Lesson 57 High-tech toilets
Topic Question: Why are Japanese toilets so high-tech?
▮ Try Answering the Question Yourself
Think about the features that make Japanese toilets stand out and how these reflect broader aspects of Japanese culture and technology.
▮ Sample Answer
“Japanese toilets are high-tech due to Japan’s culture of cleanliness, technological innovation, and the desire for comfort and convenience. Features like bidets, seat warmers, and air dryers exemplify the integration of advanced technology into daily life. The emphasis on hygiene and the user’s comfort in Japanese culture has driven the development of toilets that offer a multitude of functions beyond the basic necessities, showcasing Japan’s leading role in technological advancement in household products.”
▮ Words to Learn and Their Meanings about Sample Answer
- Bidets: A bathroom fixture used to wash and clean the body after using the toilet.
- Innovation: The introduction of something new, a new idea, method, or device.
- Hygiene: Conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness.
- Convenience: The state of being able to proceed with something with little effort or difficulty.
- Integration: The process of combining one thing with another so that they become a whole.
▮ Answer the Instructor’s 3 Questions Based on the Sample Answer
- How does Japan’s culture of cleanliness influence their toilets?
- What are some of the high-tech features found in Japanese toilets?
- Why is technological innovation important in the development of Japanese toilets?
▮ Mastering Middle School English Grammar:
a bottle / some water
(countable/uncountable 1)
A noun can be countable or uncountable
Countable nouns
For example: (a) car (a) man (a) bottle (a) house (a) key (an) idea (an) accident
You can’t use the singular (car/bottle/key, etc.) alone.You need a/an:
● We can’t get into the house without a key. (not without key)
Uncountable nouns
For example: water air rice salt plastic money music tennis
You can’t use a/an + uncountable nouns: Xmoney Xmusic Xwater
But you can say a piece of… I a bottle of…, etc. + uncountable noun.:
a bottle of water / a carton of milk / a piece of cheese /a bottle of perfume
a bowl of rice /a cup of coffee/ a bar of soap / a piece of music /a game of tennis
Example Sentences Based on the Grammar Practice and Sample Answer:
- Japanese toilets often include a seat warmer, which is an example of a countable noun, meaning you can have one seat warmer or multiple seat warmers.
- For hygiene purposes, the use of water, an uncountable noun, is optimized in Japanese toilets through features like bidets.
- Many people appreciate the convenience of having a toilet with multiple functions, showcasing the integration of technology into an everyday object.
Make Sentences Based on the Above Example Sentences Yourself:
