technology - future...

Technology - Future Predictions

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Level 1- The Future Is In Your Hands

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQUBRP2Uyio

Listening Questions

1. The palm of the hand is...

� the back of it

� the front of it

� the fingers

� the whole hand

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the beginning of the video, where we see the

palm of a person’s hand. [00:02-05]

2. What two things do you need?

− A palm to read and the basics of palmistry

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “You will need a palm to

read and the basics of palmistry.” [00:12-15]

3. What does the dominant hand tell us about?

� a person’s past

� a person’s parents

� what a person is like now

� why someone changed

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “It reveals what’s going

on now.” [00:19-22]

4. People do NOT write with their ______ hand.

� passive

� dominant

� past

� left

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “...dominant hand, the

one a person uses to write with...” [00:18-25]


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5. If people’s palms look very different, they have …

� had bad things happen

� done many good things

� tried hard to change

� had an interesting life

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “Lines that are different

on each hand suggest a person who has worked hard to change.” [00:25-27]

6. What adjective is used to describe a person whose heart line curves up?

� jealous

� affectionate

� angry

� tight

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “If the line curves up

towards the index finger, the person is more outwardly affectionate.” [00:48-59]

7. What means “controls well”?

� close to the fingers

� passionate

� keeps a tight rein on

� lets loose

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “If the line goes

straight across, the person keeps a tight rein on their emotions.” [00:50-54]

8. What does this video do?

� tell a story

� teach people how to do something

� tell us that we can know the future

� prove a point

Explanation: This is a thematic question. Refer to the whole of the video.


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9. Who is this video mainly for?

� very young children

� fortune-tellers

� teachers

� anyone school age and up


10. The heart line tells us about people’s…

� work

� thoughts

� emotions

� friends

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the whole part on the heart line. [00:42-01:05]

11. What is someone like if their head line curves down towards the wrist?

� clever and logical

� dreamy and distracted

� calm and quiet

� creative and trusting

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the middle of the video: “If the line curves

downward towards the wrist, the person is creative and trusting.” [01:24--27]

12. What is the third line called?

− the life line

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “...the third major line,

which usually slopes from horizontal to vertical, the life line...” [01:32-35]

13. What does the life line NOT tell us?

� what a person thinks about life

� a person’s enthusiasm level

� how long a person will live

� how much ambition a person has


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Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “Contrary to popular belief,

the life line has nothing to do with how long a person will live.” [01:45-50]

14. Where is the fate line?

� near the thumb

� at the top of the hand

� at the bottom of the hand

� near the middle of the hand

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “Check out the fate line, a

vertical line in the centre of the palm.” [01:51-55]

15. How do you think people are supposed to use what they learn from this video?

− Sample answer: They are supposed to have fun learning about themselves and their friends.

They should not take it too seriously. Palm-reading doesn’t tell people about the future, but it

makes them think about their past and their personality.

16. What does the fate line mainly tell us about?

� job

� family

� love

� happiness

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the part on the fate line, Step 6. [01:51-02:07]

17. Which word could best replace “focused” in this sentence? “A strong, straight line indicates a

person with a focused career.”

� fun

� steady

� uncertain

� powerful

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to Step 6: “A strong, straight line indicates a person

with a focused career.” [01:51-55]


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18. How many steps does this video have? Answer using a figure.

− 7

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the whole video. It has seven steps.

19. What can you do if you don’t like what your palm says about you?

� There’s nothing you can do.

� Work hard and change your life.

� Go to another fortune teller.

� Change the way your palms look.

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the end of the video: “Remember that your fate is

not on your hands but in your hands.” [02:10-16]

20. What country did palm reading start in?

− India

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the end of the video: “There is evidence that palm

reading began in India about 4,500 years ago.” [02:17-21]


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Level 2- Paul the Octopus

Sources:

http://www.salon.com/2014/06/22/meet_the_psychic_animals_that_can_predict_world_cup_winner

s_partner/,

http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/8262786.Weymouth_s_psychic_octopus_Paul_is_no_sucker/,

http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/555786/20140616/world-cup-2014-big-head-loggerhead-turtle.htm#.

