Mastering English: Vocabulary, Verbs, and Future Tenses

Vocabulary Development

Surveillance Terminology

Key terms related to surveillance:

• Surveillance: closed-circuit television (CCTV), biometric identification, identity cards, iris recognition, radio-frequency identification (RFID), computer chip.

Verbs of Observation and Detection

Understand verbs used to describe observation and detection:

• To survey: From his viewpoint at the top of the tower, he was able to survey the surrounding countryside.
• To be captured: As soon as she stepped outside, she was captured on camera.
• To identify: The man had been dead for more than thirty years, but it was possible to identify him using just his dental records.
• To be monitored: “Don’t worry about the man who called on you,” said the officer. “His movements will be monitored by the authorities.”
• To detect: “This is state-of-the-art technology,” she explained. “It really can detect a needle in a haystack.”
• To spy on: We think they’re using the satellite to spy on the military installations of neighboring countries.
• To scan: She waited anxiously as the machine scanned her luggage.
• To scrutinize: The border guards scrutinized every centimeter of my passport. Then, almost reluctantly, they let me through.

Collective and Partitive Nouns

Common collective and partitive nouns:

• a bar of soap
• a bit of information
• a bunch of grapes
• a drop of water
• a flock of birds or sheep
• a head of cows
• a packet of sugar
• a piece of cake
• a slice of bread
• a speck of dust
• a swarm of insects
• a tribe of people

Practice with Collective and Partitive Nouns

1. Do you know where I can buy a packet of chewing gum? → Yes, you can buy a packet of chewing gum at the supermarket or a convenience store.
2. What do you usually do when you have a bit of free time before class? → I usually check my phone, chat with friends, or review my notes.
3. What do you suggest I do? I have a speck of dirt in my eye. → Try rinsing your eye with water or blinking rapidly to remove it.
4. Do you think your mother would like a bunch of flowers? → Yes, she would love a bunch of fresh flowers, especially roses or lilies.
5. Is it bad to eat a piece of chocolate every day? → No, a piece of chocolate a day is fine, especially if it’s dark chocolate.
6. Where can I get the best slice of cheesecake in your town? → The best slice of cheesecake is at the café downtown; they make amazing desserts.
7. If you felt a drop of rain on a cloudless day, what would you think? → I’d think it was strange and wonder if a bird dropped water from above.
8. Do you have toast for breakfast? If so, how many slices? → Yes, I usually have two slices of toast with butter or jam.

Verb Zone: Phrasal Verbs

Understanding common phrasal verbs related to hearing and listening:

• hear about: learn that something has happened
• hear from: receive news from someone
• hear of: know that something exists
• listen in on: listen to a conversation without the people knowing
• listen out for: listen carefully because you expect something to happen

Completing Sentences with Correct Verb Forms

1. John Anderton is told that he will murder someone called Leo Crow, a man he has never heard of.
2. I used to chat to Alex a lot, but I haven’t heard from him in ages.
3. Have you heard about the plans for a new airport in the city?
4. Did you hear that click? I think someone is listening in on us!
5. I used to listen out for my mother’s car coming down the street.

Uses of 'Will' for Future Predictions

Examples of 'will' used to make predictions about the future:

1. In the future, everyone will have to carry identity cards containing biometric information.
2. We will not be able to travel without new biometric identity cards.
3. Traveling in the European Union will be much easier.
4. We will not have to show any ID at all.
5. In the future, we will not be able to drive a car even if we haven’t passed a driving test!
6. People will have to go abroad unless they have a letter of invitation.
7. The station is closed today. We will have to get to the airport.
8. We will have to finish this exercise soon. Otherwise, the teacher will be annoyed.
9. The website is down. We will not be able to buy tickets online until later.

Unit 4 Review: Vocabulary & Grammar

Vocabulary Practice

Exercise 1

Complete the sentences with appropriate vocabulary:

1. In the future, biometric information will be used as a form of surveillance, which is much more effective than CCTV.
2. Iris recognition technology is used to detect the part of the eye which is most individual and is more accurate than fingerprints.
3. The police officer asked me to try and identify the man in the line-up who I thought stole my passport.
4. The activities of the suspected terrorists will be closely monitored by the authorities.
5. The machine scanned the suspicious-looking package that had been delivered.
6. Some countries require their citizens to carry an identity card with them that contains basic information that proves who they are.

