Upper-Intermediate Instant Lesson™

Super Appliances

Pre-Reading Activities

A: Discussion Answer these questions in pairs:

1. Scientists often talk about inventing household machines that will do a variety of tasks. Imagine that you are about to buy the machines below. Apart from the normal tasks, what unusual tasks would you like them to do?

a. a microwave b. a stereo system

2. Here is a list of features that a fridge might have in the future. Which features in the list would you like? (Tick the column next to these.) Which do you think are less important? Give reasons for your answers. (Use the comments column to make brief notes.)

Features Features I'd like Comments

Keeps a list of the groceries it contains which the owner types in

Takes phone messages

Sends a shopping list to a supermarket saying exactly what food items need to be bought

Shows when food is going bad and needs to be thrown out

E-mails owner when it needs servicing

Has an alarm that rings if someone on a diet tries to take fattening food from it

Keeps a record of appointments

Television

Downloads recipes from the Internet and stores information about healthy eating

Downloads music from the Internet, and has stereo speakers

Sends and receives e-mail

Records video messages for other members of the family

Self-cleans

Now compare your answers with a partner. Use your notes to help you explain the reasons for your choices.

3. Do you like the idea of flat-screen televisions? Why or why not?

4. Where in your house do you have a television? (If you don't have a television in your house, tell your partner your reasons for not having one.)

Reading Activities

A: True or False Read Article 1 and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).

1. More than three-quarters of televisions sold around the world are not ones with flat screens. 2. There is still room for growth in the flat screen television market. 3. DVD players and MP3 players are popular with shoppers. 4. Intermediate High Definition television sets were introduced in 2005. 5. Most shoppers will be interested in buying one of the new High Definition flat television sets.

Article 1

New Flat TVs Launched AMSTERDAM/FRANKFURT Wednesday August 31 (Reuters) Although over 100 million households in Europe and the United States have moved to digital television, that is still less than half of the homes in all countries except the United Kingdom, according to research group Datamonitor.

Flat TVs...make up less than three out of every 10 televisions currently sold worldwide, said research group DisplaySearch, meaning that growth can continue unabated for many years.ISuppli analyst Chris Crotty says: "Consumers are more likely to buy a second television or DVD player for

"The whole industry had expected more," said Sharp's Kleis.

Nevertheless, LCD and plasma TV unit sales increased 135 percent to 9.4 million units and 95 percent to 2.2 million units respectively in the second quarter.

Sharp and others now plan to introduce new flat televisions, many of which will now be full High Definition (HD), as opposed to the intermediate HD television sets launched last year. But these sets will cost many thousands of euros, which will be too much for most consumers who are still waiting for Standard

the bedroom or perhaps a second MP3 player for the gym bag."

However, an extra boost that was expected for liquid crystal display (LCD) television sales from the football World Cup in Germany in June and July failed to materialize.

Definition flat TVs to become affordable.

"I'm happy with my normal TV. Flat screens are just money down the drain," said one 38-year-old Frankfurt woman.

Article © 2006 Reuters Limited. Lesson © 2006 www.english-to-go.com

B: Scanning Read the questions below and then look quickly through Part One of Article 2 for the answers. (Take about 20 seconds and do NOT try to read every word.)

1. What company has invented the first Internet fridge? 2. How big is the fridge? 3. Where was it launched?

Article 2 - Part One

Plugged In: an Internet Fridge That Yields E-mail

By Jana Sanchez AMSTERDAM Sun Nov 3 (Reuters) - Last month South Korea's LG Electronics launched the 26-cubic-foot fridge, featuring a 15-inch flat touch screen display, in the United States and Europe last month.

Using the fridge's screen and an Internet connection, customers can view e-mail, download digital music, watch television, leave video messages for family members and keep track of dates and appointments.

As expected, there are food-related features as well -- it can keep an inventory of groceries on its shelves, store nutritional information or download recipes. The owner has to enter most of this information manually, though it's a task that can be done on any PC.

Unfortunately, the machine cannot tell if the milk is sour or almost gone; nor can it order fresh milk.

Still, future versions of the appliance due out late next year are expected to be able to scan bar codes on packaged foods as they enter the unit, or are tossed away, simplifying the chore of making up a grocery list.

The fridge could one day become the central hub of a home network, connecting to Internet microwave ovens and Internet washing machines, said LG Director of Marketing Communications Daniel Lee.

