Nature and the environment
Unit 1
sample
Reading
Technology
Unit 4
Skill: Noting references
Sometimes the writer uses different words to refer to the same person, place or item. You can find out who or what these words refer to by reading the sentence(s) before them.
e.g. We enjoy the help of machines. In fact, we all need these working partners.
(These working partners refers to machines.)
Artificial
Intelligence (phr.) 人工智能defeat (v.) 擊敗 Go (n.) 圍棋 advancement (n.) 進步
Industrial
Revolution (phr.) 工 業革命dig (v.) 挖掘 mine (n.) 礦 harsh (adj.) 惡劣的 surgery (n.) 外科手 術unmanned (adj.) 無 人的
drone (n.) 無人駕駛 飛機unemployment (n.) 失業costly (adj.) 昂貴的 hack (v.) 非法侵入 他人的電腦系統 corrupt (v.) 破壞 virus (n.) 電腦病毒 mental capacity (phr.) 意識能力 neutral (adj.) 中立 的
Vocabulary help
Reading comprehension
Read the following letter to the editor.Dear Editor,
Recently I read from the news that AlphaGo, a kind of robot run by AI (Artificial Intelligence), has defeated the South Korean Go champion in a match. People are amazed. Some worry that super-intelligent machines will replace us some day. Let’s discuss their advantages and disadvantages.
Robots, like any machines, mean great advancement. If scientists had not invented the steam engine during the Industrial Revolution (1760–1830), production and our daily life would not have been improved. Today, robots can carry out repetitive, expensive and time-consuming tasks more effectively than traditional labours.
Besides, robots can dig in mines, explore in oceans and fly to space. These are harsh and dangerous environments. If it were not for robots, many great projects would be impossible. These include medical surgeries done by them. In fact, more amazing inventions are coming: driverless cars, unmanned robo-ships and electric drones!
However, people complain that workers are being replaced by robots, leading to unemployment. In 2014, the writers of The Second Machine Age argued that the digital revolution would crush the job market. It is true that many workers have already lost their jobs.
Besides, the maintenance of robots is costly and there are potential risks. As computers can be hacked, robots can become corrupted by viruses and attack humans. This fear, mixed with love, was shared when the computer was awarded
‘Machine of the Year’ by Time magazine in 1982. If we are too dependent on robots, we may lose our mental capacities one day.
These are the pros and cons of using robots. Technology itself is neutral. It is important that people make good use of robots. What do other readers think?
Chris Wong (from Kwun Tong)
Debating
s
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Unit 4 Technology
sample
Answer the following questions.
1. What does ‘super-intelligent machines’ in paragraph 1 refer to?
2. According to paragraph 2, in what ways are robots better than traditional labours?
3. The writer foresees that robots can do more in the near future. Give three examples.
4. The writer uses the book The Second Machine Age as an example to show that…
A. there is unemployment.
B. the digital revolution is more important than the Industrial Revolution.
C. robots have taken over many workers’ jobs.
D. the workers are complaining.
5. Complete the following summary using ideas given in paragraph 5. Write ONE word for each blank. Answers must be grammatically correct.
The maintenance of robots (i) a lot. People fear that robots may be hacked and (ii) humans. Also, people (iii) on robots so much that they may not be so smart one day.
6. Number the following events in chronological order. Write 1–4 on the lines provided.
The computer was awarded ‘Machine of the Year’.
The Second Machine Age was written.
The Industrial Revolution started.
AlphaGo beat the South Korean Go champion.
7. What is the writer’s attitude towards using robots?
A. He strongly supports the use of robots.
B. He disagrees with the use of robots.
C. He is open towards the use of robots.
D. He thinks it does not matter much because robots are not important at all.
HKDSE
HKDSE
HKDSE
You can make inference from the last two sentences of paragraph 4.
Smart tip
You have to choose words from the text and change the word form when necessary.
Smart tip
sample
Vocabulary
Exercise
A. Label the following tourist spots. Write the correct letters in the boxes.
1 2
4
3
5 6
B. Here are some adjectives and noun phrases describing different holiday experiences.
Circle the odd one out in each type.
