1. Lisa is not making a cake. Is Lisa making a cake? 2. Jerry and Mark are not playing tennis. Are Jerry and Mark playing tennis? 3. The students are not eating their sandwich. Are the students eating their sandwich?
Life today seems to be much better than 50 years ago. It became much easier to do many basic things. For example, people don't have to wash clothes without a washing machine. There is a microwave, a vacuum cleaner, a dishwasher, an electric cooker almost in every house. Modern technology has fully changed our lives to the better. Fifty years ago people couldn't even imagine that household chores would be done by smart appliances. To think only, they didn't know that computers would instantly send messages, take photos, or allow making video calls. Nobody had cell phones back then. On the one hand, it might have been difficult to live without these gadgets. On the other hand, children were much happier without cell phones and hand-held computers. My grandparents often tell me about their childhood and youth. They say it was a happy time and people were different.People of their generation weren't commercially-minded at all. Our generation lives at the era of consumerism. We don’t value things and clothes that much. When we break or spoil something, we go to the store and easily buy a new one. My grandmother tells that she could wear the same pair of shoes for ten years and more, while I want to buy new shoes almost every season. Women’s rights have also been modified. Fifty years ago they were supposed to be diligent housewives. Today women are seen at many high positions. They can be leading lawyers, politicians, financiers, top managers and superintendants. Another modern step forward is the development of travel opportunities. It has become faster, cheaper and more convenient to travel from one country to another. It is beneficial nearly for everyone: international students, curious adults, international commerce and trade, etc.
1 Lawrence Ferlinghetti opened the oldest paperback book store in the United States in 1953. The oldest paperback book store in the United States was opened in 1953 (by Lawrence Ferlinghetti). 2 The police are interviewing him in connection with the armed robbery. He is interviewed in connection with the armed robbery (by the police). 3 More than a billion people all over the world speak English. English is spoken all over the world (by more than a billion people). 4 They will officially announce their engagement tomorrow. Their engagement will be officially announced tomorrow. 5 Tom is not going to invite me to his party. I'm not going to be invited to the party (by Tom). 6 Our physical education teacher can make a good basketball player of every pupil. Every pupil can be made a good basketball player (by our physical education teacher).
2. Jerry and Mark are not playing tennis. Are Jerry and Mark playing tennis?
3. The students are not eating their sandwich. Are the students eating their sandwich?