Getting connected

Getting connected

Choose from the words below :


automatic / call / dial / dialling tone / directory / engaged / exchange/

operator / receiver / subscriber's number / trunk code / Yellow Pages

You need to make a telephone 1___________? Then make sure you have your correspondent's number close at hand. Telephone numbers consist of a 2________ and a 3____________ . If you don't know your contact's number, look it up in the telephone 4_____________ of the 5___________ . The latter contains the telephone numbers of businesses and traders in your area.


The next thing you do is lift the 6________ and 7___________or press the number. You will then hear a 8____________ . If the number is 9__________ you will hear an engaged tone. Bad luck, you will have to ring back later.


In a company, the first person who answers the phone will often be the 10_______. He - but still more often: she - will put you through to the person you require. The operator operates the telephone 11_______________. In an increasing number of businesses however manual exchanges are replaced by direct lines or 12____________exchanges.





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Key

1. Call
2. Trunk code
3. Subscriber’s number
4. Directory
5. Yellow pages
6. Receiver
7. Dial
8. Dialling tone
9. Engaged
10. Operator
11. Exchange
12. Automatic

"What are the advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones?”

"What are the advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones?”

Mobile phones help us communicate everywhere, which is very important. They are good at emergencies, when you’ve 1. .... a car accident, for instance. A mobile phone 2. .... save your life! Mobile phones are also 3. .... because they have many good features - we can take photos and send them all over the world. But every coin has two sides. The 4. .... thing about mobile phones is that you have no privacy. My boss and friends find me whenever they want! I haven’t enjoyed a whole quiet day since the day I 5. .... my mobile phone. 6. .... disadvantage is that mobile phones make us lose good habits, such as punctuality. Before, when we 7. .... keep in touch so easily, if we had a date with someone, we tried our best to arrive 8. .... time. But now, because of the mobile phone, we are not afraid of 9. .... late any more, so, surprisingly enough, we make people wait! The third drawback I see is that I change my mobile phone once a year, and this means I’m spending far too much money on it. I think it is important to think why we use mobile phones. We should use things such as mobile phones, laptops, cameras, the Internet, and so on, 10. .... our needs. We can turn off our mobile phone when we don’t want to be disturbed by someone. If we know how to use it, we can eliminate its disadvantages.

1. A. HAVE B. MADE C. HAD D. CRASHED
2. A. MUST B. CAN C. NEED D. HAVE TO
3. A. ANNOYED B. INTERESTED C. INTERESTING D. ANNOYING
4. A. WORSE B. GOOD C. WORST D. IMPORTANT
5. A.PAID B. ACQUIRED C. OBTAINED D. GOT
6. A. OTHER B. ONE OTHER C. THE OTHER D. ANOTHER
7. A. COULDN’T B. MUST C. CAN’T D. HAVE
8. A. AT B. IN C. ON D. BY
9. A. BE B. TO BE C. BEING D. STAYED
10. A. FOR SATISFY B. TO SATISFY C. FOR TO SATISFY D. SO SATISFYING

Mobile phones could dial up a perfect match

Mobile phones could dial up a perfect match

A mobile phone service that discreetly bleeps if your ideal partner is sitting in the same bar, walking down the street or standing next to you in the supermarket queue could soon revolutionalise dating. The system, called Serendipity, is being developed by American researchers and designed to make computerised matchmaking more spontaneous.
Potential daters would subscribe to a service that stores their personal profile, their photograph and information about their perfect partner.
Each time two phones signed up to the system get within a few yards of each other, the service compares their details, likes and dislikes.
If there are enough similarities, it tells the phones to exchange personal details and photos, letting their owners know that it might be worth breaking the ice.
Nathan Eagle, one of the creators of the system, told New Scientist that users would be able to control the type of people who receive their information. The system could be told to swap details only with friends of friends, he said. Or, if users were feeling more adventurous, the system could be programmed to pass on information only to strangers.
The Serendipity uses the Bluetooth radio system built into many mobile phones. Bluetooth transceivers allow phones, computers and gadgets to talk to each other within a 10-yard-wide bubble. The system "sniffs out" other Bluetooth phones every 30 seconds. If it finds one, it contacts the database to see if the owner is a good match.
However, the system could become a victim of its own success. If users are bombarded with calls, it would soon become unworkable.
Cameron Marlowe, a social networks researcher at MIT, believes it could be a constant distraction. "You wouldn't want to turn it off, just in case," he said.
Mark Granovetter, a sociologist at Stanford University said:” Some worry that as these technologies become more common, people will become overloaded with networking requests and start to ignore them."

