English Lesson 88

Commuting and machines

Travelling to work or college, a useful electronic device, and machines at home and at work.

How to practise
  1. Listen to an answer two times. Read the text while you listen.
  2. Shadow it. Set the speed to 0.75×. Play it again and speak at the same time as the voice.
  3. Turn on practice mode. The answers are hidden. Read each question and answer it out loud.
  4. Make it yours. Use the same phrases, but say true things about your city, your job and your life.
  5. Practise with a partner. One person reads the questions. The other answers without looking.
Speed

Part 1 · Interview

Travelling to work or college

Short answers. About 20 to 30 seconds each. Answer, give a reason, add one detail.

How do you usually travel to work? Why?

I usually take the metro. It's the fastest way, because it doesn't get stuck in traffic. It's also cheap. From the metro station to my office, I walk for about ten minutes, which is good exercise.

  • take the metrouse the underground train
  • get stuck in trafficunable to move because of cars
  • which is good exerciseadd a benefit

Have you always travelled to work in the same way? Why?

No. When I started working, I drove my car. But the traffic was terrible, and it took over an hour each way. Also, parking was expensive. When a new metro line opened near my home, I switched to the metro.

  • it took over an hour each waymore than an hour to go and to come back
  • parking was expensiveleaving the car cost a lot
  • I switched to…I changed to

What do you like about travelling to work this way?

I like that I can use the time. I listen to podcasts or read a book, which I couldn't do while driving. It's also less stressful, because I don't have to deal with traffic or find a parking space.

  • use the timedo something useful during it
  • while drivingwhen I was driving
  • deal with traffichandle the problems of traffic

What changes would improve the way you travel to work?

More trains during rush hour would help a lot, because the metro is very crowded in the morning. Air conditioning in all the carriages would also be nice in summer. And a bike lane from the station to my office would be great.

  • during rush hourat the busiest travel time
  • very crowdedwith too many people
  • carriagesthe separate parts of a train

Part 2 · Cue card

A piece of electronic equipment that you find useful

You get 1 minute to prepare and then speak for 1 to 2 minutes. Follow the four points on the card in order.

Candidate task card

Describe a piece of electronic equipment that you find useful.

You should say:

  • what it is
  • how you learned to use it
  • how long you have had it
  • and explain why you find it useful
Ready 1:00

Start

I'd like to talk about my smartwatch. At first, I thought it was just a toy, but now I use it every day.

What it is

It's a black smartwatch that connects to my phone. It shows the time, of course, but it also counts my steps, measures my heart rate and shows messages from my phone.

How you learned to use it

It was quite easy. I watched a short video on YouTube, and then I tried the different functions myself. After a few days, I knew how to use everything I needed.

How long you've had it

I've had it for about a year and a half. My wife gave it to me as a birthday present.

Why it is useful

It's useful because it helps me stay healthy. It reminds me to stand up when I've been sitting too long, and it shows me if I've walked enough. I also don't need to take out my phone every time it vibrates. I can check my messages on my wrist and decide if they're important. It saves me time and keeps me active.

  • I thought it was just a toyI thought it wasn't serious
  • counts my stepscounts how many steps I walk
  • measures my heart ratechecks how fast my heart beats
  • the different functionsthe different things it can do
  • when I've been sitting too longwhen I've sat for a long time
  • it vibratesit shakes a little to alert you

Part 3 · Discussion

Machines at home and at work

Longer answers. About 30 to 45 seconds. Give your opinion, explain why, and give an example.

What kinds of machines are used for housework in modern homes in your country?

Most homes have a washing machine, a fridge and a vacuum cleaner. Many also have a microwave. Dishwashers are becoming more common, but not everyone has one. Some young families have robot vacuum cleaners too.

  • for houseworkfor cleaning and home tasks
  • a vacuum cleanera machine that cleans floors by sucking
  • are becoming more commonmore people have them

How have these machines helped people? Are there any negative effects?

They save a lot of time and hard physical work. Women especially have benefited, because they used to do most of the housework by hand. The negative effects are that they use electricity, and some people have become a bit lazy.

  • hard physical workwork that is hard for the body
  • have benefitedhave received good results
  • by handwithout machines

Will all new homes have household machines in the future? Why?

Yes, I think so. Machines are getting cheaper, and people are busier. In the future, I think new homes will be built with smart machines already installed, like ovens you control with your phone.

  • are getting cheapercost less over time
  • already installedput in when the home is built
  • ovens you control with your phoneuse your phone to manage them

What kinds of equipment do most office workers need today?

Most office workers need a computer or a laptop, a good internet connection and a phone. They also use printers and scanners, but less than before. And many need headphones and a camera for online meetings.

  • a good internet connectionfast and stable internet
  • but less than beforeused less now
  • online meetingsmeetings on the internet

How has technology affected employment in your country?

It has created new jobs, like app developers and online marketers. But it has also replaced some jobs, for example in banks, where people now use apps instead of visiting a branch. People need to learn new skills to keep their jobs.

  • employmentjobs, work
  • online marketerspeople who advertise products on the internet
  • visiting a branchgoing to a local office of a bank

Some people think technology has brought more stress than benefits to workers. Do you agree?

I partly agree. Technology makes work faster and easier, but it also means we're always connected. Many people check work emails at night and on holidays. So I think technology itself is good, but companies need clear rules about when people can switch off.

  • I partly agree.agree a little
  • we're always connectedwe can always be contacted
  • switch offstop working and relax

Audio: Microsoft neural voices. A British voice reads the examiner's questions, and an American voice reads the model answers.