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Topic 19: Earlier technological development brought more changes to the life of ordinary
people than recent technological development do. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
(make a transition from agriculture to manufacture),
(growth of cities) (Vocational and formal ),( fixed timetable, working days/ weeks);
(manufactured goods), (self-contained) ;
(the prototype of modern technologies), ( innovations of those inventions in the earliest days of the
Industrial Revolution)
(cause air pollution); ( consume fossil fuels)
(improve productivity), (let your fingers do the walking) ;
(reduce pollution),
(enlightened)
(make people redundant),
(boundary between work and play is blurred),
(sedentary lifestyle) ;
(make a transition from interdependence to independence)

The widespread use of computers and telecommunications technology has dramatically
reshaped the nature of the society. One might have benefited a lot from one's improved ability to
move rapidly from one place to another because of the availability of automobiles, yet this
benefit has been discounted because of the advent of the Internet. With Internet access, the
world has become accessible to people and one can perform many tasks at home (e. g. grocery
shopping) and let their fingers do the walk.ing.
Lifestyles are changed by recent technologies in equal measure. Before computers and the
Internet were created, most working people struggled with a lack of leisure time and the balance
between family life and work life. They were fully occupied by employment and various chores,
such as shopping. With Internet, they are now able to spend much less time on those routine, dull
activities and lead active leisure lives.
Modern technologies also account for the evolution of people's perception of society. People
tend to develop, modify and repurpose technology for their own use Interference, previously a
core virtue of many societies, is now undermined. Cell phones allow people to insulate their
private interactions from the culture around them and to create their own micro-cultures. The
mobility given by modern transport meanwhile, allures them to leave their place of birth and
work and live elsewhere. Cultural norms are subject to modification and the communal lifestyle
is going out of fashion.
In conclusion, whether one likes it or not, technology will continue to evolve, with. the
resulting changes impacting the lifestyles and cultural norms continuously. While the earlier
technology had enhanced the quality of life and generated revenue for people, the recent
technology has made them lead a different lifestyle from previous generations.

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1. Landmark=turning point=watershed event
2. Humankind=mankind
3. Reshape =reform=restructure=remodel
4. Discount =impair
5. Dull=tedious=monotonous=dreary
6. Norm=custom=normal ways of behaving
7. Communal=collective