QUESTION 1 Indicate whether the following sentences are TRUE or FALSE and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a) This service can only be used in the United States
b) The system will send its messages to anyone who has signed up.
c) The system is constantly looking for possible matches.
d) This service is likely to fail.

QUESTION 2 Answer the following question in your own words.
a) How does the Serendipity work?
b) According to Mr Granovetter, why may people stop using this kind of systems?

QUESTION 3 Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words or definitions given.

a) line of people (par. 1) b) exchange (par. 4) c) device (par. 5)

QUESTION 4 Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) The system called Serendipity is being developed by American researchers.
American researchers...
b) “Some worry that as these technologies become more common, people will become overloaded with networking requests”
He said that some...
c) The service compares details and likes. The service is designed to make computerised matchmaking.
The service...

QUESTION 5 Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

Would you date with someone you’ve met in the chat?
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Texting is closer to speech than the written word

Texting is closer to speech than the written word
Dr Caroline Tagg, an academic who is the first ever to gain a PHD in text messages discovered that people text in the same way as if they were talking, using unnecessary words such as 'oh', 'erm' and often use grammatical abbreviations like 'dunno'.
Contrary to the belief that text messaging is destroying the art of communication, she claims it is actually enhancing language skills.” Text messaging is far closer to speech than formal writing, “she said.” It is in a way a new form of communication between the two.”
Dr Tagg spent three-and-a-half years researching the subject of SMS text messaging and the language used in them at Birmingham University. She read 11,000 text messages, containing 190,000 words, sent by 235 people, aged between 18 and 65. Dr Tagg analysed spelling, grammar and abbreviations used in social and business texts. The average text contains 17.5 words, she said.
The study showed that the ability to abbreviate and change the way words were written shows a deep understanding of the fundamentals of speech, spelling and grammar, she claimed. And she also discovered from her 80,000 word thesis that abbreviations were much less common than popularly thought.” You have to know how language works to know whether people will understand what you are texting," she said. "For example removing the vowels from a word often allows its meaning to remain intact but take away any of the consonants and it makes no sense."
From her research she believes that texts are much more about maintaining and building relationships rather than passing on facts. They tend to include a lot of information which is irrelevant but entertaining.
"There is a panic about the effect of text messaging and people are genuinely worried about it but I don't think they should be.” People use playful manipulation and metaphors. It is a playful language. Not only are they quite creative, it is also quite expressive.

Question 1 Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text:
a) We are accurate and precise when we send messages.
b) People show they can handle language easily when they text..
c) Our belief that people use a lot of abbreviations when they text is correct
d) We mainly use messages to pass on pertinent information.

Question 2 Answer these questions in your own words:
a) How did she carry out her research?
b) Why does Dr Tagg believe that we shouldn’t worry about language?

Question 3 Find a word or phrase in the text that means the same as:
a) Obtain par.1
b) improve par. 2
c) Profound par. 4

Question 4 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning
a) "There is a panic about the effect of text messaging and people are genuinely worried about it but I don't think they should be”, she said.
She said that.......................................................
b) People believe that text messaging is destroying the art of communication.
Text messaging..........................................................................
c) She claimed that the way words were written showed a deep understanding of the fundamentals of speech, spelling and grammar.
She said “The way people ………………………………………………………

Question 5 Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
Could you live without a mobile phone?

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Look at the pictures and complete the sentences using comparative or superlative forms of the adjectives.







