Living in a place of his own

Being able to live in his own place with friends has helped James to feel more in charge of his life. James moved out of registered care near London two years ago and has never looked back. He chose to live with three of his friends. They addressed “Apartment Rent Agency” to help them find a suitable house where they could be safe but independent.

The house has been fitted out with Personalized Technology, such as thumb print locks so they don’t need a key. …

32. Write a summary of the text “A Smart House” (100 words).

33. Write a composition on the topic “The Virtual Smart House” (150 words).

34. Very often people look for accommodation. Write a note starting with the:

Accommodation Wanted

A young family is looking for a luxury house with…

You can use some abbreviations and understandable shortenings giving in the texts and exercises above and some ones below:

fac.- facilities; inc.- including; h/w – hot (running) water; c/h – central heating;

35. Write an instruction to:

1. how to use an intercom;

b. how to install Heating, Ventilation and Conditioning (the HVAC).

36. Write the list of housewarming presents you want to circulate in advance to your guests (it avoids your being given six toasters). All the presents should be from the list of expensive electric appliances.

Unit 6: Internet Communication

Internet: absolute communication, absolute isolation.

Paul Carvel

WARM-UP

1. Work in groups. What websites do you use to:

1. Find out what is happening in the world?

2. Contact friends?

3. Show your holiday pictures?

4. Find out whether a new film or book is good?

5. Find information quickly?

Which websites do you use regularly? Which do you use occasionally?

2. In pairs, discuss what Internet software you would use to do the following tasks:

1. Transfer files from the Internet to your hard drive.

2. Send a message to another person via the Internet.

3. Have a live conversation online.

4. Download and view documents published on the Internet.

5. Take part in public discussion areas devoted to specific topics.

3. Make a list of all the things you can use the Internet for.

4. Discuss the following questions.

• What is your favourite way to chat on the Internet?

• How much time do you spend chatting?

• Do you use voice or video while chatting? How?

• Give the definition for the term “social network”?

• Which program do you use to chat with people?

5. Look at the statements below. Which one do you agree with?

• “The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.” Bill Gates

• "Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks." Author Unknown

• “The new information technology...Internet and e-mail...have practically eliminated the physical costs of communications.” Peter Drucker

• “Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant.” Mitchell Kapor 

• “The Internet is the world's largest library. It's just that all the books are on the floor.” John Allen Paulos

6. Walk around the class and talk to other students about the Internet.

READING

7. Identify the stressed sound in each word as in the example. Practise reading.

Strategic, successfully, nuclear, conceivable, missile, secrecy, precious, technique, sophisticated, constellation, embrace, gigantic, military, resemblance, irony.

8. Read the text “How the Internet Became a Big Boy” and answer the following questions.

1. What does the title of the text refer to?

2. What is meant by the phrase “reduce any conceivable network to tatters”?

3. In your own words, explain why the writer calls the Internet a “functional anarchy”?

4. How has the Internet evolved over time? Give examples.

5. According to the last paragraph, what can we expect from the Internet of tomorrow?

9. Find synonyms to the words in bold from the text.

10. Think of the other headings to the text.