资源简介

(共102张PPT)
UNIT 2
Looking into the Future
Exchange views on smart homes
1 Before you read, discuss these questions in groups
1 What does it mean when we say that something such as a phone is “smart”
To say that something is smart means that it can make decisionson its own without a human telling it what to do, and that it canalso leamn how to do things itself.
2 What do you think a “smart" house can do that other houses cannot
I would expect that a smart house could control room temperatureand lights, for example.
2 Skim the text and answer these questions.
1What is the purpose of the text
The purpose of the text is to introduce and get people excitedabout the idea of smart homes.
2 Who is the intended audience of this text
Home owners.
SMART HOMES TO MAKE LIFE EASIER
Have you ever forgotten to lock the door of your house Or, have you ever forgotten to switch off the TV or computer
These kinds of things happen to us all the time, waste resources, and can sometimes lead to problems.
However, in the not-too-distant future, we will be living in smart homes that will lock the door for us when we are away and remember to switch off the TV when we forget. These smart homes will keep us secure, save us energy and provide a more comfortable environment to live in.
Intelligent Controls
Today, we have to use switches for our lights, knobs for our appliances, and remote controls for our TVs and air conditioners. In the future, we will be using advanced technology every day for automatic control of just about everything in our home.
The future home will use integrated sensors to tell when you leave home each morning, and then go into an energy-efficient mode all by itself.
You will no longer have to think about turning switches on and off yourself. Your home will also learn your daily routine and preferences, so everything will be ready for you when you get home each evening.
Your lights will come on the instant you enter the door along with your favourite music or TV programmes, and you will find your dinner already prepared for you.
All controls will respond to voice commands, so if you want to change your routine, you just say aloud what you want and the home system will obey.
Regular Health Checks
In addition, your smart home will be monitoring your health for you every day. Your bed, for example will record how well you sleep every night.
It will also be checking your body weight. If you start to have sleep or weight problems, it will send a warning to your phone.
It will also give you suggestions on a healthier diet and how to sleep better.
Smart toilets will be keeping constant track of your health as well. They can warn you early on if there is something abnormal or if you have a critical illness, such as cancer, and potentially save your life.
No More Disasters
Smart homes will be able to prevent serious damage from accidents. For example, if a water pipe starts leaking, or if there is a short in the electrical wiring, your smart home will detect it and provide you with the relevant information.
This way you will be able to fix the problem before your home becomes flooded or catches fire. This smart technology is not a fantasy. Many of these new innovations are already available and being used in some homes. In this sense, the home of tomorrow is already the home of today. Nevertheless, it will take some years before most new homes begin to use this new technology.
3 Read the text again and fill in the table below.
4 Complete the summary using the correct forms of the words from the text.
A smart home is one that i___________ computers into the structure of the building itself. In this way, many of the things that we now do ourselves will become a________
ntegrates
utomatic
For example, the smart home could control the air conditioning and lights so that you would no longer have to turn s__________ on and off, making your home more energy e________. The smart home could also m_________ itself to make sure that everything is working as it should, and send you w____________ if there is a problem.
witch
fficient
fficient
Such smart homes could even be programmed to you d___________ your health problems, and then give you r_____________ advice as to the food you should eat or if you should see a doctor. So, in a sense, smart homes will lead us to living smarter lives.
5 Work in groups. Discuss these questions
1 In what way is the home of tomorrow already the home of today
Many of the new innovations are already used in some homes today. This is true especially of automatic controls for things such as lights and air conditioners.
2 What might be some of the disadvantages of smart homes
One disadvantage is that if there is a problem with the system ,you may find yourself locked out of the house , or unable to turn your TV off or on. Security is another big concern, as strangers may be able to hack into the system to collect information about your life and use that for evil purposes.
Build up your vocabulary
①Write as many correct pairs of “verb + noun" phrases as possible
Verbs: detect, integrate, leak, switch on/off,-monitorcure,-have,become, issue, encourage, repair, reject Nouns: a preference, routine, a warning, cancer, learning, the heater, air quality, potential dangers oil, innovation, the electrical wiring, fantasies
EXAMPLE detect potential dangers, have fantasies, ...
2 Complete the sentences with the adjectives in the box.
abnormal automatic available constant critical
efficient distant instant relevant secure
① Big data will become much more ___________ in solving crimes in the future.
② Many smart watches can provide________________fitness data.
