Choose a partner to discuss the service a cellular phone can provide. What are the other names for a cellular-phone?
Ex. V. Read the text and make a list of the services "Mobile Internet" can provide both at present and in the near future.
Information is power
So with the ever-widening access to information — brought about by expanding communications networks — huge numbers of people are already experiencing the true power of information through the Internet. And with Internet access now available on mobile phones, power is quite literally being placed in people's own hands.
The Internet has already turned into an integral part and driving force of the contemporary civilization, enabling the mankind to establish effective communications. It provides immediate access to billions of pages of information and vast databases, allowing users to receive, send and process information in real time.
As information technologies continue to develop at an astounding pace, mobile operators, telecommunications equipment manufacturers and information suppliers are keeping pace with the ever-increasing demand for the latest digital information services. Analysts estimate that the number of cellular network customers will exceed 1 billion by 2004, and most mobile phones sold by that time will be multimedia-capable. Their owners will have practically unlimited opportunities to use and process information from the Internet.
Ukraine's most innovative cellular service provider, Kyivstar GSM, has already taken the first step towards realizing these opportunities by introducing WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) technology, which provides wireless access to the Internet.
Although WAP for the World Wide Web has only recently appeared in the Western cellular communications markets, its user-friendliness has already brought it immense popularity with cellular network customers and Internet users. On the one hand, mobile phone owners can access information on the Internet or the Intranet easily and safely no matter where they are: in a meeting, on a business or pleasure trip. On the other hand, numerous Internet fans have also appreciated this service because it saves them the money and trouble of buying rather expensive computers, choosing a provider and sorting out other complex problems.
In addition to traditional and popular services such as 'Startext" (short mobile-to-mobile messages), "Starmail" (voice mail) and "Starpage" (paging messages), Kyivstar GSM customers now have an unrivaled opportunity to receive a wide range of information for business and private use via the "Mobile Internet — WAP Access" service.
Imagine you're going on a business trip. You're traveling by air and are able to look up the flight schedule on your phone, and even book a flight from the comfort of your office. On the way to the airport, check in for the flight and order your in-flight meal. Next, you could check out the weather at your destination — so you know whether to leave your raincoat and umbrella in the car. Our example gives just some of the services soon to be available.
The current range of services includes the latest political, stock exchange and sports news, weather forecasts and exchange rates for any currency.
Apart from that, you can use your phone to find out what entertainment is on offer at your favorite nightclub, have a chuckle at the joke of the day or dial up a witty toast to give at dinner.
And "Mobile Internet — WAP Access" is growing fast: the range of information available will constantly expand, bringing additional benefits to users.
In the future, the "Mobile Internet" package will enable you to send and receive e-mail, search for hotels, restaurants etc., buy goods, use banking services, manage your business, gain access to the Intranet and a host of other things.
Active Words and Phrases:
| vast database | величезна база даних | to be multimedia-capable | бути спроможним працювати у мультімедійному режимі |
| process information | обробляти інформацію | wireless access | бездротовий доступ |
| digital | цифровий | WAP access | доступ в Інтернет через сотовий телефон |
| cellular | щільниковий |
Ex. VI. Expand on the idea in your own words:
… huge numbers of people are already experiencing the true power of information through the Internet.
… the Internet has already turned into an integral part and driving force of the contemporary civilization.
… most mobile phones sold by that time will be multimedia-capable.
… the range of information available will constantly expand, bringing additional benefits to users.
Ex. VII. Look at the list of the service provided by "Mobile Internet" and write them down in a column in the order of importance to you. Explain your choice.
Ex. VIII. Make up a dialogue with a classmate and persuade him/her of the importance of having a mobile phone. Use the following words and phrases.
- establish effective communication;
- save time;
- become accessible anywhere;
- an opportunity to use and process information from the Internet;
- provide wireless access to the Internet;
- access information on the Internet easily;
- save money and trouble;
- receive a wide range of information for business and private use.
Ex. IX. Translate from Ukrainian into English:
1. Інтернет вже перетворився в невід’ємну частину сучасної цивілізації.
2. Оператори мобільного зв’язку ідуть нога в ногу з потребами в новітних послугах цифрової інформації.
3. Ви можете знайти розклад руху літаків у вашому телефоні.
4. В майбутньому пакет “Mobile Internet” дасть вам змогу пересилати і отримувати повідомлення електронною поштою.
5. Аналітики вважають, що в 2004 році більшість мобільних телефонів будуть працювати в мультимедійному режимі.
Grammar: Subjunctive mood with had better, it’s time, would rather.
Had better do something is similar to should “I’d better do something” = I should do something or it is advisable for me to do something. If I don’t do this, something bad might happen.
“I’d better stop at this crossing and see where to go.”