LAURA CAROL LUCY


1. Laura is _________________ than Carol. (young)

2. Lucy is the _______________. (young)

3. Carol’s hair is _____________ than Laura’s. (short)

4. Lucy’s eyes are the _______________. (small)

5. Lucy’s feet are ________________ than Carol’s. (big)

6. Lucy is the __________________. (happy)

7. Carol’s hair is the ________________________. (colourful)

8. Lucy’s hair is _____________________ than Laura’s. (curly)

9. Laura’s boots are the ___________________. (heavy)

10. Carol’s and Laura’s clothes are ________________ than Lucy’s. (modern)

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KEY

1. younger
2. youngest
3. shorter
4. smallest
5. bigger
6. happiest
7. most colourful
8. curlier
9. heaviest
10. more modern

Overexamined, undereducated

Overexamined, undereducated

Tens of thousands of schoolchildren, many of whom will have spent the Christmas break cramming and fretting over the new year exams, look likely to be given a reprieve by the snow. With about half the UK’s schools closed, there is increasing uncertainty about the GCSEs and A levels that are scheduled to begin on Monday. Should the exams be rescheduled for the summer, creating a pile-up of assessments in an already over-assessed academic year? Or should exam grades be issued on the strength of coursework that has already been submitted?

Britain’s children are simultaneously overexamined and undereducated. This problem extends across all age groups, as the Cambridge Primary Review found last year. But it is especially acute at secondary level.

Many readers will remember a time when there were two sets of major exams: GCSEs then A levels. Those days are long gone. Students now take the new AS levels between GCSEs and A levels. Moreover, instead of coming at the end of the academic year in the summer, exams are now split into modules that crop up during the year.

Examining, not education, dominates the agenda. Politicians demand never-ending “improvements” in exam results. So do many headteachers. Teachers are forced to narrow their focus towards cramming. No wonder some independent schools are switching to the International Baccalaureate, which has a Middle Years Programme free of external assessment.

Exams can be useful. But they become self-defeating when they are never-ending. Increasing assessment once had the sensible intention of making it easier to measure essential skills. But the curriculum should lead the exam, not the exam lead the curriculum.

1 Find words in the text that refer to people
Example: teachers, ...........

2 Match the expressions from the text to the correct meaning.

1 to cram a to appear suddenly
2 to fret over b It’s not surprising
3 to crop up c counterproductive
4 to be given a reprieve d To escape punishment (temporarily)
5 Those days are long gone. e to study hard just before an exam
6 No wonder f The situation today is completely different.
7 to dominate the agenda g to worry about
8 self-defeating h to control what happens

3 Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.
a) serious (paragraph 2)
b) divide (paragraph 3)
c) change (paragraph 4)

4 Who does these things – a student or a teacher?
does homework / corrects homework
hands in homework /gives back homework
sets a test / sits a test
gets a mark / gives a mark
explains the content of a lesson / takes notes of the content of a lesson

5 Choose the right word.
I’m in the third (1) year /course of Compulsory Education. I have to study 9 (2) signatures /subjects. At the moment, I’m getting good (3) marks /notes in 8 of them but I (4) failed /suspended the Physics exam. I have to (5) make / do another exam at the end of term and I hope I (6) pass / approve!

Key
1
Schoolchildren, children, readers, students, politicians, headteachers
2
1 - e, 2 – g, 3 – a, 4 – d, 5 – f, 6 – b, 7 – h, 8 – c
3
a) acute b) split c) switch
4
a student does homework, hands in homework, sits a test, gets a mark, takes notes
a teacher corrects homework, gives back homework, sets a test, gives a mark, explains the content of a lesson
5
1 year 2 subjects 3 marks 4 failed 5 do 6 pass

You are what you listen to

You are what you listen to

Think twice before proudly showing off your iPod playlist. Your choice of music may mark you out as boring, dim and unattractive, according to new research from the University of Cambridge.

The study found that we make assumptions about someone’s personality, values, social class and ethnicity based on their musical preferences.

Classical buffs are seen as ugly and boring, while rock lovers are regarded as emotionally unstable and pop fans are considered to be rather dim.

