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Session 3
Listen to James and Georgina talk about driverless cars and technological innovation, whilst also explaining this week’s vocabulary topic!
జేమ్స్, జార్జీనా driverless cars గురించి చర్చిస్తున్నారు. వాటి వల్ల లాభాలేంటి? నష్టాలేంటి? వింటూ ఈ వారం పదజాలాన్ని నేర్చుకోండి.
Activity 1
Robots on the road (driverless cars)
ఆడియో వినండి. ప్రెజంటర్స్ ఒకరితో ఒకరు ఏకీభవిస్తున్నారా?
Listen to check your answers. Then compare with the transcript below.

సౌమ్య
హలో, New English Together కార్యక్రమానికి స్వాగతం. ఇవాల్టి అంశం ‘driverless cars’ - డ్రైవర్ అవసరం లేని కార్లు. James and Georgina ఈ అంశం గురించి చర్చించబోతున్నారు. వల్ల లాభాలేంటి? నష్టాలేంటి? చూద్దాం ఏం చెప్తున్నారో! ఈ మధ్యే వచ్చిన ఒక BBC News article లో driverless cars ప్రవేశపెట్టేముందు చాలా టెస్ట్ చెయ్యాలి. ఎక్కువరోజులు వాటిని observe చేసి, అవెలా పనిచేస్తున్నాయో చూసి ,జాగ్రత్తగా పరిశీలించి తరువాతే వాటిని ప్రవేశపెట్టాలి అని రాసారు. . James and Georgina ఏం చెప్తున్నారో చూద్దాం.
James
So personally I think driverless cars are a great thing!
Georgina
Although I agree that they will be very useful, I have a lot of concerns about them too.
James
You said ‘although’ – that’s a word to contrast two different opinions, isn’t it?
Georgina
Indeed! So what about you? Do you have any concerns about driverless cars?
James
Well yes, there are a lot of concerns that the technology is not ready to be put on the roads yet, but without road tests, they might never be ready!
Georgina
Ahh, you said ‘but’ – that’s another contrast word! And yes, I suppose you’re right – they do need to be tested. Using computers to drive cars is good in theory – they should eliminate driver error.
James
Indeed – Stanford University in the USA claim that driver error accounts for as much 90% of traffic accidents.
Georgina
That much? Wow – even though that seems very high, it’s not so surprising.
James
Another good linking word there! ‘Even though'.
Not only will driverless cars eliminate driver error, but they will also prevent other problems, such as drink-driving and accidents caused by people being tired.
Georgina
While that is true, there are also a lot of fears about how good the machines will be at noticing and avoiding dangers.
James
Hmm, good point. Despite all the tests being done, machines break all the time, so they need to be perfect before they can be used on the road without safety drivers.
సౌమ్య
వీళ్లిద్దరి అభిప్రాయాలు contrasting - విరుద్ధంగా ఉన్నాయి. విరుద్ధమైన భావాలను వ్యక్తపరుస్తున్నప్పుడు వాక్యాలను లింక్ చెయ్యడానికి adverbs - క్రియావిశేషణాలను వాడాల్సి ఉంటుంది. Despite, while, even though ఇవన్నీ క్రియా విశేషణాలే! ఎదుటి వ్యక్తి చెబుతున్నదానికి విరుద్ధమైన విషయం చెప్పబోతున్నాం అనే సిగ్నల్ ఇవ్వడానికి ఇవి ఉపయోగపడతాయి. రాస్తున్నప్పుడు వాక్యాలన్నిటికీ పొంతన కుదిరేట్టు బాగా, పొందికగా రాయడానికి కూడా ఇవి ఉపయోగపడతాయి. ఇంకేం చెప్తున్నారో విందాం.
Georgina
So with all this talk of driverless cars, it has me wondering about the speed at which technology is developing generally.
James
Yes that’s very true – we are living in a golden age of technology. However, I do think in some ways it is misused.
