CULTURE
UNIT 10   Brainwaves
1 What electronic devices do you own? What do
you do with them when they break or you want
to buy a new one?
2 Look at the texts below. Which one doesn’t
describe an invention?
A HOW MUCH DO WE PRODUCE?
I’VE HEARD ABOUT AN
EXCITING PROJECT
THAT COULD CHANGE
THE WORLD!
Think about all the cell phones you’ve thrown away
and the waste you’ve created. Imagine if you could
keep the same cell phone forever, but just change
parts of it when they break or are too old!
That’s what the Phonebloks project is all about. A
Dutch designer named Dave Hakkens wants to
build a cell phone that you’ll never need to throw
away. He can’t do it on his own, though. He needs
help from cell phone companies around the world.
The problem is, will anyone be interested in buying a
phone like this?
I’m not sure, but I think it’s a really interesting idea. If
you agree, please share this with your friends!
Thanks!
Enrique
B 1 Which invention isn’t new?
GOODBYE TO “GREEN”
POTATO CHIP PACKAGES!
Did you know that about four million bags of potato
chips are eaten in the USA each year? That’s a lot of
potato chip packages. And when one is thrown away,
it can sit in a landfill for up to 450 years. So when one
potato chip company from the USA invented its own
eco-friendly potato chip package, it seemed like a
great idea. There was just one problem, though. A lot
of people didn’t like them. The reason? The packages,
which were made of special “green” materials, were
too noisy! Because so many people complained, the
scientists at SunChips had to create a new “green” chip
package that didn’t make as much noise.
This page has been downloaded from www.macmillangobeyond.com
© Macmillan Publishers Limited 2015. This sheet may be photocopied and used within the class.
GoBey_L2_Culture_3p.indd 10
2
C
A QUICK GUIDE TO …
E-WASTE!
WHAT IS E-WASTE?
Electronic waste that’s created when we throw
away devices such a computers and cell phones.
20–50 million tons a year.
WHAT HAPPENS TO IT?
Most of it ends up in landfills, but a lot of it is sent
to countries such as China, India, and Nigeria for
recycling.
RECYCLING IS A GOOD THING, ISN’T IT?
It depends. E-waste can contain dangerous
chemicals. If recycling isn’t done the right way,
these chemicals can cause problems for human
beings and the environment.
D
Hi, Alvaro,
I just had a great idea for Yasmin’s birthday
present – a water clock!
She’s really into gadgets, and this one’s
environmentally friendly too. It uses water instead
of batteries. How cool is that? Did you know that
the water clock was invented in my country? It’s
true! The Egyptians designed the first water clock
in 1500 BC.
Hassan
3 Now read the texts again and answer the
questions.
2 Which invention isn’t ready yet?
3 Why wasn’t the “green” potato chip package
successful?
4 What happens to e-waste in China?
5 How long can an empty potato chip package last
for?
6 What does Enrique want readers of his post to
do?
7 Which company is trying to find a solution to a
problem?
4 a Which of the inventions do you like best?
Why?
b Would you choose to buy a “green” cell
phone like the one described? Why or why
not?
c Would you stop buying potato chips if the
package made too much noise?
23/03/2015 14:42