Review: App, Gadget, Software

Pre-reading
1. What’s the most useful gadget you have in your house?
2. What’s the most useful app you have on your phone?
3. What’s the most useful piece of software you have on your computer?
4. How do these things make your life easier?
5. Why do you think these gadgets/apps/pieces of software have become popular?

Reading
A. Does your family have a Thermomix? If so, is it useful? If not, would you like one?
B. What things can it do?
C. How does it compare to its competitors?

Read the text, does it contain any of the ideas you mentioned?
Theromix have been making waves in the world of kitchen gadgets for some time now. Ever since the advent
of their first appliance way back in 1985, they’ve been at the cutting edge of the market lending a hand to
hard-pressed families the world over.

The latest model, the TM6, really made a splash when it hit the shelves last month. This latest iteration really
is lightyears ahead of its competitors. With its state-of-the-art design it truly is a sight to behold. That
being said, what really makes it stand out from the crowd is how easy it is to use. It really is a piece of cake,
and you’ll be savouring that cake sooner than you think.

Simply scroll through the different preset menus, select the one that catches your eye, add the ingredients
and let thermomix take care of the rest. It’s touch-screen menus and ergonomic controls are so user-
friendly that you’ll master them in no time at all. It enables you to make quick, mouth-watering meals at the
touch of a button. Though its competitors may come with all sorts of bells and whistles, there’s a reason
Thermomix has cornered the kitchen robot market: elegance, ease of use, and efficiency. It’s not rocket
science!

Language Focus
Look at the expressions in bold, make notes on their meaning with your partner.
1. Make waves - MAKE AN IMPRESSION
2. Advent - APPEARANCE
3. At the cutting edge - LEADING TECH
4. Lend a hand - HELP
5. Hard-pressed - STRESSED/BUSY
6. The world over - ALL AROUND THE WORLD
7. Make a splash MAKE AN IMPRESSION
8. Hit the shelves - GO ON SALE
9. Be lightyears ahead of - BE A LONG WAY
AHEAD OF
10. State-of-the-art - LATEST TECH
11. A sight to behold - BEAUTIFUL
12. Stand out from the crowd BE
SPECIAL/DIFFERENT
13. A piece of cake - EASY
14. Catch your eye - ATTRACT ATTENTION
15. Take care of the rest - DO THE REST
16. Touch-screen - CONTROL BY TOUCHING
SCREEN
17. Ergonomic - EFFICIENCY/WELL-DESIGNED
18. User-friendly - EASY TO USE
19. Mouth-watering - DELICIOUS
20. At the touch of a button - JUST BY
TOUCHING A BUTTON
21. Bells and whistles - EXTRA
FEATURES/SOMETIMES UNNECESSARY
22. Corner the market - DOMINATE/HAVE
CONTROL OF THE MARKET
23. It’s not rocket science - NOT COMPLICATED
Can you remember the missing words?
Theromix have been _________ waves in the world of kitchen gadgets for some time now. Ever since the
a______ of their first a_______ way back in 1985, they’ve been at the cutting ______ of the market lending
a _______ to ______-pressed families the world _______.

The latest model, the TM6, really made a s_______ when it ______ the shelves last month. This latest
iteration really is lightyears ________ of its competitors. With its ______-of-the-_____ design it truly is a
______ to behold. That being said, what really makes it stand ______ ______ the crowd is how easy it is to
use. It really is a piece of _______, and you’ll be savouring that cake sooner than you think.

Simply scroll through the different preset menus, select the one that ________ your eye, add the ingredients
and let thermomix take _____ _____ the rest. It’s ______-screen menus and e________ controls are so
user-_________ that you’ll master them in no time at all. It enables you to make quick, ________-watering
meals at the _______ of a ________. Though its competitors may come with all sorts of _______ and
whistles, there’s a reason Thermomix has _________ the kitchen robot market: elegance, ease of use, and
efficiency. It’s not _________ science!

Sell, sell, sell!

Choose one of these gadgets, write a short pitch to sell it to your classmates.