Which is the best means of communication: email, texting, letter writing, or face to face discussion?

Face-to-face discussion is the best mean for communication.

Unit 1: Connected by Technology

A. Read the descriptions of different people. Write the best word or phrase to describe each.

1. Lee is the kind of person that will always tell you the truth. He doesn’t like to play games or pretend.
He never says things just to make someone feel good. He is honest and doesn’t hide anything. You always know where you stand with him. Lee is straightforward.
2. David likes to spend time by himself. After school, he usually goes home and works on his computer.
He likes playing computer games and watching films. He has a few friends at school, but he is happiest when he’s alone. David is a loner.
3. Jason loves to try new things. Last year he went whitewater rafting in Chile. Two years ago, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
This year he’s going to hike the Appalachian Trail in the United States.
He isn’t afraid of anything! Jason is adventurous.

4. Peter is not the kind of person who plans things out. He usually makes a decision and immediately acts on it. For example, last week, he really wanted to eat fish for dinner, so he got in his car and drove three hours to the beach to eat at his favorite seafood restaurant.
After dinner, he got back in his car and drove home. Peter is spontaneous.
5. Jake is a casual and relaxed person. He is usually late, but he doesn’t worry about it. He is a flexible person and likes to just go with the flow.
He’s very easy to be around because he’s always smiling and
relaxed. Jake is laid back.

B. Match the parts of the sentences to make proverbs.

1. a Silence…
2. f Better late…
3. b Laughter…
4. d Honesty…
5. c Nothing ventured,…

C. Read the sentences. Tick the type of verb used. Look at the auxiliary verbs to help you.

1. I am sending you a text message right now! Present or past progressive.
2. Tom had already sent me an email. Present or past perfect.
3. Liana doesn’t have an email account. Simple present or past.
4. I was trying to call you last night. Present or past progressive.
5. Computers are used all over the world. Present or past passive.
6. How long have you had your cell phone? Present or past perfect.
7. My laptop was stolen yesterday. Present or past passive.
8. Does Sara use instant messaging? Simple present or past.

D. Unscramble the questions. Then match the questions and answers.

1. g the Internet /Has/ working /been/?

Has the Internet been working? b. Yes, it was.

2. a use /you/Do/ a fax machine /ever/?

Do you ever use a fax machine? c. Yes, I have.

3. e you /last night/texting/Were/me/?

Were you texting me last night? d. Yes, I did.

4. b closed/the/Was/account/?

Was the account closed? e. No, I wasn’t.

5. f sending/Are/an/you/instant message/?

Are you sending an instant message? f. No, I’m not.

6. c changed /your password/you/Have/?

Have you changed your password? g. No, it hasn’t

E. Complete the conversation with the correct forms of the auxiliary verbs do, have, and be.

Jasim: What did you do last night?
Ibrahim: I went to a restaurant with some friends. Why (1) (not) didn't you come?
Jasim: I (2) was signing up for an online job finding service.
Ibrahim: Wow! You were?
Jasim: Yeah. I (3) (not) hadn't done it before, but yesterday, I decided to try it. I had to answer so many questions!
Ibrahim: What kinds of questions (4) did they ask you?
Jasim: Well, they asked things like: When (5) were you born? What (6) do you like to do? (7) Have you ever had a job? (8) Do you want to work in Saudi Arabia? Where (9) do you live? What (10) do you do? How much money (11) do you want to make? What kind of job (12) do you like?
Ibrahim: Well, I guess they (13) are trying to see if you are the best candidate for the job, so they need to know a lot about you.
(14) Do they make a profile page for you?
Jasim: Yes, they (15) do. (16) Do you want to see it?
Ibrahim: Yes, I (17) do! (18) Did you give them any pictures?
Jasim: No, I (19) (not) haven't yet! I (not) (20) didn't have any good ones.
Ibrahim: Why (21) (not) didn't you ask me? I have some!
Jasim: You do? Great! Maybe we can upload them now!

F. Write a question for each answer. Use the correct auxiliary verb and tense.

1. Yes, I do. Do you have a laptop?
2. No, we haven’t. Have you eaten dinner?
3. It works great! How does it work?
4. It was invented a long time ago. When was the telephone invented?
5. No, I hadn’t. Had you called me before I arrived?
6. Yes, it is. Is your cell phone working?
7. I was sleeping. What were you doing last night?

G. Look at the pictures. Write what you think each person is saying. Use auxiliary verbs.

H. READING

Read the article and complete the chart below.

I Rewrite the text messages using abbreviations. Remember to find the shortest way of representing the way they sound.

1. Where are you? Will you be over soon?

WRU? WU B ovr sn?

2. He is not going to meet us. He’s busy.

HzNGT meet us. Hz Bzy?

3. Who’s giving you all the information?

Wz gvn UL T Informtn?

4. Of course, I’ll do it for you. You’ve helped me so many times.

OC, ILDI4U. UV helpt me SM Tmz.

5. Check the store on the corner. It’s cheaper.

T Str OT Crnr. It's Chpr.

