MAC3 | Lesson 20 | Vocabulary

​In the live lesson, we learned that Artificial Intelligence is changing the present and future job markets. We saw how Emma, a software that edits texts, produced an article, its advantages and its disadvantages. In lines 18-22 we read:

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"Where Emma fell short was in the area which actually separates accurate reporting from good reporting: the program was unable to make a distinction between significant facts and facts that readers would find interesting. Such subtlety was beyond it."​

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of "beyond it"?

• too difficult or complicated for it to do

• changed so much that it's impossible to recognise it

​Beyond basically means 'after' or 'past' something. We can use it with time, place or amounts (e.g. beyond midnight, beyond the horizon, beyond ten percent).

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This idiom means too difficult or complicated for the software to do (it was beyond the software's ability).

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All other idioms follow the same basic idea.

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Let's check some more idioms with "beyond"!​

Fill in the Blank

Complete the sentece with one of the words: doubt | a joke | me | means | recognition | the call of duty

When I returned to my hometown after two decades, I hardly recognised it. The city had changed beyond ___.

Fill in the Blank

Complete the sentece with one of the words: doubt | a joke | me | means | recognition | the call of duty

Facial recognition is beyond ___ one of the most controversial technological innovations.

Fill in the Blank

Complete the sentece with one of the words: doubt | a joke | me | means | recognition | the call of duty

It's completely beyond ___ how hackers can break into banks' systems with all those security measures.

Fill in the Blank

Complete the sentece with one of the words: doubt | a joke | me | means | recognition | the call of duty

My sister's always in debt because she insists on living beyond her ___. I try to show how important it is to take a look at her lifestyle.

Fill in the Blank

Complete the sentece with one of the words: doubt | a joke | me | means | recognition | the call of duty

I've been working for almost 16 hours a day, and when I asked my boss for a raise he told me that I don't put so much effort to deserve it. It's got beyond ___.

Fill in the Blank

Complete the sentece with one of the words: doubt | a joke | me | means | recognition | the call of duty

Then I decided to hand in the notice. Working weekends and not receiving extra pay is beyond ___.

​Let's take notes!

​beyond recognition - so different it was past being recognised (impossible to recognise it)

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beyond doubt - it's past being doubted (impossible to have any doubts)

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beyond me - too difficult for me to understand or deal with​

​live beyond your means - spend more money than you have or earn

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beyond a joke - too serious to be funny any longer.

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beyond the call of duty - used to say it's unfair to work so much or do such demanding and stressful things.

​Now, let's practice!

Multiple Choice

Choose the expression that replaces the underlined words.

It's difficult to understand how he can pay his bills earning so little money.

• changed beyond recognition

• beyond doubt

• beyond me

• live beyond your means

• beyond a joke

Multiple Choice

Choose the expression that replaces the underlined words.

Two hours to get home from the city centre? That's simply an unacceptable explanation.

• changed beyond recognition

• beyond doubt

• beyond me

• live beyond your means

• beyond a joke

Multiple Choice

Choose the expression that replaces the underlined words.

Living on your own nowadays is quite difficult because young people tend to spend more money they earn.

• changed beyond recognition

• beyond doubt

• beyond me

• live beyond their means

• beyond a joke

Multiple Choice

Choose the expression that replaces the underlined words.

Now that I want to return to the advertisement industry, I can't find an appropriate job. It seems the business changed completely in the past two years.

• changed beyond recognition

• beyond doubt

• beyond me

• live beyond their means

• beyond the call of duty

Multiple Choice

Choose the expression that replaces the underlined words.

I know for certain that unemployment will soar in the next 10 years.

• changed beyond recognition

• beyond doubt

• beyond me

• live beyond their means

• beyond the call of duty

Multiple Choice

Choose the expression that replaces the underlined words.

Why do you need to deliver the pack yourself instead of using a courier? It's more than you need to do.

• changed beyond recognition

• beyond doubt

• beyond me

• live beyond their means

• beyond the call of duty

​Great job!

​But don't forget that you need to use the vocabulary you learned in order to really acquire it!

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​So, write sentences using the new idioms and post them on Google Classroom. And make sure you use them when you talk to your teacher and classmates!

​Check MAC3 book page 134 exs. 7 and 8 for more practice!