U7qH1kg714J

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Octopus

Listening Questions

1. What word could best replace “famous”?

� loved

� well-known

� star

� important

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “In the 2010 World

Cup, an octopus named Paul became famous all over the world…”

2. Why is Paul not predicting World Cup results in 2014?

� because he was wrong sometimes

� because people don’t like him

� because he died

� He is still making some predictions.

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “Unfortunately, Paul died in

2010 shortly after the World Cup.”

3. In what country was Paul the Octopus born?

− England

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “Paul was born in the

Sea Life Centre in England in 2008.”


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4. What is NOT a combination of countries Paul chose from?

� England/Germany

� Serbia/England

� Spain/Germany

� Argentina/Germany

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “He was right about these

matches, among others:

Serbia winning against Germany

Germany winning against Argentina

Germany winning against England

Spain winning against Germany

5. Which word could be used to replace “luck”?

� smart

� right

� chance

� game

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the middle of the video: “Some people laugh and

say it was just luck.”

6. What does a psychic do?

− predicts the future

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “Do some animals

really have psychic powers? In the 2010 World Cup, an octopus named Paul became famous all over

the world because he correctly predicted the results of several games..”

7. What adjective did Paul’s keepers use to describe him?

− … smart

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “His keepers said that

he always looked like a smart octopus, and he seemed to prove them right.”

8. What is the name of the turtle in Brazil?

− Big Head


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Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “In the 2014 World Cup,

there’s a new animal predicting results. It’s Big Head the sea turtle!”

9. The style of this piece is...

� argumentative

� academic

� informative

� serious


10. Who is the video's target audience?

� sports fans

� all kinds of people

� animal lovers

� fortune tellers


11. True or False? Nelly the elephant is always right.

� true

� false

� not possible to say

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the end of the video: “Most of the time, she’s

right.”

12. What has not been used as a “psychic animal”?

� an octopus

� an elephant

� a turtle

� a bear

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the whole video. A psychic bear is not mentioned.


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13. Which of the animals can play football, in a way?

� Paul

� Nelly

� Big Head

� none of them

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the end of the video: “[Nelly] has two football goals

to choose from, and she uses her trunk to push the ball into the goal of her choice.”

14. Which match was the turtle right about?

− Brazil/Croatia vs Croatia/Brazil

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “Big Head correctly

predicted that Brazil would beat Croatia, but he hasn’t been so good about other predictions.”

15. What do people believe about Paul?

� He was very special.

� He was just lucky.

� They don’t care at all.

� They have different opinions.

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “No one knows. Some

people laugh and say it was just luck. Others believe there was really something special about the

octopus.”

16. True or False? Nelly started making predictions before Paul did.

� True

� False

� Not given

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the end of the video: “There’s also an elephant

named Nelly in Germany who has been predicting football matches since 2006.” Paul made predictions

in 2010.


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17. What does the turtle eat to make his predictions?

− fish

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the end of the video: “When offered a choice

between two fish to predict the results of the France vs. Germany match, he ate both fish.”

18. Which word or phrase could replace “beat” in this sentence? “Big Head correctly predicted that

Brazil would beat Croatia.”

� hit

� win against

� knock down

� kick

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the middle of the video: “Big Head correctly

predicted that Brazil would beat Croatia.”

19. Do you think Big Head is a good psychic? Why or why not?

− Sample answer: No, because one time he didn’t even play the game right. He ate both fish

instead of choosing one. He obviously doesn’t understand what he is doing.

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the whole piece.


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Level 3- Tea Leaves and Cheese

Some people say that you can look into the bottom of your cup of tea and see your future! Here’s how you can

read your own tea leaves.

Make sure to use a light coloured tea cup so you can see the leaves clearly.

