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Read and translate the dialogue.

Phil: Not really, but I'm awfully excited about this bit of technology. I enjoy playing games and writing pro­grams myself. One of my new programs can play chess and, surprisingly, it can beat me!

Alison: Well, well, well. Do you think that all wonderful inven­tions of science and technology are meant only for entertainment?

Paul: Don't be a bore, Alison. Some of them really are. I'm, for instance, a couch potato. Every time I have a spare minute, I switch from channel to channel and each of them has so much to offer. There is no difficulty in me finding something really terrific and, besides, I'm grateful to Americans for their inventing the Internet. It's an absolutely incredible invention which has so many advantages. You can do so many wonderful things without leaving your place!

Phil: And, moreover, it has become common for young peo­ple in all countries to visit the Internet chat rooms. Thanks to that, we've found each other!

Helen: You, boys, sound like little kids. Think about techno­logical advances which are changing the lifestyle of millions of people all over the world. Our homes are full not only of hardware (such as DVD players or comput­ers or gadgets like computer games and MP3s). When you come from school being very hungry what do you use to prepare a hot meal in no time at all?

Phil: You mean a microwave oven or a toaster?

Helen: I do. And don't forget a vacuum cleaner, a sewing mashing and a dishwasher. They can take care of lots of our household chores and leave more time for enjoy­ing ourselves.

BrE dishwasher — a machine that washes dishes

AmE someone whose job is to wash dirty dishes at the restaurant

Alison: They are absolutely essential. But we take their exist­ence for granted and it is difficult to imagine they are inventions. Modern technology is changing and im­proving all the time, offering new advances.

Paul: That's just it. We got used to telephones which made a real scientific revolution in the late 80s. Today a cord­less phone and a mobile phone can't surprise anybody. They are bare necessities of our everyday life.

Alison: I'm with you on that and I think that a mobile phone is the most useful invention of the 20th century that I can imagine. I can keep in touch with my family and friends whenever I travel or they can get in contact with me if they want. Isn't it fantastic?

Phil: It sure is, and we have no problem operating all these technological innovations, but my parents find using them complicated and difficult. My mum will better use a traditional camera instead of a videophone or a video camera. Thanks goodness, she has learned how to send e-mails and faxes.

Helen: Don't be too hard on her, Phil, and don't criticise your parents for their lack of technological awareness. They are digital immigrants, you know, while we are digital natives. Some time in the future when you've got children of your own, your ability to deal with new technology will probably decrease and your children will feel more comfortable with new technology than you do. You won't want them to criti­cise you then, will you?



Phil: No way. We are lucky to live in a new information soci­ety which is changing our lives for better and .giving us so much fun and satisfaction. Let the future gene­ration have their own!

Helen: That's better!

 


Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1061


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