Speaking Boost · C1 · Lesson 47 of 50
Speaking Boost C1 · Block 10: Big Questions and Final Talk

Is progress always good?

Medicine, technology and wealth have changed human life, but not always for the better. Discuss progress and its costs, and learn to generalise and qualify: by and large, on the whole, broadly speaking, as a rule, up to a point, not necessarily.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Progress and its costs

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. What is the greatest invention of your lifetime?
  2. Do you think life is better now than fifty years ago?
  3. Which new technology would you give up?
  4. Would you like to live in the past for a week?
  5. What problem should science solve first?
  6. Do you think the future will be better?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about progress.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. The introduction of new ideas, methods or devices is called .
  2. One of new technology is that it can destroy traditional jobs.
  3. A country enjoys when its people are wealthy and successful.
  4. The gap between the rich and the poor is known as .
  5. A way of living can continue without harming the environment for future generations.
  6. Typewriters have become , since almost nobody uses them.
  7. Some people think that the benefits of cars the harm they cause.
  8. The discovery of antibiotics was a major medical .
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. innovation is a new
  2. a drawback is a
  3. inequality is an unfair
  4. sustainable = able to continue without
  5. obsolete = no longer
  6. to outweigh = to be
    than
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to make general statements and to qualify them.

  • By and large,...Загалом,...By and large, life has improved.
  • On the whole,...В цілому,...On the whole, the benefits are clear.
  • Broadly speaking,...Якщо говорити в загальному,...Broadly speaking, people live longer now.
  • As a rule,...Як правило,...As a rule, progress is uneven.
  • With few exceptions,...За небагатьма винятками,...With few exceptions, countries have grown richer.
  • Up to a point,...До певної міри,...Up to a point, technology can fix its own problems.
  • Not necessarily.Не обов'язково.More technology is not necessarily better.
  • To some extent,...Певною мірою,...To some extent, the costs are unavoidable.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Gains and costs

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Is progress always good?

Is progress always good? By and large, the last two centuries have brought striking improvements. According to widely used estimates, global life expectancy has risen from roughly thirty years in 1800 to more than seventy today, and the share of people in extreme poverty has fallen sharply, although the figures depend on how poverty is defined. Many diseases that once killed millions are now treatable, and every major medical breakthrough has added to this record.

Yet progress has a darker side. On the whole, industrialisation raised prosperity, but it also created pollution, dangerous factories and, in time, climate change. Between 1811 and 1816, groups of English textile workers known as the Luddites smashed machines that they believed threatened their jobs; the word is now used to mock anyone who dislikes technology, but historians note that the Luddites were not against machines as such. They were angry about who benefited. This points to a basic problem: progress rarely helps everyone equally, and it may increase inequality.

Broadly speaking, philosophers fall into two camps. Optimists say that, up to a point, problems caused by progress can be solved by more progress. Sceptics reply that some changes cannot be undone, and that a growth model that is not sustainable will eventually fail. Both sides have a case. Few would deny that antibiotics were a success, yet fewer still would say that every innovation has been a gain.

So is progress always good? Not necessarily. Perhaps the better question is who gains, who pays and whether the benefits outweigh the costs. As a rule, progress is best judged not by what is invented but by what it does to people's lives.

What is one change that you think has been a mixed blessing?

3.2

True or false?

  1. The text says that life expectancy has risen since 1800.
  2. The text says that the Luddites hated all machines.
  3. The text says that the figures for poverty depend on how it is defined.
  4. The text says that progress always helps everyone equally.
  5. The text says that few would deny that antibiotics were a success.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Has progress made us happier?
  2. Who pays for progress?
  3. Are there changes that cannot be undone?
  4. Should we slow down some kinds of innovation?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Generalising

Use by and large, on the whole, broadly speaking, for the most part, as a rule and with few exceptions to make general statements, and tend to + verb for typical behaviour. The majority of takes a plural verb with a plural noun.

By and large, life has improved. On the whole, the benefits are clear. As a rule, progress is uneven. People tend to forget the costs. The majority of countries have grown richer.

Qualifying

Limit a general claim with up to a point, to some extent, in many respects, not necessarily, with the exception of and in some cases. Few would deny... and fewer still... are formal ways to agree strongly.

Up to a point, technology can fix its own problems. More technology is not necessarily better. In some cases, the costs are high. Few would deny that antibiotics were a success.

