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Workers in microchip implant trial
URL: http: //www. breaking news english. com/0602/060216-chips-e. html
Contents
The Article
2
Warm-ups
3
Before Reading / Listening
4
While Reading / Listening
5
Listening Gap Fill
6
After Reading
7
Discussion
8
Speaking
9
Homework
10
Answers
11
16 February, 2006
Workers in microchip implant trial - 16 February, 2006
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2
THE ARTICLE
Workers in microchip implant trial
An American company has started testing a new programme aimed at
increasing security. Three workers from City Watcher. com, a company
that provides security camera equipment, have volunteered to be
electronically monitored. They will have a silicon chip put inside their
arms. The tiny device is the size of a grain of rice and will send out
radio signals. These will provide information to a central monitoring
system that will give the workers access to secure areas of the
workplace. The chips were originally designed for medical purposes and
rescue workers used them after Hurricane Katrina.
Sean Darks, CEO of CityWatcher, said the chips were like identity
cards. He said the only difference is that they are inserted inside the
person's body. He added they are very different from Global Positioning
Satellite technology, which allows people's location to be monitored.
Mr. Darks insisted that they were not dangerous and even decided to
have a chip implanted in his own body. However, many people are
worried about the issue of privacy. Many believe the technology could
be abused and that new laws will have to be made. Mr. Darks said his
workers can always choose to have the chips removed.
Workers in microchip implant trial - 16 February, 2006
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3
WARM-UPS
1. MICROCHIPS: Talk about microchips. List the things you have or own that
contain them - What would life be like without these things? List the everyday things
you see around you that contain microchips. What would happen if they all stopped
working?
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words are most
interesting and which are most boring.
American companies / increased security / camera equipment / silicon chips / rice /
rescue workers / ID cards / satellites / implants / technology / privacy / new laws
Have a chat about the topics you liked. For more conversation, change topics and
partners frequently.
3. MY STORY: Look at the words in the "Chat" section above and create your own
story. Do this with your partner (s) . Use the words to predict what this lesson's article
will be about. Change partners and compare your stories. Who do you think will be
closest to the real story?
4. TRACKING: Do you think implanting microchips in people to track them is a
good idea? What are the benefits (or otherwise) of inserting chips in the following
people?
? Employees
? Presidents and Prime Ministers
? People with criminal records
? Children
? Grandmothers
? Doctors
? Soldiers
? Boyfriends / Girlfriends / Partners…
5. OPINIONS:
Do you agree with these opinions on microchips?
a. Microchips have made the world a nicer place.
b. Microchips will be replaced by a newer and smaller technology.
c. Everyone should have a microchip implanted in his/her body.
d. Microchip implants will one day mean we do not need to carry cash.
e. Microchips will one day create a totally state-controlled society.
f. I want a microchip in my loved ones so I know their whereabouts.
g. Microchip implants are essential to track former criminals and keep society safer.
h. Criminal activity would increase if people were implanted with microchips.
i. Society would move quicker if we were all fitted with microchips.
6. SECURITY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you
associate with the word "security". Share your words with your partner (s) and talk about
them. Together, put the words into different categories.
Workers in microchip implant trial - 16 February, 2006
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4
BEFORE READING / LISTENING
1. TRUE / FALSE:
Look at the article's headline and guess whether these
sentences are true (T) or false (F) :
a.
Workers are in court for implanting microchips into their colleagues.
T / F
b.
Staff from a security company are testing a microchip tracking device.
T / F
c.
Workers have had microchips implanted into their arms.
T / F
d.
The same chips were used after Hurricane Katrina.
T / F
e.
The chips are the same size as regular identity cards.
T / F
f.
The chips work in an identical way to GPS technology.
T / F
g.
The security company CEO agreed to be implanted with a chip.
T / F
h.
Many people are worried the chips may be abused.
