's the reason for my pain

New computers will ……….

Those working "at a snail's pace"

Everybody will ……….

All the info we possess

I ………. that news ……….

Will be ………. all the time

Please ……….. this silly rhyme

With the words you've learnt this time!

current

on-line

remain

predict

complete

replace

remain

replace

provide

access

predict

on-line

current

complete

Dana

Michael

Printed books or computers?



 Tick the arguments each speaker used.

Computers allow us to access the latest information really quickly.



It’s much easier to edit and print documents using a PC.

Interaction with the world is a great advantage of a computer.



Books are enjoyable things.



One of the good things about a book is that you can take it to bed.

Fiona

Andrew

Emma

A printed page is better for human eyes than a computer screen.

Printed books are cheaper and easier to use.



Printed books don’t need electricity.

Books have always been a part of human culture, so they will be used as well as computers.



Large amount of information become available through computers.



Computers are better at strong information.

Compare the sentences below .  Which verb form expresses the strongest degree of certainty ?

are going to

will

may

might

could

are going to

1.Computers replace books in the future. (There is much evidence of that).

2. Computers replace books in the future. (I’m quite sure)

will

3. Computers replace books in the future. (It is quite possible)

may

4. Computers replace books in the future. (It is possible)

might

5. Computers replace books in the future. (It is possible)

could

On the scale try to place the verbs according to the degree of certainty they express.

certainly

certainly







yes

not

There are some grammar errors. Suggest a correction if it’s necessary.

I'm sure the paper book be around for a long time. They look and feel great and they always remain the same. Paperback books are lightweight (lighter than most laptop comput­ers) and relatively low-cost. Computers become cheaper, too, but they definitely be more expensive than books, books are easy to use and it's clear that people always prefer paperback books.

might

will

A.

could

will

might

may

will

will

The book was Invented 500 years ago by Aldo Manuzio in Venice, Italy. So much time has passed that there is no doubt that books change a lot. Cheap, handy, pocket-size electronic books soon appear and replace all paperback books. Though people keep some books they be found only in museums.

And one more thing. People waste a lot of timber to produce e-books and this save the forests.

could

will

will

will

may

will

won't

B.

will

Read the text (SB p.23) again. Read the summary . It contains four factual mistakes. Find and correct them.

The author raises the problem of the future of books. with Marshall McLuhan's opinion that computers will conquer the world. She says that printed . Irma has some sentimental memories about how "Don Quixote de la Mancha". But the electronic era has changed her relationship with books and now she thinks that

She agrees

She agrees

books have no future

books have no future

she read

she read

books on-line are entirely replacing

books on-line are entirely replacing

printed books.

printed books.

1- The author doesn’t agree, that people in future will prefer computers to books.

2 – Irma’s view is that printed books will not disappear.

3 - Irma didn’t read “Don Quixote de la Mancha”, her grandfather read it to her.

4 – Irma doesn’t think that books on-line are replacing printed books.



What will happen

to books and computers

in 10 years’ time?