③ It is possible that this technological fantasy will come true in the__________future.
④ After the accident, both drivers are in __________ condition.
⑤The fridge keeps food at a_________ low temperature.
⑥The air conditioner works in__________mode.
⑦It is important to make food and water__________to the survivors.
⑧Houses with advanced appliances will keep us_________and healthy.
⑨We find the German transport system to be one of the most__________in Europe.
⑩The sensors can detect anything __________and automatically call someone to come and fix it.
3 Paraphrase the sentences using the words and phrases in brackets.
1 Care will also be taken to combine the building and surrounding architecture together to form an effective system. (integrate)
2 We will probably benefit from remote-controlled houses.(potentially)
3 He insisted that everything in the smart home would be all right, However, I could not help but feel anxious. (nevertheless)
4 It is a good habit to make certain that you know what is happening with your blood pressure. (keep track of)
5 The monitoring system sends out warnings as soon as the car begins to leak oil. (the instant)
4 Add more elements in the mind map to build up your vocabulary.
Discover useful structures
1 Look at the sentences below. One is in the simple future tense. The other is in the future progressive tense, What different impressions do they make
In the future, we will use advanced technology every day for automatic control of just about everything in our home.
In the future, we will be using advanced technology every day for automatic control of just about everything in our home.
Find more sentences using the future progressive tense from the unit. Rewrite them using the simple future tense. Try to feel the different impressions they make.
2 Read the passage and complete the following sentences.
Jack goes to school every weekday. He leaves home at 6:45 and arrives at school at about 7:30.His morning classes begin at 8:00 and continue until 12:15. Then he has lunch, which takes about half an hour. His classes begin again at 1:30 in the afternoon and end at 3:50.
He goes to the school's football club at 4:30 and finishes practice at 6:00. He arrives home at about 6:45.
Every day he follows the same routine and tomorrow will be no exception.
At 6:30 am. tomorrow he'll be leaving the house. he'll be at home.
At 8:10 a.m. tomorrow, he'll be having a class. he'll have a cass
At 12:30 tomcrrow he'll be having lunch. he'll have lunch.
At 5:00 pm.tomorrow he'll be practising football. he'll practise football.
At 6:45 p.m.tomorrow he'll be arriving home. he'll arrive home.
3 Fill in the blanks with the proper forms of the verbs in brackets.
1.You can call me then. I_____________________(not sleep).
2.They set of at 9:00 a.m, and thought they __________（ reach ）the airport an hour later...
3. Will you________ (wait) for me until I find the electrical wires
4.Better not hang out with Sam then. He ________________ (work) on his article on critical thinking.
5. I guess most parents_____________(support) the new plan at the meeting tomorrow.
4.Work in pairs. Read the travel plan and make up a conversation using the future progressive tense.
Make predictions about future changes
1 What do these pictures show Match the words with the pictures.
2 Discuss these questions in groups
1 How do you think these events or such technology might develop in the future
2 What challenges might they bring
3 What opportunities might they bring
3 Listen to a radio interview with Dr Han and Vincent Black giving their predictions about the future, and then fill in the table below.
Computer
scientist
an architect
Computers will be cleverer and think like humans nanobots in our bodies can increase our abilities
There will be cities floating on water; polar ice will melt; the sea level will rise
Name Occupation Prediction
Dr Han
Vincent Black
Computers will be clevererthan us in the future ; peoplewill also be programming computers to think like humans ; we 'll be programm-ing them not to think in ways that may harm humans ;we 'll also be creating machines to help people internally
There will be cities foating on water and people could move into housing in cities that foat.
4 Work in pairs. Discuss whether you think Dr Han and Vincent Black's predictions are possible. Why or why not
I agree on Dr Han's idea that computers will be cleverer than us inthe future. Actually there are already computers, like AlphaGo,that are smarter than most people.
I don't agree on Vincent Black's idea about floating cities, becauseI doubt that sea levels will rise that much.
5 In groups, brainstorm about the future. Discuss these points.
future events or problems the world might face
future technologies
how these things will change the way we live
the challenges and opportunities these things might bring
6 Imagine that you have a job that makes you an expert in the future. In pairs, interview each other about your jobs and predictions, Use the expressions in the box to help you.
Making predictions
I think/believe/predict that in the future ...
By 2030,we will ...
I can imagine/forecast ...
