Unit 07 The Future is Now

Unit 7 Page 66 READING exercise 5 TODAY'S WORLD 22nd July 2042 TRAVEL FASTER TO MARS Tomorrow will be another great day in the history of space flight when the SS Marstrek makes its first journey to Mars. The spaceship will carry passengers to the red planet in just 28 hours – three days faster than any other passenger flight! The spacecraft takes off at 10 o'clock in the morning and arrives the next day at 3 o'clock in the afternoon (Mars time). Among the passengers on this exciting first flight will be singer Marion Hyde and actor Karl Costly. To begin with, there will only be one flight a week. But with tickets costing $500,000 each, few of us will be flying on the ss Marstrek just yet! FOOD WILL MEAT BE HISTORY SOON? Government ministers from over 50 countries are meeting on Monday next week to discuss stopping all meat production in their countries. One minister who will be at the meeting said yesterday, 'We know how much people like eating meat. But the fact is that more and more people are becoming vegetarian. We also know that meat production is very bad for the environment. And, of course, we should think about the animals themselves.' There will be a lot of demonstrators outside the building where the meeting is held. Animal rights groups say they are going there to celebrate, while many cattle farmers also plan to be there, to ask the ministers to think again about the plans. SCIENCE SLEEP TO BECOME "A THING OF THE PAST' Sleep will become unnecessary by 2050, say scientists. They are working on a device which will make sleep a thing of the past. Instead of going to bed, all a person will have to do is put their hands up against a charger and rest for about half an hour. After that, they will not feel tired any more. Doing this once a day will be enough for most people to stay awake for 24 hours. They are going to start tests next month to make sure that there are no negative side effects. The first human to test the device will be journalist Glenn Martin. COMMUNICATION SENDING MESSAGES BY THINKING Thought messaging! Imagine that you want to send a message to your friend. So, instead of writing a message, all you do is pick up your handheld device, think 'message Jim' and then you think the content of your message ('Hi Jim, how about coffee tomorrow morning?'). The message goes automatically to your handheld device, which writes it and sends it to Jim! At a conference yesterday, Dr Andrea Gomez, Chief Scientist at the Steiger Institute, told the audience that this will be possible in two years' time, but she stressed that it will never be possible to send thoughts directly from one person to another without a device.

Page 69 LISTENING exercise 9 and 10 We're talking to Marion Hyde as she's about to board the SS Marstrek. Marion, how are you feeling? Well, I'm looking forward to the trip of course. It's long, but I know everything will be very comfortable, so I'll be able to sleep. Is this your first time away from Earth? It is. I've never been to Mars, mainly because the journeys were so long. But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. What are your plans for the trip? Well, as you know, my family is coming with me so I'm going to spend time with them, and I hope I can use the different location to inspire me to write some new, great songs! Sounds great! And when are you coming back? I'm not sure yet. I think I'll stay at least a month. I want to see a bit of Mars, you know, do some sightseeing. I wanted to go skiing there but it's the wrong time of year, so I can't. Oh dear! Sorry about that. Won't you get bored? Not really. I'll probably take a couple of helicopter rides up there, too. Sadly, I can't use my helicopter pilot's licence on Mars. Well, enjoy your trip and come home safely! Thank you! Bye! So, Glenn, we heard about the experiment you're going to take part in. How do you feel about the tests that start next week? Well, I'm very excited, of course. I think it's going to be very interesting, and quite hard, too. But I'll get a lot of support from the team, so I'm not worried. Do you know how long the tests are going to last? Ummm, the idea is to do a week of testing, and if I'm OK, then we'll try a second week. I see! Do you have any worries before you start? Well, yes, if I stay awake for 24 hours a day, what am I going to do? I'm taking a lot of books with me! I aim to read two books a day, at least. I'm going to miss my daily tennis training though! And how about your work? Oh, I can keep on working, too. I can't take my phone, it's not allowed, so I won't be taking any photos. But I'm going to make notes all the time. Perhaps afterwards I'll write a book about my experience. But won't you get lonely? Oh no. I'll still see my family and friends. I just have to use the charger once a day, and of course stay at the laboratory so they can watch me. Well, good luck, Glenn. We look forward to talking to you again afterwards. Thanks a lot.

Page 70 READING exercise 4 Hi everyone. Just want to check some things for the big surprise party next week. Hey everyone! I'm looking forward to the party!! So am I. Anyone heard from Simon? He's never around, is he? He'll reply later, I'm sure. But good news – he's hired the hall for the party. Well, that is good news, isn't it? By the way, you haven't said anything to Paula, have you? No, I haven't said anything. Nor have I. I'm not a fool, Becky. Sorry. I'm just a bit anxious, that's all. It's not easy to keep something a secret when you have to talk to about 30 people about it! By the way, I've sent out the invitations. Hi guys, just reading messages now! No signal on the train – sorry about that. I didn't miss anything important, did I? No, not really. Now, is the food organised? Simon? Yes, my parents are going to make pizzas. We've got permission to be there from 4 pm. That should be OK, shouldn't it? Yes! My mum and I are making desserts. It's all taken care of. Brilliant. What about decorations, Mark? That's not me, that's you, Becky. Are you sure? How could I have forgotten? Didn't you write it down? Yes. I always write things down. But then I forgot to look at my notes! Don't worry, I can help decorate the hall. So can I. Quick question, how are we going to get Paula to go to the hall on the day? We need a plan, don't we? Argh! I haven't thought about that yet. Neither have we. Don't worry, Becky, you can't do everything. Here's an idea. I'll say I'm taking her to the cinema and we'll stop at the hall on the way. She isn't going to believe that, is she? We need a better idea than that. Just thought of something else – what about the music? Has anyone booked a DJ? Oh, no! Page 71 PRONUNCIATION exercise 1 You do want to come, don't you? I'm not sure, Jane's got those big dogs, hasn't she? Yes, they're enormous! But they're very friendly. Well, I don't like dogs, do I? You're not afraid, are you? Of course not! Page 71 PRONUNCIATION exercise 3 You do want to come, don't you? I'm not sure, Jane's got those big dogs, hasn't she? Yes, they're enormous! But they're very friendly. Well, I don't like dogs, do I? You're not afraid, are you? Of course not!

Page 72 DEVELOPING SPEAKING exercise 1 So, Friday evening, it's finally the weekend. Thank goodness! I've had a really hard week. So have I. There's nothing wrong with Mr Gordon but he gives so much homework! I've never had so much work to do in my life! But next week we've got two days off at my school! Lucky you! But listen, let's do something together at the weekend. Yes, let's. Got any ideas about what we could do? How about a picnic? I haven't had a picnic ... well, in a long time! Neither have I. That's a great idea. But the weather forecast isn't good for Saturday, and I'm busy on Sunday morning ... Oh, that's a shame. Well, what about Sunday afternoon? What do you reckon? Sunday afternoon sounds fine. Let's hope the weather's nice. Picnics are always better on sunny days. Oh! Hang on! On Sunday afternoon I'm taking my gran out. Mum and Dad usually take her somewhere, but it's my turn this Sunday. Can't you take her out in the morning? Not really. We always take her out in the afternoon. It's important for her to have a routine – I don't want to change that. OK, ask your brother to take her. Well, he's got football and, anyway, he took her out last week. Sorry. In other words, we can't have our picnic. I was looking forward to it! So was , Hannah. I'd love to have a picnic, but, you know. I hope we can do it next weekend. So do I. I'll call you. And I'll try to be a bit more flexible than you. Bye, Tracey! Oh Hannah, don't be ...