Block 10 review

Use the grammar from this block.

big statements: cleft sentences, correlatives, parallelism (L46)

Common mistakes: by and large and on the whole are fixed phrases; use tend to + verb, the majority of + plural verb and with few exceptions. ✗ By large, people agree → By and large, people agree. ✗ Most of people → Most people / Most of the people. ✗ It tends to be rain → It tends to rain. ✗ The majority of voters is → are. ✗ Not necessary good → Not necessarily good.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. , life has improved.
  2. , the benefits are clear.
  3. People
    forget the costs.
  4. The majority of countries
    grown richer.
  5. More technology is not
    better.
  6. , technology can fix its own problems.
  7. agree that medicine has improved.
  8. Few would
    that antibiotics were a success.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. By large, life has improved. →
  2. Most of people agree that medicine has improved. →
  3. The majority of voters is happy. →
  4. More technology is not necessary better. →
  5. It tends to be rain in April. →
  6. Few would denying that it helped. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use generalising and qualifying language.

  1. By and large, is life better today than in the past? Why?
  2. Who tends to benefit most from new technology?
  3. Up to a point, can technology solve our problems? Explain.
  4. On the whole, are you optimistic about the future?
  5. What change has been a mixed blessing in your life?
  6. What do people tend to forget when they praise progress?
5

Three views and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three views on progress

Three people discuss progress. Compare them. Who is the most optimistic? Who is the most doubtful? Whose view is closest to yours?

Person 1

Prof. Nkemelu, 60

  • Studies economic history
  • Says that on the whole growth has reduced poverty
  • Warns that benefits are uneven
  • Believes sustainability is the key
Person 2

Sven, 31

  • Is an engineer
  • Says innovation will fix most problems
  • Admits that some drawbacks are serious
  • Is optimistic about green technology
Person 3

Rosa, 68

  • Lives in a village
  • Misses quieter times
  • Says progress has not necessarily made people happier
  • Feels some nostalgia
5.2

Mini-talk: progress and its price

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: say whether you think progress is mostly good.
  3. Part 2: use at least three generalising or qualifying expressions (by and large, on the whole, as a rule, up to a point, not necessarily).
  4. Part 3: give an example of a change that had both benefits and costs.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What is the best change in your lifetime?
  2. Do you like new gadgets?
  3. Which old technology do you miss?
  4. Do you think life is faster now?
  5. Do you worry about the environment?
  6. What would you never give up?
  7. Do you think people are happier than before?
  8. What is the next big invention?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family dislikes new technology?
  2. Who benefits most from progress?
  3. Who should pay for the damage of progress?
  4. Who invented something you use daily?
  5. Who do you ask for technical help?
  6. Who in your life lived through great changes?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Does progress make people happier?
  2. Should we limit new technologies?
  3. Is nostalgia a useful feeling?
  4. Is inequality a price worth paying?
  5. Will progress continue forever?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Defending progress

You

Speaker

You are in a debate (your teacher):
  • state your view
  • give one clear benefit
  • admit one cost
  • use two qualifying phrases
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use by and large and up to a point.
Your teacher

Opponent

Says things like:
  1. Progress has ruined the world.
  2. Can you give an example?
  3. But it increases inequality.
  4. So are you optimistic?
7.2

Discussing change

You

Speaker

You are in a discussion group (your teacher):
  • say whether life is better now
  • give an example
  • respond to a different view
  • use three generalising expressions
You do most of the talking. Use: on the whole... · as a rule... · not necessarily... · tend to...
Your teacher

Group member

Says things like:
  1. Life was better in the past.
  2. Why do you think so?
  3. But we live longer now.
  4. What is your conclusion?
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

innovationdrawbackprosperityinequalitysustainableobsoleteoutweighbreakthrough
  1. The introduction of new ideas, methods or devices is called .
  2. One of new technology is that it can destroy traditional jobs.
  3. A country enjoys when its people are wealthy and successful.
  4. The gap between the rich and the poor is known as .
  5. A way of living can continue without harming the environment for future generations.
  6. Typewriters have become , since almost nobody uses them.
  7. Some people think that the benefits of cars the harm they cause.
  8. The discovery of antibiotics was a major medical .
H2

Choose the correct form

  1. , people are kind.
  2. , the plan works.
  3. Children copy adults.
  4. The majority of people happy.
  5. Newer is not better.
  6. , money helps.
  7. like music.
  8. Few would that it was useful.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. By and large, life has improved.
  2. By large, life has improved.
  3. People tend to forget the costs.
  4. Most of people agree with me.
  5. The majority of countries have grown richer.
  6. More technology is not necessarily better.
  7. It tends to be rain in April.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. By and large,
  2. On the whole,
  3. Broadly speaking,
  4. As a rule,
  5. Up to a point,
  6. More technology is
  7. With few exceptions,

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.