,Improvement in Appliances,Unit 9,NEW HORIZON ENGLISH COURSES,Book Two,Unit 9,Improvement in Appliances,1 Around the Topic,2 Section A,3 Section B,4 Section C,Leading in,Exploring the Topic,Plus Activities,Warming-up,Text A,Exercises,Background Information,Reading Through,Exercises,Related Knowledge,Sample Reading,Exercises,Useful Terms,Advanced technology can certainly make life more comfortable and convenient. To be A High-Tech Woman might be the dream of many young people, especially young office ladies. That type of life is really all fun and excitement! Now some appliance-makers are building appliances that are smarter than most of their owners. But are you willing to be faced with a total of 110 buttons when you want to watch television? Or do you really need a fridge that will tell you: “Your milk is out of date?” Remember: In order to use that type of fridge, youll have to read a whole book written in terms that are beyond understanding!,You must have heard of some so-called “smart” household appliances with many new features, and they are supposed to make our life more comfortable and convenient. Now it is said that in,Work in pairs and ask each other the following questions while checking () the answers and providing your own in the blanks. Please notice that the questions are open-ended with no right or wrong answers.,the near future we would live in homes where all appliances are connected to the Internet. Would this be possible?,1. In your opinion, what “smart” appliances would be available in the near future?,I think it might be,My partner thinks it might be,a microwave oven that can cook a delicious dish according to my order a refrigerator that can know when its out of bread a computer that can operate according to oral instructions,a microwave oven that can cook a delicious dish according to his order a refrigerator that can know when its out of bread a computer that can operate according to oral instructions,2. What are the advantages of “smart” appliances?,they are designed to be simple and easy to operate they make things convenient and save us labor ( 劳力) and time they save us money by combining many functions in one appliance,I think,My partner thinks,they are designed to be simple and easy to operate they make things convenient and save us labor ( 劳力) and time they save us money by combining many functions in one appliance,3. What are the disadvantages of “smart” appliances?,I think,My partner thinks,their new features are useless they cost more than they are worth they are easy to break down with so many functions they are too difficult to operate,their new features are useless they cost more than they are worth they are easy to break down with so many functions they are too difficult to operate,A. Directions: You will hear a short passage. Listen carefully and answer the following questions.,1. Do you agree that technology has improved peoples life?,2. Has technology brought any disadvantages to our life?,key,key,Suggested answer: No doubt, technology has changed so much of todays world and our life. Due to technology, we are now living more comfortable and convenient lives. The invention of computer had done great help in our daily work and study. With modern electric appliances our home life is much more enjoyable than ever .,Return,Suggested answer: However, technology advances have caused some new, complicated, even dangerous problems. Cars and some household appliances are dangerous sources which damage our ozone layer (臭氧层). In our modern life, ironically we find ourselves being enslaved more and more by technology instead of being freed by it.,Return,B. Questions & Answers,1. What “smart” appliances would you like to have?,2. Do you think “smart” appliances are good or not?,key,key,Suggested answer: A housewife may want to have a microwave oven that can cook delicious dishes according to her order; an engineer may want a computer that can operate according to oral instructions. But I would like to have video camera to keep record of the beautiful things in my life.,Return,Suggested answer: Different people have different views on this question. Some think that “smart” appliances are good because they make things convenient and save us labor and time and save our money by combining manyfunctions in one appliance. While others argue that “smart” appliances are not good because their new features are useless; they cost more than they are worth; they are easy to break down with so many functions and they are too difficult to operate.,Return,Watch the Video and Brainstorm,Section A:,Im Toast in the Battle Against “Smart” Appliances,Do you think machines will be smarter than man? Read the following excerpts from Wikipedia, and discuss your opinion with your classmates.,Human-computer chess matches Chess computers were first able to beat strong chess players in the late 1980s. Their most famous success was the victory of Deep Blue o