Technology is playing an important role in helping humans work more effectively. Since
automation has become a(n) (1) _______ part of business operations, we can predict that robots
are soon going to replace many jobs that are today (2) _______ by humans. Let’s see what
merits this technology offers our world.
Increased efficiency
Industrial robots can complete certain tasks faster and (3) _______ efficiently than humans as they are designed and built to perform them with higher accuracy. This combined with the fact they are used to automate (4) _______ which previously might have taken significantly more time and resource results in the use of industrial robots to (5) _______ the efficiency of production lines. Improved quality Given their higher levels of accuracy, industrial robots can be used to (6) _______ higher quality products which (7) _______ the reduction of time required for quality control and (8)_______ that standards of quality are adhered to. Longer working hours Robots can work 24/7 and keep working at 100% efficiency. On average a 40% increase in the output of a production line occurs when one key person is (9) _______ by a robot who (10) _______ the same working hours. 1. A. integral B. certain C. impressive D. unimportant 2. A. shown B. presented C. undergone D. performed 3. A. much B. less C. more D. most 4. A. processes B. processings C. products D. producing 5. A. decrease B. reduce C. increase D. take 6. A. produce B. sell C. make D. do 7. A. result B. result from C. result in D. result to 8. A. ensure B. be ensured C. ensuring D. to ensure 9. A. replace B. replaced C. replacing D. to replace 10. A. operates B. does C. completed D. has

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

The word robot first appeared in a 1921 stage play by Czech writer Karel Capek. In the play, a man makes a machine that can think, which he calls a robot and which ends up killing its owner. In the 1940s, the American science fiction writer Isaac Asimov wrote a series of stories about robots and invented the term robotics, the science of robots. Meanwhile, in the real world, the first robots were developed by an engineer, Joseph F. Engelberger, and an inventor, George C. Devol. Together they started Unimation, a manufacturing company that produces the first real robot in 1961, called the Unimate. Robots of this type were installed at a General Motors automobile plant and proved to be a success. They worked reliably and saved money for General Motors, so other companies were soon acquiring robots as well.

These industrial robots were nothing like the terrifying creatures that can often be seen in science fiction films. In fact, these robots looked and behaved nothing like humans. They were simply pieces of computer-controlled machinery, with metal “arms” or “hands”. Since they were made of metal, they could perform certain jobs that were difficult or dangerous for humans, particularly jobs that involve high heat. And since robots were tireless and never got hungry, sleepy, or distracted, they were useful for tasks that would be tiring or boring for humans. Industrial robots have been improved over the years, and today they are used in many factories around the world. Though the use of robots has meant the loss of some jobs, at the same time other jobs have been created in the design, development, and production of the robots.

Rise of the Robots, Silicon Valley Entrepreneur, Martin Ford, 1988.

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a characteristic of robots?

A. They don’t need food

B. They are not distracted

C. They are tiring

D. They can do jobs involving high heat

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

The word robot first appeared in a 1921 stage play by Czech writer Karel Capek. In the play, a man makes a machine that can think, which he calls a robot and which ends up killing its owner. In the 1940s, the American science fiction writer Isaac Asimov wrote a series of stories about robots and invented the term robotics, the science of robots. Meanwhile, in the real world, the first robots were developed by an engineer, Joseph F. Engelberger, and an inventor, George C. Devol. Together they started Unimation, a manufacturing company that produces the first real robot in 1961, called the Unimate. Robots of this type were installed at a General Motors automobile plant and proved to be a success. They worked reliably and saved money for General Motors, so other companies were soon acquiring robots as well.

These industrial robots were nothing like the terrifying creatures that can often be seen in science fiction films. In fact, these robots looked and behaved nothing like humans. They were simply pieces of computer-controlled machinery, with metal “arms” or “hands”. Since they were made of metal, they could perform certain jobs that were difficult or dangerous for humans, particularly jobs that involve high heat. And since robots were tireless and never got hungry, sleepy, or distracted, they were useful for tasks that would be tiring or boring for humans. Industrial robots have been improved over the years, and today they are used in many factories around the world. Though the use of robots has meant the loss of some jobs, at the same time other jobs have been created in the design, development, and production of the robots.

