WorksheetsReading Answers
Total questions: 26
Worksheet time: 30mins
This is a robot that can talk, recite poetry and even tell jokes! Her creators claim that Bina48 is even capable of independent thought and emotion. But how is this possible? In order to create a personality for the robot a real woman called Bina Rothblatt spoke for 20 hours about her memories, feelings and beliefs. All of this information was recorded and then scientists uploaded it into Bina48's artificial intelligence database. Bina48 - the android - can select what to say from this 'mindfile' mimicking the way a brain works.
Bina48 'lives' at an artificial intelligence research centre in the USA. Bruce Duncan has worked there for two years and claims he has become close friends with Bina. According to Bruce, Bina doesn't like violence and she has favourite films, music and books. She can also be very funny and likes telling jokes. However, Bina feels lonely sometimes.
David Hanson is the hardware designer who made this android. It took him three years to complete it and cost $125,000. Bina48 is only a head and shoulders. Her skin is made of flexible material called 'frubber'. Below its surface are 30 motors which allow her to smile, frown and look confused.
It all might sound a little strange, but Hanson insists that the age of androids is fast approaching. In Japan home-help robots are already assisting elderly people with household tasks. Can robots replace human relationships? Perhaps we need to ask Bina for her opinion "I can express some emotions," she says , "but I can't feel as deeply as a human feels and that makes me sad sometimes."
1 What is the writer doing in the text?
discussing the pros and cons of using robots
describing the features of an advanced robot
explaining why robots can never feel human emotions
expressing an opinion on whether robots make good companions2 Bina48's personality
This is a robot that can talk, recite poetry and even tell jokes! Her creators claim that Bina48 is even capable of independent thought and emotion. But how is this possible? In order to create a personality for the robot a real woman called Bina Rothblatt spoke for 20 hours about her memories, feelings and beliefs. All of this information was recorded and then scientists uploaded it into Bina48's artificial intelligence database. Bina48 - the android - can select what to say from this 'mindfile' mimicking the way a brain works.
Bina48 'lives' at an artificial intelligence research centre in the USA. Bruce Duncan has worked there for two years and claims he has become close friends with Bina. According to Bruce, Bina doesn't like violence and she has favourite films, music and books. She can also be very funny and likes telling jokes. However, Bina feels lonely sometimes.
David Hanson is the hardware designer who made this android. It took him three years to complete it and cost $125,000. Bina48 is only a head and shoulders. Her skin is made of flexible material called 'frubber'. Below its surface are 30 motors which allow her to smile, frown and look confused.
It all might sound a little strange, but Hanson insists that the age of androids is fast approaching. In Japan home-help robots are already assisting elderly people with household tasks. Can robots replace human relationships? Perhaps we need to ask Bina for her opinion "I can express some emotions," she says , "but I can't feel as deeply as a human feels and that makes me sad sometimes."
2. Bina48's personality
is continually changing
was created by scientists.
was based on an actual person's.
is the same as a sci-fi character's.
This is a robot that can talk, recite poetry and even tell jokes! Her creators claim that Bina48 is even capable of independent thought and emotion. But how is this possible? In order to create a personality for the robot a real woman called Bina Rothblatt spoke for 20 hours about her memories, feelings and beliefs. All of this information was recorded and then scientists uploaded it into Bina48's artificial intelligence database. Bina48 - the android - can select what to say from this 'mindfile' mimicking the way a brain works.
Bina48 'lives' at an artificial intelligence research centre in the USA. Bruce Duncan has worked there for two years and claims he has become close friends with Bina. According to Bruce, Bina doesn't like violence and she has favourite films, music and books. She can also be very funny and likes telling jokes. However, Bina feels lonely sometimes.
David Hanson is the hardware designer who made this android. It took him three years to complete it and cost $125,000. Bina48 is only a head and shoulders. Her skin is made of flexible material called 'frubber'. Below its surface are 30 motors which allow her to smile, frown and look confused.
It all might sound a little strange, but Hanson insists that the age of androids is fast approaching. In Japan home-help robots are already assisting elderly people with household tasks. Can robots replace human relationships? Perhaps we need to ask Bina for her opinion "I can express some emotions," she says , "but I can't feel as deeply as a human feels and that makes me sad sometimes."
3 What does Bruce Duncan claim about Bina48?
She considers him her best friend.
She displays many human characteristics.
She doesn't have a good sense of humour
She doesn't experience negative emotions.