One challenge will be ...
We will be doing ...
My prediction is that ...
In the (distant) future there will ...
I doubt/don’t think that ...
We will have the opportunity to ...
We are going to ...
Welcome or reject future changes
1 Read the text and then decide whether the statements on page 21 are true （ T ） or false （ F ） .
SHOULD WE FIGHT NEW TECHNOLOGY
This morning, I saw the shocking headline: “Passenger Dies When Car Crashes in Driverless Mode".
In the article, various people said that the public should oppose the idea of developing driverless cars.
They said that some advances in technology were unnecessary and could even be dangerous.
Hence, we should cease accepting technology just because it is new.
The newspaper reported that the car company had already apologised for the accident,
but the families of the deceased said it was not enough. Nevertheless, the company still claimed that most people would be travelling in driverless cars one day soon.
On the one hand, there are many different groups of people around the world who live happily in the absence of new technology.
Probably the most well-known are the Amish, a group of Christians living in rural America. They do not own or drive cars, watch TV, or use the Internet.
They have lived mainly as farmers since the 18th century, and they will probably be living the same way in the distant future. They advocate a simple life with an emphasis on hard work, family, and community.
They think that is better than caring about luxuries or following the lives of the rich and famous.
It could even be argued that the Amish's quality of life is better since they live in and appreciate the natural environment rather than living in large, polluted cities.
On the other hand, new technology has provided people everywhere with many benefits over the years.
For example, the latest weather-tracking computer programmes give people lots of warnings about potential natural disasters, which saves many lives.
Moreover, the Internet has made it possible for friends and family to keep in touch easily even if they are on opposite sides of the world.
It has also made finding opportunities in life much easier, as it allows people to make larger networks of friends through using social media. Personally, I have benefited quite a lot from technological advances. I found my career as an AI designer through a social media network. My health monitor, which I wear all the time, has also helped me get into the best shape of my life.
Of course, when new technology changes the way we live, it can be a scary prospect.
Nevertheless, I will always look on the positive side of change and accept it rather than resist it.
①A person died in an accident while driving a car. T/F
②The Amish avoid new technology because they do not want to have good lives. T/F
③Many disasters have been prevented by weather-tracking computer programmes. T/F
④Building large networks through social media helps us find new opportunities. T/F
⑤The author uses a health monitor to know how much exercise he/she needs. T/F
2 Answer the following questions about the text
In which paragraphs does the author:
describe the issue
give an opinion
discuss the advantages
discuss the disadvantages
2 Underline the signpost words or phrases in the text. How do they help tell us the purpose of the paragraphs
3 Why did the author decide to write about this topic
3 Use what you have learnt to express your opinion in an essay about the changes that could be caused by advances in technology.
① Work in groups. Brainstorm some future advances in technology, and their possible advantages and disadvantages.
Advance in technology Advantage Disadvantage
driverless cars
free drivers
safety problems
cloning
cure serious illnesses
moral problems
AI
quicker and smarter
the employment problems
2 Choose one of these advances in technology and answer the questions.
Why do you want to write about this topic
Because many persons and even many countries resist it, but it is an advanced technology and worth studying.
What is your own opinion on the topic
3 Write your opinion in an essay
We should agree to study it and use it on curing some serious ilinesses
Exchange your draft with a partner.
1 Use the checklist to help you review your partner's draft.
√ Does the essay say what the writer thinks about the topic
√ Does the body discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the advance
√ Are signposts used to help the reader understand the purpose of each paragraph
√ Does the conclusion state the writer's position
2 Take your draft back and revise it.
5 Share your essay with the rest of the class.
Assessing Your Progress
1 Complete the dialogues with the correct forms of the words in the box.
1 A: Why are you so concerned
B: We can't win the case in the_____________of relevant evidence.
absence
2A: It's difficult to make accurate__________ about the effects on the environment.
B: I couldn't agree more. We should place more __________on environmental protection.
3A: What are you working on
B: I'm writing an__________ on how to integrate individuals' values and society's needs.
emphasis
prediction
4A: How do you find working in your new office
B: It's great! The office__________ a lows users to share files and software, and to use a central printer.
5A: I don't quite understand your choice. What might be the advantages of living in remote __________ areas
network
B: The __________ of getting a high-paying job is low, but I find it more meaningful to help people there.
