Unit 7 On screen Lesson 7 Future in the past

Talk about future events seen from the past

1. Read the article. What does the movie industry think will the next big thing?

People are always trying to predict what the next big thing will be. Every day there seems to be a new gadget that’s going to change our lives or a pop singer who’s going to become a big star.

In October 2009, when the movie Avatar was about to be released, everyone thought 3D would be the next big thing in the world of entertainment. According to the experts, people were going to stop watching movies at home and go back to the movies. 3D was supposed to save the movie industry. However, 3D televisions would soon be selling I stores, and the movie industry would have to think of something new. Now they’re talking about 4D. Will that be the next thing?

2. Practice A Look at the quotes. Then use them to complete descriptions a and

b.

It’s going to change the world.

It will be as important as the personal computer.

It will soon be changing how we travel short distances.

We expect it to be something totally new and revolutionary.

1. In 2001 everyone was talking about a new invention that 1) ________ the world. Famous entrepreneurs said the mystery device 2) ________ as important as the personal computer or the internet. It 3) _________ how we ________ short distances. It 4) _________ something totally new and revolutionary. However, people were disappointed when they finally saw the “human transporter” called

We’re going to launch two consoles.

It’s unlikely to sell.

We’re about to prove people wrong.

Gamers will love it.

1. Toward the end of 2006, two of the world’s biggest gaming giants 5) ________ two new consoles. Everyone thought that one of them 6) _________ because company hadn’t had much success recently. However, they 7) ________ people wrong. No one had predicted that gamers 8) _______ it so much. The console was called …

B Can you guess the names of the two products?

4. Write the words.

Anna: Katy! What a surprise. I 1) _______

Katy: Really? What happened to you on Sunday? W e 2) ________ to the movies,

          remember?

Anna: I know. I’m sorry. I 3) ________ you, but …

Katy: So why didn’t you call?

Anna: Because  I knew you 4) _______

Katy: Why did you think that?

Anna: My brother told me that Linda 5) ________ the same movie.

Katy:  And?

Anna: I thought it 6) ________ strange running into her. She 7) ________ team

           captain before I was elected, remember?

Katy:  I 8) ________ with you, but you’re right. I don’t understand.