Unit 9

Improvement in Appliances

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Leading in

Warming-up Activity

Exploring the Topic

Watching & Brainstorming

Background Information

Navigation for Unit Nine

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Warming-up Activity

Directions: You will hear a short passage. Listen carefully and answer the following questions.

1. Do you agree that technology has improved

people’s

life?

2. Has technology brought any disadvantages to

our

life?

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Warming-up Activity

Suggested answer: No doubt, technology has changed so much of today’s world and our life. Due to technology, we are now living more comfortable and convenient lives. The invention of computer had done great help in our daily work and study. With modern electric appliances our home life is much more enjoyable than ever .

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Warming-up Activity

Suggested answer: However, technology advances have

caused some new, complicated, even dangerous

problems. Cars and some household appliances

are dangerous sources which damage our ozone

layer (臭氧层 ). In our modern life, ironically we

find ourselves being enslaved more and more by

technology instead of being freed by it.

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Exploring the Topic

Questions & Answers

1.What “smart” appliances would you like to have?

2. Do you think “smart” appliances are good or not?

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Exploring the Topic

Suggested answer: A housewife may want to have a microwave

oven that can cook delicious dishes according

to her order; an engineer may want a computer

that can operate according to oral instructions.

But I would like to have video camera to keep

record of the beautiful things in my life.

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Exploring the Topic

Suggested answer: Different people have different views on this question. Some think that “smart” appliances are good because they make things convenient and save us labor and time and save our money by combining manyfunctions in one appliance. While others argue that “smart” appliances are not good because their new features are useless; they cost more than they are worth; they are easy to break down with so many functions and they are too difficult to operate.

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Background Information

The Washington Post is a morning daily newspaper published in Washington D. C., the dominant newspaper in the U.S. capital and usually counted as one of the greatest newspaper in the country, equaled or excelled only by The New York Times.

The Washington Post

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Background Information

IBM, short form for International Business Machines Corporation, was set up in 1911 in the state of New York, USA. After the development of over 80 years, it now has operations in more than 160 countries with its headquarters in Armonk, New York, USA and has become the world’s largest information technology company, business and technology services provider, and IT financier ( 金 融 家 ). The company is engaged in the invention, development and manufacture of information technologies, including computer systems, software, storage systems and microelectronics ( 微 电 子 学 元件 ), and provides professional solutions, services and consulting businesses to its customers worldwide.

IBM

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Watching & Brainstorming

Watch the Video and Brainstorm

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Navigation for Unit Nine

Practical Writing: UNDERSTANDING AND WRITING NOTICES (2)

Section C

A High-tech Woman

Section BSection A

I’m Toast in the Battle Against “Smart”

Appliances

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