In addition, I have the __________ of breathing fresh air every day.
prospect
luxury
2 Read an introduction to the Future Library project. Fill in the blanks using the correct forms of the words in the box.
cut down The Future Library is a project by the artist Katie Paterson. it began with the cutting down of trees in a forest north of Oslo, Norway, in 2014. The Future Library Trust _____________ wood from these trees to build a special room-the Silent Room in the Oslo Public Library.
keep
use
write
read
cut down In place of the trees that had been cleared, 1,000 new trees were planted. Every year from 2014 until 2114, a different popular author _________ one original story, and the librarians _____________ all the stories in the Silent Room, where visitors can look at them but not read them.
keep
use
write
read
cut down In 2114, the organisers _____________ the 1,000 trees that were planted back in 2014. They will then use the wood for publishing the 100 books in the Silent Room. So, in 2114, people _________books that were made from trees that are growing right now.
keep
use
write
read
REFLECTING
What new advances in technology introduced in this unit interested you
How have your opinions about advances in technology changed because of this unit
What advances in technology would you like to learn more about
Overall, I thought this unit was
□cool □ useful □ so-so □ difficult.
① Imagine that your 50-year-old future self has sent you a letter about your future career. What would that letter contain Work in groups, Discuss the questions.
1 Which careers are you interested in
2 How might future advances in technology change those careers
3 What are the advantages and disadvantages of these future careers
4 How might you best prepare for your future careers
2 Choose the most interesting future career, and write a personal letter to yourself from the future about that career. Your letter may include:
a description of the future career
the advantages and disadvantages of the career
the preparations that are (or are not) needed for the career
drawings or photos illustrating the career
a greeting and closing
Use the letter below to help you.
Dear Past Bingbing
Hi! I'm Bingbing, your future self!
I know that you are really worried about your future career, so I wanted to write this letter to put your mind at rest.
I'm sorry to say that you won't become a pilot as you wanted. In the future, large passenger airplanes will fly themselves and won't need pilots. But there is a big problem in the future that you don't have now:
no one uses cars anymore-they use personal jetpacks. As you can imagine, the skies over the city get pretty busy!
Someone needs to control all these people so they don't have accidents. And that' what you do: you're a jetpack air traffic controller.
One really good point about your job is that you don't have to leave home. Instead, you’ll use a virtual reality headset and microphone to do your job while you are sitting on the sofa drinking tea.
But you will have to work on your people skills, as you will be talking to people all day.
The bad point Too many jet packs in the sky! Sometimes it can be kind of tense, and some people don't like to obey the rules or be told what to do.
All in all, I think you'll be happy with this job. But of course you will, because you're me!
Stop worrying! Your future is going to be great. Trust me.
Best regards
Future Bingbing
3 Take turns presenting your letters in class. Then vote on the most interesting letter.
Video Time
RoboBees是哈佛大学威斯研究所由罗伯特·伍德领导的团队开发的小型飞行机器人。
BEFORE YOU WATCH
Predict what you are going to see. Think and circle the correct word(s) for each sentence.
①RoboBees are like bees in that they fly independently/together, but all work independently/together.
②Robert Wood is an explorer/a roboticist.
③In the future, RoboBees could help explorers/policemen and doctors/photographers.
④All of the RoboBees have crashed/flown successfully.
⑤Like bees, every RoboBee has a job to do/obeys a queen bee.
WHILE YOU WATCH
1 Check your answers in Before You Watch.
2 Complete the quotes by Robert Wood with words you hear in the video....
1.... robotics is the________________.It's the next big thing to______ in areas from medicine to even things like_____
2 We use nature to____________that we build.
3 ... they can be quite useful for applications where you wouldn't ____________or an animal ...
4 If you don't fail, you __________________
5 If you want to make something fly, _______________in nature.
AFTER YOU WATCH
Discuss these questions in groups.
1 What might be some advantages of having many small robots that work together rather than one large robot
A large robot often takes up too much space and has difficulty inmoving.Small robots working together can easily enter a smallspace and move around.
2 Specifically, how might RoboBees be used in a future application
They might be useful in rescue after a disaster. For example, if abuilding was blown down in a storm, they could fly into thewreckage and check for survivors.
3 What other kinds of robots can be created from nature (e.g., a robotic lion or snake) How might these robots be used
A robotic spider could be useful as it could carry things acrossdifficult uneven surface where wheeled vehicles can't go.

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