It’s best to use loose-leaf tea. These leaves will naturally collect at the bottom of your cup. But if you only have

teabags, those will work, too! To use a teabag, take it out of the cup and when you’ve finished your tea, squeeze

a bit more tea out the teabag. Then tear the teabag and empty some leaves into the cup. Use that last little bit

of tea to swish the tea leaves around. Then turn the cup upside down.

Pick it up and start reading from the handle, going around the cup clockwise. The leaves near the handle

represent you, your family and friends, and things that are happening to you now. Going around, the opposite

side to the handle represents people who are not close to you. The part coming back to the handle represents

things that are coming, that will happen in the future.

The leaves at the bottom of the cup represent serious things in life, and those near the top represent happy, fun

things.

Before you start to read the tea leaves, you should think of some questions you want to ask, whether about

yourself, school, family and friends, or future plans. Then you can try to find the answers in the leaves.

See what symbols the leaves make. For instance, the leaves might be in the shape of a cherry. That means love

and happiness. If it’s near the handle, it means that something good has happened or will happen to you or

someone close to you. An anchor means an answer to a problem. If it’s on the opposite side of the cup, it means

someone you don’t know well will come up with answer to a problem or question you have.

Some websites have lists of tea leaf symbols and what they mean. If you see letters, they might be the first letter

of someone’s name. You can also find your own symbols and just think of what they might mean in your life. It’s

all a matter of interpretation.

Listening Questions

1. Complete the sentence quoting from the piece:

− Some people believe that you can look into the bottom of your cup of tea and see your future!

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “Some people say that

you can look into the bottom of your cup of tea and see your future!”


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2. Which would NOT be a good colour of cup to use?

� white

� black

� pink

� yellow

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “Make sure to use a

light coloured tea cup so you can see the leaves clearly.”

3. What can you use to get tea leaves?

− loose-leaf tea or teabags

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “It’s best to use

loose-leaf tea. These leaves will naturally collect at the bottom of your cup. But if you only have

teabags, those will work, too!”

4. Put the following steps in order (1-5).

− Turn your cup upside down. 5

− Finish your tea. 1

− Squeeze out some tea from the bag. 2

− Tear open your teabag. 3

− Empty some leaves out and swish them around. 4

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video, all of the third

paragraph.

5. True or false? Reading tea leaves is an exact science.

� True

� False

� Not possible to say

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the end of the video: “You can also find your own

symbols and just think of what they might mean in your life. It’s all a matter of interpretation.”

6. What part of the cup should you start from?

− the handle


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Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “Pick it up and start

reading from the handle, going around the cup clockwise.”

7. Complete the sentence:

− The bottom of the cup represents serious things and the top represents happy, fun things.

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “The leaves at the bottom

of the cup represent serious things in life, and those near the top represent happy, fun things.”


� a news report

� formal

� instructional

� a story

Explanation: This is a thematic question. Refer to the whole video.

9. Which word could best replace “swish” in this sentence: “Use that last little bit of tea to swish the

tea leaves around.”?

� stir

� shake

� crush

� smooth

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the middle of the video: “Use that last little bit of

tea to swish the tea leaves around.”


� fortune tellers

� students

� the general public

� tea lovers



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11. What might it mean if you see an anchor near the handle?

� Something good is going to happen to you.

� A stranger will answer your question.

� A friend or family member will answer your question.

� You will need help soon.

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the end of the video: “An anchor means an answer

to a problem. If it’s on the opposite side of the cup, it means someone you don’t know well will come

up with answer to a problem or question you have.”

12. Where could you find out what tea-leaf symbols mean?

� in a science book

� on a farm

� from a technology class

� online

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the end of the video: “Some websites have lists of

tea leaf symbols and what they mean.”

13. Tea leaves could tell you someone’s name if they look like a…

− letter

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the end of the video: “If you see letters, they might

be the first letter of someone’s name.”

14. Do you think someone can really learn about their future from tea leaves? Why or why not?

− Sample answer: The purpose of the piece is to show us that man can be accepted by lions

which do not live completely in the wild. Man can teach the lions on the reserve to behave

differently to the wild lions.

