ONLINE ENGLISH - English as an International Language of Understanding ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note OnlineEnglish archive at: http://194.44.190.35/win/online/rosetti.htm Lesson 7 by Paolo Rossetti Topic : News Article Grammar: Introductory Phrases Level : Advanced Audio ************************ Vocabulary "Swiss Scientists Warn of Robot Armageddon" >From Correspondent Patricia Kelly DAVOS, Switzerland (CNN) -- Could artificially intelligent robots signal the end of the human race? Some Swiss scientists say such a threat may be closer than we think. Their doom and gloom talk was prompted by one of their own creations: an autonomous robot that learns from its environment. Within a few minutes, the microprocessor based robot can learn not to bump into a barrier. No one programs the robot's actions, and its creator isn't exactly sure how it will behave in any given situation. Within 10 years, they predict that similar but more advanced machines, equipped with artificial intelligence, will be as clever as humans. Soon after, they say, the man-made objects could become more intelligent than their creators -- and capable of taking over. "Next century's global politics will be dominated by the question of should humanity build ultra-intelligent machines or not," said Hugo de Garis, who has already created an artificially intelligent machine. "In fact, I'm going so far as saying there will be major warfare between these two major groups, one saying building machines is the destiny of the human species, something people should do and the other group saying it's too dangerous," de Garis said. Kevin Warwick, a professor of cybernetics -- the science of comparing biological and computerized brains -- agrees that thinking robots could be dangerous. "I can't see any reason why machines will not be more intelligent than humans in the next 20 to 30 years and that is an enormous threat," Warwick said. ******************** EXERCISE 7.1 - Vocabulary (please note: Opposite meanings) Please match the words on the left with the OPPOSITE meaning on the right. 1. to be artificial a. happy, positive; optimistic 2. a threat b. avoid; not touch 3. doom and gloom c. natural; made by nature 4. to be autonomous d. lose control of something 5. to bump into something e. peaceful gesture or event; no danger 6. to be capable of f. peace 7. to take over g. dependent on something; not free; under control 8. to dominate h. cannot do; no ability 9. warfare i. beginning of the world 10. destiny j. weak, not important; to be oppressed 11. enormous k. little; insignificant 12. Armageddon l. unplanned past *********************** EXERCISE 7.2 - Grammar The news report contains several quotes from people in authority - the news reporter uses their spoken words to bring credibility and a break of style into the article. Most skilled speakers in English use several routine 'introductions' before they say what they want to say. These 'introductions' help make their message clear. For example, if a presidential candidate wants to say on TV that he or she supports Health Care spending, which one is a clearer message? A. "We will spend enough money so that all people can live healthy lives." B. "The most important thing I want to say is that we will spend enough money so that all people can live healthy lives." The answer is B (even though in writing the difference is not so great ;-) because of the brief 'introduction' which makes us expect a very important thing is going to be said. Popular 'introductions' are: "I'm going so far as saying that...(giving an extreme opinion) "I can't see any reason why...(absolute disagreement) "As a matter of fact, it is important to...(supporting an opinion) "I would like to stress the point that...(focusing attention) Please fill in the dialogue blanks with these four phrases: Two very old men are idly chatting in a quiet barber shop. Their world is changing fast, and they feel vulnerable... A: (1)......... there is no real benefit for people who live in a country in which English is not commonly used to spend so much time, money and effort learning a language that will never be applied to their lives.
B: Yes, yes, I totally agree, (2).......... young people are all obsessed with wanting to learn a foreign language, especially English which is so difficult and illogical! A: Correct, and (3)........... to realize that English is actually one of the most difficult languages in the world since it has the most vocabulary and such ridiculous spelling. B: Well, yes, my dear friend, (4)........... that English should not be taught in public schools and that each country should only focus on their traditional language and not communicate with people in other countries at all. (By the way, I don't know why they are speaking in English!! ;-) ************************************ EXERCISE 7.3 - Reading Comprehension Please read the text and choose the correct answers. 1. What is the purpose of this text? (to warn of the dangers of artificial intelligence; to argue that robots could be dangerous in the future; to inform about recent developments and possible ramifications in the field of artificial intelligence) 2. Who are the people who present their opinions? (experts in robotics; pioneers in artificial intelligence development; scientists interested in the relationship between humans and robots) 3. Why did they give such pessimistic predictions? (because they have already developed a machine that can learn on its own; because they fear the future if robots keep getting more advanced; because they think robots are more intelligent than humans) 4. What conflict do they predict? (robots will destroy humans; scientists will try to control robots but the robots will fight back; some people will want to produce independent robots, but other people will try to stop them) **********************
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