LISTENING: HOMES OF THE FUTURE (https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.
org/flathunting/homes-future)
1. Circle the best words to complete these sentences.
1. In the first house shown in the video, the shower water is heated by electricity / wind energy /solar energy .
1. These houses are experimental / for sale / real people’s homes .
2. The technology in these houses helps them make more efficient use of energy / water / space compared to
ordinary houses.
3. There’s a card scanner / fingerprint scanner / retina scanner to open the door.
4. When it’s hot, the windows / curtains / shutters close automatically.
5. The chair also contains books / food and drink / toys.
2. Watch the video again. Decide if the sentences are true or false.
1. The houses are part of an estate for rich people.
2. With some of the houses, it's easy to add floors if you want more space.
3. Peter White is the engineer in charge of the houses.
4. Peter White says that houses in the future will be completely different from today's.
5. One of the visitors to the houses says she'd like a house which can clean itself.
6. Another visitor says he'd like to be able to watch films in every room.
LISTENING: ALIEN ENCOUNTERS (https://www.Esl-lab.Com/intermediate/alien-encounters/)
1. Where was the man coming from when he first saw the UFO?
a) He just got off work when he saw the UFO.
b) He was returning home from a party.
c) He was driving home from a restaurant.
2. What time did the man report the incident to the police?
a) about 3:00 a.m.
b) about 12:00 AM
c) about 5:00 a.m.
3. What jumped out in front of the man's car?
a) a hairy alien
b) a giant deer
c) a strange man
4. What happened next to the man?
a) He followed the animal to a plane.
b) He was carried to a spaceship.
c) He walked to a flying saucer.
5. What does the police officer suggest at the end of the story?
a) The man should seek counseling.
b) The man should contact the newspaper.
c) They should call the fire department.
SPEAKING:
Discuss about these future predictions.
1. More surveillance
2. Bitcoin will be the main currency of the world
3. Super AI that will transcend human intelligence will be created
4. People will achieve biological immortality
5. Radical birth control will be implemented
6. Robots will take over our jobs
7. Most human-to-human interactions will happen in Virtual Reality
8. Space tourism: a week in orbit
9. Self-driving cars will make driving safer
10. Half of the current jobs in the world are unlikely to exist in 2050
READING: WELCOME TO YOUR FUTURE LIFE!
Appliances That Talk
Technology will allow homes in the future to be “smart.” Appliances will communicate with each other—and with
you. Your stove, for instance, will tell you when your food is cooked and ready to eat. Refrigerators will suggest
recipes based on food items you already have.
The technology is possible because of tiny information-storing devices called RFID1 chips. People already use
them to keep track of pets and farm animals. Future RFID chips will store information about all the items in your
cabinets. For example, they will record the date that you bought each item. Other devices will “read” this
information using radio waves. When you need more food, your cabinets will tell you to buy it.
Houses That Think
Are you tired of the color or pattern of your walls? In a smart home, you won’t have to repaint them. The walls
will actually be digital screens, like computer or TV screens. The technology is called OLED, and it’s here already.
OLEDs are tiny devices that use electricity to light things. You can find the same technology in today’s thin TV
screens. OLED walls will become clear, like windows, or display colors and patterns, like walls.
A computer network will link these walls with everything else in your house. Called “ambient intelligence,” this
computer “brain” will control your entire house. It will also adapt to your preferences. Your house will learn about
your likes and dislikes. It will then use that knowledge to control the environment. For example, it will set the
heat in the house to your favorite temperature. It will turn on the shower at the right temperature. It will also
darken the windows at night and lighten them when it’s time to wake up.
Robots That Feel?
But how about your cooked breakfast, and the umbrella and hat you found by the door? For those, you can thank
your robot helper. Futurologists predict that many homes will have robots in the future. Robots already do many
things such as building cars and vacuuming floors. But scientists today are starting to build friendlier, more
intelligent robots—ones that people will feel more comfortable having around in the house.
Sociable robots will be able to show feelings with their faces, just like humans. They will smile and frown, make
eye contact, and speak. These robots will do work around the house such as cooking and cleaning. They will even
take care of children and the elderly.
How soon will this smart home be a reality? There’s a good chance it will be a part of your life in 25 or 30 years,
perhaps sooner. Much of the technology is already here.
1. Are these sentences TRUE or FALSE?
Appliances That Talk
1. Someday, kitchen cabinets will tell you it’s time to buy more food. T F
2. RFID chips are already used today for keeping track of children. T F
Houses That Think
3. People will change their wall patterns using RFID technology. T F
4. Darkening windows at night is an example of ambient intelligence. T F
Robots That Feel?
5. Scientists are building robots that can help take care of elderly people. T F
6. Robots will soon be more intelligent and sociable than humans. T F
