Filling the gaps (cloze technique)

THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

Soon w_ will b_ entering th_ twenty-first cent_ _ _ . If yo_ consider ho_ many chan_ _ _ you ha_ _ already se_ _ in yo_ _ lifetime, th_ _ perhaps yo_ can imag_ _ _ how ve_ _ different li_ _ in th_ twenty-first cent_ _ _ will prob_ _ _ _ be.

B_ then, th_ world wi_ _ be with_ _ _ any fos_ _ _ fuels li_ _ coal, oi_, and ga_ . This deple_ _ _ _ will b_ the rea_ _ _ behind ma_ _ of th_ more impor_ _ _ _ changes. Hu_ _ power stat_ _ _ _ will b_ producing ene_ _ _ from th_ wind, th_ ocean an_ the su_ . Although nucl_ _ _ power i_ at pres_ _ _ seen a_ the ans_ _ _ to th_ world’s ene_ _ _ problem, b_ the twenty-_ _ _ _ century th_ _ opinion wi_ _ have chan_ _ _ . Most count_ _ _ _ will ha_ _ sropped usi_ _ it aft_ _ witnessing th_ frightening resu_ _ _ of seve_ _ _ terrible accid_ _ _ _ around th_ world.

Wi_ _ no mo_ _ gasoline o_ oil avail_ _ _ _, there wi_ _ be few_ _ private vehi_ _ _ _ on th_ roads.

2. Are you a ‘computer nerd’ or a ‘technophobe’?

Match a word in the box with a definition to find out what you know

• a modem

• a computer nerd

• a disk

• a mouse

• cyberspace

• a technophobé

• a cyber buddy

• the Internet

a) a person who doesn’t like modern machines, especially computers

b) a computer system which allows millions of computer users around the world to exchange information

c) a piece of electronic equipment that allows information to be sent along telephone wires from one computer to another

d) a friend who you only ever communicate with through computers

e) a small object which you move with you hands to give instructions to a computer

f) a flat piece of plastic you use for storing computer information

g) the imaginary place where electronic messages, information pictures, etc. exist when they are sent from one computer to another

h) someone whose life is dominated by computers

Crossword puzzle

Complete the following crossword puzzle made by an American high school student (Michelle van Naerssen, age 14). A vertical word may start in the middle of a horizontal word. A horizontal word may start in the middle of a vertical word. (n. = noun; adj.= adjective; vb. = verb; pro. = pronoun)

Across (Horizontal)

1. (n.) computer wizards use this slang name to refer to computer gangsters

2. (n.) a system of interconnected roads, individuals, etc.

3. (n.) injury to things

4. (n.) slang name used to refer to a computer gangster; it used to he a positive name; now it is negative

5. (adj.) describes behavior that is based on a system of values

6. (n.) one’s private life

7. (n.) an electronic machine that performs rapid, often complex,

calculations or compiles, correlates, and selects data

8. (vb.) carries viruses or bacteria to make someone sick

9. (vb.) a verb commonly used in a definition

10. (pro.) a pronoun commonly used in a relative clause

11. (n.)a bird that lays its egg in another birds nest

Down (Vertical)

1. (n.) a group that lives or works together

2. (n.) social principles

3. (n.) the use of force and violence in order to frighten

4. (n.) safety

5. (n.) a group that spends time together and sometimes causes trouble

6. (ad.) describes someone who tells the truth

7. (adj.) incorrect, unjust

8. (adj.) correct, just

9. (n.) a person who keeps a close and secret watch on others

10. (n.) a program that enters a system, changes a program, duplicates itself, and infects that system; it sends copies of itself to other systems, spreading itself through floppy disks and copied programs

11. (n.) a program that enters a system, duplicates itself, and sends copies of itself from one computer to another through the connections used for electronic mail and communications .

4. 1. Look quickly at articles A, B and C and match the headings with the articles

Can humans compete silicon superbrains?

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1136