Unit 11 grade 8: Science And Technology – Skills 1

1. Reading

1.1. Task 1 Unit 11 grade 8

Quickly read the passages. Match the headings with the passages. (Read the passage quickly. Match the title with the paragraph.)

Guide to answer

A-2 B-1 C-3

Translation:

Can we live there?

Traveling to Mars could become a reality sooner than you think. Scientists are planning to send humans (not animals) to Mars in the near future. They believe that is the only way to find out if there is life, or even life, on this planet. They will explore the possibility of living there. So people can go there to live one day!

Can we live longer?

Scientists say that in the future people will live longer. Untreatable diseases will be cured and “bad” genes will be able to be replaced. With a healthier lifestyle and better medical care the average person will live to 100 instead of 70 (in men) or 75 (in women). Anti-aging drugs will also be invented to help people live longer.

Predicting future houses

Future homes will be located on the sea, in the air, and underground. These types of homes will feature innovative energy-saving equipment such as solar panels, solar windows and smart home technology. Homes of the future will take advantage of robots to do household chores like cleaning, cooking, washing and organizing things for their owners.

1.2. Task 2 Unit 11 grade 8

Underline the following words and phrases in the passages in 1.1. Match each of them with its explanation. (Underline the following words and phrases in the paragraph 1.1 Match each with their explanation.)

Guide to answer

1-d. a reality – a thing that actually exists or happens

(reality – something that actually happens or exists)

2 a. explore – examine carefully to find out more about something

(explore – check carefully to learn more about something)

3-e. possibility – something that is likely to happen

(likelihood – something that could happen)

4-b. replace – used instead of something else

(replace – to be replaced by something else)

5-f. anti-aging pills – medicine that can prevent aging

(anti-aging drugs – drugs that can stop aging)

6-c. energy saving devices – equipment that helps save energy

(energy-saving devices – devices that help save energy)

1.3. Task 3 Unit 11 grade 8

Answer the questions. (Answer the question.)

first. Why are scientists planning to send people to Mars?

(Why are scientists planning to send humans to Mars?)

2. How will anti-aging pills help people? (How will anti-aging drugs help people?)

3. How long does an average person live now? (How long does an average person live now?)

4. What are some energy saving devices? (What is an energy-saving device?)

5. What will home robots do in the future? (What will home robots do in the future?)

Guide to answer

1. They send people to Mars to explore if there is life there.

(They sent humans to Mars to discover if there was life there.)

2. They help people live longer. (They help people live longer.)

3. 70 for men and 75 for women. (70 years old for men or 75 years old for women)

4. Solar panels and solar windows. (Solar panels and solar windows.)

5. They can do chores such as cleaning, cooking, washing, and organizing things.

(They can do household chores like cleaning, cooking, washing and organizing.)

2. Speaking

2.1. Task 4 Unit 11 grade 8

Think about your ideas about scientific advances in these fields. Look at the example and make notes. (Think about what you mean by scientific progress in these areas. Look at the examples and take notes.)

Guide to answer

2.2. Task 5 Unit 11 grade 8

Work in groups. Express your agreement and disagreement about how scientific advances can help us solve problems in the future. (Work in groups. Express agreement and disagreement about scientific advances that can help us solve future problems.)

Example:

A: I think robots will help us do many boring or difficult jobs.

B: Yes. But at the same time, they may bring a lot of unemployment.

C: And they’ll make us lazy and inactive.

Translated:

A: I think robots will help us do many boring and difficult things.

B: That’s right. But at the same time, they can bring a lot of unemployment.

C: And they will make us lazy and passive.

Guide to answer

A: In my opinion, solar energy will be used by almost people in the world in the next 50 years.

B: I absolutely agree with you. It will help environment a lot.

C: And we won’t be worried about lack of energy.

Translated:

A: In my view, solar energy will be used by the majority of people in the world within the next 50 years)

B: I totally agree with you. It will help the environment a lot.

C: And we don’t need to worry about the lack of energy either.

3. Practice Task 1

Read the passage below and decide whether the statements are TRUE or FALSE?

Inventions That Changes Our World

People have been inventing things for years. Paper was invented about 2,000 years ago. The wheel was invented more than 5,000 years ago. What would life be like without paper to write on or bikes to ride? Those inventions have made life easier.

Airplane

The Wright Brothers invented the first airplane in December 1903. That makes 2003 the 100th anniversary! Before the airplane was invented, most people traveled by cars, boats, and trains. Today, airplanes help people travel faster. How do airplanes help you?

Telephone

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876. Before the telephone was invented, people kept in touch by writing letters or talking in person. Today the phone makes it easier for people to talk to one another. How do phones help you?

Automobile

The first four-wheeled gas-powered car was invented by Karl Benz in 1891. Before people had cars, they couldn’t travel easily. They walked or rode horses for short trips. They took trains or boats for long trips. Today cars are one of the main ways people travel. How do cars help you?

Computer

People worked for years to make the first computer. It was built in 1946. The first computer was called ENIAC. Today computers are an important part of many people’s lives. People use computers as tools to write, get information, and much more. How do computers help you?

Question 1: The wheel was invented more than 5 thousands years ago.

Question 2: Before the airplane was invented, people traveled around on foot.

Question 3: Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.

Question 4: Before the invention of automobiles, people walked or rode horses for long trips.

Question 5: People use computers as tools to write, get information.

4. Practice Task 2

Choose the letter A, B, C or D to answer these following questions

The history of the computer in the twentieth century is one of dramatic adaptation and expansion. The computer had modest beginnings in areas where it was used as a specialist tool. The first electronic computer was built in the 1930s and was solely for use of undergraduate students in Iowa State University to handle mathematical computations in nuclear physics. In World War II, computers were developed in order to wage counter espionage and break codes used by the enemy. In the post-war years the scope of computers was expanded to include the military industrial complex and academia. Obviously people needed to travel around these institutions and so there was a need for early network tools. In the 1960’s an early version of the Internet, ARPPANET was used in computers were starting to change our lifestyle, the way we do business and many style things (Elliot, 1994) and by the late 1980s, networks were expanding to embrace sections of the general public. The internet was born.

Question 1: When was the first electronic computer invented?

A. in the 1920s B. in the 1930s C. in the 1940s D. in the 1950s

Question 12: In World War II, computers were developed in order to____________.

A. break enemy’s code B. call other soldiers

C. do calculations D. study geography

Question 3: Why was the scope of computer expanded in the post-war year?

A. to teach at academic school B. to sell to other countries

C. to spread knowledge D. to include the military industrial complex

Question 4: What is the name of the early version odd the Internet?

A. INTRANET B. CONPANET C. INTERNET D. ARPPANET

Question 5: When were networks expanded to serve general public?

A. by the late 1980s B. by the late 1970s

C. by the late 1990s C. by the late 1960s

5. Conclusion

At the end of the lesson, students need to practice reading and understanding about human life in the future, talking about scientific advances with their advantages and disadvantages; Also memorize the following words:

• reality (n): reality
• explore (v): explore
• find out (v.phr): find out
• possibility (n): possibility
• incurable (adj): incurable
• lifestyle (n): lifestyle
• medical care: medical treatment
• anti-aging: anti-aging
• energy saving: save energy
• take advantage of: take advantage