Lesson 9 - Robots II
I. Discuss
1. What is the most important machine in your life?
2. Which machines do you use on a daily basis?
3. Which are the most useless machines, the machines we could live without?
4. Can you drive? Do you know a lot about cars? What is the most difficult thing about driving?
5. What are the most fascinating devices used in physics?
II. Instruments and their function.
1. Complete the blanks:
a) The thermometer is an instrument for_temperature.
b) The telescope is a device for_distant objects.
c) The scales are an instrument for_things.
d) The microscope is an instrument for_very small things.
e) The funnel is a device for_liquids.
f) The tripod is a device for_chemicals during experiments.
g) The beaker is a cup for_liquids.
h) The bunsen burner is a device for_heat.
Now rewrite the sentences using the structure The function of_is to_.
E.g. The function of the tap is to control the supply of water.
2. The car
Study the structure: The controls enable the driver to drive the car. This means: With the help of the controls, the driver can drive the car.
Now make sentences from the table:
The door handle		check the temperature.
The steering wheel		stop the car.
The seat adjustor		steer the car.
The gear lever		check the oil pressure.
The accelerator lever	enables the driver to	change gear.
The clutch pedal		start the engine.
The brake pedal		check the speed.
The oil pressure gauge		get in and out.
The water temperature gauge		control the speed.
The speedometer		adjust the seat.
The starter switch		operate the gear lever.
(Ex. 1 and 2 adapted from Bates, M.; Dudley- Evans, T. Nucleus English for Science and Technology. Longman, 1990)
3.  Describing machines and pieces of equipment
Read the definitions of the adjectives listed below. What machines do they make you think of?
all-singing, all-dancing
an all-singing, all-dancing system or piece of equipment is very advanced and able to do everything you want it to cordless
a cordless tool or piece of equipment works without being connected to the electricity supply cranky
likely to stop working at any time fail-safe
designed to make a machine or piece of equipment stop working if part of it stops operating normally
high-performance
designed to be very fast or powerful
incompatible
ideas, systems, or machines that are incompatible are not able to work or exist together because of basic differences inflatable
an inflatable object must be filled with air before you can use it labour-saving
labour-saving equipment do jobs in a quick and effective way so that you needn't spend a lot of time doing them yourself low
used about equipment that is not producing much energy, or that has not got much energy left portable
something that is portable, for example a small computer, television, or other small piece of electrical equipment smart
smart machines, especially weapons, use computer technology to make them effective
spring-loaded
operated by a spring inside
submersible
a submersible machine or vehicle can work under water two-way
able both to send and to receive messages unfriendly
not easy to use or operate unmanned
used for describing a building or machine that does not have any staff there to manage or operate it. Some people avoid using this word because they consider it offensive to women, and use unstaffed or uncrewed instead
unsophisticated
used for describing simple tools and pieces of equipment that are not advanced user-friendly
a user-friendly system or piece of equipment is easy to use or understand
4.   Designing a robot
You are the representatives of a team of inventors who devised a new type of robot. In groups, prepare a short presentation describing your prototype. Decide on the following:
Name of the robot
Form and size
Material
Use
Operating instructions Estimated production cost
Market prospects - what is new about your prototype
Be prepared to answer questions. Then listen to the other investors' presentations. You may ask for more details about the other robots. In the end, as a whole class, select one prototype for future production. Try to be as objective as possible and think about your company's interests.
5.   Is artificial intelligence dangerous?
http://curiositv.discoverv.com/question/artificial-intelligence-dangerous Listen to experts discussing A.I. and summarise their viewpoints.
III.       Language focus
1.   Expressing wishes or regrets
Imagine you are no longer happy with the invention of your robot. Look at the way you might express your regrets and wishes.
a) I wish I had never created such a robot.
b) If only I had realised then what a tremendous effect it would have.
c) I wish people stopped using it at once.
d) I wished they wouldn't manufacture it any more.
Which of the sentences above express:
regrets about the past, for something that has already taken place a wish for the present a wish for the future
Now imagine the situations described below. For each situation make one or more sentences beginning with / wish... or If only...
a) You watched a thriller in which alien robots were invading the Earth and you've had nightmares ever since.
b) The managing director of your company intends to replace 70% of the labourers in the assembly line with a robotic system.
c) You have just failed in a difficult exam and you realise you didn't work hard enough for it.
Share with your partner three regrets about your past, referring to the things you did or did not do.
2. Back to the future
Think of how your life has already changed thanks to technology. Complete the columns with as many examples as you can.
Past
Present
Future
E.g. Wrote letters        send e-mails
3. Adjectives about problems
http://www.ihbristol.com/free-english-exercises/test/esol-smc-adjectives-about-problems
For each sentence, choose the best word or phrase to complete the gap from the choices below.
1. That knife's no good. It's_.
A) flat B) worn C) blunt D) loose
2. We need a new carpet for the bedroom. This one's_.
A) mouldy B) dog-eared C) smudged D) worn
3. You shouldn't eat that cheese. It's__.
A) stale B) mouldy C) jaded D) worn
4. I've washed these jeans many times so they're a bit_.
A) faded B) scratched C) worn D) filthy
5. Have you got a new battery for the radio? This one's_.
A) stale B) worn C) flat D) off
6. Careful when you drink from that cup. The rim is_.
A) split B) dented C) scratched D) chipped
7. I had a small accident with the car. One of the wings is a little_.
A) stained B) dented C) jammed D) cracked
8. Someone spilt red wine on the carpet and now it's__.
A) worn B) scratched C) cracked D) stained
9. I can't open the window. I think it's_.
A) run out B) stained C) stuck D) loose
10. She's read this book twice already. That's why it's so_.
A) smudged B) dusty C) dented D) dog-eared
11. Charlie doesn't have as much hair as he used to. He's got a receding hairline at the front and it's_on top.
A) shrinking B) thinning C) lightening D) weakening