Modern technology. The Internet.

Give a talk on the topic Modern Technology. The Internet.

Remember to say:

• if we can imagine our present life without modern technology, why/why not;

• why the computer and the Internet have become an integral part of our life;

• what advantages of advanced technology (virtual reality, thy Internet) are;

• what disadvantages of advanced technology are.

Modern technology is quickly spreading all over the world. We can hardly imagine our present life without such gadgets as air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, mobile phones, lap tops etc. Every teenager is able to use a remote control, CD player, MP-3 player and of course a computer.

Computers have become an important part of our everyday life. A modern computer is capable of doing various tasks like word processing and accounting, typing texts and drawing objects or diagrams, saving, editing and deleting texts.

Nowadays modern computers and modern programs allow us to use such advanced technology as virtual reality. It is the technology which allows users to interact with computer-simulated images. In today's virtual worlds people can do a lot of things. For example, doctors practice operations on different parts of a human body, students learn Geography and History by "walking" into the places they are interested in, tourists take far-away trips to other countries. However, some psychologists warn that for the young and mentally ill virtual trips could be very dangerous because after such trips they mix up the real world with the virtual one.

Several years ago very few people heard about the Internet. Now it is as useful and common as the telephone. The Internet is probably one of the most important inventions of our time. Many people send email messages and read websites every day. We can get a lot of interesting and useful information from the Internet, buy books, book tickets and find out about holiday offers. Nowadays it is even possible to find a job in any part of the world if you browse the appropriate Internet sites attentively. Moreover, the Internet allows a lot of talented people to show the world their achievements.

However, the possibilities of the Internet sometimes seem frightening. There have appeared recently some hackers who can get into the computers of banks and governments and create chaos or steal money from bank accounts. Another danger is the Internet addiction. A lot of people, especially teenagers spend hours chatting or playing games on line.

So we see that modern technology offers us both great opportunities and dangerous problems. Our task is to use them in peaceful purposes and to cope with problems which sometimes are created.

Speaking activity:

Answer the following questions:

1. What technological developments in the home do you enjoy?

2. What technological developments do you think there will be over the next twenty or thirty years?

3. When did you first get to know about computers?

4. What of the following advantages of computers seems to you the most significant? Rank the items in order of importance:

· computers let you access a lot of information

· computers let you communicate very quickly(by e-mail or using the Internet)

· computers can do some jobs very quickly (e.g. sending out large numbers of letters or bills)

· computers make it possible to work from home

· word processors make it easier to write letters and reports and do work for school or college

· computers, multimedia, interactive software and virtual reality all make learning more exciting

· many books are available

· large amount of information can be stored on computer in a database

5. Don’t you think some children spend too much time playing computer games? Is it harmful for health and their academic progress?

6. Do computers have an important influence on our daily life?

7. Can you think of anything else you would like to see invented that will make your life easier?

 

FAMOUS PEOPLE

Give a talk on the topic Famous People of Russia.

Remember to say:

• if Russia is rich in talented people;

• a few words about the most prominent Russian scientist M. Lomonosov;

• some words about Russian Nobel prizewinners;

• about a famous Russian scientist/writer/ politician of nowadays

 

Everybody knows that the Russian spirit, nature and genius all come together in the greatest people of our Motherland. There are many talented people in Russia- scientists, writers, composers, painters and many others who we are proud of.

One of the most prominent Russian scientists is M. Lomonosov. M. Lomonosov was one of the most learned men in Europe. He was an outstanding innovator in both the humanities and sciences. He founded the first Russian University. M.Lomonosov was also a great enlightener, an inventor of many technologies, a poet, a translator and a historian. His name is known to every citizen of Russia.

It is almost impossible to name a branch of science in the development of which the Russian scientists haven't played the greatest role. For example D.Mendeleev discovered the Periodic System of Elements; A. Popov is known the inventor of the radio. Sechinov and Pavlov were the world's greatest physiologists.

Russia is rightly called the mother of aviation and interplanetary navigation. K.Tsialkovsky is the father of rocket flying. He formulated the principles of flying machines for interplanetary communication. S. Korolev studied the universe and gave the world the first flight round the Earth.

