. .  Listen to five people talking about science and technology. Match the speakers with the statements. There is one statement you do not need.
Speaker 1
Speaker 2
Speaker 3
Speaker 4
Speaker 5
A This person believes space programmes have a positive effect.
B This person talks about the speed of technological change.
C This person thinks scientists should focus on more serious issues.
D This person believes we still have a lot of research to do about our planet.
E This person thinks that more countries should be involved in space exploration.
F This person says technology has made our lives more flexible.
Mark __/5

Transcript
1 Why are we spending billions on trying to get people to Mars? There are still plenty of places on Earth that we haven’t explored: the bottom of the oceans, for example. Why don’t we invest in looking for natural resources there, or for ways to start a colony under the sea? These possibilities are just as exciting as anything we might do in space.
2 I think people have forgotten what’s really important. Scientists used to make discoveries that made our lives safer or healthier, and our work easier and more productive. These days it’s all about new forms of entertainment, new ways of wasting time … I’m thinking of things like digital TV, smartphones, computer games. We were perfectly happy without these, and we’ll still be happy if we stop making them one day.
3 I think the potential of space is really exciting. It’s not just about visiting new places; space exploration can help us change our ideas. Scientists can carry out experiments in space that would impossible on Earth. The modern space projects promote co-operation between nations, too – think about the International Space Station, for example. Russia, Europe, Japan and the United States are all building it together. Just thirty years ago it would have been impossible. Would I say yes if anyone asked me to go into space? Definitely!
4 Technology develops so fast, it’s difficult to keep up. By the time you buy a new smartphone or an mp3 player, it’s already out of date. I love that! I spend a lot of my free time on the Internet looking for news about new gadgets. It’s just a shame I don’t have the money to buy everything I like.
5 I think technology is changing relationships between people. Social-networking sites make it easier to maintain friendships that you don’t have the time for in real life, mobile phones mean we can go anywhere and still keep in touch with people who are important to us, and Wi-Fi hotspots allow us to work and communicate from almost anywhere. We aren’t tied to one way of doing things any more. I think it’s brilliant, and I can’t imagine living without it now.

Anna4455    2   17.03.2021 00:26    20