APIEVocabulary and Pronunciation: Old Gadgets and Technology
Old gadgets and changing technology
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
How to use this lesson
Quick guide for teachers and learners (20-minute module)
Spend 5 minutes reviewing the word table, 10 minutes monitoring practice, and 5 minutes checking shadowing.
Answer keys verify instantly as learners type or click options.
First, read the word table and memorize the 10 target words with their memory tips.
Next, complete all 16 practice items and record your voice in the shadowing module.
Word table
10 Target Vocabulary WordsExample Sentence Pattern
"My grandmother still uses a landline, but I no longer have one."
The first part is about an old thing. The second part is about today.
Old Gadgets
| Word | Meaning | Common Collocations | Example Sentence | Memory Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cassette | small plastic case with magnetic tape | play a cassette cassette player |
He put a cassette into the tape recorder. | 💡 The ending "-ette" means small: a cassette is a small case. |
| landline | a phone connected by wires | call a landline home landline |
My grandmother still uses a landline, but I no longer have one. | 💡 "Land" + "line" = line attached to the land/house. |
| typewriter | a machine for writing letters | manual typewriter electric typewriter |
She wrote her first novel on an old typewriter. | 💡 "Type" + "writer" = a machine that writes when you type. |
| vinyl | a black plastic disc for music | vinyl record listen to vinyl |
My dad loves collecting old vinyl records. | 💡 "Vinyl" looks like a V-shaped groove on a spinning disc. |
How They Work
| Word | Meaning | Common Collocations | Example Sentence | Memory Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dial | turn a wheel to choose numbers | dial a number dial the wrong number |
You had to dial the number slowly on old phones. | 💡 A dial is round like a clock face: you turn it in a circle. |
| wire | a thin metal thread for electricity | copper wire phone wire |
Don't pull the phone wire too hard. | 💡 "Wire" connects your device to the "fire" of power. |
| player | a device that plays music or video | record player cassette player |
We bought a new record player last week. | 💡 A device that "plays" your media. |
Change
| Word | Meaning | Common Collocations | Example Sentence | Memory Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| modern | new and using recent ideas | modern technology modern life |
Smartphones are part of modern everyday life. | 💡 "MODE-rn" is the current mode of living. |
| outdated | no longer useful or modern | outdated system outdated ideas |
That old computer system is completely outdated. | 💡 "Out" of "date" = expired calendar date. |
| upgrade | improve a machine or system | upgrade a phone upgrade software |
I need to upgrade my phone this month. | 💡 "Up" + "grade" = go up to a higher grade. |
Practice
Complete 16 interactive items from easy to hard.
Part 1: Collocation Matrix (Items 1 - 4)
Match Verbs & NounsSelect the noun that forms a natural collocation with each verb.
Part 2: Gap-Fill (Items 5 - 8)
Word Bank ProvidedItem 5:
Her new phone is very ____ and has a big screen.
Item 6:
Be careful not to trip over the long power ____.
Item 7:
My grandfather bought a new vinyl ____ to listen to music.
Item 8:
My brother's laptop is so ____ that it cannot open new programs.
Part 3: Choose the Word (Items 9 - 12)
Meaning-Based Multiple ChoiceChoose the word that fits the meaning of the sentence best.
Item 9:
On this old phone, you _____ each number by turning a wheel.
Item 10:
My dad still loves listening to music on a _____ record.
Item 11:
This old system does not work well because it is _____.
Item 12:
My computer is slow, so I want to _____ it soon.
Part 4: Sentence-Building (Items 13 - 16)
Unscramble WordsPut the scrambled words into the correct sentence order (include punctuation).
Type the correct full sentence below:
____Type the correct full sentence below:
____Type the correct full sentence below:
____Type the correct full sentence below:
____Shadowing
Listen to the audio model, then record your voice to practice clear pronunciation (12 items).
4 Key Collocations
"dial a number"
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____"play a cassette"
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____"modern technology"
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____"outdated system"
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____4 Everyday Sentences (Short & Natural)
"My granddad still calls my landline."
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____"She bought a new vinyl player."
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____"We need to upgrade our computers."
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____"Do not cut that long wire."
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____2 Extra Practice Sentences
"Old typewriters make a loud sound."
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____"Her phone is very modern."
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____2 Hard Focus Words
"cassette"
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____"wire"
[Bài tập luyện nói]
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