Đọc hiểu lớp 6 · Tổng hợp Đọc hiểu 1

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. Technology is always progressing. Today, many modern devices can be controlled by touch or voice. This has led to some traditional electronic controls – such as dials and switches – being replaced with new technologies. Digital displays have also become increasingly common. For example, digital number readouts have long replaced the hands on many clocks. Many other devices also now operate purely with digital tools instead of mechanical systems. But some expressions and idioms used by English speakers still describe older technologies. First, let’s talk about dials. These controls are used for changing settings on a piece of equipment, like a radio or old television. We use the dial to tune in to a specific channel. That’s where the expressions dialed in and tuned in come from. If we are dialed in or tuned in to a radio or television program, we can hear it clearly. There is no noise or static. The same can be said when using these terms in personal conversations. For example, if you are dialed in to a project or problem, you know exactly what needs to be done. You are thinking clearly about it and remain very focused. And when you are tuned in, you understand clearly what is going on around you. “Don’t touch that dial” and “stay tuned” are two ways to tell someone to keep watching or listening to a program. Now, let’s talk about switches. These are built to either be off or on. There are no in-between settings like with a dial. So, when we flip the switch, we make something happen quickly and easily. It can also mean that we suddenly change something. Let’s listen to an example. The restaurant’s change to all organic food happened slowly over time. It wasn’t a matter of flipping a switch. Now, for our last expression -- to move the needle. Needles on measuring devices like a scale move to show a desired level has been reached. So, when something moves the needle, it causes a noticeable change in something, usually for the good. And that’s all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. Don't forget to tune in again for another story about American English expressions. Until next time, I’m Anna Matteo.

Today, on Everyday Grammar, we will learn to describe our birthdays. When is your birthday? When people ask us the question “When is your birthday?” we can answer a few different ways. We can use the season (spring, summer, autumn/fall, or winter), the month, or the day. My birthday is in the summer. Her father’s birthday is in March. Last Sunday was her birthday. His birthday is the 4th of May. Remember that word “birthday” is different from “birthdate.” “Birthdate” is the exact date, like December, 7th, 1997. The word “birthday” can be the date, or you can answer more generally. For example, My niece’s birthday is in August. Her birthdate is August 3rd. How old are you? What age are you turning? When we want to say how old we are, we can use the present or future verb tenses depending on when our birthdays are. We can use the past tense with the verb “turn.” If we are talking about a future birthday, say next year or in a few months, we can answer the question of “How old will you be?” with: I will be + (age). Or… I’ll be + (number) years old. In 2023, I will be 36 years old. On your birthday, you can use the present tense. Deborah is 55 today. For the past tense, we can use the structure of the verb “be” + age (years old), but we generally use it to talk about past ages in reference to something else. We can also use the verb “turn” to talk about how old we are. In this way “turn” means to reach or pass a certain age. Therefore, we can use the past tense with “turn” for talking about birthdays. For example: I turned 35 this year. This means that my birthday was in the past. I am still considered to be 35 years old after my birthday. In the present tense, we can use “turn” to say that a birthday is “today.” As in, Brad turns 60 today. And to express a future birthday, we can use the same form, the present tense. Kristen turns 41 this year. This means that sometime this year (the near future), Kristen will be 41 years old. We can use the modal verb of “will” with “turn” to express a future birthday. I will turn 36 next year. What do you want to do for your birthday?