The negative form is “had better not (‘d better not):
You look bad. You’d better not go to work today.
Ex. I. Read the situation and write a sentence with had better.
Example: You’re going out. You think you should fetch a coat because it’s getting cold outside. You say:
“I’d better fetch a coat”.
1. You are by a river. It’s a hot day and your friend suggests going for a swim. You don’t think you should because the river looks dirty. What do you say?
2. You are going to take your car on your vacation. You think you should have the oil changed before you go. What do you say (to yourself)?
3. It’s cold outside. You think your children should put on warm clothes. What do you say to them?
4. Joe has just cut himself. You think he should put a Band-Aid on the cut. What do you say to him?
5. You and Sue are going to a restaurant for a meal. You think you should make a reservation because the restaurant might be crowded. What do you say to Sue?
6. Ann wants to play the piano late at night. You know that she’ll wake up the people next door. What do you say to Ann?
7. You and Tom are going to the theatre. You’ve just missed the bus. You think you should take a taxi. What do you say to Tom? We….
8. Mary suddenly begins to feel sick. You think she should sit down. What do you say to her?
It’s time. You can say it’s time to do something: or It’s time someone did something:
It’s time we went home.
We use the structure It’s time someone did something especially when we are complaining or criticizing, or when we think someone should have already done something:
We also say: It’s high time/It’s about time someone did something.
Ex. II. Write sentences It’s time someone did something.
1. You haven’t been to the dentist in almost a year. You should go every six months.
2. You think you should start getting dinner ready. It’s nearly dinnertime already.
3. You feel very strongly that the government should stop spending money on weapons and should concentrate on raising the standard of living.
4. You’re sitting on a plane waiting for it to take off. It’s already five minutes late.
5. You’re waiting for Ann. She is late. She should be here by now.
6. This room should be decorated. It looks awful. It’s ….
7. You think Tom should write to his parents. He hasn’t written to them for ages.
8. You think you should take a vacation because you haven’t taken one in a very long time.
Ex. III. Complete the sentences using it’s time and a past tense.
Example: Andrew’s hair looks awful. He hasn’t washed it for a long time. He says: ”It’s time I washed my hair”.
1. There is something wrong with your car. You’ve been thinking of taking it to the garage for weeks now. You say:
2. Sally promised to phone a friend, Mike, two weeks ago, but she still hasn’t phoned him. Her mother says: “Don’t you think …”
3. You’re taking an important exam next month, but you haven’t started studying for it yet. You say _________________
4. Simon received a bill two weeks ago, but he still hasn’t paid it. His friends ask him: “Don’t you think____________________________”?
Would rather means “would prefer to”. After “would rather” we use the infinitive without to:
- I’d rather meet him on Monday
- I’d rather not lend him any money.
We can also use would rather + past tense to say that one person would prefer someone else to do something:
Would rather + subject + past tense
E.g. I’d rather you didn’t open that window.
I’d rather you stayed here.
Ex. IV. Complete the sentences using I’d rather you and the past form. Choose a verb from the list:
come, not open, phone, not turn on.
1. “Shall I come and see you tomorrow morning?” “______________ in the afternoon. I’ll be quite busy in the morning. ”
2. __________ the TV if you don’t mind. I’ve got a terrible headache.
3. I could phone the restaurant if you like, but ______________ them.
4. ________________ the window. I’m rather cold.
Ex. V. Complete the sentences using would rather and the verbs from the list:
listen, do, go, stay.
1. We could wait for the next bus or walk home. What ___________ (you)?
2. “Would you like to watch TV?” “I ___________ to some music”.
3. It’s a beautiful day. Shall we go to the beach or ______________ (you) to the country?
4. “Shall we go out this evening?” “I think - ____________ at home”.
Ex. VI. Choose the most suitable tense:
1. A cheque is all right, but I’d rather you pay/paid me cash.
2. If you want to catch the last train, it’s time you leave/left.
3. I’d rather you don’t tell/didn’t tell anyone about our conversation.
4. If you don’t mind, I’d rather you practised/had practised/would practise your violin somewhere else.
5. It’s high time you learn/learned to look after yourself.
6. I’d rather we stay/stayed at home this Christmas for a change.
7. Actually I’d rather you not smoke/don’t smoke/didn’t smoke in here.
8. It’s high time you start/started working more seriously.
9. I’d rather you don’t put/didn’t put your coffee on top of my book.
10. Your hair is rather long. Don’t you think it’s time you have/had a haircut.
11. Visiting museums is interesting, I suppose, but I’d rather we go/went swimming.
Oral Practice: The US Immigrants
Ex. I. How much do you know about immigration in the U.S.? Answer the following questions.
1. When did the first immigrants arrive after the first colonists settled down?
2. What are the biggest ethnic groups in the U.S.?
3. What is a green card?
