A LOOK AT THE FUTURE

The following text predicts the Earth’s future 1000 years or more from now. What
does it say about the following topics?

Buildings:

Languages:

Natural / global disasters:

Monuments like the Pyramids:

Temperature:
1. Answer the following questions:

1. What does the verb trigger mean in the text? “Gamma radiation will trigger
mass extinctions”
Trigger: (desencadenar)

2. What is the difference between “collide” and “fuse together”? Which is a more
violent action?

3. What’s the difference between erode, corrode and decompose?

4. A synonym for “cease to exist” is “die out”. Find two other synonyms in the text
with the same meaning. They both use the verb become.

2. Look at the expressions in bold in the text. Which refer to:

- predictions with a link to the past? (2 expressions)

- predictions that are highly possible? (2 expressions)

- the evidence for a prediction? (1 expression)

- a situation that will stop because of changing conditions? (1 expression)

FUTURE FORMS
There are other ways to express the future apart from verb tenses from Present Simple
to Future Perfect Continuous.
3. Are both alternatives in sentences 1-8 possible? If so, is the meaning different?

4. Read about some ideas of the future

 - Which ideas do you like?
- Which do you think will come true?
- What problems would be solved with each invention? What consequences
would there be if these ideas became reality?

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
5. Read some predictions about global developments. Complete the paragraphs with
suitable prepositions (one or two words). Use one preposition per paragraph.

6. Replace the underline words with prepositions from the previous exercise.
 7. Match the prepositional phrases in bold with its meaning.

8. How could you respond to the following statements?

1. A: I was feeling under the weather yesterday.

B: ___________________________________

2. A: I’m absolutely over the moon!

B: ___________________________________

3. I was under the impression that you were happy at work.

B: ___________________________________

4. Do you think I’m over the hill? I’m only thirty-five years old.

B: ___________________________________

5. I hear you resigned. Isn’t that a bit over the top?

B: ___________________________________

6. I’m above suspicion in this investigation, aren’t I?

B: ___________________________________
 LANGUAGE VOCABULARY

9. Complete the questions using the words in the box. What do the phrases in bold
mean?

command mind dead offensive everyday global barrier official

10. Read about a radio programme and answer the questions:

a. What is discussed in the programme?

b. What are the two main reasons given for why English is changing?
c. What kinds of changes are mentioned?
11. Tick the topics which are mentioned. What do they say about them?

New Englishes
Culture and identity
The type of English spoken by computers
Local languages / brands of English
Changing pronunciation
English as a mother tongue
English as a foreign language

12. Two of the following sentences are incorrect. Listen to the programme and
correct them:

13. How do you think English will change in the following 200 years? Do you think it
will continue to be a global language? Do you think other languages will become
more important?

CONCESSION CLAUSES (Showing contrast)

A concessive clause is a clause which begins with "although" or "even though" and
which expresses an idea that suggests the opposite of the main part of the sentence.

14. Read the following predictions about the future and choose the correct
option:
15. Complete the following sentences with the correct word from the box:

However despite although as whenever whereas matter spite

16. Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets. Write one or two sentences.
17. Write one sentence to connect each pair of ideas. Use the words in brackets.