FUTURES READING SKILLS FOR IELTS: CHOOSING HEADINGS ‘We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology’ Carl Sagan 1 What does Carl Sagan mean when he says that we don’t know anything about science and technology? 2 How keen are you to have and use the latest electronic equipment? There are four short texts onthe next page. Skim eachtextand match a, each one witha picture. 3 DON TWANT YOU TOSEETHAT WEBSITE! iahey Skill Spot © A paragraph heading isa summary of part, or all of the paragraph. ‘© The idea in the text is often expressed differently in © Here are three possible headings for Text 1. Find words or phrase: the heading have a similar meaning to the underlined words and phrases. Pay careful attention to: 1 Clear advantages Lesynonyms (e.g, 2. Immediate travel in the future text: likely 3. Uncertainty about the system in reality the text which heading: probable). ° ee Tick(/ the best heading forText2.Make notes about why you think the other two ate, headings are nots appropriate. text: not fast, 1. Total scientific agreement regarding life on other planets a heading: slow) 2. The unlikeihood of aliens ever communicating with us s 3. more general 3. The chances of having an intelligent conversation categories Gtesores(© © choose the best heading for Text 3. heading: onimals). 4. different parts of speech (eg. text: dangerous, heading: danger). [eee Relying too heavily on the internet for information The internet becoming more powerful than the human brain The internet being or becoming a conscious system Questions which the internet can provide answers to@ Look at these headings. Then match each text (1-4) with a heading. There are two headings you will not use. Text 1 i Doubts about the whole idea Text 2 Potentially powerful enough to think Text ili. The high chances of succeeding Text iv. Questions about the operational practicalities V_ Making certain the effects are positive vi_ An improbable encounter Text 1 ‘Beammeup! Fans of the sci-fi show. Text 3. That theinternetis an extremely powerful Star Trek willinstantly recognise the phrase, which refers to a futuristic means of instant transportation: teleportation. The benefits of being able to travel large distances in almost no time are obvious. Less clear ishow it will work in practice. Willit actually be your atoms that are transported, orjust a copy of you containing your data in digital form? ‘source of information and means of communicationis ‘something most of us take for granted. The computational neuroscientist Terrence Sejnowski, however, raises some ‘thought- provoking questions about it. He has calculated that the amount of data stored on all computers connected tothe net isnow roughly equivalent to the data storage capacity of one human brain. His questionis:How would we know if the internet were to become aware of itself? and the concludes: For all we know, the internet is already aware ofitself Text 2 Most scientists now accept it is highly likely there s life elsewhere in the universe. Given that that isin fact the case, two key unanswered questions remain, Firstly, does itnecessarily follow that there is intelligent, conscious life out there? And secondly, if theres, what are the chances it will ever make contact with humans? The general consensus seems tobe that the answer to the second questionis probably ‘minimal, Text 4 There'snothing within the laws of physics as we know them to prevent time travel. However, opponents of the concept usually raise twomain objections, Te frst, known as the’grandfather paradox, says that if you go back in time and kill your grandfather, you won't be born, so you can't go back in time and do that. The second states that if time travel ever became possible, people from the future could come back to our time. We haven't seen any such visitors, so it’s unlikely time travel will ever be anything other than science fiction. 4 Wordbank: Text vocabulary Write a word or phrase from the texts in each gap to complete the definitions. extremely probable (Text 2) wena idea (Text 4) bee BSB, Exercises A-G, pp. 22-23 + if we accept; once we have accepted (Text 2) accept/believe without thinking about it (Text 3) information (often digital) (Text 1) ‘© Do youbelieve any of, the things mentioned inthe texts will actually happen? curves 39 @DLISTENING SKILLS FOR IELTS: MATCHING ne © How much do youknow about the Milky Way? Guess! 6) How old isthe Milky Way? How long does it take for our Solar System to complete one ‘orbit around the centre ofthe Milky Way? © 8 Av0.01,13 Listen toa tutor and two students talking about the Milky Way. Match each person with what they are talking about. You will use only three of he leters. 1. Thetutor ‘A. our Solar System going around the Milky Way 2 Jenny B the oldest starin the Milky Way 3. Ahmed C_ the number of stars in the Milky Way D theage of the Milky Way @ 8 Awoot, 14 Listen toalonger conversation between the tutor andthe students Match each idea with a letter (A-G). There is one letter you will not use. The age of the Milky Way (years) The age of the oldest star in the Milky Way (years) The number of stars in the Milky Way How long for the Solar System to orbit the Milky Way (years) ‘The number of galactic years since the creation of the Sun ‘The number of galactic years since humans first appeared ¢ The numbered list is always in the same order as you hear it in the recording. ‘# Anidea in the lists may be expressed in a different way in therecoring, ©. 6 Amors ¢ Listen for ideas, not particular words ‘A. Notall scientists are in agreement. 6% 1 Jenny and phrases. B_ Andromeda is the closest galaxy to the Milky Way. S22 thetutor © Galaxies can merge without stars colliding 3. Ahmed D_ People on Earth will probably watch the collision. CTE These words and phrases are taken from the listening extracts. Choose the best definition for each one. II 13.2bilion © -225t0 D_ 650101 billion F 46billion 20t025 250 million E 0.0008 G 20010400 billion > aueuna ten to the end of the conversation. Which opinion does each person express? There is one incorrect item that you will not need. 1. remind: help understand / remember ‘¢ Do you think 2 initially:at first / once studying the universe 3 hardly surprising: very / not very surprising 4 5 isawaste of ime current: im the future / at the moment and money, or does it estimates: accurate measurements / approximate calculations benefit mankind? [ bee BSB, Exercises A-F pp.24-25® SPEAKING SKILLS FOR IELTS: SPECULATING AT Le eee ed »»» Grammar, Section 5, pp. 100-101 Put each verb into the correct tense. When more than one answer is possible, write all the answers. Use short forms (/'ll, etc.) where possible. 