Science Fact and Science Fiction

Grammar revision

C. Choose the appropriate letters A-D to answer questions 13-14.

B. The writer refers to various individuals and companies in the reading passage. Match the people or companies (A-E) with the points made in questions 9-12.

9 Historically, new forms of distributing entertainment have alarmed those well-established in the business.   10 The merger of entertainment companies follows a pattern evident in other industries.   11 Major entertainment bodies that have remained independent have lost their influence.     12 News of the most recent technological development was published some years ago.

AJohn Malone   B Hal Valarian   C MGM   D Walt Disney   E Christopher Dixon

13 How does the writer put across his views on the digital revolution?

A by examining the forms of media that will be affected by it

B by analyzing the way entertainment companies have reached to it

C by giving a personal definition of technological innovation

D by drawing comparisons with other periods of technological innovation

14 Which of the following best summarizes the writer’s views in this passage?

A The public should cease resisting the introduction of new technology.

B Digital technology will increase profits in the entertainment business.

C Entertainment companies should adapt to technological innovation.

D technological change only benefits big entertainment companies.

@ Writing

125 Write a précis of the text you have read using either of the 3 structural patterns: deductive, inductive or framed.

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one word in each space. Write the words on a separate sheet of paper in the following sequence: 1 ……………… 2 …………….. 3……………, etc.

When writers attempt to anticipate the future, they often only succeed in providing an interpretation of the present. This (1)_______ be seen in the fantasies produced by science fiction writers in the middle of the twentieth century. Almost nothing has turned (2)_______ the way that these writers expected. Although they (3)_______ manage to predict intelligent robots, they completely (4)_______ to anticipate the development in communications technology that would make them possible. This (5)_______ that science fiction written before 1980 now seems absurdly dated, and what strikes you most (6)_______ the curious absence of personal computers, e-mail and the Internet. Science fiction writers, it seems, were remarkably (7)_______ on the uptake when (8)_______ came to grasping the extent to (9)_______ the nature of communication would change.

Instead, their focus was (10)_______ much on rocket technology and space travel. For they (11)_______ not to know that the lunar landings, so exciting at the time, would actually lead nowhere. There are no human colonies on the Moon, (12)_______alone on Mars and the idea that people might eventually populate the cosmos seems even (13)_______ within the realms of possibility now than it did then, despite half a century of bewilderingly rapid technological progress. What's (14)_______, scientists have even begun to ridicule the notion, fundamental to much science fiction, that one day we just (15)_______ encounter intelligent aliens.

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127 Reading Comprehension

A. Before reading the passage, look at the words below and make sure you understand them. Write their Belarusian/Russian equivalents in the gaps.

to long for ……………………………     take something in ……………………………     longhand ……………………………     to recycle ……………………………     play around with………………………   thrash out ……………………………     demoralize………………   loft ……………………………     tease smth out ……………………………   to trek ……………………………     to slump ……………………………     to seethe ……………………………     to get waylaid ……………………………   A Portakabin ……………………………   jumbo ……………………………     on the go ……………………………     to sustain ……………………………

- to want something very much, especially when it seems unlikely to happen soon. - to understand and remember new facts and information ￚsynonym absorb. - if you write something in longhand, you write it by hand using complete words, rather than typing it or using special short forms of words. - to put used objects or materials through a special process so that they can be used again. - to try doing something in different ways, to see what would be best, especially when this is fun. - to discuss something thoroughly with someone until you find an answer, reach an agreement, or decide on something.     - to reduce or destroy someone's courage or co nfidence.     - British English a room or space under the roof of a building, usually used for storing things in ￚ synonym attic. -to succeed in learning information that is hidden, or that someone does not want to tell you. - to make a long and difficult journey, especially on foot.   - to fall or lean against something because you are not strong enough to stand. - to feel an emotion, especially anger, so strongly that you are almost shaking. - if you are waylaid, you are delayed when you are doing something - often used humorously to say why you are late. - very small building that can be used as a temporary office, classroom etc, and can be moved by truck. - larger than other things of the same type.   - if you have something on the go, you have started it and are busy doing it. -if food or drink sustains a person, animal, or plant, it makes them able to continue living

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