UNIT 5. 5C, page 42
Exercise 1
1 alarm clock
2 light switch
3 toothbrush
4 lipstick
5 can-opener
6 baseball
Exercise 2
They are time capsules which have been sent into space.
They contain sounds and images that show different aspects of life and culture on Earth.
Exercise 3
1 They are ‘buried’ in space in the spacecrafts Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.
2 The noises include greetings in 55 languages, natural and animal sounds and different styles of music.
3 The pictures include the solar system, animals, insects, plants, DNA and different aspects of human life.
4 It is unlikely that the records will be found.
5 It will reach the nearest star.
LISTENING 19
Linda Hi Alex, what are you doing? Chatting on Facebook again?
Alex No Linda, believe it or not, I’m looking up something for a science project we’re doing at school. The best project gets a prize …
Linda Really? So, what’s it about?
Alex Well, I don’t know if you know, but there are some time capsules which they’ve sent into space. They were launched into space inside the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft ages ago. They recorded a lot of information, like sounds and photos, onto records – you know, the kind that they used to use to play music.
Linda What? You mean like those old things my mum and dad used to listen to? Why would they do that? The aliens would need some sort of machine to play the records if they found them, wouldn’t they?
Alex Yeah, I suppose so.
Linda Well, that isn’t very practical, is it?
Alex What do you mean?
Linda It isn’t easy to find a record player in the shops on Earth these days, never mind in space! I think it’s a waste of money sending those time capsules into space.
Alex Well, I don’t agree with you. Think how important it might be for other life forms on other planets to discover things about planet Earth! And for us to make contact with other beings in space. In my opinion, a time capsule is a great way of showing them something about us.
Linda Only if they have the right machine to play the records! Anyway, I don’t actually believe that there are other life forms on other planets.
Alex Well, I do. You have to remember that we still don’t know that much about space. We still have only a limited amount of information about our own solar system, and there are other galaxies as well.
Linda Well, I’ll tell you what I really think. I think we’ve got enough problems here on Earth without worrying about life in outer space and time capsules.
Alex Yeah, well. Perhaps you’re right. Anyway, are you going to help me with my project?
Exercise 4
1 A
2 A
3 L
4 L
5 A
6 L