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Chunks Conversation · Lesson 19

Possibilities

Themed Conversation: Technology in 2050

Expression Chunks

There's a good chance that + clause

Meaning: Says that something is fairly likely to happen.

Sample sentence: There's a good chance that many routine tasks will be automated by 2050.

Use it in your answer:

  • What everyday technology do you think may disappear?Answer using: There's a good chance that...
  • Which jobs might look very different twenty years from now?Answer using: There's a good chance that...
  • Could cash eventually become unusual?Answer using: There's a good chance that...
  • What new kind of job might appear because of AI?Answer using: There's a good chance that...
  • Could people eventually spend much less time doing household chores?Answer using: There's a good chance that...

I wouldn't be surprised if + clause

Meaning: Says a possible future event would not surprise you.

Sample sentence: I wouldn't be surprised if physical wallets became uncommon.

Use it in your answer:

  • What everyday technology do you think may disappear?Answer using: I wouldn't be surprised if...
  • Which jobs might look very different twenty years from now?Answer using: I wouldn't be surprised if...
  • Could cash eventually become unusual?Answer using: I wouldn't be surprised if...
  • What new kind of job might appear because of AI?Answer using: I wouldn't be surprised if...
  • Could people eventually spend much less time doing household chores?Answer using: I wouldn't be surprised if...

I wouldn't rule out the possibility that + clause

Meaning: Keeps a possibility open even if it is not the most likely outcome.

Sample sentence: I wouldn't rule out the possibility that entirely new careers will emerge because of AI.

Use it in your answer:

  • What everyday technology do you think may disappear?Answer using: I wouldn't rule out the possibility that...
  • Which jobs might look very different twenty years from now?Answer using: I wouldn't rule out the possibility that...
  • Could cash eventually become unusual?Answer using: I wouldn't rule out the possibility that...
  • What new kind of job might appear because of AI?Answer using: I wouldn't rule out the possibility that...
  • Could people eventually spend much less time doing household chores?Answer using: I wouldn't rule out the possibility that...

Question Chunks

How likely do you think it is that + clause?

Sample question: How likely do you think it is that cash will disappear?

Construct 5 of your own questions using the same format:

  1. ______________________________________________________________
  2. ______________________________________________________________
  3. ______________________________________________________________
  4. ______________________________________________________________
  5. ______________________________________________________________

What do you think might happen if + clause?

Sample question: What do you think might happen if AI becomes part of almost every job?

Construct 5 of your own questions using the same format:

  1. ______________________________________________________________
  2. ______________________________________________________________
  3. ______________________________________________________________
  4. ______________________________________________________________
  5. ______________________________________________________________

Topic Phrasal Verbs

Themed Conversation: Technology in 2050

come up with

Definition: create an idea or solution

Sample sentence: Someone will probably come up with solutions we can't imagine yet.

Practice questions:

  • When do you come up with your best ideas?
  • Have you ever come up with a clever solution to a problem?
  • What invention do you wish someone would come up with?
  • Is it easier to come up with ideas alone or in a group?
  • What idea would you like companies to come up with by 2050?

phase out

Definition: gradually stop using

Sample sentence: Some older technologies are gradually being phased out.

Practice questions:

  • What technology should be phased out?
  • Do you think cash will eventually be phased out?
  • What environmentally harmful products should be phased out?
  • How should companies phase out old systems without causing problems?
  • What is something you hope will never be phased out?

roll out

Definition: introduce something new

Sample sentence: Companies often roll out new features in stages.

Practice questions:

  • What new technology would you like to see rolled out soon?
  • How do you feel when companies roll out major app updates?
  • Should new technology be tested carefully before it is rolled out widely?
  • What public service should your city or country roll out?
  • Have you ever been excited about a product that was being rolled out?

Relaxed Conversation — 10 Questions

  • Which piece of technology do you use most every day?
  • What current technology do you think will seem old-fashioned by 2050?
  • What technology would you happily phase out?
  • What invention do you wish someone would come up with?
  • Would you want a robot that could do most household chores?
  • Do you think people will still drive their own cars in 2050?
  • What new technology would you be excited to try?
  • What future technology would make you uncomfortable?
  • Do you think technology will make life simpler or more complicated?
  • If you could bring one device from 2050 back to the present, what would you hope it could do?