1 (1/ go) to university in the UK in a couple of months. 2 (1/ study) physics at Warwick University. When 3 (1/ graduate), 4 (U/ be) 21 years old and (1/ try) to geta job as a physics teacher in my home town. After that? Who knows? Im sure6. (U/settle) down and get married at some point. 7 (V/ probably / not / do) that by the time I'm 30, though. 8 (1/ still / work) as a teacher when I'm 40? | expect so, but you never know! bre BSB Exercises A-D, p. 26 4 Wordbank: Speaking Write a word from the list below in each gap to complete these phrases. highly may maybe possibility possible sure 1 tts (that) 4 /Pethaps there'll be... 2 Its unlikely (that) 5 One is that) © We often need to 3. There might / be. 6 don't know for but... talk about things we're not 100 per cent sure of. This is. called speculating. In the Speaking module, you should show that you are >>» BSB, ExercisesE-G,p.27 »»» Speaking, p. 109 © FH Avo101, 16 Listen to four candidates answering questions in Part 3 of the Speaking ‘module. Match each candidate with a question. Then, answer the questions. Make sure to use some of the phrases from the Wordbank. Be careful with future tenses. Candidate 1 Candidate 3 a able to speculate Candidate 2 Candidate 4 g effectively. Use the words and A How different do you think your country will be in 20 years'time? prodilebttitcs B_ What new technology do you think will be introduced over the next few years ee € How do you see the world changing during your lifetime? ou speculate, D_ What do you think life on Earth might be lke in a thousand years? a Pronunciation: Words with the same spelling but different pronunciation ©2 Avo101, 17 Say these sentences. Pay careful attention to the words in bold. Then listen and check your pronunciation. haven't read my horoscope yet but I'l read it in a minute. ‘When are they going to present the leaving present? Are you content with the content of the article? hope I'll be performing live for as long as | live. Well look at these minute particles through a microscope in a minute, When the clown takes a bow, his bow tie will all off ausuwna runes 41 @®DWRITING SKILLS FOR IELTS: DESCRIBING A PROCESS OR OBJECT Oe 2 ves 4 Grammarbank: Using participles »»» Grammar, Section 6,p. 102 Put each verb into the correct form to complete the sentences. 1 (have) foldable wings, the carplane can be easily stored in a garage. 2 (give) the diagram, | began to understand the point she was making. 3 After (finish) the test fight, the pilot writes a report >>» BSB, Exercises A-C p. 28 ent Write one word in each gap. Use the words in italics to help you. 1 The equipment consists several different pieces. 2. The building is shaped a tall cylinder, 3. The objectis completely round shape. 4 Thecarismade lightweight plastic. 5. Theareaon the ground is divided four different sections, 6 Itisslightly bigger a washing machine, 7 Itisapproximately the same size a mobile phone. 8 tis roughly the size and shape a pencil bee BSB, Exercises D-I, pp. 29-30 @ Look at this diagram and the paragraph below it and decide if the statements are TRUE or FALSE. The SkyDrive 6000 - Carplane of the Future? driving mode controls to fying mode final check by mechanic ~ __twcarplane 2 airport ee — full fight mode A approval ‘ven — ee <<" The diagram shows a potential future means of transport, the SkyDrive 6000, and how itean sorveas both acar and. light aircraft In driving made, the SkyDrive 6000 isnot dissimilar to cars we have today. The only main dference is the presence of filed wings on the side ofthe car1. This is probably the first paragraph of an IELTS candidate's description, 2. This paragraph provides a basic introduction to the objectiin the diagram. 3 Itmentions the purpose of the object. 4 Itdescribes the basic appearance of the object. 5 Itdescri s the process of going to the airport and taking off. © Note down all the different stages the carplane goes through. ope dbviving in normal driving mode, - @ Read this extract which describes the same diagram. Then choose the correct word or phrase to complete the sentences. Once everything is ready, a final check is performed by a mechanic. Approved for take-off the cayplane then speeds down the ranuoay. Shortly afler taking off the cayplane enters full fight mode’ where its wheels automaticaly retract forthe fight and itis controlled by the automatic pilot This is probably the second / final paragraph of the description. The main verb tense is /isn’t present simple. ‘The writer uses one / more than one verb in the passive. The writer uses / doesn’t use a present participle clause. The paragraph covers one stage / several stages of the process. Itis /isn't important to use time words and phrases to introduce each stage. © Write a word from the list below in each gap to complete the sentences. having once shortly stage where ithas arrived at the airport, the carplaneis then prepared for the fight. arrived at the airport, the driver prepares the carplane for the flight. after arriving at the airport, the carplane is prepared for the flight. 4 The carplane then arrives at the airport, the driver prepares it for the flight. 5 The carplane then arrives at the airport. At this , itis prepared for the flight. © Complete the middle paragraph of the description in your notebooks. so, Follow the instructions in the box to help you. 2 Unlike some carplane designs, the SkyDrive 6000 appears not to have been designed to takeoff and land on normal roads. For a flight, + Use at least one present/past participle clause such as ‘having been checked! ‘© When describing ‘an object, focus on its appearance, its main parts and how it works. Don't focus on minor details. ‘® Make comparisons with other things if that helps the description. ‘© When describing a process, study the diagram carefully so youunderstand what each stage involves. ‘© Use time words and phrases to introduce each stage. @ It’s often appropriate touse the passive, and present and past participle clauses. ‘@ How do you think transport is going to change in the future? ruruns 43 @@@