99
9
b
Complete the table using the phrases from
Exercise 9a, according to which kind of noun they are
used with. Some can be used with both.
used with countable nouns
a lot of
used with uncountable nouns
a little
Ê
Language reference and extra practice pages 144–145
10
Underline the correct quantifiers in the sentences
below. In some sentences both are correct.
1
We met
a little
/
a few
American programmers when
we were in New York.
2
They gave us
some
/
a couple of
advice on how to
improve our system.
3
There will be
plenty of
/
a lot of
journalists at the
technology show.
4
We’ll have to do
a lot of
/
many
work when we get
back from the trip.
5
We are looking at
a couple of
/
a few
new designs
for our next mobile phone.
11
Make sentences about the people below. Try to
use as many of the expressions of quantity as possible.
A few
Some
Enough
Many
people in my country/town/family …
of
the students in my class …
my friends/colleagues …
Plenty
A couple
A lot
None
A lot of my friends are interested in technology.
GRAMMAR
EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY
9
a
Look at the sentences from the conversation and
try to predict which expressions of quantity should
go in the gaps in the sentences. Then listen to the
conversation again and check your answers.
1
We’ve got
time before my next meeting.
2
I’ve talked to
the trainees and helped
employees.
3
Not really, just
employees who were a
bit difficult.
4
First of all,
trainees think they don’t
need to know …
5
We have
rules about uniforms.
6
I used to do all the trips on my own with
help but last year I took
of the assistants …
7
… we’ve got
ideas and we’ll get
information from the head office soon.
8
… give our employees
time to explain
their difficulties …
9
Give them
attention and
advice.
10
We have
technical support to do the
job properly.
1
Social trends can have a strong influence on
the development of new technology, and new
technology can have a strong influence on
social trends. Both are constantly changing
and designers in the technology industry know
that they can achieve great success if they can
predict future trends. We asked technology
experts which developments they thought might
influence the future of technology.
2
Some companies are now developing software
that can look at the things we like online,
and the kind of photographs that we post on
social media, to get a good idea about our
personalities. For instance, some banks have
used this kind of software to look at how their
customers’spend money and then decide what
advice to give them about their savings. Another
example would be employers who use this kind
of software to understand how long someone
might stay in a job before they want to move and
get a job elsewhere.
3
Scientists have been researching quantum
computers for decades but now it seems that
they are finally close to making a machine that
works. Quantum computers can solve problems
that are too difficult for normal computers like
breaking a difficult code or finding a password. In
fact, many experts believe that when quantum
computers go on sale, we will need a completely
new way to keep our information private.
4
Every day we use the internet to send
information to each other and now scientists in
Southern California are researching ways of using
all that information to support our memories.
A good example of this is helping people who
have lost their memories after an accident or
illness. The hope is that instead of having to learn
things again, patients will be able to reload their
memories and continue with their lives. If they
are successful, the scientists think that these
developments might also affect other areas
such as education. Can you
imagine being able to
simply load a new language rather than having to
learn it?
5
There have always been problems with any new
technology but today a lot of technology becomes
available before it has been tested properly, which
means that we don’t know how it will work. This
can lead to a lot of problems, for example, last
year a single glitch meant that 5,000 planes in the
U.S couldn’t take off. A glitch is not the same as a
software bug, which can be identified and fixed.
Glitches are problems that can happen whenever
new technology interacts with different technology,
and they are often very difficult to predict.
6
Despite the difficulties, many of our experts said
that they are excited and optimistic about the
future. New developments lead to new challenges
and it will be the next generation that will find the
solutions and enjoy the opportunities that they
create.
TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