J. Write if you would call or text message in each situation and give a reason.

1. You’re in a very busy store. You want to ask your friend if he/she likes a particular colour.

I would text message because the shop id busy and noisy.

2. You know your father is at the station waiting. You want to let him know that you will be arriving in about 20 minutes.

I would text message because he might not hear the phone.

3. You are in the library looking for a science book, but you have forgotten which volume you need for class. You want to ask your classmate.

I would text message because you're not supposed to make noise.

4. You had an unnecessary argument with your cousin. You feel responsible and want to apologize.

I would call to apologize.

5. You know your brother is on his way home from work. You are at a halfway point and you want to catch him before he goes past it so he can give you a lift.

I would call him because he is in his car driving.

K. Look at the picture. Take notes on the main objects and actions that are happening. Then write sentences that tell what is happening and what may happen.

1. He has just stopped and checking his cell phone.
2. He's reading a text message.
3. He may send his reply and wait for an answer.

L. WRITING

Now use your diagram to write an essay that compares talking on a cell phone with sending a text message. Conclude your essay with your opinion about which you prefer and why.

• When we talk about mobile, It comes in our mind that voice call which is the initial reason why phones were made.
• Nowadays they are not primarily used for that purpose only.
• Texting is primarily a private communication channel and you can respond in any time that is convenient for you, on the other hand you must respond immediately during phone calls.
• Texting is more secured and possible to be archived that makes it easy to remember and easy for providing evidence.

M. Complete the chart. Fill in the adjective, the comparative adjective, or the superlative adjective.

N. Complete the sentences with comparative and superlative forms of the adjectives in parentheses. Use the before superlatives.

1. The oldest (old) known computer is the Antikythera Mechanism. It is one of the most significant (significant) finds from over 2000 years ago.
It was a massive device for making mathematical calculations, which was made of bronze and wood.
This was heavier (heavy) than today’s electronic calculators, so of course it was more difficult (difficult) to carry.
2. One of the most successful (successful) novels of all time is A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. It sold over 200 million copies.
That’s an even bigger (big) success than Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Dickens’ childhood was not any easier (easy) than the lives of his characters, but he moved on to become one of the best (good) novelists of all time.
3. Many of the wealthiest (wealthy) people made their money in the computer industry. Bill Gates, who became famous for starting Microsoft, is richer (rich) than any king or queen in the world.
He also seems to be one of the most generous (generous) people as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $30 billion to some of poorest (poor) nations.

O. Answer these questions. Give your opinion with some reasons. Use comparatives and superlatives.

1. What is the most useful gadget that you own?

Laptop is the most useful gadget I own.

2. How easy is it to keep up with the latest developments in technology?

It is easy and easier if you practice.

3. What is the easiest way to learn a foreign language?

Practicing is the easiest way to keep it up.

4. Which is the best means of communication: email, texting, letter writing, or face to face discussion?

Face-to-face discussion is the best mean for communication.

P. Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first.

1. Our car is serviced by a mechanic twice a year.

We get our car serviced twice a year.

2. Someone needs to check the brakes on my bicycle.

My bicycle brakes need to be checked.

3. The new company website needed to be designed.

The company had the new website designed.

4. This program needed to be downloaded before I could play the game.

I got this program downloaded before I could play the game.

5. Someone needed to install a new app on this smartphone.

A new app needed to be installed on this smartphone.

6. You need to dispose of your used battery carefully.

Your used car battery needs to be disposed of carefully.

Q. Complete the phone conversation. Use the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.

Omar: InstantTec Service, how can I help you?Tony: It’s my new computer.

I think it’s (1.) broken (break). It’s still under warranty, but I think I’ll have to (2.) get it replaced (get/replace).

Omar: What exactly is the problem?Tony: Everything, actually. It won’t switch on at all. The screen is completely blank.

Maybe you’ve sold me a (3.) damaged (damage) computer.

Omar: Could you give me your user name, please? I can (4.) have your connection checked (have/check) first.

If it needs (5.) to be repaired (repair), we’ll send a technician over to identify the problem.

Tony: OK. The user name’s Genius89.Omar: I’m checking it now.

Hmmm… the line is OK, but your computer is not (6.) connected (connect).

Perhaps you need a new router.Tony: No way! I (7.) had one installed (have/install) by your technician a few weeks ago.

Omar: Are you sure that everything is (8.) plugged (plug) in?Tony: Of course it is! Ermmm… let me just check.

Oh, no! It was (9.) unplugged (unplug). I know, I (10.) had the house cleaned (have/clean) yesterday.

The cleaner has left the (11.) disconnected (disconnect) plug on the shelf.

How embarrassing!Omar: No problem, sir.

It happens all the time. Anything else that needs (12.) to be fixed (fix)?

Tony: No, thanks.

I’ve plugged it in now. That’s all that needed (13.) to be done (do). Thanks for the help.

Omar: My pleasure, sir. We like to have (14.) satisfied (satisfy) customers.