Listening
exercise: BBC News video
UN
debut for $100 laptop for poor
Go to this
page: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4445060.stm#
then go
to the upper right-hand corner of the page and click on:
BBC
NEWS:VIDEO AND AUDIO: See the revolutionary wind-up laptop in action
Use the written news report to get background information
on the report
laptop one...per aim United Nations to announce to make available developing countries prototype MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) to involve wind-up system similar to rechargeable batteries to set up wireless networks to operate reliable electricity supply impressive |
technical achievement to hold the promise of major advances to express concerns the best way forward In Africa... to go back to the basics basic health care infrastructure to put in place farmers to produce to generate (anything) technology function as far afield as... charitable donors director first batch |
Listening comprehension questions:
1.
Who are the targeted recipients of the benefits of the new United Nations
program described in this report?
2. What is a "prototype"?
3. Who is Kofi Annan, and what is his
view regarding this project?
4. What is the main power source for the
computers?
5. In what type of regions is this kind
of computer especially appropriate?
6. Why are some people hesitant about
the new technology?
7. What is meant by "basic infrastructure"?
8. Which countries are reported in this
video to be interested in the new technology?
9. Who is expected to pay for the new
technology, and who will own the computers after they are distributed?
10.
What is the name of the MIT director of this project? Make sure your spelling
is correct.
11. What is your response to the argument
that more "basic" things are needed in Africa, and computers like
this are not a very high priority? Should this program be scrapped and efforts
concentrated instead on the more "basic" needs of Africans?