tourist spot (phr.) 旅遊景點
Taj Mahal (phr.) 泰 姬陵
Vocabulary help
luxurious (adj.) 豪 華的backward (adj.) 落 後的spectacular (adj.) 壯觀的
breathtaking (adj.) 令人屏息的 worn-out (adj.) 破 舊的cruise (n.) 乘船遊 覽hot spring (phr.) 温 泉jeep (n.) 吉普車
Vocabulary help
Famous tourist spots
A. Big Ben (Britain) B. Eiffel Tower (France) C. Istanbul Blue Mosque (Turkey) D. Pyramids (Egypt)
E. Statue of Liberty (America) F. Sydney Opera House (Australia) G. Taj Mahal (India) H. Tower of Pisa (Italy)
1. hotel 2. people 3. scenery 4. place 5. atmosphere 6. activity 7. transportation
grand, luxurious, facing the sea, dark, famous local, backward, friendly, curious, interesting quick, beautiful, spectacular, amazing, breathtaking tower, church, mosque, museum, hospital
quiet, worn-out, mysterious, laid-back, lively
day trip, cruise, storytelling, food stall visit, hot spring bath plane, train, lorry, coach, jeep
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Unit 4 Technology
sample
Grammar
Type 3 Conditionals
You use Type 3 conditionals to talk about imaginary situations in the past. They refer to past situations which could have happened but did not happen, or vice versa. You use the past perfect in the if-clause and would have + the past participle in the main clause.
If-clause Main clause
If the inventor had invented the smartphone ten years earlier,
more people would have enjoyed the convenience it brings.
If scientists had not worked hard, we would not have got so many advanced devices.
Exercise
A. Complete the conditional sentences by writing the correct letters (A–E) in the spaces provided.
1. If I had studied information technology,
A. if she had not spent so much on online shopping.
2. If Dad had joined the distance learning course,
B. transportation would have been more inconvenient.
3. Kate would not have got into debt
C. I would have become a programmer.
4. If cars had not been invented,
D. he would have obtained a degree.
5. Ivy would not have made this mistake
E. if she had been more careful.
B. Read the blog. Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
Use Type 3 conditionals only.
Smart tip imaginary (adj.) 想 像的vice versa (adv.) 反 之亦然
convenience (n.) 便利device (n.) 裝置
Vocabulary help
distance learning course (phr.) 遙距 課程debt (n.) 債務 programmer (n.) 程 式員obtain (v.) 獲得 degree (n.) 學位
Vocabulary help
paralyse (v.) 癱瘓 gesture (n.) 示意動 作tracking (n.) 追蹤 software (n.) 軟件 Vocabulary help
I was paralysed from the neck down due to a car accident. Since then I’ve been unable to do simple things by myself like making a phone call. If there
(1) (not / be) such an accident, I (2) (become)
an athlete!
Luckily, technology has helped me a lot. If scientists (3) (not / create) Sesame Phone, my life (4) (be) more difficult and my friends (5) (not / reach) me so easily. I simply say ‘Open Sesame’
and the head gesture tracking is on. Through the Sesame software, I can even get access to millions of apps. If technology (6) (not / be) so advanced, I (7) (not / have) the chance to broaden my horizons.
sample
The passive voice
English has two ‘voices’, an active voice and a passive voice. In the active voice the subject (S) is doing the action. You form the passive voice by moving the object (O) of an active sentence to become the subject of a passive sentence. The active verb (V) changes into the passive form, e.g.
Dad repaired the computer. (active)
S V O
The computer was repaired by Dad. (passive)
S V
You use the passive voice when you do not know who or what the doer of an action is, or when it is obvious so you do not need to mention it, e.g.
The information technology centre will be opened this Saturday.
The following table shows the passive voice in different tenses and with modal verbs.
Simple present is/am/are + past participle
Present continuous is/am/are + being + past participle Simple past was/were + past participle
Past continuous was/were + being + past participle Present perfect has/have + been + past participle Past perfect had + been + past participle Simple future will + be + past participle
Modal verbs can/could/may/might/must/should + be + past participle
Exercise
C. Complete the sentences using the correct form of the passive voice.
1. The boss receives many emails every day.
by the boss every day.
2. They will install a CCTV camera at home tomorrow.
at home by them tomorrow.
3. Somebody stole my laptop last Sunday.
last Sunday.
4. The robot is doing all the housework.
by the robot.
5. Mr Lau has just given a speech on information technology.
by Mr Lau.
6. You must submit your application by email.
by email.
install (v.) 安裝 CCTV = Closed- Circuit Television (abbr.) 閉路電視 application (n.) 申 請
Vocabulary help
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Unit 4 Technology
sample
Skill: Identifying views of speakers: positive, negative or neutral
You are sometimes required to identify the speakers’ points of view on somebody’s idea.They may accept or reject an idea, or they may remain neutral. Here are some expressions commonly used when giving responses.
Positive response Negative response Neutral response Absolutely/Certainly/
Definitely.
Fantastic/Good/Great!
I agree. / Of course. / You’re right.
Awful/Bad/Terrible!
Certainly/Definitely not. / No way.
I disagree. / I don’t think so.
/ You’re wrong.
All right. / Not bad.
I’m in two minds.
I’m not sure. / I suppose so. / You could be right. / I don’t really know.
I don’t mind.
Maybe/Perhaps/Possibly.
