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4
MEDICINE
1
Work with a partner and discuss the
questions.
1
For what reasons might somebody have
something implanted in their body?
2
How can scientists change the human
body?
2
a
In her interview, Dr Tina Chowdhury,
a scientist at Queen Mary University of
London, talks about the topics below.
Work with a partner and discuss what
you think each one involves.
1
Information biology
2
Bionics
3
Biocompatibility
4
Microchip technology
5
Tissue engineering
2
b
4
Watch the interview and
match each description below with
the topics in Exercise 2a. What other
information can you remember about
each topic?
a
How well a device can stay in the body
without degrading
b
The study of why tissues break down
and how they can be repaired
c
Taking something from the human body
and growing it in a lab
d
Devices which improve how the brain
works
e
Building devices which can copy the
functions of limbs or organs
3
Are these statements true or false?
Watch the interview again to check your
answers.
1
The ultimate purpose of bionic devices
is to help people continue living their
lives after an accident.
2
It is hoped bionic hearts will be used in
the future.
3
With neurological problems such as
Parkinson’s disease the brain is getting
bigger.
4
Tina thinks microchips should be
used to help healthy people as well as
patients.
5
Tissue engineering borrows tools from
another area of study.
4
Discuss the questions in small groups.
1
Do you agree with Tina, that microchip
technology should only be used with
patients, not healthy people?
2
What might be some of the positive
and negative effects of allowing healthy
people to have microchip implants?
5
TRANSPORT
1
Work with a partner and discuss the questions.
1
Do you like travelling by train?
2
What’s the longest train journey you’ve ever been on?
3
What are the advantages of travelling by train over other forms
of transport?
2
a
You are going to watch an interview with Monisha Rajesh, a
travel writer who recently wrote a book about her journey around
India on trains. What do you think she might talk about? Choose
four topics from the list.
a
Why she decided to go
b
The difficulties she had
c
Why Indian trains are unique/special
d
The trains and places she visited
e
How much it cost
f
The people she met
g
Where she plans to go in the future
2
b
5
Watch the interview. Which four topics in Exercise 2a did
she talk about? What can you remember about each one?
3
Choose the correct answer (a, b or c). Then watch the interview
again to check your answers.
1
Which of these was not a reason why she decided to travel by train?
a
she thought she’d be able to find out more about people than
on planes
b
she wanted to visit the places she had visited when she was younger
c
she saw that trains went to places that planes don’t
2
What was the most important factor when planning where to go?
a
the places they wanted to visit
b
the people they wanted to meet
c
the events they wanted to experience
3
What does she say about the way Indian people talk to you?
a
they often ask lots of personal questions
b
they won’t talk to you unless you talk to them
c
it’s important for them to know where you’re from
4
What can you learn about Indian society from travelling by train?
a
the different classes of society
b
that people like to share
c
that there are 37 different classes
5
What does she say about the Lifeline Express?
a
they treat a limited number of health problems
b
it runs in the south
c
it helped raise her awareness of the importance of railways in India
6
What did she particularly like about the Konkan railway?
a
it goes from Mumbai to Goa
b
it’s very beautiful
c
it travels over several high bridges
7
What happened with the members of parliament she met?
a
she never heard from them again and felt disappointed
b
the woman sitting next to her laughed at them
c
she thought she wouldn’t hear from them again, but she did
4
a
You are going to plan a tour of Bahrain and present it to the
class. Work with a partner and decide on the following information.
• The ‘theme’ of your tour • Places you will visit • How you will travel
4
b
Present your tour to the class. Decide which tour you like best.