Perusing a person’s iPod playlist can “reinforce stereotypes and, potentially, social prejudices”, said Dr Jason Rentfrow, who led the research at the university’s Department of Social and Developmental Psychology. “This research suggests that, even though our assumptions may not be accurate, we get a very strong impression about someone when we ask them what music they like.”

Subjects in the study were asked to ponder six musical genres: rock, pop, classical, jazz, rap and electronica. Jazz fans elicited the most positive response as they were considered to be imaginative, peace-loving liberals with friendly and outgoing natures. Classical buffs are perceived as quiet, friendly, responsible and intelligent but also unathletic, physically unattractive and dull. Those with a preference for rock songs are deemed to be “natural rebels”, thoroughly irresponsible and emotionally unstable, while pop fans are seen as conventional and calm but lacking in intelligence and wisdom. Rap aficionados are viewed as athletic and self-respecting but disorganised and “more hostile” than other music fans. Lovers of electronica are “a bit neurotic”.
The research was carried out to mark the university’s 800th anniversary.

Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.
a) According to the study, it is not clear that people have an opinion of us depending on the music we like.
b) People who like classical music do not seem to be very attractive.
c) The study was carried out by the Music Department in Cambridge University.
d) Apparently rock fans adapt to social rules easily.

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) According to the study, what does the music we like tell other people about us?
b) What may be some bad consequences of knowing people’s musical preferences?

Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as
a) to display (par.1) b) correct (par.4) c) to produce (par.5)

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning
a) “This research suggests that we get a strong impression about someone when we ask them what music they like.”
Dr. Jason said that ___________________________________________________
b) Subjects in the study were asked to ponder six musical genres.
They _____________________________________________________________
c) They consider him disorganized and hostile because he likes rap.
If he ___________________________________________________________

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
• Music makes the world go round. Do you agree?

Misbehaving students punished with Mozart
A school in England is using classical music to cut down on students’ bad behaviour. The head teacher Brian Walker at the West Park School in Derby runs two-hour detention sessions after school on Fridays. He forces his students to listen to Mozart and other classical music. He also makes them copy his favourite poems and they have to watch educational videos. Mr. Walker says his main aim is to stop noisy pupils spoiling lessons for well-behaved students who want to study. He said the students staying behind are “not the smokers, the truants or the people who are late… It's those who have slowed the learning process in class for everyone”. Mr. Walker explained this was unacceptable “because it is robbing the rest of opportunities”.

Brian Walker believes the detention reminds students that education is something to value. "It helps them see they are part of something bigger that will enhance their life chances,” he said. The head teacher thinks students actually learn from being kept behind after school: "Hopefully, I open their ears to an experience they don't normally have and…don't want to have again, so it's both educational and acts as a deterrent." Music has had success elsewhere in reducing bad behaviour. In 2004, it reduced crime on London’s subway by 25 per cent. Researchers from a Belfast university found it helped stop elephants misbehaving. However, one West Park student called Kieran said: “An hour of Mr. Walker's music is a real killer.”

Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.

a) A teacher forced students to write poetry and listen to classical music.
b) Students received detention for smoking and skipping classes.
c) The teacher said he wanted students to open their ears and eyes.
d) Music on London’s subway system cut crime by a quarter in 2004.

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.

a) Why does Mr. Walker force the students to stay after school on Friday?
b) What kind of students “suffer” Mr. Walker’s measures?

Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as
a) reduce (Par 1) b) ruining (par.1) c) opportunities (par. 2)

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning
a) A school in England is using classical music to cut down on bad behaviour.
Classical music …………………………..
b) He forces his students to listen to Mozart.
He makes …………………………….
c) “It helps them see they are part of something bigger that will enhance their life chances.
Brian Walker said that …………………

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
What do you think about school punishments?

1. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
a. Mozart was a bad student at school and was punished a lot. T / F
b. A teacher forced students to write poetry and listen to classical music. T / F
c. Students received detention for smoking and skipping class. T / F
d. A head teacher was worried good students were losing studying time. T / F
e. The head teacher believes his method helps students value education. T / F
f. The teacher said he wanted students to open their ears and eyes. T / F
g. Music on London’s subway system cut crime by a quarter in 2004. T / F
h. One student said he really liked the music by the band The Killers. T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
1. cut down on a. students
2 forces b. usually
3. pupils c. detained
4. spoiling d. chances
5. robbing e. reduce
6. enhance f. in other places
7. opportunities g. stealing from
8. kept behind h. makes
9. normally i. improve
10. elsewhere j. ruining

KEY

KEY

TRUE / FALSE:
a. F b. T c. F d. T e. T f. F g. T h. F
SYNONYM MATCH:
1. cut down on a. reduce
2 forces b. makes
3. pupils c. students
4. spoiling d. ruining
5. robbing e. stealing from
6. enhance f. improve
7. opportunities g. chances
8. kept behind h. detained
9. normally i. usually
10. elsewhere j. in other places

Are you planning to travel for Carnival?

Are you one of those who always ask questions before thinking?

Have a look at this!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/4973350/20-stupid-questions-asked-by-tourists.html

Now that you are ready to be a wise tourist, try this exercise.

Arranging and going on a plane journey

If you buy a ticket then travel with an online airline, you have to go through several steps before you fly.

Number the steps in the order you do them. (1 - 14)

a) You type in the web address onto your browser.

b) You choose the best flight times for you.

c) You check in and print your boarding card.

d) You submit your personal details.

e) You show your boarding pass and passport.

f) You select your starting point, destination airport and dates of travel.

g) You go through security control.

h) You select or reject options like number of bags and priority boarding.

i) The total cost, including any additional charges is shown.

j) You submit your payment details.

k) You wait at the gate.

l) You arrive at the airport.

m) You receive a confirmation number by email.

n) You board the plane and take a seat.




1.a 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.


Self-Access Group. CEP. Santander



KEY
1.a 2.f 3. b 4.h 5.i 6.d 7.j 8.m 9.c 10.l 11.g 12.e 13.k 14.n

And if you feel exotic ....................
World’s Tallest Building Opens in Dubai

The world's tallest building officially opened in Dubai on January the 4th. The height of the 828-metre Burj Khalifa was kept a secret until the opening ceremony. It is twice the height of New York’s Empire State Building. Another big surprise at the opening was the renaming of the tower. The building had always been called Burj Dubai. However, Dubai’s ruler announced it would now be called Burj Khalifa after the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Dubai’s neighbour. The oil-rich emirate of Abu Dhabi helped save Dubai from possible financial collapse. The chairman of the company that built the Burj, Mohamed Alabbar, said the building gives "hope and optimism". He added: “The world has gone through …difficult times… this is the beginning of a gradual move forward.”
It is likely the Burj will remain as the world’s tallest building for a while to come. Since the 2008 global financial crisis, there seems to be little appetite for ambitious construction projects from property developers. The Burj’s owners, however, are confident the building will be a success. More than 90 per cent of the space has been sold. It cost $22 billion to build and has broken many records. The opening celebrations included the world’s highest fireworks, which lit up the sky above the world’s tallest fountain. The building houses the world’s highest mosque and swimming pool, located on floors 158 and 76. Burj Khalifa has 1,044 luxury apartments, 49 floors of offices and the 160-room Armani hotel. Around 12,000 people will live and work in the tower.

Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.
a) Everyone knew the height of the world’s tallest building ages ago.
b) The building is named after Dubai’s ruler.
c) A property developer said the Burj is a symbol of good times to come.
d) Another project will soon beat the Burj as the world’s tallest building.

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) Why has this tall building got that name?
b) What will there be inside the building?

Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as
a) ruin (par.1) b) slow (par.1) c) desire (par. 2)

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning
a) The building had always been called Burj Dubai.
People _________________________________
b) “The world has gone through difficult times. This is the beginning of a gradual move forward.”
Mohamed Alabbar said that ____________________________________________
c) There is no appetite for construction projects. The Burj´s owners , however, are confident the building will be a success.
Although __________________________________________________________

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
What do you prefer to visit: old towns or modern towns? Give reasons

Self-Access Group. CEP Santander