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Speaking, listening
and writing task
Supposition and belief
I think… I suppose…
I don’t think… I guess…
I wonder… Maybe…
I doubt… I believe…
I don’t believe…
Sample
Robots can be found in the manufact
uring industry, the military, space explo
ration, transportation, and medical app
lications.
Well, for my conclusion I guess that r
obots are the way of the future and will
be used on a daily use without
being controlled remotely or by a
person. I think they'll be different
robots for different uses, some will be
used for law enforcement and others
will be used for constructive uses only.
Others will be building cars, and the
rest will be building the new schools
we learn in and the houses we live in.
Listening task
1. What kinds of animals do you think
they are?
2. Would you like to own one? Which
one? Give reasons.
3. Do you think having a robot as a pet
is a good idea? Give reasons why and
why not.
LISTENING TEXT
ROBOT PETS
Amanda (A), Victoria (V) and Jamie (J)
are reading about four robot pets and
then discussing whether robot pets can
be real pets.
PART 1
A: (reading) Aibo can walk, sit, lie do
wn and wag its tail. It learns the na
me you give it and can answer whe
n you call it. It develops its own pe
rsonality. It can learn about 50 co
mmands.
V: (reading) Furby like being patted. A
t first he speaks his own language, t
hen he gradually switches to Englis
h the more time you spend with it.
(not reading) He looks like a big – e
ared bird. Isn’t he so cute, Jamie?
J: Well, Victoria, I think he looks strange. I like these ones, though. (reading) Paro can open and close its eyes and move its flippers. Tama recognises her own name. She purrs when she’s patted. That shows she’s happy, but if you hit her she’ll give you an angry hiss. Gradually her behaviour changes and she develops her own personality.
PART 2
A: I don’t understand the point of a robot pet. Why wouldn’t you get a real one?
J: Well, you don’t have to feed a robot dog or take it for walks. And they don’t bark or bite!
V: And it wouldn’t make your house dirty!
A: Yeah but it’s not a real pet, is it? I
t’s a toy.
V: Well, Amanda, I must say Aibo an
d Furby look like real animals.
J: I don’t think it matters if the robot
looks like a real pet or not. If some
one thinks of the robot as a pet, th
en it is a pet.
A: But Jamie, don’t you think it’s sad
if the person thinks of the robot as
a real pet?
J: No, I don’t think so, not if he gets
enjoyment from it.
A: Well, I don’t believe a robot can be
a true friend even if it does develop
its won personality.
I mean stroking a dog or cat makes
you feel good because you’re making
it happy. You can’t make a robot
“happy”.
V: But you can make Tama happy. It all
depends on how you treat her.
A: That’s true, but she’s programmed to
be like that .
J: Anyway, I think robot pets would be
good kinds of pets for people who
cannot have a live pet or who can’t
care for one – like people who are
old, sick or disabled.
Writing task
Imagine you are a robot pet that bel
ongs to a child. Imagine what life woul
d be like with a child. Then write a dia
ry from the robot pet’s point of view.
A sample
October 12th, 2007
I had a terrible morning. When Terr
y got up, he carried me to the table by m
y tail and made me sit on the table while
he ate breakfast. He is such a messy boy
and I got bits of food all over me.
Unfortunately, he must have woken up
in a bad mood because when his mother
asked him to get dressed, he shouted at
her and then hit me. So I was very
angry and hissed at him. Then he hit me
again and I hissed even more. Luckily
he left me at home while he was at
school and I had a very peaceful time.
When he got home he was much
happier and was very nice tome. He
sat for a long time on the sofa,
patting me and saying “Tama, I love
you” over and over. I loved it and
couldn’t stop purring.
I wish he were like that all the time.
Meanwhile, he has promised to take me
to the park tomorrow. I can’t wait.
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