Children into computers younger than ever. Student A’s questions (do not show these to student B)

LANGUAGE

SPEAKING

DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a. What did you think when you read the headline?

b. What do you think about children owning electronic gadgets?

c. What kind of gadgets did you use when you were a child?

d. Do you think electronic toys will totally replace traditional toys?

e. What are the dangers of children using computers from such a young age?

f. What kinds of toys will children of the future use?

g. Have you ever feared technology?

h. What gadgets are part of your everyday life?

i. What latest and greatest digital devices are you currently interested in?

j. Are you choosy about the kind of computer, cell phone, video games console… you buy?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a. Did you like reading this article?

b. Do you like taking part in online surveys?

c. How much time do you spend using electronic devices?

d. What is the ultimate gadget for you?

e. Do you like wandering around electronics stores?

f. Do you think kids are more tech savvy than you?

g. What do you think of the idea of a PlayStation for babies?

h. What would happen if all electronic devices suddenly stopped working?

i. What do you think really old people think about computers and electronics?

j. Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

a. What was the most interesting thing you heard?

b. Was there a question you didn’t like?

c. Was there something you totally disagreed with?

d. What did you like talking about?

e. Which was the most difficult question?

PLAYSTATION BABY:

Your new job is to market the new PlayStation Baby, a games console for babies aged 6 months or over. Complete this table with your marketing partner(s).

Decisions	Your notes
Slogan
Games
Special features and functions
Colours
The kind of advertising
Educational / developmental value

• Change partners and share your ideas.
• Decide on an overall winner.

CORRECT WORD: Put the correct words from a–d below in the article.

Children are using and owning consumer (1) ____ from a younger age than ever before, according to US market researcher NPD. Its research (2) ____ the average age at which children begin using computers, games and other electronic gadgets (3) ____ declined from 8.1 years in 2005 to 6.7 years in 2007. The NPD report, “Kids and Consumer Electronics Trends III”, says the youngest consumers are also getting choosy about what they buy. More and (4) ____ young children now own a DVD player, portable video game, digital camera or cell phone. NPD’s Anita Frazier said: “Kids are (5) ____ to the latest and greatest digital devices just as their parents are.” She added: “They appear to have no fear of technology and adopt it easily and without (6) ____, making these devices a part of their everyday lives.”

The study is (7) ____ on data collected via an online survey to a sample of American adults aged 25 and older who had children aged between four and fourteen. The survey also found that kids use electronic devices an average (8) ____ three days per week. (9) ____, many of the families surveyed were not regular consumer electronics buyers. Almost 25 percent of parents surveyed said they had made no electronics purchases during the previous 12 months. Father (10) ____ two Robert Garside, 38, said he was amazed at what his children want to buy. He admits to often (11) ____ to ask his nine-year-old how to operate his Sony PlayStation. “Children nowadays are so tech savvy that soon Sony will bring (12) ____ a PlayStation for babies,” he said. His son Robert Junior said all the gadgets around him really were child’s play.

1.	(a)	electrons	(b)	electrics	(c)	electronics	(d)	electricity
2.	(a)	shows	(b)	showing	(c)	show	(d)	shower
3.	(a)	be	(b)	did	(c)	was	(d)	has
4.	(a)	most	(b)	more	(c)	mostly	(d)	many
5.	(a)	drawn	(b)	painted	(c)	sketched	(d)	doodled
6.	(a)	affair	(b)	airfare	(c)	funfair	(d)	fanfare
7.	(a)	basked	(b)	basted	(c)	based	(d)	bashed
8.	(a)	an	(b)	of	(c)	to	(d)	with
9.	(a)	surprised	(b)	surprisingly	(c)	surprise	(d)	surprises
10.	(a)	by	(b)	and	(c)	with	(d)	of
11.	(a)	having	(b)	have	(c)	has	(d)	had
12.	(a)	down	(b)	up	(c)	out	(d)	in

WRITING:

Write about gadgets for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

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Дата добавления: 2015-01-03