Think of one advantage and one disadvantage of each of these things

a) mobile phones d) fax machines

b) the Internet e) satellite television

c) laptops f) answering machines

2. Does new technology improve people's lives? Why / Why not?

3. These texts are about three different ways of communicating. What is each text referring to? Is it 'for' or 'against'? Which points of view do you agree with?

1) There's no escape. They seem to be ringing everywhere these days. Nowhere is safe - restaurants, trains, pubs, even cinemas and theatres. People never turn them off, and listening to other people's conversations drives me mad.

2) Lots of people don't often need to use them. But imagine you're driving along in the middle of nowhere and you break down. You can phone for help straight away, and save time, money, and worry.

3) All human knowledge is there. Want to know about French literature, the US Space Programme, the love life of frogs? Just log on and learn. It's like being in the world's biggest library, but with no librarians.

4) Surfing the net is becoming a major free-time activity for millions of people. The problem? 99% of what's on it is rubbish. Some people say it will replace books, newspapers, and magazines, but I don't think so.

5) It's fantastic, it's so convenient. I can switch on my computer, press a button, send a document, and seconds later someone can open it on the other side of the world. I never use snail mail anymore!