THEME: CONNECTED OBJECTS AND INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS

WHAT MAKES A CITY SMART?

SPEAKING
1. With a partner, discuss the following questions.

a. Name two cities or towns in your country.

b. What are some of the challenges that they are
currently facing today?
c. What would you do if you could redesign one of
these cities, and how would you change things?

KEYWORDS
2. Read the following sentences and match the words and phrases in bold with their definitions a–J.
Then in pairs/groups, compare your answers.

1. Since the arrival of the internet, technology has a. the equipment and systems that keep
infused all aspects of our lives. :______ places clean, especially by removing
human waste
2. During the industrial revolution, the main problems
were a lack of clean water and sanitation. :______ b. to officially make a new product available
or start a new political campaign
3. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, many citizens were
prohibited from travelling abroad. :______ c. garbage; trash; waste food, paper, etc.
that you throw away
4. After eating, many people leave litter in the streets.
:______ d. small pieces of rubbish such as paper, cans
and bottles, that people have left lying in
5. After France won the world cup, a crowd gathered in
a public place
the streets to celebrate. :______
e. a word or phrase, especially one
6. A new model of this phone will be rolled out in July.
connected with a particular subject, that
:______
has become fashionable and popular and
7. We have more food than we can eat. When we do not is used a lot in newspapers, etc.
want it anymore, it becomes garbage.
f. to have an effect on all parts of something
:______
g. to move very fast; to move
8. Are you cooking something? I smelled the distinct
somebody/something very fast
odour of something burning. :______
h. a large number of people gathered
9. There was a race to determine which companies
together in a public place
would make a smart car first. :______
i. to stop or make impossible something
10. Over the last five years, smart city has become an
from being done or used especially by law.
international buzzword. :______
j. a smell, especially one that is unpleasant

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Technical English worksheet (CEFR B1-B2) © sweetlingua.com
 THEME: CONNECTED OBJECTS AND INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS

VIDEO COMPREHENSION
3. PREDICTING: You are going to watch a video, What is a smart city?
(https://bit.ly/3uiHUh2 ).
Look at the title; what do you think makes a city smart? What are the advantages of a smart
city? After watching, remember to check if your prediction was correct. Write down short
notes.
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4. Answer the following questions in your own words, using complete sentences. Then compare your
answers with a partner.

1. What do you understand by "infusing technology" in every aspect of something?

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2. According to the video, when did Singapore start its smart city program? (2b) What three activities were they
able to monitor using smart technology?

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3. Explain what is "Dubai Now". What can it be used to do?

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4. What are the benefits of the automated garbage collection system in Barcelona?
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5. Answer the following True or False questions. Then compare your answers with a partner.

a. The involvement of citizens is a crucial feature of smart cities. T/F

b. Sensors are of little importance in a smart city. T/F
c. Singapore is seen as a model for many countries wishing to implement smart city programmes. T/F
d. In Singapore, smart technology is used to monitor public health. T/F
e. Smart Dubai Initiative has about 22 smart services to help manage the city. T/F
f. Smart systems mean governments will not spend money but save money. T/F
g. Microsoft and Google are the two software companies mentioned in the video. T/F

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Technical English worksheet (CEFR B1-B2) © sweetlingua.com
 THEME: CONNECTED OBJECTS AND INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS

CRITICAL THINKING
6. With a partner, discuss the following questions, then share your views with the rest of the class.

1. Do you think we need smart cities? If not, why not? If yes, why?
2. Are you familiar with any smart city in your country or one not mentioned in the video? Are these smart city
programmes similar or different from the smart cities in the video?
3. What are some of the challenges associated with developing smart cities?

LANGUAGE FOCUS

7. VOCABULARY CHECK: Look at the following idioms and expressions from the video. Find the correct
definition, and then reuse these words to create your own sentence.

1. Let's head over to my house for breakfast. 3. The simulation operates in real-time to make the
a. to go over someone's head. training realistic.
b. to push through something a. to be happening now.
c. to move in a particular direction. b. to not be fake.
a. Example sentence: c. to be happening on time.
………………………………………………………………… c. Example sentence:
………………………………………………………………

2. Articles like this are the gold standard of news

reporting. 4. The company is having financial problems.
a. to be the first in a group. Chances are you won't be paid this month.
b. a high level of quality that others try to copy. a. it is likely that
c. to be on the first page of the news. b. it is unluckily that
b. Example sentence c. it is fortunate that
d. Example sentence:
:………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………

8. VERBS + NOUN COLLOCATION: Choose the most suitable verb to go with the word in bold. Change
the form of the verb as needed. Then compare your answers with a partner.

To track | to capture | to deploy | to launch | to collect | to give | to use | to report

a. Every time a passenger flies, the airline …………………….. data about their trip.
b. I could not open the door as I did not ……………………………….. access to the code.
c. You can also ……………………….. the same app to pay your electric bill.
d. This app allows you …………………….. packages, so you will know where your delivery is at all times.
e. If the law is not respected, you can …………………… the violation to the police.
f. The police were able to identify the thief since he ………………. on camera.
g. The government is …………………………..systems that can tell when people are smoking in prohibited zones.
h. Singapore was one of the first countries to ……………………………….. its smart nation program in 2014.
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Technical English worksheet (CEFR B1-B2) © sweetlingua.com
 THEME: CONNECTED OBJECTS AND INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS

9. NOUN + NOUN COLLOCATION: combine one word from list A with one from list B to make
suitable noun phrases. Then use a word from list A to complete the sentences below.

LIST A LIST B
1. Garbage 6. waste a. supply f. spots
2. Power 7. IT b. mobility g. platform
3. electric 8. urban c. housing h. trucks
4. street 9. parking d. bill i. collection
5. online 10. high-rise e. lights j. connectivity

i. Smart street ……………………... adapt and dim when there's no activity but brightens up when sensors detect
motion.
ii. The government has systems that can tell when people are littering from high-rise ………………………..
iii. The automated …………………. collection helps to reduce noise pollution from garbage ……………………….
iv. Sensors on the street curb use lighting and metal detectors to know if parking ……………………… are occupied.
v. The power company is now encouraging customers to use this app to pay their …………………….. bill.
vi. When designing inclusive smart cities, …………………………… mobility should always be a top priority.
vii. Much of the data collected will be sent to the city's online …………………….. called Virtual Singapore.

TRANSFER EXERCISE
10. PRESENTATION

First, identify an environmental or social issue in your city or town that could benefit from 'smart' technology.
Next, summarise the problem you have found and explain how you will implement your solution. Use the
grammar and vocabulary previously learned to help you formulate your suggestion. Finally, present your proposal
to the class.

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Technical English worksheet (CEFR B1-B2) © sweetlingua.com