Listen to the introduction of a programme about technology in different parts of the world. 1 Do you agree with the presenter’s interpretation of the two images? 2 What do you think the report will go on to say about mobile phone usage in the developed and developing worlds? Listen to the full report. Discuss these questions. 1 What are the general trends in global smartphone use? 2 How strong is the link between a country’s wealth and its smartphone usage? 3 What is the role that age plays in the developed and less developed world? 4 What are the other major factors? What role do they play? 5 What role does gender play in smartphone usage in most countries? What about in India? Think about Austria. Discuss these questions. 1 What percentage of people do you think have a smartphone? Do you know anybody without one? 2 What do people use their mobile phones for? 3 What differences do you see in the way your generation uses smartphone technology compared to your parents or grandparents? 4 How often do you replace your mobile phone? Why? Listening 17 a 3yp6tp 21 b q955p3 22 Speaking 18 Info point: Banks and banking services Talk together. What different types of banks do you know? What are the differences between them? Read the information below to check your ideas. 19 a b Clearing banks or commercial banks (in the UK also called ‘High street banks’ or ‘the Big Four’ – Lloyds, RBS, Barclays, HSBC) de al with private customers; core functions o f these retail banks are making and receiving payments as well as commercial lending . Investment banks buy and sell large quantities of shares; they help float a company and calculate and sell IPOs*. Famous names are Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, City Group and Goldman Sachs. *initial public offering: an occasion when shares in a company are first sold to th e public Merchant banks deal with ‘big’ or major customers as they offer financial services to companies rather than private individuals. Apart from providing loans for corporate or business customers, they carry out credit ratings to establish the credit worthiness of (foreign) companies. Read the extract from an article about commercial banks on the next page and answer these questions in pairs or small groups. 1 Which banking services mentioned in the extract have you used? Which of these do you use regularly? 2 How has the work of banks and bankers changed in recent years? Try to explain why. 3 Have you heard of the ECB and the Fed? What is their function? 20 67 Language skills Extras Explore 5 It’s an online world Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODE3MDE=