Unit 3

Choose the correct alternative to complete the sentences.

1. A ________ is something that you type on.
2. A ________ is what you use to connect the computer to the electricity supply.
3. A ________ is something that allows the user to click on things on the screen.
4. A ________ is something that allows you to print documents and photos.
5. A ________ is something that allows you to move the mouse more efficiently.
6. ________ allow you to hear sounds and music.

Choose the correct alternative to complete the text.

Any web communication ________ dangerous. People can upload false information, sometimes they can even be wicked people, ________ are protected by anonymity. There is also a lot of ________. This is why some kind of censorship is needed. Despite that, blogs are very popular with people. It ________ be because they are something new, because they have existed for a while. It ________ because they are immediate and interactive. And it is not only young people who participate. In fact, there are many middle-aged people who like to keep a blog ________ with the outside world and not just with their friends, relatives and colleagues, who already know them very well. Some of these people spend hours in front of their ________!

Read the presentation of three young people and decide which must be their favourite items of technology.

Hi, I'm Sarah. I'm 16 and I live in a little village near the sea. I go to high school but it takes me a long time as my school is in the nearest town and the trains are not very reliable. So I spend almost two hours travelling every day. On the train, I like listening to music. It relaxes me. I would like to read also, but my schoolbag is already very heavy and I wouldn't like to add another book on top of all my school books.

My name is Daniel. At present, I am living abroad as I am spending my fourth year of high school in a foreign country. I have made many friends here but I always like to be in touch with my old mates at home. Every evening I Skype them. With my girlfriend it is different, we also send each other millions of messages a day with WhatsApp, so it doesn't cost us a single euro.

Hi, I am Roxy. I am not very keen on technology and I don't have a smartphone. I have a traditional phone which I have had for years. It is enough for me. I make phone calls with it, that's all. I like taking photos but I don't take pictures with my phone. A tablet? No, thank you.

Sarah: ________
Daniel: ________
Roxy: ________

Choose the correct alternative to complete the sentences.

1. Everybody can use this tablet: it ________ be too difficult. I am going to try too.
2. My computer is making a funny noise. I am sure it ________ be the plug.
3. Our teacher thinks having a blog is fun. She ________ be right, but it ________ certainly take a lot of time.
4. You ________ be on the last page of the book. You only started reading it yesterday!
5. Hey, the phone is ringing. Go and get it: it ________ be Jack asking for help. He is buying his girlfriend a present and you know he ________ be very undecided.

Complete the text with the correct modal verbs for deduction.

As we are trying to obtain some information about current affairs in Iceland, let's click on that link on the official web page. I am not sure but it ________ be quite interesting. Well, it looks uninspiring. Let's try this other site. Hmm, no, there ________ be something wrong with it. It says the page is 'not found'.
There ________ be so little information about that country. What can we do? We ________ find something in the archives of an important newspaper. Let's try. If we write 'Iceland' in the 'search' box, something ________ come up, for sure. It ________ give us some news articles, that's a possibility. And then we ________ find something related to the country's current affairs, if we are lucky. Let's try.

Complete the text with the words below.

When I was young, there used to be very little ________ compared to now. A video recorder was considered as a very modern appliance. But, despite being a grandmother now, I am not against the new forms of ________. On the contrary, I can send and receive ________ and use my computer to surf the Net. I must say I hate all the ________ that gets into my ________ every day, and I spend a long time ________ the undesired emails. I used to have no problems with my mobile until I bought a smartphone. I already know how to cope with the touchscreen, but I am not very quick when sending messages.

Listen to the following conversation. Some friends are deciding about a present and they are talking about the pros and cons of buying a tablet. Say if the following sentences are 'cons' (C) or 'pros' (P).

1. Alison already has a smartphone and a PC. ________
2. Alison's smartphone has as many of the functions as a tablet. ________
3. The tablet is light in your bag but it can equal a PC when at home or at school. ________
4. The tablet can take perfect pictures. ________
5. A tablet is a big present but too expensive. ________
6. The tablet is offered at a very interesting price. ________
7. They don't have much time to think about it as the discount ends today. ________

Choose the correct alternative to complete the text.

Paul, ________ is a keen blogger, will be the leader of our class blog, ________ is something completely new for most of us. We hope that many young people will follow our web diary. Those people, ________ will become our followers and ________ email address we will then know, will give us important feedback to make our blog increasingly interesting. The ideas, ________ will come up during open discussions in class, will not be related to any political topic. We are also going to email each other the texts to post, ________ can't be more than 200 words, so as to be sure that everybody feels involved.

Choose the correct alternative to complete the sentences.

1. Be very careful when using your tablet ________ to scratch the screen.
2. You need to buy a camera ________ take pictures.
3. You can also use your phone ________ listen to music.
4. Click on the link on the top right ________ open a new window.
5. Use that site ________ download music legally.
6. The screen is delicate. Use specific products to clean it ________ not to damage it.

Choose the correct alternative to complete the text.

We are not surprised at the very many functions of a smartphone. Yet, if you think of it, you say it ________ all that simple! Such complex technology in such a small ________! It can read maps, ________ have been pre-stored, ________ take you where you want to go. You can talk to it and it performs some simple actions, such as searching for a place or somebody's ________. You can read your emails and ________ to them. The person ________ has a smartphone can do without a watch, a city plan, a landline, an alarm clock, a compass and many other items.