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Generally speaking, the people we spoke to believed that bringing the latest technology into
education was a good thing, although, arguably, in some areas, like the use of calculators in
maths lessons, some felt it had made students more lazy. In the main, though, our
interviewees appreciated the fact that there are so many more sources of information that are
readily available nowadays.
2 Shopping
Surprisingly, perhaps, when it came to shopping, people were less convinced of the benefits.
Of course, they liked the ease with which they can find and buy things on the Internet, but
most regretted that it encouraged people to spend too much time indoors behind their
computers instead of meeting people in town. They noted that, as a result, many town
centres were dying.
3 Housework
On the other hand, people were very positive about technology helping them perform
mundane chores in the house. Some said they couldn’t imagine life without their washing
machine or microwave and, clearly, many of them would welcome all jobs being taken over
by robots.
Conclusion
All things considered, people were positive about benefits of technology, only expressing
minor doubts in relation to education and more serious doubts about the effect of changing
shopping habits. (242 words)

UNIT 17
LITERATURE CORNER
PART 1
Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, the second
of four sisters. At an early age, Louisa and her family moved to Massachusetts, where she
lived for most of her life. Her father was a teacher, and he encouraged Louisa to keep a
diary. She started to write at the age of 16. Alcott used her diary to help her write about her
own life and experiences. One of her most famous books is Little Women, which is based
on the life of her family. She wrote Jack and Jill: A Village Story in 1880. Alcott has been
called “the novelist of children” for her ability to reflect the teenage point of view. Jack and
Jill tells us a story of life in rural New England at the turn of the century. It tells of how the
friendship between the two main characters is tested by a terrible accident. With the help of
their friends and family, they put their bad luck behind them and get on with their lives.
Jack & Jill
Chapter 1
The Catastrophe
“Clear the way!” was the general cry on a bright December afternoon, when all the
boys and girls of Harmony Village were out enjoying the first good snow of the season. Up
and down three long coasts they went as fast as legs and sleds could carry them. One
smooth path led into the meadow, and here the little folk congregated; there was a group of
lads and lasses sitting or leaning on this fence to rest after an exciting race, and, as they
reposed, they amused themselves with criticising their mates.
“Here comes Frank Minot, looking as solemn as a judge,” cried one, as a tall fellow of
sixteen spun by, with a set look about the mouth and a keen sparkle of the eyes, fixed on the
distant goal with a do-or-die expression.
“Here’s Molly Loo and little Boo”, sang out another; and down came a girl with flying
hair, carrying a small boy behind her, so fat that his short legs stuck out from the sides, and
his round face looked over her shoulder like a full moon.

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