VB035/09
Adapted from Mann, Malcolm and Steve Taylore-Knowles. Destination B2. Macmillan. 2013.
Jones, Leo. New Cambridge Advanced English. Cambridge. 2000.
Bernstein, Theodore M. Watch Your Language.
Articles: Discuss the difference in meaning between these sentences:
1) She has some grey hairs.
She has grey hair.
2) There's a hair in my soup!
There's the hair - in my soup!
3) Ask a teacher if you have a question.
Ask any teacher if you have a question.
Ask the teacher if you have a question.
4) After leaving school he went to sea.
5) I'm going to buy a paper.
I'm going to buy the paper.
She has some grey hair.
She has a grey hair.
There's hair in my soup!
There's some hair in my soup!
After leaving the school he went to the sea.
I'm going to buy some paper.
I'm going to buy paper.
VB035/09
Adapted from Mann, Malcolm and Steve Taylore-Knowles. Destination B2. Macmillan. 2013.
Jones, Leo. New Cambridge Advanced English. Cambridge. 2000.
Bernstein, Theodore M. Watch Your Language.
Biometric Technology
1) What is biometric authentication? What are some examples of its use?
2) Study the types of biometric authentication and then answer the sentence below with the appropriate type.
Use each type only once.
Types of biometric authentication:
I. Common
a) Fingerprint recognition
b) Face recognition
c) Voice recognition
d) Iris recognition
e) Hand geometry
f) Signature verification
II. Other
a) DNA
b) gait
c) keystroke
d) ear
e) thermal imaging
a) Which of these can be used in two ways: static and dynamic?
b) Which of these is usually expensive?
c) Which of these is an example of passive biometrics that does not require the person’s
cooperation?
d) Which of these is currently one of the most used around the world?
e) Which of these is regarded as the safest?
f) Which of these has been used for a long time due to its consistency and accuracy?
g) Which of these has been called the “ultimate identifier”?
h) Which of these focuses on rhythms?
i) Which of these might have to use infrared imaging?
j) Which of these is economical, but less accurate and sometimes requiring longer period to
verify? (voice)
k) Which of these allows identification at a distance?
3) Are there any problems or difficulties with biometric authentication?
4) Choose one of the topics below and try to think of difficulties related to the topic.
Regulation of biometric data
Not enough security – data breach and brute forcing
Biometrics and privacy
Issues of privacy – linking your unique body part to a purchase
5) Read an excerpt from a WIRED article related to your selected topic. Once you are finished,
introduce your topic to another group, describe your initial thoughts and then add additional
information from the excerpt.
VB035/09
Adapted from Mann, Malcolm and Steve Taylore-Knowles. Destination B2. Macmillan. 2013.
Jones, Leo. New Cambridge Advanced English. Cambridge. 2000.
Bernstein, Theodore M. Watch Your Language.
Shelly, Gary B. and Misty E. Vermaat. Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World.
The troubles with “only”: look at the following variations of the sentence “I hit him in the eye
yesterday” and discuss the differences in meaning. (Theodore M. Bernstein in Watch Your
Language)
Only I hit him in the eye yesterday.
I only hit him in the eye yesterday.
I hit only him in the eye yesterday.
I hit him only in the eye yesterday.
I hit him in the eye only yesterday.
____
3D Graphics – Creating a Realistic Experience (Discovering Computers 2011)
Fill in the gaps with the correct article.
____ three-dimensional (3-D) graphics, which appear to have ____ height, width, and depth, give
realistic qualities to objects in computer programs, particularly computer games. Although you view
computer games on ____ two-dimensional (2-D) computer screen, ____ modern technology creates
____ 3-D experience by adding ____ appearance of depth. ____ game programmer can give ____
single objects or ____ entire virtual world ____ 3-D appearance.
Creating ____ 3-D appearance first requires that you create ____ wireframe. ____ wireframe is ____
series of lines, curves, and shapes arranged to resemble ____ object in ____ 3-D world. Most 3-D
wireframes, for example, consist of ____ series of polygons. ____ completed wireframe enables you
to identify ____ shape of ____ object, although it appears to be hollow. To transform ____
appearance of ____ 3-D object from hollow to solid, you add ____ surface to ____ wireframe. Some
3-D graphics are composed of more than one wireframe. When adding ____ surface, it is important
to make ____ object look as realistic as possible by adding ____ color, texture, and reflectance.
Reflectance refers to ____ amount of ____ light ____ object’s surface reflects.
With ____ surface added to ____ wireframe, you next consider how ____ object will be lit from one
or more lighting sources. Some people create 3-D graphics using ____ technique called ray-tracing.
____ ray-tracing involves drawing ____ imaginary path that ____ rays of light follow as they leave
their ____ source and then land on ____ object. ____ light intensity will be greater on some portions
of ____ object and less on other portions. In addition, ____ object also might cast ____ shadow once
it is lit from ____ particular angle.