Rise of the Robots, Silicon Valley Entrepreneur, Martin Ford, 1988.

What are industrial robots like?

A. They behave like humans

B. They controlled machinery

C. They look like humans

D. They are computer-controlled machines

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

The word robot first appeared in a 1921 stage play by Czech writer Karel Capek. In the play, a man makes a machine that can think, which he calls a robot and which ends up killing its owner. In the 1940s, the American science fiction writer Isaac Asimov wrote a series of stories about robots and invented the term robotics, the science of robots. Meanwhile, in the real world, the first robots were developed by an engineer, Joseph F. Engelberger, and an inventor, George C. Devol. Together they started Unimation, a manufacturing company that produces the first real robot in 1961, called the Unimate. Robots of this type were installed at a General Motors automobile plant and proved to be a success. They worked reliably and saved money for General Motors, so other companies were soon acquiring robots as well.

These industrial robots were nothing like the terrifying creatures that can often be seen in science fiction films. In fact, these robots looked and behaved nothing like humans. They were simply pieces of computer-controlled machinery, with metal “arms” or “hands”. Since they were made of metal, they could perform certain jobs that were difficult or dangerous for humans, particularly jobs that involve high heat. And since robots were tireless and never got hungry, sleepy, or distracted, they were useful for tasks that would be tiring or boring for humans. Industrial robots have been improved over the years, and today they are used in many factories around the world. Though the use of robots has meant the loss of some jobs, at the same time other jobs have been created in the design, development, and production of the robots.

Rise of the Robots, Silicon Valley Entrepreneur, Martin Ford, 1988.

When did the word “robot” appear?

A. in the 1920s

B. in the 19th century 

C. in the 40s 

D. in the 60s

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

The word robot first appeared in a 1921 stage play by Czech writer Karel Capek. In the play, a man makes a machine that can think, which he calls a robot and which ends up killing its owner. In the 1940s, the American science fiction writer Isaac Asimov wrote a series of stories about robots and invented the term robotics, the science of robots. Meanwhile, in the real world, the first robots were developed by an engineer, Joseph F. Engelberger, and an inventor, George C. Devol. Together they started Unimation, a manufacturing company that produces the first real robot in 1961, called the Unimate. Robots of this type were installed at a General Motors automobile plant and proved to be a success. They worked reliably and saved money for General Motors, so other companies were soon acquiring robots as well.

These industrial robots were nothing like the terrifying creatures that can often be seen in science fiction films. In fact, these robots looked and behaved nothing like humans. They were simply pieces of computer-controlled machinery, with metal “arms” or “hands”. Since they were made of metal, they could perform certain jobs that were difficult or dangerous for humans, particularly jobs that involve high heat. And since robots were tireless and never got hungry, sleepy, or distracted, they were useful for tasks that would be tiring or boring for humans. Industrial robots have been improved over the years, and today they are used in many factories around the world. Though the use of robots has meant the loss of some jobs, at the same time other jobs have been created in the design, development, and production of the robots.

Rise of the Robots, Silicon Valley Entrepreneur, Martin Ford, 1988.

What is Unimation?

A. It’s the name of a robot inventor

B. It’s the name of a robot

C. It’s a robot making program

D. It’s the producer of the first robot

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

The word robot first appeared in a 1921 stage play by Czech writer Karel Capek. In the play, a man makes a machine that can think, which he calls a robot and which ends up killing its owner. In the 1940s, the American science fiction writer Isaac Asimov wrote a series of stories about robots and invented the term robotics, the science of robots. Meanwhile, in the real world, the first robots were developed by an engineer, Joseph F. Engelberger, and an inventor, George C. Devol. Together they started Unimation, a manufacturing company that produces the first real robot in 1961, called the Unimate. Robots of this type were installed at a General Motors automobile plant and proved to be a success. They worked reliably and saved money for General Motors, so other companies were soon acquiring robots as well.