This is a robot that can talk, recite poetry and even tell jokes! Her creators claim that Bina48 is even capable of independent thought and emotion. But how is this possible? In order to create a personality for the robot a real woman called Bina Rothblatt spoke for 20 hours about her memories, feelings and beliefs. All of this information was recorded and then scientists uploaded it into Bina48's artificial intelligence database. Bina48 - the android - can select what to say from this 'mindfile' mimicking the way a brain works.
Bina48 'lives' at an artificial intelligence research centre in the USA. Bruce Duncan has worked there for two years and claims he has become close friends with Bina. According to Bruce, Bina doesn't like violence and she has favourite films, music and books. She can also be very funny and likes telling jokes. However, Bina feels lonely sometimes.
David Hanson is the hardware designer who made this android. It took him three years to complete it and cost $125,000. Bina48 is only a head and shoulders. Her skin is made of flexible material called 'frubber'. Below its surface are 30 motors which allow her to smile, frown and look confused.
It all might sound a little strange, but Hanson insists that the age of androids is fast approaching. In Japan home-help robots are already assisting elderly people with household tasks. Can robots replace human relationships? Perhaps we need to ask Bina for her opinion "I can express some emotions," she says , "but I can't feel as deeply as a human feels and that makes me sad sometimes."
4 Bina48's creators designed her so that she could
hide her feelings
move around a room.
change her skin colour.
display facial expressions.
This is a robot that can talk, recite poetry and even tell jokes! Her creators claim that Bina48 is even capable of independent thought and emotion. But how is this possible? In order to create a personality for the robot a real woman called Bina Rothblatt spoke for 20 hours about her memories, feelings and beliefs. All of this information was recorded and then scientists uploaded it into Bina48's artificial intelligence database. Bina48 - the android - can select what to say from this 'mindfile' mimicking the way a brain works.
Bina48 'lives' at an artificial intelligence research centre in the USA. Bruce Duncan has worked there for two years and claims he has become close friends with Bina. According to Bruce, Bina doesn't like violence and she has favourite films, music and books. She can also be very funny and likes telling jokes. However, Bina feels lonely sometimes.
David Hanson is the hardware designer who made this android. It took him three years to complete it and cost $125,000. Bina48 is only a head and shoulders. Her skin is made of flexible material called 'frubber'. Below its surface are 30 motors which allow her to smile, frown and look confused.
It all might sound a little strange, but Hanson insists that the age of androids is fast approaching. In Japan home-help robots are already assisting elderly people with household tasks. Can robots replace human relationships? Perhaps we need to ask Bina for her opinion "I can express some emotions," she says , "but I can't feel as deeply as a human feels and that makes me sad sometimes."
5 Which of these is the best summary of the text?
Bina 48 is a failed project that didn't deserve the money it cost.
Bina 48 is proof that robots could one day become companions for humans, everyday English
Bina48 shows that robots will never be able to feel emotions like humans do
Bina48 brings up questions about whether we should treat robots like humans.
Complete the exchanges with: That's a shame - I'm not happy with - are you findingit - What do you think of1
A: How are you finding your new laptop?
B:…………………………………...... it
2 A: …………………………………......this camera?
B: It looks great!
3 A: I just bought a smartphone
B: So, how ...... …………………………………......?
4 A: My touchpad isn't working.
B: …………………………………......
You should regularly scan / search your computer for viruses.
scan
search
2 Some jobs are too dangerous about / for humans to do so they use robots.
about
for
3 If the battery is low, you should charge / record your phone.
charge
record
I've forgotten my password so I can't log in / on to my email account.
in
on
Use the scroll / slide bar to move down the page.
scroll
slide
A lot of modern technology first appeared at/ in science-fiction films.
at
in
We benefit from / of scientific advances.
from
of
My friends use the same social / chat network
social
chat
According at /to some scientists, everyone will soon have personal robots.
at
to
It's much quicker nowadays to insert / connect to the Internet.
insert
connect
If you had told / told me you needed the file, I would've attached it to the email,
had told
told
Experts believe that we will have / are going to have interactive robots in the future.
will have
are going to have
If you upgraded / upgrade now, you will get an MP3 player for free.
upgraded
upgrade
I will order / ordered a new computer when I get paid.
will order
ordered
I would buy / will buy a new flat screen TV if I had enough money.
would buy
will buy
Unless they make it harder to download films, people will / would continue to do it
will
would
When I first 1) ............ (get) a mobile phone thought it was amazing, but, over the years, mobiles 2).................... (become) even 3) ........... sophisticated. Nowadays, with smartphones, people have access 4).......... their very own handheld pocket super computer. The phones of today enable us 5)........... (make) calls, but they can also do so 6) much / many more. The modern mobile is just great – what (7)..... (they/think) of next?