Every year, six Nobel prizes are awarded for outstanding work in science literature, economics and the promotion of peace. This international prize was founded by the Swedish 'dentist Alfred Nobel, who invented dynamite and built up companies and laboratories in countries all over the world.

Many Russians have been nominated for the Nobel Prize since it started in 1901 and 19 of them have received the Nobel Prize for their outstanding contributions, particularly in the field of physics, but also in other areas. The first Russian Nobel winner for medicine (1904) was Ivan Pavlov. He made many remarkable discoveries about blood circulation and the central nervous system. His experiments on dogs had a great impact on behavioral psychology.

Mikhail Sholokhov, an outstanding 20^th century Russian writer, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1965. He wrote and published a number of short stories while completing his most famous work "And Quiet Flow the Don”, which took him fourteen years to finish.

In 1978, Russian physicist Pyotr Kapitza shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on magnetism and low-temperature physics. He founded the Institute for Physical Problems in Moscow, and he was the oldest scientist ever to win the award.

The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded over the years to individuals and organizations that work actively for peace and greater understanding. It was suspended during both World Wars. It has been awarded to Russian physicist and civil rights campaigner Andrei Sakharov in 1975 and to Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990. I’d like to say a few words about a famous Russian scientist/writer/ politician of nowadays...

 

TRAVEL AND TOURISM

Give a talk on travelling. Remember to discuss:

· why people travel nowadays

· what the most popular tourist destinations are and why

· why people prefer different ways of travelling

· where you have travelled to

A lot of people travel nowadays. It's not surprising because distances between countries are becoming shorter due to the development of transport. Today people have lots of good reasons to travel. First of all, travelling is a part of people's education. It goes without saying that it's always interesting to discover new places and new ways of life, to try foreign food and to listen to unusual musical rhythms. Besides, travelling is a good way to practise foreign languages. Another reason why people travel is to relax. City-dwellers usually like a quiet holiday by the sea of in the mountains, with nothing to do but walk and bathe and laze in the sun. Finally, more and more people nowadays travel around the world on business.

The most popular tourist destinations in summer are of course seaside resorts in warm countries such as Spain, Italy or Turkey because people want to enjoy swimming and sunbathing as well as different water sports and nice entertainment. These countries are closely followed by Australia and Canada whose popularity is growing due to the personality and culture of the people as well as the location and facilities on site. As for winter, people flock in thousands to the slopes of popular skiing resorts in the Alps such as Chamonix in France or Zermatt in Switzer land because they have lots of comfortable hotels and offer wonderful opportunities for downhill skiing. People who enjoy visiting museums and art galleries usually go on sightseeing tours to countries like England, Germany or Greece.

There are a lot of different means of travelling and each of them has its pros and cons. When people have to visit another country, they prefer air travel because it's faster than other means of transport although it is the most expensive way of travelling, in other cases, it is more practical and economical to go by train or bus. Modern trains are very comfortable. Besides, you can enjoy a splendid view of the countryside. And if you are hungry, you can have a meal in the dining-car. Some people prefer travelling by sea which is very exciting. If the weather is fine, you can relax on a large sun deck and enjoy the panoramic view of the sea. But of course if you are sea-sick, travelling by ship is not a good idea. A lot of people travel by car because it's rather convenient. They don't have to buy tickets and to carry heavy luggage. They can stop wherever they wish and spend as much time as they like at any place. However, this way of travelling is not as comfortable and quick as travelling by plane or by train.

As for me, I like travelling and I travel quite a lot. I have already visited some European countries, for example, France, Germany and Austria and was impressed by the beauty of their towns. I also enjoyed their national dishes which are really delicious. In summer my parents and I usually go to Bulgaria because it has a wonderful climate, a warm sea, clean beaches and comfortable hotels. I have also been to England where I had an opportunity to improve my knowledge of English. I stayed with a host family and enjoyed their hospitality. It was fantastic because I was able to get to know the English lifestyle as well, as to practise the language.

Questions