2. By which is the terrible noise produced?

_________________________________________________________________.
3. What possible dangers does the noise cause?
_________________________________________________________________.
4. According to the recording, what should be done to secure people a quiet environment?
_________________________________________________________________.

Students REVIEW important words/phrases/idioms from what they have learnt in the lesson and
fill in the following table for more effective future use.

USEFUL LANGUAGES OF THE DAY

Words/phrases/idioms Equivalents/Meaning Putting into context

if a problems or illness afflicts

afflict a person or thing, they suffer A country afflicted by civil war
from it

hustle and bustle busy and frenetic activity I love living among the hustle
or excitement and bustle of the city

irrational not using reason or

clear thinking

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UNIT 9 TECHNOLOGY

This unit aims to help you:

• develop basic note-taking skills
• learn how science and technology change the world

Discuss below questions with a partner. Share your ideas with the class.
1. List as many aspects in our life as possible that the technology has had influences on.
2. In your opinion, what are some of the greatest technological achievements? Why?
3. Do you think modern technology reduces or increases stress? Why?
4. How will science and technology change the world in the next 50 years?

Developing basic note-taking skills

1. Key words vs. function words
* To develop your basic note-taking skills, first you are expected to be aware of the main differences
between key words and function words as highlighted in the below table.

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 UNIT 8: Expressions with numbers

I. Introduction
Numbers can be tricky. On the one hand, they are simply numbers. On the other hand, they have
meanings when they are combined for idiomatic expressions.

II. Dictation - Write the correct words or numbers in the blank spaces
Now, the VOA Special English program ‘Words and Their Stories’.
Last week, I told about the number one. Today, I will tell about expressions using other numbers.
Some problems are difficult to solve. But there are a lot of number expressions that can help. For
example, if we put (1) two and two together , we might come up with the right answer. We
know that (2) two heads are better than one. It is always better to work with another person to
solve a problem.

Sometimes there are (3) no two ways about it . Some problems have only one solution.
You cannot be of (4) two minds _ over this.

But with any luck, we could solve the problem in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. We could have our
answers (5) quickly and easily .

Sometimes we can (6) kill two birds with one stone . That is, we can complete two goals with
only one effort or action. But we must remember that (7) two wrong don't make a right . If
someone does something bad to you, you should not do the same to him.

If you are going out with your girlfriend, or boyfriend, you do not want another friend to go along
on your date. You can just say to your friend: two’s company, (8) three's a crowd .

When I was a young child in school, I had to learn the three R’s. These important skills are (9)
reading , writing and arithmetic . These three words do not all start with the
letter “R.” But they have the sound of “R.” My teachers used to (10) give three cheers
when I did well in math. They gave praise and approval for a job (11) well-done .

Some of my friends were confused and did not understand their schoolwork. They were (12)
at sixes and sevens . In fact, they did not care if they finished high school. They saw little
difference between the two choices. (13) six of one , half a dozen the other – that

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was their position. But they were really happy when they (14) completed their studies and
graduated from high school. They were in (15) seventh heaven . They were on cloud
nine.

(16) nine times out of ten , students who do well in school find good jobs. Some work in
an office doing the same things every day at (17) nine to five jobs. You do not
have to dress to the nines, or wear your (18) best clothes , for this kind of work.

Last year, one of my friends applied for a better job at her office. I did not think she would get it. I
thought she had a hundred to one shot at the job. Other people at her office thought her chances were
(19) a million to one . One r ea so n was that she had been caught catching (20)
forty winks at the office. She slept at her desk for short periods during the day. But her
supervisor appointed her to the new job at the (21) eleven hour -- at the very last minute. I
guess her (22) lucky number came up .
This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was written by Jill Moss.
I’m Faith Lapidus.

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