15. True or false? You need someone else to read your tea leaves for you.

� true

� false

� not mentioned

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the end of the video: “You can also find your own

symbols and just think of what they might mean in your life. It’s all a matter of interpretation.”


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Level 4- The World Is Ending

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM3xJy36_rk

Listening Questions

1. What country is Bugarach in?

− France

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “The small village of

Bugarach in south-west France… [00:01-03]

2. How many people live in the village? Answer using a figure.

− 200

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “…has a population of

just 200. [00:05-09]

3. Why are many people going to visit the village?

� They like hiking.

� The village is beautiful.

� They think the nearby mountain is magical.

� They want to live there.

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “…thousands of esoteric

groups and doomsday followers who believe the mountain over the village has magic power…”

[00:15-19]

4. What did people think would happen on 21 December 2012?

� the return of the Mayans

� the end of the world

� a volcanic explosion

� a magical event

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “According to some

interpretations of the Mayan calendar, the end of the world is scheduled for December 21st…”

[00:21-26]


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5. People think they will survive if they go to Bugarach.

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “…think the village of

Bugarach will survive…” [00:35-37]

6. What do people believe may be inside the mountain top?

− UFOs

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “They are convinced

that UFOs will rescue them and may even be inside the mountain top to take them to safety…”

[00:38-43]

7. “Speculation has spread widely on the internet…” What word has about the same meaning as

“speculation”?

� argument

� conversation

� guesses

� words

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “Speculation has

spread widely on the internet…” [00:42-47]

8. True or false? The French government takes the threat of the end of the world seriously.

� true

� false

� not given

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “…while the French

authorities think the scenario is ridiculous...” [00:46-50]

9. Groups planning to go to the mountain from 19-23 December will be stopped by...

� villagers

� aliens

� police

� no one

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the middle of the video: “Over 100 gendarmes will

seal off the village from the 19th of December to the 23rd… [00:55-59]


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10. The mayor fears the arrival of cults. What is a cult?

� a music group

� an unusual religious group

� a person who predicts the future

� a political leader

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the middle of the video: “…he fears the arrival of

cults…” [01:08-11]


� a debate

� a news report

� a warning

� a lecture


12. What is the main purpose in creating this piece?

� to predict

� to inform

� to argue

� to protest



� doomsday believers


� small town residents

� mountain climbers


14. What does the mayor warn visitor that they won’t see?

− There will be no spaceships.

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the second half of the video: “…as there will be no

spaceships, just lots of police officers to keep them back…” [01:19-23]


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15. What three things did most people move to Bugarach for?

− beauty

− peace

− quiet

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the second half of the video: “…so that they can get

back to enjoying the reasons that they first moved to Bugarach, the beauty, peace and quiet…”

[01:45-51]

16. True or false? Many people living in the village are afraid of the end of the world.

� true

� false

� not given

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the second half of the video: “…prefer to wait

behind closed doors for the end of December to arrive so they can get back to enjoying…” [01:40-51]

17. How has the idea of doomsday cults coming affected regular tourism?

� positively

� negatively

� not at all

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the second half of the video, towards the end:

“…holiday visitors in some respects have been put off by the publicity; they don’t want to come to a

place where they will be accosted by strange people in the streets…” [01:55-02:05]

18. What word at the end of the video means ‘bad sign’? Use this word to complete the sentence:

− The storm was seen as an omen of things to come.

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the end of the video: “…simply the local moggie,

and not an omen of things to come…” [02:18-22]


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19. In the video, what is the overall view of people who believe they can predict the end of the world?

� They may be right.

� They are right.

� They are crazy.

� They are harmless.

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the whole video.

20. Why could groups predicting the end of the world be dangerous?

− Sample answer: They might become violent because they are afraid or think they have nothing

to lose. They would not respect people or property because they think everything will be

destroyed anyway.


