Real World is Finding New Uses for Virtual Reality

What does Dr. Gary Steinberg use to practice a patient's brain surgery before actually performing it?

• a model of the patient's brain and real surgical tools

• a virtual-reality headset and computer simulation

• a laptop computer and computer simulation

• a written manual with physical descriptions of the patient

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NGSS.HS-ETS1-4

The text explains some effects of professionals and businesses using Virtual Reality for training in different industries. What is one effect of Dr. Steinberg practicing a patient's brain surgery using Virtual Reality and computer simulation before performing it?

• The surgery becomes safer

• The surgery becomes harder

• The surgery takes longer

• The patient becomes sicker

Please read these sentences from the text.

"Virtual Reality has been slow to catch on with consumers, despite the high-profile launches last year of headsets from Facebook Inc.'s Oculus unit and Taiwan's HTC Corp."

What conclusion can be drawn based on this evidence?

• Some people and companies expected virtual reality to be popular with consumers.

• Companies did not think consumers would purchase virtual reality headsets.

• Consumer interest in virtual reality is expected to grow in the future.

• Businesses were always expected to be interested in using virtual reality for training.

How do some businesses believe VR is affecting their training for employees?

• They believe it is making their training more enjoyable for employees.

• They believe it is making their training cheaper, but less effective.

• They believe it is making their training more useful for a wider range of employees.

• They believe it is improving their training in a number of ways.

What is the main idea of this article?

• Virtual Reality is being used by neurosurgeons to help preview and practice a patient's surgery before the surgery actually takes place.

• Construction companies and retail stores are finding Virtual Reality to be a more useful tool for training than companies in other industries.

• While Virtual Reality headsets are not yet popular with consumers, they are being used for job training across many different industries.

• While Virtual Reality headsets are being used by businesses for training, they are expected to become more popular with other consumers.

Please read these sentences from the text.

"VR training is so new that there has been limited ability to measure its effectiveness as a business tool, and it has shortcomings. Some people feel awkward putting on the headsets, and some experience motion sickness."

Based on these sentences, what does the word shortcoming mean?

• A strong advantage

• A negative feeling

• An expense

• A weakness or flaw

Choose the answer that best completes the sentence.

Business executives say virtual reality training is effective, less expensive, and often safer than traditional training methods; _______, virtual reality training does have some problems and shortcomings.

• Therefore

• However

• Additionally

• For example

Describe what happens during a Virtual Reality training for United Rentals, Inc., a company which rents equipment to people working on construction sites.

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NGSS.HS-ETS1-4

How does Virtual Reality affect how the neurosurgeon Dr. Steinberg performs his job? Support your answer with details from the text.

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NGSS.HS-ETS1-4

How might Virtual Reality training benefit people in society? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

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