Hel @ century ago, the science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke predicted the invention of tablet computers and online newspapers. In his novel 2001, as well «as imagining @ human colony on the moon, he created a werld where people reod newspapers on o deviee called a Newspad. However, Clarke is a brilliant exception rather than the rule. When 2 ‘ry 10 predict the future, they fen 3 cond thee predictions usually ura out to be completely wrong! For example, ono well-known British scientist, Lord Kelvin, doubted the possibilty of fight. In newspaper interview in 1902, he said that, ‘No caccoplane will ever be practically successful’ However, only a year lala, in 1903, the media was 4 stories cbout one important event: the Wright Brothers had made the very ist plane flight in Kitty Hawk in the US. In 1932, one of the most famous physicsis ofall © time, the German-born Albert Einstein, made an inforesting prediction. He staled thot, ‘There is not the slightest indication thet nuclear energy will ever be obtainable.” Yet experiments by scientists in the late 1930s and 1940s proved this statement lo be wrong. ‘TG Read the article and complete it with five of the words or phrases below. poe eee [aggressive buzzing with colony experts factors pesticide reproduce struggle 2 @& The article is mostly about ... scientific predictions. a (J ancient © [5] successful b ([j strange a [J ansuccessiul 3 GHD Read the ar je. Which person made a prediction about ...? 1 2 3 the possibility of air travel Lord, Kelvin the future of transmitting news the use of information technology at home changes in the world of physics new and different ways of reading 2s Incorrect predictions can alo be found inthe world of modern technology. In 1977, Ken Olson, the American founder ofthe large US computer company, Digital Equipment Corp, wos quoted as soying, ‘There is no reason for any individvel to have © computer in their home’ But during the 1980s, computers began to be a common sight in many US houses pone I I J There are many different $ making a scintfc prediction, which cam make it extremely difficult, Over the years experts have shown that i can be an unwise thing to do. 4 © Match the definitions 1-8 with words from the article below. obtainable well-known device exception statement 1 happen in a particular way turn out 2. machine, usually a fairly complicated one 3 a person 4 a person or thing that is not included in a general statement 5. foolish, not a good idea 6 available 7 something which somebody has said 8 famous 5 GIG Answer the questions in your own words. 1 Why is Arthur C, Clarke not typical? 2. How certain do you think the people felt when they made their predictions? Why? 3 Why were all these incorrect predictions particularly embarrassing? 4 Do you think it is possible to make accurate scientific predictions? Why / Why not? 5 Do you know of any other scientific predictions that were incorrect? to consider whenVocabulary Opinion, belief and prediction 1 © Match the beginnings 1-6 with the endings a-f. 1 Ibrahim estimates that the car journey will take an hour. We doubt that Kate will pass the exam. 1 feel sure my first job will be interesting. 1 guess that Pll enter that running race. I presume that we can’t use a calculator in the exam. Do you realise that the train leaves soon? wun o a However, I realise that it won't be well-paid. b_ I guess we should leave for the station now. But I'm not going to predict how I'll do, though! d_ However, she considers that she has done enough work for it. e But as it’s Friday evening, | anticipate that it will take us longer. £ Yes, I suspect you're right. We'll need to do the calculations on paper. 6 Complete the definitions with the words or phrases below. anticipate . doubt fealsuce predict estimate suspect If you feel.sure about something, you are certain about it 2 Ifyou something, you say what you think will happen in the future. 