Unit 8. Life in the future

Before you listen
*Work in pairs. Discuss the question: Which of
the following factors do you think might help
12
people have a long and healthy life?
9

3
6

1.eating healthy foods

4.doing exercise

2.laughing a lot

5.drinking a lot

3.going to bed early

6.eating a lot of meat


The factors might help people have a long and healthy life

jogging
laughing a lot

doing exercise

playing sports

FACTORS

going to bed early
eating healthy foods

not smoking

not drinking a lot
not eating a lot of meat


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incredible [in’kredƏbl] (a)
fatal [‘feitl] (a)
centenarian [senti:’neƏriƏn] (n)
eradicate [i’rædikeit] (v)
life expectancy [laif
iks’pektƏnsi] (n.phrase)
eternal life [i:’tƏ:nl laif ]
(n.phrase)

While you listen
Listen to the interview about people’s life expectancy
in the future and do the tasks that follow.
Task 1. Decide whether the following statements
are true (T) or false (F).

1/ Nobody can predict how long we will be
able to live in the 21st century.
2/ People’s general health will improve
because they eat a lot of mushrooms.
3/ Nowadays, if people look after themselves,
they can live to be 90.
4/ Within 30 years, 80% of cancers will be
curable.
5/ Eternal life isn’t impossible.

T

F
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Task 2 . Listen again and answer the questions
about the interview. (Choose A, B or C)
1/ What are the factors that help people have longer life expectancy
according to Dr. Davis ?
A. eating more meat and vegetables.
B. eating more healthily, cutting down on things like butter, alcohol
and cigarettes.
C. doing exercise regularly.
2/ Which factor is the most important one ?
A. the development in medical science.
B. the development in technology.
C. the development in food production.
3 / What will we have been able to do about AIDS in ten years’ time ?
A. eradicate AIDS.
B. cure AIDS patients.
C. bring AIDS under control.


After you listen
Work in pairs
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having
a very long life.
*Advantages
- enjoy life more.
- do many things we want to do .
- see our children and grandchildren grow up.
- help our children and grandchildren.
- our children and grandchildren are happy with us.
*Disadvantages

- too weak to do any hard work and often get ill.
- feel lonely when our children are busy with their own
lives and our old friends are dead.


• Summarize the content of the interview
• Prepare writing lesson



Interviewer: Many scientists predict that in the 21 st century people will be living
into the incredible age of 130. What do you think about this?
Dr. Davis: Well, I quite agree with them. They have reasons to be confident about
that.
Interviewer : What are the reasons?
Dr. Davis: In fact their prediction is based on research and on the fact that the
centenarian
population is mushrooming as our general health improves.
Interviewer : Can you explain this further?
Dr. Davis: A century ago average life expectancy in Europe was 45. Today,
providing we
look after ourselves, eat more healthily, cut down on things like
butter, alcohol and
cigarettes, we can add nearly 35 years to that figure.
Interviewer: So these are the factors that help people live longer?
Dr. Davis: Yes, But the most important factor is the development in medical
science
Interviewer: What do you mean?
Dr. Davis: Nobody dies from old age, just from diseases that affect people when
they get older.

Interviewer: So scientists are trying to find cures for fatal diseases like cancer
and AIDS?
Dr. Davis : Right. Nowadays, about 50% of cancers are curable, and I really
believe that
within 30 years this will increase to 80%. And in ten years’ time AIDS
will also
be brought under control, too.