So 2nd Ed Adv Read Extra U2

2 READING &
LISTENING EXTRA
ADVANCED UNIT 2 3 Read the article again. Are the sentences true (T)
or false (F)? Correct the false sentences.
1 Work in pairs and discuss. Use the ideas below.
1 Nowadays, people are used to getting what they
1 If you want to find some information about a
want when they want it.
particular topic, what do you do?
2 The information we find online is always
2 What do you think most people do?
trustworthy and accessible.
3 What don’t people do very oen anymore?
3 Problems arise because information is too easy
• Go to a library to do some research. to obtain.
• Watch an online lecture. 4 The kind of information we find is different
• Look it up on Wikipedia or another online but the way we receive it has not changed
encyclopedia. dramatically.
• Do a Google search and follow the links. 5 It is not necessarily a good thing that people
• Ask somebody you know for advice. watch serious talks about education.
• Attend a conference by an expert in the field. 6 With technology’s help we can take in complex
information more easily.
2 Read the article about accessing opinions and facts 7 When it comes to obtaining information,
in the digital age. How would the writer of the attending events and conferences is something
article answer question 1 in Exercise 1? long forgotten.
EDITORIAL
An online world of information Many people argue that all this is a natural consequence of
the digital age. It is a more democratic age: we can write and
upload our own content and share it happily with others.
But generally, online writers dumb down the ideas they
write about. All that information is there at our fingertips,
but it’s expressed in shorter, simpler ways and, worse, it’s
possibly inaccurate.
We not only have greater access to information – it is
also delivered in ways that previously would have seemed
inconceivable. In the past if you had wanted to find some
academic knowledge, you would have needed to attend a
lecture by an expert in the field. Now, websites like TED,
Big Think and 99 Percent provide online access to
thought-provoking talks on all manner of subjects. The
most viewed talk by Sir Ken Robinson, called ‘Do schools
kill creativity?’, has been viewed over 36.5 million times.
That many views of an academic talk on education surely is
worth celebrating.
Does this mean we can trust the internet for opinions, but
not so much for facts? That might be a rather simplistic
argument, but I think there is some truth in it. Online
lectures are a good example. It’s also true to say that
The digital age is one of instant gratification. The situation complex ideas can be made more accessible and dynamic
may be familiar to you: you’re having coffee or dinner with via video. For example, the RSA (the Royal Society of Arts)
some friends when somebody asks a general knowledge has a number of online animated lectures, including one on
question. Nobody knows the answer but at least one person kinetic typography. As the lecturers speak, words and
gets their smartphone out ready to find it. Where do we go images expressing their ideas pop up on the screen making
for that info? Chances are it will be a random Google search the ideas easier to assimilate. It makes academic
or a check on Wikipedia. Triumphantly, they provide you information more fun!
with the answer. It’s information which you don’t argue All this doesn’t mean that the digital age has turned us into
with and then instantly forget – it’s ephemeral. hermits watching everything online. In fact, people attend
The internet seems to be the most popular place to find conferences more than ever before to watch experts deliver
information these days and it’s not hard to see why – it is all their words of wisdom live. Perhaps so much time online
just a click away. But, couldn’t that also be why problems means we crave that human contact. Whatever the reason,
arise? After all, how do we know that the information we we now have more choice than ever before about where to
read is correct? What is the original source of these facts? go for our information. We just have to remember to be
And do we really understand the difference between opinion critical in our appreciation of it!
and fact?
© Pearson Education Limited 2016

2 READING &
LISTENING EXTRA
4 Look at the words and phrases in bold in the text 7 Listen again. Underline the correct alternative.
and try to guess what they mean. Then complete 1 David knows most/only one of the online
the sentences 1–10 with the correct form of the lecture sites.
words/phrases. 2 Beth says that you have to be stupid/brave not to
1 A problem has arisen with your booking. I can’t use slides in a lecture.
find your details online. When did you book 3 The problem with slides is that they are really
the room? boring to watch/a barrier between the speaker and
2 She became and shut the audience.
herself away, but that’s when she produced her 4 The two kinds of talks that Beth likes are actually
finest work. opposites/very similar.
3 The jury were given 5 The format you choose to give the talk depends/
evidence about the case and the accused was shouldn’t depend on the subject matter.
convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. 6 Some of the best talks are shorter/longer than the
4 A lot of the information on social media is 18-minute average.
. You don’t remember any of
it the next day. 8 The words and phrases in the box are from the
5 One of the most films to recording. Complete the sentences 1–8 with the
come out this year, it could be a candidate for correct word/phrase.
an Oscar.
vividly it takes guts gripping in sync with
6 When you’re a favourite
rely on cope with to get your message across
food, like some chocolate, it’s difficult to resist
a whole range of
the urge.
7 That video was too fast for me 1 to speak in public. I’d be
everything. Can I watch really scared to do that.
it again? 2 A good speech should include
8 Travelling around the globe like we do today emotions and be serious and
would have been years ago. humorous at the same time.
Now we take it for granted. 3 You don’t have to speak perfectly in another
9 The audience didn’t know much about the language, the important thing is
subject so I some of the .
more complex ideas. 4 I remember watching Ken
10 When you’re online, information keeps Robinson’s talk online for the first time.
all the time. It can be very 5 Some speakers are to watch.
distracting. Just like actors, you can’t take your eyes off them.
6 You should never a script
5 Work in pairs and discuss. if you speak in public, you should always be
1 Do you agree with what the article says about spontaneous.
online information? Why/Why not? 7 A lot of speakers are great but they can’t
2 What do you think the writer means in the last line questions from the audience
of the article? at the end because that part is unpredictable.
3 Can you think of any ideas or opinions that you 8 Timing is also important – if you do use slides,
have accessed online recently and that you would it’s a good idea for your speech to be
recommend? the visual material.
4 How did you access that information?
9 Work in pairs and discuss.
6 2.1 Listen to two people talking about
1 Do you agree with Beth’s opinion about good
watching public speakers online. In their opinion, public speakers?
what are five ingredients that can contribute to a 2 What other qualities are important for public
great talk? speaking, or what other advice would you give a
1 speaker?
2 3 Have you ever spoken in public? If so, what was
3 it like?
4
5
© Pearson Education Limited 2016

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