T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH:
Match the following synonyms from the article:
a.
aimed at
concerned
b.
monitored
ID
c.
send out
whereabouts
d.
access
reasons
e.
purposes
implanted
f.
identity
opt
g.
inserted
designed to
h.
location
observed
i.
worried
emit
j.
choose
entry
3. PHRASE MATCH:
Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes
more than one combination is possible) :
a. testing a new programme aimed
electronically monitored
b. a company that provides
the issue of privacy
c. volunteered to be
designed for medical purposes
d. The tiny device is the size
security camera equipment
e. The chips were originally
people's location to be monitored
f. they are inserted
could be abused
g. technology which allows
at increasing security
h. many people are worried about
of a grain of rice
i.
the technology
to have the chips removed
j. his workers can always choose
inside the person's body
Workers in microchip implant trial - 16 February, 2006
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5
WHILE READING / LISTENING
GAP FILL: Put the words in the column on the right into the gaps in the text.
Workers in microchip implant trial
An American company has started ________ a new
programme aimed at increasing security. Three workers from
City Watcher. com, a company that provides ________ camera
equipment, have ________ to be electronically monitored.
They will have a silicon chip put inside their arms. The tiny
________ is the size of a grain of ________ and will send out
radio signals. These will provide information to a ________
monitoring system that will give the workers ________ to
secure areas of the workplace. The chips were originally
designed for medical purposes and ________ workers used
them after Hurricane Katrina.
central
device
security
rescue
testing
rice
access
volunteered
Sean Darks, ________ of CityWatcher, said the chips were
like ________ cards. He said the only difference is that they
are ________ inside the person's body. He added they are
very different from Global Positioning Satellite technology,
which allows people's ________ to be monitored. Mr. Darks
insisted that they were not dangerous and even decided to
have a chip ________ in his own body. However, many people
are worried about the issue of ________. Many believe the
technology could be ________ and that new laws will have to
be made. Mr. Darks said his workers can always ________ to
have the chips removed.
inserted
implanted
abused
CEO
privacy
choose
identity
location
Workers in microchip implant trial - 16 February, 2006
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6
LISTENING
Listen and fill in the spaces.
Workers in microchip implant trial
An American company has started ________ a new programme aimed at
increasing security. Three workers from City Watcher. com, a company that
________ security camera equipment, have volunteered to be electronically
monitored. They will have a ________ chip put inside their arms. The tiny
device is the size of a grain of rice and will ___________ radio signals. These
will provide information to a ________ monitoring system that will give the
workers access to secure areas of the workplace. The chips were originally
________ for medical purposes and rescue workers used them after Hurricane
Katrina.
Sean Darks, CEO of CityWatcher, said the chips were like ________ cards. He
said the only difference is that they are ________ inside the person's body. He
added they are very different from Global Positioning Satellite technology, which
allows people's ________ to be monitored. Mr. Darks insisted that they were
not dangerous and even decided to have a chip ________ in his own body.
However, many people are worried about the issue of ________. Many believe
the technology could be abused and that new laws will have to be made. Mr.
Darks said his workers can always choose to have the chips ________.
Workers in microchip implant trial - 16 February, 2006
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7
AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find
collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words
'silicon' and 'chip' .
? Share your findings with your partners.
? Make questions using the words you found.
? Ask your partner / group your questions.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down
some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
? Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
? Ask your partner / group your questions.
3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise.
Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they
new, interesting, worth learning…?
4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups,
pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.
5. STUDENT "MICROCHIP" SURVEY: In pairs / groups, write
down questions about microchips, security and privacy.
? Ask other classmates your questions and note down their answers.
? Go back to your original partner / group and compare your findings.
? Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
6. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner,
try to recall exactly how these were used in the text:
? aimed
? camera
? monitored
? grain
? access
? medical
? identity
? body
? location
? decided
? issue
? choose
Workers in microchip implant trial - 16 February, 2006
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8
DISCUSSION
STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
a. Did the headline make you want to read the article?
b. What would life be like without microchips?
c. What are microchips?
d. How many microchips do you think are around you right now?
e. Do you think the world is a better place because of microchips?
f. What do you think of the idea of having microchips implanted in
your body?
g. What dangers do you see in putting microchips in people's bodies?
h. What laws do you think should be made to protect people from
abuses of microchip implants?
i. Do you think it's a good idea to implant children with microchips so
parents can keep track of them?
j. Can you see a future in which everyone must have a microchip
implanted into his/her body?
STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
a. Did you like reading this article?
b. What do you think about what you read?
c. Do you think the City Watcher. com scheme is a good one?
d. Would you volunteer to take part in such a scheme?
e. Would you prefer to have a microchip implant instead of carrying a
wallet?
f. Microchip implants in the future could create a cashless, cardless,
keyless society. What do you think of this?
g. Microchip implants could be mobile phones and storage for personal
information, photos, movies and music. What do you think of this?
h. What would you think if your government asked everyone to have a
microchip implanted in his or her body?
i. Do you think governments might misuse microchip implants?
j. Did you like this discussion?
AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what
you talked about.
a. What was the most interesting thing you heard?
b. Was there a question you didn't like?
c. Was there something you totally disagreed with?
d. What did you like talking about?
e. Which was the most difficult question?
Workers in microchip implant trial - 16 February, 2006
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9
SPEAKING
IMPLANTS: In pairs / groups, talk about the usefulness of having a microchip
implanted in your body. Do you think there are more pros or cons in the following
cases?
PROS
CONS
Tracking people's
whereabouts
Society's safety
No need for keys
Permanent storage for
digital data (info,
photos, songs…)
On-the-spot
information for
medics in
emergencies
Traffic safety
Easier shopping
Change partners / groups. Tell each other what your previous partner (s) said.
Decide whether you are in favor or against implanting all members of society.
Workers in microchip implant trial - 16 February, 2006
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10
HOMEWORK
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from
the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search
engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTER NET: Search the Internet and find information about
microchip implants. Share your findings with your class in the next
lesson. Did you all find out similar things?
3. PRIVACY: Write the new United Nations Rule on Microchip
Implants. Include in it what can and cannot be stored on microchips
implanted into people's bodies and for what purposes the chips can be
used. Show your rules to your partner (s) in your next class. Did you all
write about similar things?
4. MY CHIP: Your government has implanted a microchip in your body.
You don't know the real reasons why. Write a letter to your government
explaining your thoughts. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the
next lesson. Did everyone write about similar things?
Workers in microchip implant trial - 16 February, 2006
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11
ANSWERS
TRUE / FALSE:
a. F
b. T
c. T
d. T
e. F
f. F
g. T
h. T
SYNONYM MATCH:
a. aimed at
designed to
b. monitored
observed
c.
send out
emit
d. access
entry
e. purposes
reasons
f.
identity
ID
g. inserted
implanted
h. location
whereabouts
i.
worried
concerned
j.
choose
opt
PHRASE MATCH:
a.
testing a new programme aimed
at increasing security
b.
a company that provides
security camera equipment
c.
volunteered to be
electronically monitored
d.
The tiny device is the size
of a grain of rice
e.
The chips were originally
designed for medical purposes
f.
they are inserted
inside the person's body
g.
technology which allows
people's location to be monitored
h.
many people are worried about
the issue of privacy
i.
the technology
could be abused
j.
his workers can always choose
to have the chips removed
GAP FILL:
Workers in microchip implant trial
An American company has started testing a new programme aimed at increasing security. Three
workers from City Watcher. com, a company that provides security camera equipment, have
volunteered to be electronically monitored. They will have a silicon chip put inside their arms.
The tiny device is the size of a grain of rice and will send out radio signals. These will provide
information to a central monitoring system that will give the workers access to secure areas of
the workplace. The chips were originally designed for medical purposes and rescue workers used
them after Hurricane Katrina.
Sean Darks, CEO of CityWatcher, said the chips were like identity cards. He said the only
difference is that they are inserted inside the person's body. He added they are very different
from Global Positioning Satellite technology, which allows people's location to be monitored. Mr.
Darks insisted that they were not dangerous and even decided to have a chip implanted in his
own body. However, many people are worried about the issue of privacy . Many believe the
technology could be abused and that new laws will have to be made. Mr. Darks said his workers
can always choose to have the chips removed.
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