#0755 – Rejecting Newer Technology, - Ang, mater, ESL Podcast McQuillan Jeff mp3+PDF
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English as a Second Language Podcast
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ESL Podcast 755 – Rejecting Newer Technology
GLOSSARY
to act up
– to behave badly; to behave or operate in an unexpected way that
does not meet one’s needs
* Lately, the toaster has been acting up, burning the bread because it doesn’t
pop up automatically.
ice age
– a very cold period of time approximately 20,000 years ago when most
of Earth was covered with ice and snow
* The walls of this cave have some interesting drawings from the ice age.
dated
– out-of-date; not modern; relating to the past and no longer fashionable
* Their kitchen is really dated, with bright orange countertops and green
appliances.
holdout
– a person who is very stubborn and one of the last people to do
something, agree to something, or accept what another person is offering
* The power company can’t build its new line until the last few holdouts agree to
sell their property.
to switch
– to exchange or replace; to buy or get something new to replace
something older
* When are you going to switch from your old camera that uses film to a new
digital camera?
model
– one design of a machine, often updated each year
* The new model of this car has more comfortable seats.
to spring for
– to pay for something; to cover the cost of something
* Let’s spring for dessert. After all, we’re supposed to be celebrating!
compatible
– able to be used with something else, especially referring to
hardware and software that can communicate with each other
* Is this program compatible with the Windows operating system?
attached to
– liking something very much, not wanting to get rid of it or not have
it, often for no reason; feeling an emotional connection to something
* That chair is more than 15 years old and has a few holes, but Derek is attached
to it and won’t let his wife get rid of it.
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ESL Podcast 755 – Rejecting Newer Technology
to overtake
– to go past something; to become better or more successful than
someone or something else
* Farms that use genetically modified seeds have overtaken more traditional
farms in terms of the amount of food they can produce.
obsolete
– no longer used or useful because something else can now do
something better or faster
* Some people don’t agree that records are obsolete and prefer them to CDs and
MP3 files.
version
– a copy of a document, software program, or design that has been
changed slightly to make it different but similar to the previous one
* Here’s the second version of the annual report. Please review it and let us
know if you find any typos.
to give up
– to decide to no longer have or do something that one likes
* When Ashley decided to lose weight, it was really hard for her to give up
cookies and ice cream.
live by the sword, die by the sword
– an expression originally in the Bible,
used to mean that the way one chooses to live affects what happens to one in
the future
* Xavier has never donated money to any nonprofit groups, so why did he think
they’d suddenly rush to help him when he needed it? As they say, live by the
sword, die by the sword.
lost cause
– something that cannot succeed, no matter how much effort one
puts into it
* Trying to get that old car to run again is a lost cause.
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these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
English as a Second Language Podcast
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ESL Podcast 755 – Rejecting Newer Technology
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. What’s wrong with Darlene’s computer?
a) It isn’t operating correctly.
b) It won’t turn on anymore.
c) It is really ugly and loud.
2. What does Chris mean when he says, “It’s a lost cause”?
a) He won’t be able to fix the computer.
b) It will be very expensive to fix the computer.
c) The computer parts he needs will be very hard to find.
______________
WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?
to act up
The phrase “to act up,” in this podcast, means to behave badly or to behave or
operate in an unexpected way that does not meet one’s needs: “Bryan’s car
started acting up last week, so he needs to take it to a mechanic.” The phrase
“to act out” refers to people behaving badly, especially children who want to get
more attention: “The teacher called again to say that Hannah is acting out in
class, distracting the other students.” The phrase “to act (something) out” means
to dramatize an event or to show how something happened: “Every December,
the children in the church act out the birth of Jesus.” Finally, the phrase “to act
on” means to do something based on the information or advice one has received:
“The politicians say they’re acting on the information in the economist’s report.”
spring
In this podcast, the phrase “to spring for (something)” means to pay for
something: “Jules was really surprised when her father sprung for a pony.” The
phrase “to spring up” means to appear suddenly or to begin to exist: “Coffee
shops are springing up all over town.” The phrase “to spring (something) on
(someone)” means to surprise someone by telling him or her something very
unexpected: “How could you just spring the news on your parents like that? You
should have prepared them first for what was coming.” Finally, the phrase “to
spring a leak” means for a boat or container to suddenly have a hole that water is
coming through: “Our boat hit a rock and sprung a leak.”
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English as a Second Language Podcast
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ESL Podcast 755 – Rejecting Newer Technology
CULTURE NOTE
Classic Video Games
Pong is one of the “classic” (traditional; one of the first of something and still
admired) video games. Released in 1972, it was based on a tennis game. Pong
doesn’t have any “fancy” (elaborate, with a lot of detail) modern “graphics”
(electronic images). The “screen” (the rectangular, flat piece that shows
electronic images) “displays” (shows) two simple “paddles” (a flat piece of wood
or plastic used to hit balls back and forth in a game). A small “icon” (computer
image) representing a ball “bounces” (jumps off of) between the paddles, which
can be moved with the “keyboard” (the set of buttons used to enter information
into a computer). The players earn points each time the other player is not able
to hit the ball back.
Pac Man, released in 1980, requires moving a small icon through a “maze” (a
design with many paths to reach a destination) to eat other small icons to earn
points while avoiding being eaten by “ghosts” (spirits). Pac Man was very
popular and has “grossed” (earned from sales) more money than any other video
game.
Frogger is another classic game with simple graphics, “albeit” (but; although)
more elaborate than the graphics in Pong. In Frogger, which was created in
1981, the player needs to move the icon of a frog to its home at the top of the
screen. The frog must cross a busy street without getting hit by cars, and cross a
river by jumping onto moving “logs” (fallen trees) without falling into the water.
The player “progresses” (moves forward) through levels of increasing difficulty as
the cars and logs begin to move more quickly.
These classics have been updated many times, and modern versions can be
found online and in video “arcades” (buildings with many machines for playing
video games).
______________
Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – a; 2 – a
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ESL Podcast 755 – Rejecting Newer Technology
COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 755: Rejecting
Newer Technology.
This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 755. I’m your host, Dr.
Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in
beautiful Los Angeles, California.
Become a member of ESL Podcast; help support this podcast. If you do become
a member you can download the Learning Guide for all our current episodes that
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This episode is a dialogue between Darlene and Chris about someone who
doesn’t like new technology. Let’s get started.
[start of dialogue]
Darlene: Thanks for agreeing to take a look at my computer. It’s been acting up
lately.
Chris: Sure, I don’t mind. Is this it?
Darlene: Yeah.
Chris: How long have you had this computer? It looks like it belongs in the ice
age.
Darlene: I admit it’s a little dated. I must be one of the last holdouts in switching
to a newer model.
Chris: What are you waiting for? It seems to me that all of your computer
problems would be solved if you spring for a new one.
Darlene: I have a lot of old programs on this computer that aren’t compatible
with the newer models. I’m kind of attached to them.
Chris: They probably aren’t compatible because there are now better, more
efficient programs that have overtaken the ones you currently use. Your
programs are probably obsolete. Which programs are they? Maybe I can show
you how to use the newer versions.
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These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2012). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
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