Listening
Exercise
Listen to the radio programme and complete the notes.
reject (v.) 拒絕 fantastic (adj.) 極好 的
be in two minds (idiom) 猶豫不決 Vocabulary help
impact (n.) 影響 exposure (n.) 接觸 層面
pull up (phr.) 取得 advertisement (n.) 廣告appropriacy (n.) 恰 當性
cyberbullying (n.) 網絡欺凌
Vocabulary help
Impact Person Point of view
Reason/Experience Yes No Not sure
1. Exposure
Richard 4 can download
videos he likes
Jane can pull up videos of
2. Advertisements
Richard a waste of
Jane does not mind waiting for
3. Appropriacy of uploading
Richard the duty of and
to teach children
Jane
some were
hurt; cyberbullying will
sample
impulse (n.) 衝動 bargaining (n.) 討 價還價examination (n.) 檢 查
Vocabulary help
reservation (n.) 預 訂trend (n.) 趨勢
Vocabulary help
Mention the pros and cons of online shopping in the first two paragraphs. Then show the trend of online shopping items. Lastly, mention the two items that are related.
Smart tip
Integrated skills
Situation
You are May Chow. You are collecting information for a board display on online shopping.
Listen to the discussion involving two speakers about the pros and cons of online shopping. As you listen you can make notes on the note-taking sheet.
Listening note-taking sheet
Pros of online shopping Cons of online shopping
Laura
• convenience: shoppers buy items
• can products
• can
• impulse buying: shoppers cannot
• may buy quality items or websites may
Tony
• : no need to
or stand in queues to
• no from
salespeople
• : no bargaining or
personal attention to customers
• no examination of
items
• problem of
Data File
Study the Data File for relevant information to be included in the writing task.
1. Table showing the most popular 2. Memo from Miss Yu to May online shopping items
Hi May,
Please refer to the table and show the trend of online shopping items. Have you noticed that two items are related to the travel industry? Mention it in your outline. Thanks.
Miss Yu
Exercise
Complete the board display outline using information from the Data File and your notes.
Pros and cons of online shopping and its trend
People enjoy online shopping for its . They can buy .
They can and . Besides, it is
since there is no need to . There is also .
However, results when shoppers cannot .
Sometimes they may buy or . The shopping
experience may be because there is .
Besides, there is . Worse still is the problem.
The five most popular online shopping items are . Among
these, and are related to the .
1. Books 44%
2. Clothing 36%
3. Airline tickets 32%
4. Electronic equipment 27%
5. Hotel reservations 26%
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Unit 5 Crime
Report: Using the passive voice
You write a report to show factual information and evaluate a situation in order to make a recommendation. The past tense is mostly used to present figures like percentages.
The report should be written in an objective tone. Therefore, the passive voice is often used, for example, The survey was conducted…, Respondents were asked… and It is hoped that… You can also use expressions such as According to the respondents and Based on the findings.
A report should include the following:
Title
Give your report an appropriate title.
Introduction
Provide relevant background information and state the purpose of the report. Explain how the data was collected.
Findings
Present the data clearly, recording each point in one paragraph.
Conclusion and recommendation
Draw a conclusion based on the findings and suggest actions to be taken if appropriate.
Writing
Exercise
Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about bullying at school and online. As the chairperson of the Student Union, you have conducted a survey on students’ experiences and views about it. You have also collected suggestions for ways of tackling it. Write a 150- word report on the survey based on the findings.
evaluate (v.) 評估 recommendation (n.) 建議
objective (adj.) 客 觀的respondent (n.) 受 訪者
Vocabulary help
tackle (v.) 處理 physical (adj.) 身體 上的verbal (adj.) 言語上 的
solution (n.) 解決辦 法harsh penalty (phr.) 嚴懲tactic (n.) 策略 buddy scheme (phr.) 學友計劃
Vocabulary help
Experience of bullying
15%
26% 50%
9%
current been bullied witnessed only
no experience
Views on which type(s) of bullying are common
22%
16%
25%
37%
social
physical
verbal online
Proposed solutions to bullying
A: school campaigns B: harsh penalties C: teaching tactics D: buddy scheme
others
11%
20%
16%
49%
4%
type A
type D
type C type B
sample
Finding (1): Finding (2): Finding (3):
Step 1: Planning — organiser
Step 2: Writing
dare (v.) 敢於 disclose (v.) 揭露 irritating (adj.) 令人 厭惡的minor (adj.) 輕微的 mutual support (phr.) 互相支持 overlap (v.) 重疊 preventive measure (phr.) 預防措施 respectively (adv.) 分別地serious (adj.) 嚴重 的sign of concern (phr.) 關注訊號 vote (n.) 投票
Vocabulary help
Introduction:
Conclusion and recommendation:
Title:
sample
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Unit 3 Travel
sample
Making use of given prompts
You will be given some prompts to prepare for a group discussion in an oral exam. You have to understand the prompts and make use of them in the discussion.
