Unit 4 robotics Home Robots

A Japanese company started selling a futuristic home robot on September 16. The meter-high humanoid may make housework a thing of the past – for the rich. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries put its internet-linked Wakamaru robot on sale at a price of $150,000. Just 100 of these home helps will initially be available. The robot is the idea of Japanese designer Toshiyuki Kita. He said his creation was “designed in the shape of a human being so that it is not considered simply a machine” and that it has an “independent personality”.

The robot has an impressive number of features. It is capable of recognizing up to ten individuals by name and has a vocabulary of 10,000 words. It can also navigate its way around the house. The Wakamaru website* explains three major functions that will help the lives of the robot’s users: It can live with the family and provide daily schedules; it can speak with the family and be a friend; and it has its own role of looking after the house when no one is home. However, the price needs to come down to make it affordable by all.

Unit 5 THE ERA OF HIGH-TECH POLLUTION

Well, to begin with, I can’t even open my window most of the time. What with all those cars and factories releasing poisonous chemicals into the air, it’s enough to choke you. It’s dreadful! And when the chemicals mix with the water in the clouds it comes back as polluted rain, causing all sorts of problems! Yeah, I really worry about the damage it’s doing, especially to the environment.

I just dread to think what will happen when there’s no coal or oil left! At the moment more than 80% of our energy needs rely on them. Once they’ve run out, goodness only knows what will happen! I suppose we could be like people from some other countries and use alternative forms of energy. After all they are cheaper and more environmentally friendly, I suppose. Still, I can’t help worrying about it.

It was just something I never thought of in the past. Nowadays, it’s on everybody’s mind. I mean, who knows what we’re eating? We could be poisoned with all those insecticides and pesticides that farmers spray on all the fruit and vegetables. I insist on everything I eat being thoroughly washed I drive my wife crazy but you just can’t be too careful, can you?

Unit 6 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Interviewer: Excuse me. Good afternoon. May name is Jonathan Adams and I’m from Green World magazine. We are conducting a survey about recycling. Would each of you like to share your views on the matter?

Speaker 1, 2, 3: Yes, of course/ Sure / Alright.

Interviewer: Thank you. Um, the first question is “Do you recycle most of your household waste?

Speaker 1 (woman): Well to be perfectly honest, I don’t recycle at all. I can’t be bothered.

Interviewer: And you, sir?

Speaker 2 (man): Well, not really. I only recycle paper. The recycling center for glass and aluminium is too far away from my house.

Interviewer: And what about you, miss?

Speaker 3 (teenage girl): At home we recycle just about everything. We’ve learned to become quite environmentally aware – thanks to our community.

Interviewer: Thanks. Now question 2 “Do you think recycling is too expensive and time consuming?”

Speaker 1 (woman): Yes, I do. I think it’s a waste of time without really helping the environment. I mean, a lot of recycled products are quite expensive, anyway.

Speaker 2 (man): Oh, I don’t agree. Recycling is quick and cheap, not to mention the fact that it saves a lot of energy, too.

Speaker 3 (teenager girl): I absolutely agree. Not only does it save energy, but it also reduces a lot of waste safely.