Technology

OxfOrd english fOr careers

TECHNOLOGY
d’arcy Vallance
Practice File

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Contents
1 Technology and society 2 Studying technology 3 Design 4 Technology in sport 5 Appropriate technology 6 Crime-fighting and security 7 Manufacturing 8 Transport 9 High living: skyscrapers 10 Medical technology 11 Personal entertainment 12 Information technology 13 Telecommunications 14 Careers intechnology 15 The future of technology p.1 p.4 p.7 p.10 p.13 p.16 p.19 p.22 p.25 p.28 p.31 p.34 p.37 p.40 p.43

1 Unit 1

1 Technology and society
Language
1 Grammar
Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Technology is more interesting that / as / than geography. Proton M is more old / oldest / older than Ariane S. A smart car is less powerful / more powerful /powerful than a lorry. Electric engines are more better / more efficient / more faster than petrol ones. This old PC works more slowly / more slow / slower than my new laptop. The new model faster goes / goes faster / is fast than the old one. Computers are very / more / much smaller now than thirty years ago. The new operating system is much / much more / very expensive than the old one.

2Key words from the unit
Complete the sentences with the words from the list.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Carbon emissions cause . A smoke is a safety device. the latest software from the website. He can into any company’s intranet. There seem to be new every day. China is building a lot of . is measured in kN. Rockets are used for space . download exploration innovations thrust power stations global warmingdetector hack

Oxford English for Careers Technology 1 Practice File © Oxford University Press 2011

2 Unit 1

Reading and vocabuLaRy
The purpose of technology is to produce things that improve our lives, our work and our environment. The people who design, test and make these things are engineers and technologists. They work in areas such as civil, mechanical, electrical, electronic andmarine engineering, and in information technology (IT). They use scientific knowledge and technological experience in their work. They often use old technology (e.g. radio waves) to create new things (e.g. mobile phones). The people who install, work with and maintain technological equipment are technicians. A technician studies one area of technology like electricity, electronics or mechanics, andworks with equipment in that area. Two examples are an electrician and a car mechanic. But we all use technology every day. It is all around us and affects every part of our lives. Here are some examples:

Because technology is so important in society, technologists and engineers have to think about its good points and bad points. Unfortunately, some technology has both positive and negativeeffects. Oil and coal, for example, make our lives easier, but they also pollute our environment. Cars and planes allow us to travel fast, but they also cause accidental deaths and add to global warming. The problem for technology is how to increase the positive effects on society and reduce the negative effects.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

transport – cars, ships, air travel, space explorationtelecommunications – mobile phones, internet, satellites trade – credit and debit cards, bank ATM machines, internet trade work efficiency – washing machines, microwave ovens, computer software power – heating, lighting, air conditioning equipment entertainment – DVDs, satellite TV receivers, digital cameras health – lasers in eye surgery, medicines, biotechnology safety and security – ABS brakes andair bags in cars, smoke detectors food – farming, processed food, information management – computers, flat-screen monitors, software infrastructure – roads, buildings, water supply manufacturing – machines and robots in factories

3 Comprehension
Answer the questions about the text.
1 What are ‘these things’ in the first paragraph?

2 Who designs these things?

3 Which old technology do...