The given prompts usually include four parts:
Instruction
Show the text type of the discussion input you are going to read.
Discussion input
Tell you the subject matter and provide relevant information for the discussion. Some common kinds of input are a news article, a letter to the editor, a poster, a table and a chart.
Task description
Tell you the situation, your role and details of the task.
Discussion points
Provide four points for discussion.
You will have 10 minutes to prepare for the discussion. Make notes on the notecard during the preparation time.
Dividing the notecard into four parts
Familiarise yourself with the discussion task and make notes of the key points.
To make notes clearly, you may divide the notecard into four parts, i.e. the four discussion points.
Extracting points from the input
Try to extract relevant points from the input. Then generate ideas and reasons to support your points.
Here is an example showing some parts of the given prompts.
You and three other classmates are talking about the best holiday destinations. You will be given 10 minutes to prepare. The time allowed for the group discussion is 8 minutes. You should think about:
• Where to go
• What kind of holiday
• Which activities you would like to do
• Anything else you think is important
prompt (n.) 提示 extract (v.) 選取
Vocabulary help
• Where to go
-
• What kind of holiday
-
• Which activities you would like to do
-
• Anything else you think is important-
Task description
Discussion points Speaking
sample
Exercise
A. Read the following prompts for a group discussion and identify the different parts by writing the correct letters (A–D) in the boxes.
A. Discussion input B. Discussion points C. Task description D. Instruction
B. Make notes on the notecard below based on the discussion topic in Part A.
enchanting (adj.) 迷人的sky lantern (phr.) 天燈erode (v.) 侵蝕 landscape (n.) 地 形incineration plant (phr.) 焚化爐 heaven (n.) 天堂 cosmopolitan (adj.) 大都會的 recreation (n.) 康 樂ethnic (adj.) 種族 的
broaden (v.) 擴闊 horizon (n.) 視野 enhance (v.) 有助 fulfil (v.) 達到
Vocabulary help
The following is a poster.
Amazing Taiwan, Enchanting Culture
• Magical sky lantern tour along the old rail line
• Northern sea coast: sea-eroded landscapes, Yehliu Geopark, Queen’s Head
• Refuse incineration plant and food waste centre
• Local dishes and snacks: food heaven
$3,500 (5 days)
Cosmopolitan Singapore, Eye-opening Experience
• Sentosa Island: fun and recreation
• NEWater Visitor Centre: water reuse
• Mobile classroom built from double-decker bus and led by English native speakers
• Ethnic districts: Little India and China Town
$5,000 (5 days)
Aims: to broaden students’ horizons and enhance their learning about the cultures of Asian cities
You are the chairperson of the Student Union. Your principal would like to organise a 5-day study tour for all Secondary Three students during the Easter holiday. Discuss which tour is more suitable for students and explain your choice. You should think about:
• Which tour students will be more interested in
• What students can do and learn from the tour
• Which tour can fulfil the aims and can be afforded by most students
• Anything else you think is important
1
2
3
4
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Unit 3 Travel
sample
B. it’s up to you to decide what to do
A. a message is passed on by a number of people, often becoming distorted in the process A. to give help to
someone
B. to share the cost of something with somebody
A. to give help to someone C. a young person who is
keen on making radical changes in an organisation A. The underlined idioms in the left column are related to different countries. Match each
idiom with the correct meaning in the right column.
B. Here are some signs you can see in an airport. Match the meaning with the pictures.
Write the correct letters (A–F) in the boxes.
date (n.) 約會 whisper (n.) 輕聲說 話compromise (v.) 妥 協distort (v.) 扭曲 radical (adj.) 激進 的permission (n.) 批 准
Vocabulary help
Fun break
arrival (n.) 入境 baggage (n.) 行李 departure (n.) 離境
Vocabulary help
1
4
2
5
3
6 1. This book about science is too hard for
non-science students. It’s all Greek to me.
Idiom
Idiom MeaningMeaning
3. Please don’t listen to the rumours about your boss. It’s only Chinese whispers.
2. You will blow the competition away if you wear this necklace to the party.
2. My boyfriend and I always go Dutch when we go on a date.
4. It should be no sweat if we have to handle all household chores together!
4. Peter is quite lazy and often takes French leave.
4. It should be no sweat if we have to handle all household chores together!
5. As a young Turk in the company, John should learn to compromise with others.
A. Information B. Arrivals C. Baggage D. Shops E. Money exchange F. Departures
D. try your bestD. you do not understand something
D. try your best
E. to leave work or duty without permission