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Level 5- Glowing Walls

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV_v5HV9mtI

Listening Questions

1. How does the speaker describe our world?

− amazingly uncertain

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “We live in an

amazingly uncertain world…” [00:01-04]

2. The problem with uncertainty is that it…

− doesn’t let you move forward.

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “The problem with

uncertainty is it keeps you frozen; it doesn’t let you move forward…” [00:15-18]

3. True or false? You can’t be certain of anything.

� true

� false


Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: ”We can be certain of

so much. For instance, it’s winter. I’m certain that it will be spring, followed by summer.” [00:25-34]

4. What subject does the speaker rely on for certainty of the seasons?

− science

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: ”By the way, I have that

certainty because there is a science of cycles…” [00:35- 38]

5. What group of people have been wrong about predicting the future recently?

� artists

� scientists

� economists

� reporters


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Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: ”as a matter of fact,

economists have been trained in the science of cycles, but if you notice, the economists have been

really wrong lately.” [00:50-57]

6. According to the speaker, who is the richest man in the world?

− Warren Buffett

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: ”…after all, Warren

Buffett is the richest guy in the world because of the science of cycles...” [01:02-05]

7. One way of predicting the future scientifically is predicting what will happen to the…

� neighbours

� belongings

� wealthy

� stock market

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the first third of the video: ”He knows when the

stock market goes up he’s going to sell, and when it goes down, he’s going to buy.” [01:07-10]


� a political speech

� a lecture

� a story

� a news report


9. What is the main purpose in creating this piece?

� to raise awareness

� to inform

� to question

� to protest



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� children

� rich people

� office workers

� older students and adults


11. Besides cyclical change, what other kind of change can you predict?

− linear change

Explanation: This is a factual question. Refer to the first third of the video: ”…I call it linear change.

Unlike cyclical change, when linear change hits, you’re not going back. [01:18-24]

12. True or false? The speaker believes that once people upgrade, they will never want to go back to

using the old model.

� true

� false


Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the middle of the video where he gives examples

of linear change. [01:18-57]

13. According to the speaker, is predicting the future an art or a science?

� an art

� a science

� both

� neither

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the whole video.

14. How can we plan for the future?

− We need to make/create a list of things we are certain of and predict likely changes.

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “Create a list of things you

can be absolutely certain of…”. [02:10-03:10]


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15. The speaker thinks it is wise to try to predict the future because…

� we will feel confident and get more rewards

� we will certainly get rich

� we can help other people



16. What is the problem with strategy based on uncertainty?

− It has high risk.

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: ”The reason is because

strategy based on uncertainty has high risk.” [01:58-02:03]

17. How much time per week does the speaker advise setting aside to plan for the future?

− 1 hour/an hour/one hour

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “Spend an hour a week

unplugging from the present…” [03:25-28]

18. Based on the video, what is an absolute certainty?

� People’s lives will become simpler.

� There will be a natural disaster.

� Technology is going to keep getting better.

� You will find a happy relationship.

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the end of the video where he discusses how

smart phones keep getting better and cheaper. [04:25-42]

19. Which word at the end of the video means “deep/significant”?

− profound

Explanation: This is a vocabulary question. Refer to the end of the video: ”These are profound linear

changes.” [04:45-49]


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20. Do you agree that we can be reasonably confident about some things that will happen in the

future? Why or why not?

− Sample answer: I think that we can be reasonably confident, but there are some things that no

one can be certain about. It’s good to plan and prepare for the future, but there are many

unexpected events that could happen such as accidents, illnesses, suddenly meeting

someone…



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Level 6- Technology Taking Over

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAifa_CVGCY

Listening Questions

1. What is Deborah?

− a computer

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “As you may have

guessed, Deborah is not the little cute girl on the right; that’s my sister Eleanor. Deborah is the

computer programme that I wrote…” [00:55-01:09]

2. What does the speaker do?

− She is a computer programmer.