(Continued/...)

Glossary: launched - made a new product available to the public manually - done with the hands

Article © 2002 Reuters Limited. Lesson © 2006 www.english-to-go.com

C: Reading and Checking Information Look through the article again to find which features the article says the LG Electronics fridge has. When you find a feature which matches one of the items on the list below, place a check next to the item

- Keeps a list of the groceries it contains which the

essages a supermarket saying

to be thrown out

diet tries to take fattening food from it

recipes from the Internet and stores information about healthy eating

other members of the family

Compare your answers with a partner. If there are any differences between you, show

: Making Notes

ticle 2 to complete the table with information about another Internet

Name of Refrigerator:

refrigerator?: Yes / No

l offers:

Part Two

(Continued/...) OFF

ling its own ePAD

Samsung's HomePAD is similar to h

th the built-in videocam, a family

Samsung is planning special offers

Samsung's target customer is a family

.

owner types in - Takes phone m- Sends a shopping list toexactly what food items need to be bought - Shows when food is going bad and needs - E-mails owner when it needs servicing - Has an alarm that rings if someone on a- Keeps a record of appointments - Television - Downloads- Downloads music from the Internet, and has stereo speakers - Sends and receives e-mail - Records video messages for- Self-cleans

your partner the part of the article that helped you to decide.

DUse Part Two of Arrefrigerator.

Name of Manufacturer: Size of display pad: Is it similar to the LGDifferences: Future speciaTarget customer:

NOT ONE-Samsung began selInternet refrigerator, called Homfridges in the United States in September 2002.

LG's product, except that the 12-incdisplay pad is detachable and able to communicate wirelessly with the fridge.

Wicould e-mail dinner-table images to friends or relatives.

such as recipe services and customized news based on the zip code of the customer.

of four or more with an annual income of more than $100,000. Typically,

"The HomePAD offers many possibilities. Parents leaving home

Glossary:

early in the morning for work canleave a loving message for their children," Samsung's Senior Marketing Manager Benjamin An said.

they will already have high-speed Internet access and use Internet banking, which is why the Samsung fridge, unlike LG's, has no dial-up modem.

- can be removed

a larger structure Article © 2002 Reuters Limited. Les

detachablebuilt-in - made to form part of

son © 2006 www.english-to-go.com

Tell your partner which of the two fridges you would prefer to buy. Why?

: Language

ation about different verb tenses used in today's articles.

The present simple tense is sometimes used to talk about something that is true in abits.

...it can keep an inventory of groceries on its shelves, store nutritional information or

likely to buy a second television or DVD player for the bedroom...

The past simple tense is used to talk about finished actions in the past.

Last month South Korea's LG Electronics launched the 26-cubic-foot fridge in the United

increased 135 percent to 9.4 million units...

The present perfect simple is used to give new information and announce the news of

Although over 100 million households in Europe and the United States have moved to

3 player to go in my gym bag.

Now choose the correct form in each of the sentences below.

My parents 1. bought / have bought / buy a new fridge last October. They 2. were / e

n

Unfortunately we 6. had / have had lots of arguments about it. Yesterday, for example,

Now we 9. had / have a new rule. We can only use it if we help prepare the meal or clean

DRead this inform

general. The articles have factual information about new fridges and consumers' h

download recipes. Consumers are more

States and Europe last month. LCD and plasma TV unit sales

something that has happened recently.

digital television... I have bought an MP

have been / are very excited about it when they 3. bought / have bought / buy it. Thnew fridge 4. had / has had / has a touch screen display so they 5. could download / cadownload their e-mail or digital music.

my brother 7. wanted / has wanted / wants to download some music but I 8. wanted / has wanted / wants to check my e-mail at the same time.

the kitchen afterwards. I 10. decided / have decided / decide that this is a good rule. My brother 11. decided / has decided / decides that he will use the computer in his bedroom

more. He 12. hated / has hated / hates doing any kind of housework so he 13. didn't want / doesn't want to use the Internet fridge now. The kitchen 14. became / has become / becomes a peaceful place again.

Post-Reading Activities Yo e.

A: Sell Your Product! oup One are refrigerator manufacturers OR flat screen

Group One - Refrigerator Manufacturers OR flat screen television manufacturers :

- the name of your product

r target customer is is for this product

After you have finished deciding these things, get ready to sell your product. You are r

d

Group Two - Potential Customers: Work in pairs. You are members of a family (e.g.

