The Smart Home Revolution

Smart home technology has gained enormous popularity across the world. Over the past decade, niche gadgets have (1) …1. A — expanded1. B — converted1. C — evolved1. D — multiplied into everyday essentials that millions of households now rely on. Voice assistants can now (2) …2. A — shade2. B — mute2. C — dim2. D — darken the lights, lock the doors and even order groceries with a single command. (3) …3. A — However3. B — Therefore3. C — Moreover3. D — Similarly, this convenience comes at a price: many devices quietly pick (4) …4. A — on4. B — off4. C — out4. D — up personal data before sending it to remote servers for analysis. Manufacturers insist that this information is (5) …5. A — compressed5. B — archived5. C — formatted5. D — encrypted before it ever leaves the device, but security experts warn that no system is completely immune (6) …6. A — at6. B — to6. C — with6. D — in hackers. Meanwhile, appliances that once worked independently are increasingly reliant (7) …7. A — for7. B — at7. C — on7. D — in a stable internet connection, meaning a simple power cut can leave a household unable to switch on the heating. Despite these drawbacks, demand continues to grow as prices fall and new features appear. For many consumers, the benefits of automation clearly (8) …8. A — outweigh8. B — underestimate8. C — overtake8. D — overcome the risks, and smart homes show no sign of losing their appeal.