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “Deborah is the

computer programme that I wrote.” [01:07-09]

3. How old are Deborah and Eleanor? Answer using a figure.

− 6

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: ”Both Deborah and

Eleanor are six years old.” [01:09-12]

4. The speaker has always been fascinated with…

� puzzles

� riddles

� adventures

� all of these

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video:”I was fascinated with

riddles, little pieces of information, and adventures.” [01:15-23]

5. What strange thing happened when the Mayan calendar was about to end?

− Thousands of birds in the state of Arkansas fell dead.

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the beginning of the video: “Thousands of birds in

Arkansas fell down from the sky, all dead.” [01:48-57]


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6. How did the speaker try to answer her questions?

� She asked a prophet.

� She searched the internet for patterns.

� She studied the Mayan calendar.

� She asked people on a forum.

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the first half of the video, close to the middle: “I

went to Google, and searched for the words ‘birds death’ over time..people are searching for the term

‘birds death’ significantly more than usual, and actually it’s not the first time they did it.” [02:15-26]

7. What happened at about the same time that the birds died?

� fires

� earthquakes

� worm death

� fish death

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the first half of the video, close to the middle:

“Approximately at the same time, hundreds of thousands of fish washed down the shore, all dead.”

[02:45-51]

8. According to this piece, what gave the speaker her idea?

� desire to connect trending information

� desire to predict natural disasters

� desire to protect the environment

� desire to create puzzles

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “It’s interesting; I wished

I could connect all those things!” [03:27-31]

9. What is the main purpose of this piece?

� to persuade

� to inform

� to describe

� to protest



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10. Who is the target audience?


� programmers

� fortune-tellers

� environmentalists


11. What information does the programme have to work with?

− 150 years of news articles

− Billions of tweets

− Millions of web searches

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: (slide: 150 years of news

articles, Billions of tweets, Millions of web searches) “We’ve got 150 years of New York Times articles,

real time and social media in addition to human web behaviour.” [03:57-04:03]

12. What did they train the programme to analyse?

− cause and effect

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “It would try to

understand what did the action, the tanker, the action was the collision and it was performed on

‘merchant ship’...It would then look at the text somebody would write, that this event caused another

event.” [04:10-30]

13. The system was able to use a graph to predict…

� the shortage of iPads in 2011.

� an oil spill in 2010.

� the invention of iPads.

� the death of more birds.

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the middle of the video: “The system was able,

based on this graph, to predict the shortage of iPads in 2011” [04:53-05:01]


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14. What source did they draw on for world knowledge?

− Wikipedia

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the end of the video: “…so we started getting world

knowledge, from Wikipedia.” [06:15-20]

15. Identify TWO things that Angola and Bangladesh have in common.

� geography

� low GDP

� low concentration of water

� low storm incidence

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the second half of the video: “What is in common

with Angola and Bangladesh? …Our system inferred that Angola and Bangladesh both have low GDP

and low concentration of water.” [06:10-27]

16. In order, list the two things that come before a cholera outbreak.

� drought

� storm

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the middle of the video on predicting cholera

outbreaks. [05.50-07:22]

17. True or false? The programme can help prevent natural weather events.

� true

� false


Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the second half of the video: “We cannot prevent

droughts and we cannot prevent storms, but we can prevent people from dying.” [07:30-35]


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18. Who is the programme being marketed towards?

� business people

� healthcare professionals

� politicians

� all of these

Explanation: This is an inference question. Refer to the end of the video: “Every day, decision makers

in healthcare, business, politics, making critical decisions that affect the lives of all of us...”

[07:50-08:00]

19. Complete the sentence using appropriate words from the piece:

− The speaker believes that Deborah can change global economy and even save lives.

Explanation: This is a reference question. Refer to the end of the video: “…so we can make better

decisions and this is because I believe that it can change global economy and even save lives.”

[08:39-45]

20. Summarise how technology can help us predict the future.

− Sample answer: Computers can analyse information more quickly than thousands of people

working together. With the internet, it has access to millions of news reports, social media

postings and collections of general information. It can be trained to see the relation between

cause and effect, see when things have happened in the past and predict what is likely to

happen.


technology - future...

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