Task 3-1. You are going to give a talk about TV. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and
speak for not more than 2 minutes (10–12 sentences).
Remember to say:
why people spend time watching TV;
what most teenagers prefer: watching TV or browsing the Internet, and why;
whether there is a TV programme you really like;
what your attitude to watching TV as a way to spend your free time is.
You have to talk continuously. THE WORLD OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY     It’s difficult to overestimate the role of science and technology in our life. Scientists investigate the laws of the universe, discover the secrets of nature and put their knowledge into practice improving the life of people. Scientists achieved great success in the development of physics, biology, chemistry and other branches of science. Perhaps the most wonderful discovery of the 20th century was the splitting of the atom. People learned to use atomic energy for different purposes. The first atomic power stations and icebreakers were built in our country. However, nuclear weapons of the greatest destructive power have also been made.   We can’t help mentioning the conquest of space when man overcame the gravity and entered the Universe. The Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first to orbit the Earth in the manned spaceship “Vostok”. Space shuttles and orbital stations broaden the boundaries of space explorations. Space research is very important for the development of new technology in weightless environment. No doubt, great headway has been gained in two major areas – transportation and communication. Nowadays we can travel with extremely high speed in different directions on high-speed trains, jet and supersonic planes. At present mobile phones have become ingrained in our everyday lives and the majority of people can hardly imagine themselves without cell phones. First of all cell phones give us an opportunity to keep in touch with people in any place and in any time. Besides, modern mobile phones are multi-function: they provide access to the Internet, have various games, cameras, memory sticks, GPS receivers etc. Nevertheless we can’t deny that mobile phones provoke a range of problems. People have started to see each other less frequently. But the greatest disadvantage of cell phones is certainly their harmful influence on people’s health.   Since the beginning of the 21st century, our society has witnessed a great increase in technological advances, and this has affected lifestyle in various ways. For example, technology changed the way schools educate their children through the use of computers and smart boards in classrooms and the emergence of online education.  And now we live in the information era when the computer network embraces the globe. Nearly everything we do in the world is helped or controlled by computers. The advent of computers has revolutionized the way people work. Business transactions, stock market trading and many other areas of commerce have benefited a lot. Programming became one of the most prestigious and popular jobs. More and more people become Internet users. They find jobs, pay bills, book tickets, log into libraries, call up satellite weather photos, download films and music, take part in discussion groups, etc. Social networking has become one of the top uses of the Internet, connecting people with others online so they can share information and communicate with each other. On-line shopping makes it possible to find exactly what you want at the best price, saving both time and money. However, some fans get so used to virtual reality and get so involved in it that they feel ill at ease in the real human world.     One more advantage of computerization is an opportunity to use smart cards. It’s obviously safer and more convenient to pay with your card than to carry cash with you. Smart cards are suitable for various kinds of confidential information.        More and more robots are making people’s lives and work easier. Electric appliances at home save our time and energy: vacuum cleaners, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, air conditioning, microwave ovens, coffee machines, etc.      Obviously, new medicines are among the most significant scientific discoveries. Many serious illnesses can be cured now, such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, some kinds of cancer. Inoculation protects us from lots of infectious diseases, which used to take away lives of thousands of people. Transplant operations are successfully carried out. Many people are in need of tissues and organs for transplantation. But it isn't easy to get such organs as, for example, heart, liver or kidneys. Cloning can solve this problem. Many animals are on the brink of extinction. Cloning can be used to preserve them. Scientists can create animals which produce more milk, meat and wool, or animals which don't catch certain diseases. This can save the lives of starving people.      In conclusion I should say that all these things prove the power of science in our life. But every medal has its reverse. And the rapid scientific progress has aroused a number of problems that are a matter of great concern. On the one hand, medical men apply laser to cure diseases, and the same time laser can be used for destruction. Achievements of biology and chemistry are also used to cause damage to people.  There are ecological problems, the safety of nuclear power stations, nuclear war threat. It goes without saying that technology has its advantages and disadvantages, but we cannot escape from progress, the development is inevitable. I firmly believe that our responsibility is to preserve ourselves as modern, just and peaceful civilization.