Georgina
Good connector! ‘However’!
And you’re right – technology is misused a lot. For example, people who get distracted by social media rather doing what they’re supposed to.
James
Not to mention the ways technology is used to commit crimes. And these crimes are difficult to detect and prevent because they are committed online, whereas in the past they had to be done in person, where it was much more likely that you would be caught.
Georgina
Another useful contrast word there James, ‘whereas’.
Well in spite of these abuses of technology, it is also being used to improve the world around us. ‘In spite of’ is another contrast word to change the topic.
James
Just think of all the medical discoveries that have been made and how they have helped us live longer, healthier lives.
Georgina
Or ways of producing clean, renewable energy, such as solar panels or wind turbines.
James
Nevertheless, it does seem that most technologies, despite the good intentions they were made with, are often misused.
Georgina
That’s another good connector there- ‘nevertheless’. And yes, I’m afraid I agree. No matter the invention and the good reasons for which they were made, there is often a negative consequence that comes with them.
సౌమ్య
బావుంది. ఇవాల్టి కార్యక్రమంలో వాక్యాలను కలిపే క్రియావిశేషణాలను నేర్చుకున్నాం. Although, but, despite, while, even though, in spite of, nevertheless వీటన్నిటినీ సందర్భానుసారంగా వాడొచ్చు. Join us again next week for more vocabulary lessons. Bye!
Learn more!
Contrasting Connectors
Contrasting connectors are adverbs that are used to show a difference in opinion, to compare two things or a change of topic. They are more common in written English than spoken English.
1) However
‘However’ is used at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
e.g. I like carrots. However, I don’t like peas.
I like carrots. I don’t like peas however.
2) But
‘But’ can be used between two sentences to connect them together. You will hear it used at the beginning of sentences in spoken English, but this is unconventional in written English.
e.g. I like carrots, but I don’t like peas.
3) Despite/In spite of
‘Despite’/’In spite of’ can be used in three different ways.
-despite + noun
e.g. Despite the rain, we went to the park.
-despite + ing
e.g. Despite being rainy, we went to the park.
-despite + the fact that
e.g. Despite the fact that it was raining, we went to the park.
4) Although/ Though /Whereas
‘Although’/’Though’/’Whereas’ can be used at the beginning of a sentence, or between two sentences to connect them.
e.g. Although I like carrots, I don’t like peas.
I like carrots, though I don’t like peas.
Whereas I don’t like carrots, I do like peas.
5) While
‘While’ is used at the beginning of a sentence.
e.g. While I like carrots, I don’t like peas.
Robots on the road
3 Questions
Choose the correct option.
సరైన జవాబు ఎంచుకోండి.
Help
Activity
Choose the correct option.
సరైన జవాబు ఎంచుకోండి.
Hint
Which connector do we use with ‘the fact that’?Question 1 of 3
Help
Activity
Choose the correct option.
సరైన జవాబు ఎంచుకోండి.
Hint
Which word can go before the two different points of view?Question 2 of 3
Help
Activity
Choose the correct option.
సరైన జవాబు ఎంచుకోండి.
Hint
Which word goes at the beginning of a sentence, but between the two different points of view?Question 3 of 3
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
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ఈ కథనం మీకు నచ్చిందా? మీ అభిప్రాయాన్ని మా ఫేస్బుక్ గ్రూప్ లో మాతో పంచుకోండి.
Join us for our next episode of English Together when we will learn more useful language and practise your listening skills.
English Together కార్యక్రమంలో మమ్మల్ని మళ్లీ కలిసి మరింత ఉపయోగకరమైన భాషను నేర్చుకోండి, మీ శ్రవణ కౌశలానికి పదును పెట్టుకోండి.
Session Vocabulary
However
ఏది ఏమైనప్పటికీ
Although
అయితే
Though
అయితే
Despite
అయినప్పటికీ
In spite of
అయినా సరే
Nevertheless
ఏదయినాగానీ
But
కానీ