3. Ifyou something, you think that it will happen and you will be ready for it. 4 Ifyou something, you think that it probably isn’t true, or it probably won't happen 5 Ifyou something, you say how long it will take to do, how much it will cost, ete. 6 Ifyou that something is true, you think it is probably true, but you're not 100% sure. 3 ©© Choose the correct words. Which answer do Amy and Lisa get wrong? ‘Amy — Hey, Lisa. Can you help me with this quiz? Lisa All right. ‘Amy — OK, good. Question 1: What's the capital of Australia? Lisa I 'realise / predict / it’s Sydney, isn't it? ‘Amy Sydney? I feel sure / estimate / anticipate that it’s Canberra! I'm certain I read that somewhere. Lisa Canberra? | ‘suspect / consider / doubt that it's Canberra. I've never even heard of Canberra! Amy OK, I ‘doubt / suspect / estimate you're right! You usually are! Next question. Where was Usain Bolt born ~ Cuba, Jamaica or the US? | think it’s Jamaica. lisa Yes, I Spresume / consider / realise that’s right. He runs for Jamaica in the Olympics. That’s probably the right answer. Amy OK. Now, the next question looks difficult. Lisa Oh no! I’m beginning to “anticipate / realise / predict I don’t have much general knowledge! CEE EE 4 © Complete the sentences with the words below. Tun second alr_away blue good ‘We must leave right away. or we'll be late. ‘They have moved to New York for Our holiday plans are up in the now. Emir phoned me out of the last night. Saving money is good in the long On thoughts, I have decided not to buy that expensive phone. ouawn 5 GG complete the sentences with your own ideas. 1 I doubt that next weekend 2 predict that my best friend and I 3 [don’t consider tobe important in life because 4 [feel sure that one day I 5. Atsome point in my life, I guess that 1 6 Now that I'm older, 1 realise thatds, n ony Vocabulary Opinion, belief and prediction 1 © Match the beginnings 1-6 with the endings a-f. 1 Ibrahim estimates that the car journey will take an hour. ¢ ‘We doubt that Kate will pass the exam. 1 feel sure my first job will be interesting. I guess that I'l enter that running race. I presume that we can’t use a calculator in the exam. 6 Do you realise that the train leaves soon? a However, I realise that it won't be well-paid. b_ I guess we should leave for the station now. But I'm not going to predict how I'll do, though! However, she considers that she has done enough work for it. But as it's Friday evening, | anticipate that it will take us longer. 1 Yes, I suspect you're right. We'll need to do the calculations on paper. 2 © complete the definitions with the words or phrases below. anticipate doubt estimate feolsuee predict suspect 1 Ifyou feel sure about something, you are certain about it. 2 Ifyou something, you say what you think will happen in the future, 4 Ifyou something, you think that it will happen and you will be ready for it, 4 Ifyou something, you think that {t probably isn't true, or it probably won't happen. § Ifyou something, you say how long {twill take to do, how much it will cost, ete. 6 Ifyou that something is true, you think it is probably true, but you're not 100% sure. 3 GG Choose the correct words. Which answer do Amy and Lisa get wrong? Amy Hey, Lisa. Can you help me with this quiz? Lisa All right. Amy — OK, good. Question 1: What's the capital of Australia? Lisa I 'realise / predict it's Sydney, isn't it? Amy Sydney? | #feel sure / estimate / anticipate that it’s Canberra! I’m certain I read that somewhere. Lisa Canberra? I ‘suspect / consider / doubt that it’s Canberra. I've never even heard of Canberra! Amy — OK, I ‘doubt / suspect / estimate you're right! You usually are! Next question. Where was Usain Bolt born - Cuba, Jamaica or the US? I think it’s Jamaica. lisa Yes, I Spresume / consider / realise that’s right. He runs for Jamaica in the Olympics. That’s probably the right answer. Amy OK. Now, the next question looks difficult. Lisa Oh no! I’m beginning to “anticipate / realise / predict I don’t have much general knowledge! CEE EE 4 ©© Complete the sentences with the words below. Tun second air away blue good Saving money is good in the long On thoughts, I have decided not to buy that expensive phone. 1 We must leave right away. or we'll be late. 2 They have moved to New York for 3. Our holiday plans are up in the now. 4 Emir phoned me out of the last night. 5 6 5 GGG complete the sentences with your own ideas. 1 [doubt that next weekend [ predict that my best friend and I 3. I don’t consider important in life because to be 4 | feel sure that one day I 5 At some point in my life, I guess that I 6 Now that I'm older, I realise that