With your partner decide what you want to buy. Use today's articles to give you ideas.

When you are ready, attend the Expo and visit all the stands. Ask the manufacturers lots

: Write a Description

sks...

Choose a machine of some kind (from your home or your classroom) and write an e,

,

u may do one or more of thes

Divide into two groups, Grtelevision manufacturers and Group Two are potential customers. Read the instructions for your group below.

Work in groups of two or three. You are a manufacturer making high-quality, futuristic refrigerators or flat screen televisions. In your group decide what features your product has. Use today's articles to give you ideas. Also decide on these things:

- the price - the size - who you- what your advertising slogan- any special offers

attending an 'Expo' where different companies are promoting their products. Set up you'stand' (a place where you promote your product) and get ready to talk to potential customers who will visit your stand. Try to persuade them to buy your product. Gooluck!

husband and wife, mother and daughter, father and daughter etc.) who want to buy a newrefrigerator OR a flat screen television. You are going to attend an 'Expo' where different companies are promoting their products. They will try to persuade you to buy their product.

of questions and then decide what you will buy. Happy shopping!

BDo ONE of these writing ta

advertisement for it. Your advertisement should include a description of the machinincluding its name, size, country of manufacture and features. When you have finishedwork in small groups. Present your advertisement to each other.

OR

Write a short description of a machine or device you are familiar with but do NOT include its name. After you have finished, work in small groups and read your piece of writing to each other. Get the other students to guess the name of your machine or device.

OR

Write an advertisement for one of the fridges described in today's article. Your advertisement should include a description of the fridge, including its name, size, country of manufacture and features. Use Article 2 to help you write it.

TEACHERS' NOTES AND ANSWER KEY

Pre-Reading Activities

A: Discussion - Notes You may like to do the first machine (the microwave ) as a class discussion to give students the idea of what they have to do. Encourage them to use their imagination to think of features that would be useful to them. They can then continue the discussion in pairs. A flat screen television offer a 160-degree viewing, whereas older models of televisions had a curved screen which may then reflect other light sources in a room.

Reading Activities

A: True Or False - Notes You may want to tell your students that high definition television gives extremely clear quality wide-screen pictures with compact disc-quality surround sound.

A: True Or False - Answers 1. F, (more than two thirds), 2. T, 3. T, 4. T, 5. F (They will be too expensive for most consumers.)

B: Scanning - Answers 1. South Korea's LG Electronics. 2. 26 cubic feet. 3. The United States and Europe.

B: Reading and Checking Information - Answers Keeps a list of the groceries it contains which the owner types in Keeps a record of appointments Television Downloads recipes from the Internet and stores information about healthy eating (Stereo)* Downloads music from the Internet (Sends and) receives e-mail** Records video messages for other members of the family

* Students may argue that since the fridge can download digital music, it would also have a good system to play it. The article doesn't say this but is quite likely. ** If people can view their e-mail, they may be able to send it too although the article doesn't say this.

D: Making Notes - Answers Name of Refrigerator: HomePAD Name of Manufacturer: Samsung Size of display pad: 12 inches Is it similar to the LG refrigerator?: Yes Differences: detachable display pad that can communicate wirelessly with fridge, no dial-up modem Future special offers: recipe officers, customized news Target customer: Family of four or more with annual income of $100,000 who will probably have high-speed Internet access

E: Language - Answers 1. bought, 2. were, 3. bought, 4. has, 5. can download, 6. have had, 7. wanted, 8. wanted, 9. have, 10. have decided, 11. has decided, 12. hates, 13. doesn't want, 14. has become.

Post-Reading Activities

A: Sell Your Product! - Notes This activity can be as elaborate or as simple as you and your students want it to be. It could be done on a different day, allowing students lots of time to prepare. Students could prepare artwork (leaflets, posters

etc.) for their fridges or televisions. You could spend a little time looking at the language of selling and buying. Before beginning the Expo, manufacturers could survey customers to find out what they want before they 'design' their fridge or television. You may like to give the customers a budget: a particular amount of money that they have to spend on their fridge or television. At the end, ask the customers to report to the class on what fridge or television they have decided to buy and what 'sold' them on this fridge or television.