LET'S PRACTISE 02

LET’S PRACTISE – 02
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[1]
A NEW NOAH’S BOAT?
T = Tom R = Rick
R: Come on, we’re going to be late for school. What are,you reading?
T: Oh, it’s one of Dad’s business magazines. Have you seen the plans for this Freedom ship?
R: No, what is it?
T: Well, it’s just a concept at the moment, but they’re planning to build a huge ship that looks like a floating tower block with an airport on top.
R: That sounds a bit unstable if you ask me. Let’s have a look. Oh, that’s amazing. It looks like a multi-storey car park! I wouldn’t like to be on it in bad weather. Are they really going to build it?
T: Only if it can be profitable, so if you ask me, I’d be surprised. They need billions of dollars to even start, so it may never happen. It says here that there are people with disposable income who want to invest in the project and use it as their second home, but I shouldn’t think many people would want to live on it. They want to make it nearly two kilometres long – nearly two kilometres long! That doesn’t sound possible!
R: Where will it dock?
T: According to this article, no ports will be big enough for it to enter, so it’ll just be sailing around the world non-stop with 80,000 people on board.
R: Well, I won’t be one of them! Come on, it’s time to go.

[2]
SMART HOMES FOR THE POOR? NO WAY!
Today I’m reporting from The House and Home show and I’m going to start with a question – where will you be living twenty years from now? Well, that’s pretty obvious. You’ll be living in a fully connected smart home!
Smart homes and smart technology have now become reality, not the future. How do they benefit our lives? OK, a smart home can be rewired so household appliances such as fridges, light fixtures, security systems and thermostats can be controlled by the homeowner using a mobile device. One benefit is that the smart home can save energy costs – even when you’re not at home. With the tap of a finger on your mobile phone, you can switch off lights, close windows and control the heating. With the smart home you gain more hours in the day – when
you’re running low on milk, your fridge can order more and it can be programmed to manage all your shopping.
The fridge will even advise on recipes based on what you’ve got in stock. Domestic chores just got a lot easier!
In the future such homes will be available for everybody!

[3]
I’LL COME WITH YOU, SWEETIE!
E = Emma O = Oscar
O: What a week! I’m exhausted. I’m glad it’s Saturday.
E: Well, don’t relax too much; we need to do some food shopping. We don’t even have coffee.
O: Don’t we? Well, you could’ve said something earlier. How am I supposed to function without coffee?
E: Er … well, you should’ve noticed yourself if it’s so important to you. Anyway, there’s a food market on West Street today. I say we get there early.
O: What, you mean leave the flat?
E: Well, how else do you suggest we do the shopping, Oscar?
O: Er … online? I really can’t be bothered to go out, Emma. Going to the market is time consuming and takes effort, but shopping online is quick and convenient. Click, click, click and it’s done. Miraculous! It’s the only way of shopping that allows you to stay on the sofa … and therefore, it’s clearly the best choice. Another reason is that, instead of carrying heavy bags half-way across town, someone will deliver everything to the door. What could be easier?
E: You are so lazy, Oscar! OK, when you compare the two, shopping online might require less effort, but I wouldn’t choose it because you can’t actually pick the fresh food yourself, can you? If you order online, they can send you all the old stuff. That’s why I’d opt for the market. On top of that, it is actually good to leave the house and interact with other real people sometimes, you know?
O: Hmmm?
E: I mean, I prefer going to the market simply because it’s a colourful and lively place to spend some time. Also, shopping online isn’t the best choice if you consider the environment – all those delivery trucks speeding round the city. Plus, don’t forget it’s much more likely that the food at the market is locally grown and it’s definitely the cheaper option.
O: OK, OK! I get the message. How about you go to the market and I stay here?
E: That’s fine, Oscar