Explore reading: Contact your future self Read the article about a website. Choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D) for questions 1–8. Put a cross ( ) in the correct box. The first one (0) has been done for you. 27 Robert Colvile reports on an idea for your future When you’ve failed to achieve any of your goals by the age of 30, the last thing you want is an irritating reminder from your 20-year-old self that you were supposed to have written a novel by now. But that is precisely the service offered by futureme.org, a website that stores time-released emails, sent to their writer between 30 days and 30 years later. Since it was set up in 2004, the site has had countless entries, from simple reminders of anniversaries or birthdays to lengthy reflections on the writer’s past, current situation and future goals. It was the inspiration of Matt Sly when he was a teacher in San Francisco trying to design a project for his pupils. “It was just an idea,” said Mr Sly, 41, who also studied business at Yale. “It popped into my head one day when I was out for a jog. My business partner, Jay Patrikios, and I have been amazed by the response.” Most messages are for delivery within three years. About a tenth are made public by their senders. The most emotional public emails were also published as a book. “There are messages from all sorts of people which reflect just about every emotion we go through at some point in our lives,” said Mr Sly. “Some of them are pretty moving.” Mr Sly said that when he uses the site, “it gives the illusion of creating some kind of order” in his life. He deals with ambitions or family issues in his messages or simply tries to assure his future self that he has saved enough money for retirement. The idea has certainly caught on, and there are similar sites called Futuremail and Mail to the Future. Another site, My Last Email, promises to deliver your electronic message to your loved ones after you die. 0 What does the website let you do? A write a novel B send lots of emails C save for your retirement set up reminders 1 What does the writer say about the website in the first paragraph? A It offers a useful service. B It could be a bit annoying. C It helps you achieve your goals. D It’s an attractive idea. 2 Readers cannot use this site A to help them remember future occasions. B to write about their ambitions for the future. C to record memories of their life so far. D to deliver messages to other people. 3 Matt Sly came up with the idea A when he was doing some exercise. B when he was working on a business project. C when he was teaching a class. D when he was studying business at Yale. D 4 Which messages were published? A private messages with emotional content B all messages which have been seen by the public C all the messages which have been delivered D the most moving emails which have been made public 5 What is the attraction of such a website? A It lets you control your future. B It lets you change your past. C It makes your life appear ordered. D It gives you a sense of security. 6 Matt Sly’s website futureme.org A was only successful for a short time. B was inspired by Futuremail. C has made him very rich. D is not the only one offering such a service. 16 Language skills Extras Explore 1 Global media Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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