47
FUTURE OPPORTUNITY
6.1
LISTENING
4
a
6.1
Listen to a meeting between Louis, a
futurologist, and Patrick, a business investor. Tick the
future changes he discusses.
1
domestic use of technology
2
longer lives
3
use of the internet
4
people working from home
5
leisure activities and travel
4
b
Listen again and complete Patrick’s notes.
5
b
Answer these questions about the sentences in
Exercise 5a.
1
In which sentences is the speaker certain that his/her
idea about the future is true?
2
In which sentences is the speaker less certain?
3
What verb form do you use after
will
,
might
and
may
?
4
Do you usually put adverbs (e.g.
definitely
) before or
after
will
? Do you put them before or after
won’t
?
¬
Language reference and extra practice, pages 112–113
5
c
Correct the mistakes in these sentences.
1
He might lives to the age of ninety.
2
Many people will probably to work from home.
3
I will live definitely in my own country.
4
There won’t probably be big families.
6
a
What do you think will happen to society in twenty
years’ time? Choose the correct word to complete
your predictions.
1
More / Fewer
people than now will leave my
country to find work.
2
People
will definitely / may
spend more time using
the internet than watching TV.
3
More / Fewer
people will probably live alone.
4
Most people
will / won’t
retire at the age of fifty-five.
5
The differences between young and old people will
probably be
greater / smaller.
6
People will have
more / less
free time.
6
b
Compare your ideas with a partner and explain
your predictions. Which of the predictions are positive
or negative for your country?
SPEAKING
7
a
Make some predictions for the future. Choose three
or four topics from this box. What will your life, your
country and the world be like ten years from now?
education and work technology and transport
health and lifestyle sports and entertainment
business and trade nature and the environment
7
b
In small groups, discuss and explain your
predictions.
What predictions did you make about … ?
I think I’ll buy an electric car this year or next.
More people will go to university, and they may study
in English.
WRITING
8
Write one or two paragraphs about your
predictions for your society and country. Use your
ideas in Exercise 7 to help you plan.
4
c
Contextualising information
Discuss in groups.
1
Does your country have any of the trends that Louis
discusses?
2
Do you think older people want to travel and go on
activity holidays?
3
Why does Louis use ‘cruise ships’ as an example?
4
What do you think of the three robot examples that
she gives?
5
How is the internet important for the elderly?
GRAMMAR
WILL
,
MIGHT
AND
MAY
FOR PREDICTIONS
5
a
6.2
Complete the sentences below from the
meeting with the words in the box. Then listen and
check.
definitely (x2) might may will
won’t probably
1
These older people
live for much longer –
we know that from the statistics.
2
They
live until they’re 95, or even 100.
3
That
won’t be good for business.
4
I’m sure they
have much money.
5
These people will
need things to do with this
extra time, for sure.
6
They
also want activity holidays, but that’ll
depend on their health.
7
They
won’t go bungee-jumping.
*
Main trends are about
1
and
2
.
*
In 15 years’ time, more than a
3
of people
over 55, also people live
4
.
*
In 2030, more over-65s than
5
.
*
Fewer party and adventure holidays, more
holidays on
6
.
*
Robots: to
7
, to
8
, to do the
gardening.
*
Currently, robot technology is
9
.
*
10
important in a few ways
