I. Read the text. An amazing new invention by a British student will help children who are overweight

An amazing new invention by a British student will help children who are overweight. It will also reduce the number of hours of television they watch every day. The technology is nicknamed “Square-Eyes”.

It is a tiny, computerized sensor that fits into children’s shoes. It measures the number of steps the child takes during the day and sends this information to the family computer. Software then tells the child how many hours of TV he or she can watch that evening. One hundred steps equal one minute of TV. If children use up all of their viewing time, they must do more walking.

The designer Gillian Swan says this “will help children to include exercise in their daily routines from an early age.” She said that ten years ago children were healthier because they played outside with their friends. She said today’s children spend too much time in front of the TV and don’t exercise. This means children have weight problems and become fat. “Square-eyes” is a nickname often given to children who watch too much television. It may now have a new meaning. The new technology is the beginning of computers becoming a part of our clothes. What we wear will soon monitor our health.

II. Comprehension check

1. Answer the questions

a. Who is the inventor of the television shoes?

b. What can you say about this new technology? What is its name? How does it look?

c. What is the principle of its functioning?

d. Who is this technology for?

e. How many steps must be made to watch TV for 1 minute?

f. What problems are caused by watching TV too much?

2. Match the beginning of the sentence with its end

a. Square eyes is a tiny sensor f. because they watch TV day long

b. It can help children g. that fits into children’s shoes

c. Children become overweight h. must walk hard

d. If children want to watch TV i. to do exercises every day

a lot, they

e. Scientists say that soon people j. wear clothes monitoring their

might health