The Virtual World

I. How has the internet changed the world? Discuss and make notes.

Watch the video ‘The Virtual World’ and tick the ideas that are mentioned.
II. Match the following topics to the sections of the video in the diagram below.

(a) Influential people’s opinions. (b) Main consequences of internet. (c) Statistics.

Main topic Notes

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3
III. Match the following consequences of the internet to the pictures below.

A. It has made e-shopping possible. D. It opens up new realms of knowledge.

B. It has created a generation of web addicts. E. It creates wealth.
C. It allows authorities to spy and censor.

IV. You will watch the trailer of BBC’s series The Virtual Revolution. Order the pictures.
V. Who said it? Match the people in column A (1-6) to extracts in B (a-g).

A B
1. Aleks Krotoski (presenter) (a) In the 10 years that I’ve been studying the web and writing about it as a
journalist, I’ve seen it take the world and shake it apart.

2. Al Gore (b) Well, the web is how mankind communicates nowadays.

3. Mark Zuckerberg (c) It’s like the internet has become a brain. It’s the smartest brain in the world.

4. Stephen Fry (d) It’s an empowering tool that has more potential than any other that the
human civilization has ever developed.

5. Bill Gates (e) The world is just going to keep on getting more and more open and there’s
going to be more information available about anything.

6. Steve Wozniak (f) This is astounding technology and we should just take a moment to
celebrate the power and the reach it gives us.

Look at these influential people’s opinions. Decide whether you agree (✓), disagree (✘), or have doubts (?).
VI. Order the following sentences according to the video.

(a) On any given day in the British Islands, over of us will log on.
(b) A of the planet now uses the web.
(c) And the web is where we express our opinion: of us read blogs.
(d) The web is a revolution.
(e) The web is where we spend our money: around pounds a week.
(f) It’s where we fall in love, with of us using a dating website every moth.

Now complete the sentences with one word or short phrase.

VII. Discuss which are the pros and cons of the internet.

PROS CONS