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7/7/2022 1
A PART OF CENGAGE
FEATURES
34 Is technology the answer?
Solving the problem of overpopulation

36 Just press ‘print’

The future of 3D printing

38 Appropriate technology
Technology to fit each situation

42 3D-printed prosthetic limbs

A video about how 3D printing is revolutionizing prosthetics

Unit 3-p. 33
 3a Is technology the answer?
Reading and listening
1 Work in groups. Look at the
photo. Which of these
problems does it illustrate?

3a-p. 34
2 Which of the problems in Exercise 1 do you think advances in science or
technology can solve?
Better information on traffic with GPS systems could help to reduce
congestion, perhaps.

3a-p. 34
3 Read and listen to an extract from a lecture about overpopulation. Match
the opinions (1–3) with the correct person or group (a–c). Track 22

1 People will only act to deal with a problem when there is no other option.
2 Many people are going to die because there is not enough food for the
growing population.
3 Science and technology will find answers to the problem of
overpopulation.

a Paul Ehrlich
b Thomas Malthus
c Other experts in the scientific community

3a-p. 34
 Track 22
So, I think I’ll begin … Today we’re going to look at the question of overpopulation:
why it’s a growing problem and what solution we might find for it in the future.
Overpopulation, simply put, is a situation where there are more people than there
are resources – food, water, land, energy – to support them. When an area becomes
overpopulated, one or more of the following things will happen: people will go
hungry, pollution will increase, unemployment will rise; people might even begin to
fight over the limited resources.
But overpopulation is an issue that divides opinion. Some say that population has to
be controlled. The American biologist, Paul Ehrlich wrote in his 1968 book, The
Population Bomb, that medical science had advanced too far and we were keeping
too many people alive. He predicted that as a result millions of people would starve
to death. But the population has doubled since then to seven billion and, at the
current rate, is going to reach nine billion by 2050. Mass starvation hasn’t happened,
because in the 1970s and 80s, scientists developed better seeds and better pesticides
to increase food production. That is why other experts in the scientific community
say that people will always find a technological solution to such problems. They say
that we are about to enter an even more productive era of safer and cheaper food
with the help of biotechnology and nanotechnology.

3a-p. 34
 Track 22

The real question is: have we now reached a point – with incomes rising and the
world’s middle classes expanding – where we cannot simply rely on science to
provide the answers? Do we, instead, have to start reducing our consumption? I’m
visiting various cities in Europe next month to speak to groups who are researching
this approach. But the problem, as the eighteenth-century English economist Thomas
Malthus pointed out, is that people are basically lazy. They won’t act unless they
have to. He claimed that the population will continue to grow until war, disease or
famine arrive to stop it. (By the way, I’ll give you the references to his and Ehrlich’s
work at the end of my talk) …

3a-p. 34
4 Read the transcript again. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F), according to
the speaker? Correct the sentences which are false.

1 Overpopulation means too many people in a limited space.

T 2 One possible consequence of overpopulation is conflict between people.
T 3 Paul Ehrlich thought we shouldn’t help people to live longer.
F 4 According to the speaker, the global population will rise to over nine
billion.reach
5 The real issue is that people are getting richer and consuming more.
1F Overpopulation, simply put, is a situation where there are more people than there
are resources – food, water, land, energy – to support them. When an area becomes
overpopulated

3a-p. 34
Grammar future forms

3a-p. 35
6 Look at the grammar box. Answer the questions.

1 Which of the predictions 1–3 seems to be the most definite? And the
least definite?
2 Which future construction do we often use to predict something
happening very soon?
3 Which prediction is based on some present evidence?
4 Which sentence describes an intention or plan? And which describes an
arrangement?
5 Which sentence is an offer? Which is a decision made at the moment of
speaking?

3a-p. 35
7 Work in pairs. Discuss what future form is used in each sentence and why.
Use the grammar box and Exercise 6 to help.
1 I’m going to go to London tomorrow.
2 I don’t think they’ll win the election.
3 The weather is about to get much worse.
4 Don’t worry. I’ll collect you from the airport.
5 I’m afraid I might be home late tonight.
6 We’re meeting at 6.00 p.m. outside the cinema.
7 It’s going to be hard to get tickets at this stage.
8 Oh, that’s my phone. I’ll just take the call.

3a-p. 35
8 Choose the correct future forms to complete the text. In some cases both
options are possible.

1 I’m just going to wait / I’m just waiting a few moments for everyone to
arrive … OK, I’m aware of the time so 2 I’m beginning / I’ll begin now. Hello
everyone and thank you for coming today. 3 I’m about to speak / I’m going to
speak for about thirty minutes and then I hope there 4 will be / might be
time for questions at the end. And my colleague, Liesel Babel, 5 is going to
talk / is talking this afternoon in the green seminar room about appropriate
technology. 6 I think you’ll find / you’re about to find her session useful
because 7 she’ll speak / she’s going to speak about her experience in the
field, working on various projects in Africa. OK, 8 I’m going to show / I’m
showing you a short film now, so could someone at the back please turn the
lights down?’

3a-p. 35
9 Work in pairs. Act out these conversations, putting the verbs in brackets in
an appropriate future form. Then listen and compare your answers.
Track 25
1
will you do
A: What (you / do) this weekend?
will go
B: I’m not sure, but we (go) to the seaside if the weather stays nice.
A: Sounds like a good plan. We (just / stay) at home and relax.
are just going to stay
2 are travelling
going yo go
A: I (go) shopping for a wedding dress on Saturday. Jen and I (travel) up to
London to choose one.
B: How exciting! (you / show) it to anyone else before the wedding?
A: I (let) you see it, if you want.
3
A: (you / help) me move this table? It (not / take) a moment.
B: Sure. I (just / finish) writing this email.

3a-p. 35
9 Work in pairs. Act out these conversations, putting the verbs in brackets in
an appropriate future form. Then listen and compare your answers.
Track 25
4
A: Have you started your new job yet?
B: No, but I (start). Next Monday is my first day.
A: Good luck. I’m sure you (be) fine.
5
A: Another rise in the population, I see! Do you think it (just / carry on)
going up?
B: No, I think at some point soon it (probably / reach) a peak.

3a-p. 35
Speaking
10 Work in pairs. Have conversations like the ones in Exercise 9, using future
forms. Talk about:

• your plans for the weekend.

• something you intend to buy.
• a favour you want to ask.
• a change in your life coming very soon.
• a prediction about the population.

3a-p. 35