Exercise 2

Complete the sentences with appropriate collective or partitive nouns:

1. Did you see the program about a tribe of indigenous people who had never seen modern civilization?
2. RFID chips in passports are as small as a grain of rice.
3. The thieves left behind no traces of their illegal activities, not even a speck of dust.
4. How would you react if you saw a group of young hooligans causing trouble in the street?
5. What did Maria do when she found herself surrounded by a swarm of insects in the jungle?
6. Do you think it will be possible in the future for criminals to get a pair of new eyes just so they can avoid being identified?

Exercise 3

Complete the sentences with the correct phrasal verb forms:

1. I had never heard of iris recognition until I saw a program about it. (A)
2. The authorities were secretly listening in on the man's conversations with a small device that was hidden in his hotel room. (A)
3. Have you heard about the government's plans to introduce identity cards? (B)
4. Everyone will have heard of the terrorist group after these recent attacks. (B)
5. One thief listened out for someone passing by, while the other broke into the office. (A)
6. I still haven't heard from the police about my missing travel documents. (B)

Grammar Exercises

Exercise 1: Future Predictions

Put the words in order to make predictions for the future:

1. There will be talking CCTV cameras in every village.
2. In the future, government organizations will easily access information on RFID chips.
3. I think they will introduce more effective methods of surveillance.
4. Traveling within the EU will become easier, and we won’t have to show any ID.
5. The police will use state-of-the-art technology to improve our personal security.

Exercise 2: Will / Won't Be Able To or Will / Won't Have To

Complete the sentences with will/won't be able to or will/won't have to:

1. Security officers using talking CCTV cameras will be able to tell people directly to pick up their litter.
2. You will have to cancel your credit cards if you can't find your wallet soon.
3. I won't be able to identify the culprit, as I didn't get a good look at their face.
4. In the future, police won't have to chase after thieves; they will simply track them down through RFID chips in the items they stole.
5. From the top of the building, police will be able to survey the surrounding area.

Exercise 3: Correct Verb Forms

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs below:

1. The plane will leave as soon as everyone has taken their seats.
2. I will put our valuables and passports in the room's safe after we arrive at the hotel.
3. We won't be able to travel until we have received our visas from the embassy.
4. You won't be able to access the classified documents unless you find the password.
5. I won't be able to check my emails when I am on the train.

Exercise 4: Future Continuous

Complete the sentences with the future continuous form of the verbs in brackets:

1. This time next week the police will be chasing a group of terrorists.
2. This time next week my family will be flying to New York.
3. This time next week two friends will be walking in the mountains.
4. This time next week a watchman will be installing a new CCTV camera.
5. This time next week a detective will be spying on a suspect from his car.

Exercise 5: Future Continuous Questions

Write questions using the future continuous, and positive (✓) or negative (✗) short answers:

1. Will your parents be going to the neighborhood watch meeting tonight? → Yes, they will. They're very concerned about security in the area.
2. Will your local council be replacing street lamps on your road? → No, they won’t. They have decided to prioritize other infrastructure projects first.
3. Will your brother be playing tennis after school today? → Yes, he will. He has an important match against another school.
4. Will Tara be helping out the police with their case? → Yes, she will. She has important information that could help solve the case.
5. Will you be skiing in the mountains with your family this weekend? → No, I won’t. We had to cancel our trip due to bad weather.

Exercise 6: Future Perfect

Read the action plan. Answer the questions using the future perfect:

1. What will have happened in every town and city by 2025? → They will have installed talking CCTV cameras.
2. What will have changed for all UK citizens? → The government will have introduced identity cards for all UK citizens.
3. How will airports have changed? → They will have invested in more iris recognition security check machines at major UK airports.
4. What will they have made compulsory? → They will have made passports with biometric information compulsory.
5. What will have happened around the country? → They will have put more security guards in town and city centers.
6. What will the government have given to police? → They will have given police more access to information on RFID chips.