These industrial robots were nothing like the terrifying creatures that can often be seen in science fiction films. In fact, these robots looked and behaved nothing like humans. They were simply pieces of computer-controlled machinery, with metal “arms” or “hands”. Since they were made of metal, they could perform certain jobs that were difficult or dangerous for humans, particularly jobs that involve high heat. And since robots were tireless and never got hungry, sleepy, or distracted, they were useful for tasks that would be tiring or boring for humans. Industrial robots have been improved over the years, and today they are used in many factories around the world. Though the use of robots has meant the loss of some jobs, at the same time other jobs have been created in the design, development, and production of the robots.

Rise of the Robots, Silicon Valley Entrepreneur, Martin Ford, 1988.

What can be said about Karel Capek?

A. He was the first to create the word “robot”

B. He is an American writer

C. He made a robot

D. He made a robot in order to kill a person

Read the passage carefully and then do the tasks:

With millions of jobs set to be replaced by changes in technology, we may not be able to stop the rise of robots and automation. The robots are coming. We can see the enormous strides that technology makes each year and the jobs taken over by automation. Yes, believe or not, there really are robots performing surgeries on humans. Robot – assisted surgery can give surgeons more precise control over their instruments and an improved view of what are they doing.

Computer systems are becoming incredibly good at performing multi – faceted tasks. Take autonomous cars which can be classified as robotic vehicles. Driving would fit all the criteria for a complicated task that only humans should be able to perform, yet we have autonomous cars increasingly racking up the miles collision free. In the game – playing arena, we are seeing machines beat the previously unbeatable professional players and generally encroaching on skills that once belonged to humans alone. All these technologies eventually can be integrated into robots. Are we close to the tipping point where humans become redundant in many sectors?

According to a recent survey, four million jobs in the British private sector could be replaced by robots in the next decade. That would impact on 15 percent of the current workforce and would have much the same impact in Ireland. Of course, new opportunities will come along, particularly ones which require strong cognitive and social skills, but this really means that people will have to become more human.

A. Decide whether the following sentences are True (T) or False (F)

1. We cannot put a stop on technology innovation.

2. Robotic systems can help surgeons increase precision.

3. Computer systems are only capable of carrying out multiple simple tasks.

4. Driving task is so complex that it can’t be performed by an autonomous vehicle.

5. Self – driving cars can travel miles without accident.

6. People in many sectors have lost their jobs because of automation.

7. In the next ten years, robots could take over four million jobs in the British private sector.

8. In the future, people will just do the jobs that require strong cognitive and social skills.

B. Answer the questions

1. Why is robot – assisted surgery used?

->

2. Can robots defeat human players in games?

->

3. What percentage of the Ireland workforce could be affected by the use of robots in 10 years’ time?

->

4. Will technology create new job opportunities for the human race?

->

5. What jobs can human do better than robots?

->

Read the passage carefully and decide whether the following sentences are True (T) or False (F):

With millions of jobs set to be replaced by changes in technology, we may not be able to stop the rise of robots and automation. The robots are coming. We can see the enormous strides that technology makes each year and the jobs taken over by automation. Yes, believe or not, there really are robots performing surgeries on humans. Robot – assisted surgery can give surgeons more precise control over their instruments and an improved view of what are they doing.

Computer systems are becoming incredibly good at performing multi – faceted tasks. Take autonomous cars which can be classified as robotic vehicles. Driving would fit all the criteria for a complicated task that only humans should be able to perform, yet we have autonomous cars increasingly racking up the miles collision free. In the game – playing arena, we are seeing machines beat the previously unbeatable professional players and generally encroaching on skills that once belonged to humans alone. All these technologies eventually can be integrated into robots. Are we close to the tipping point where humans become redundant in many sectors?

According to a recent survey, four million jobs in the British private sector could be replaced by robots in the next decade. That would impact on 15 percent of the current workforce and would have much the same impact in Ireland. Of course, new opportunities will come along, particularly ones which require strong cognitive and social skills, but this really means that people will have to become more human.

1. We cannot put a stop on technology innovation.

2. Robotic systems can help surgeons increase precision.

3. Computer systems are only capable of carrying out multiple simple tasks.

4. Driving task is so complex that it can’t be performed by an autonomous vehicle.

5. Self – driving cars can travel miles without accident.

6. People in many sectors have lost their jobs because of automation.

7. In the next ten years, robots could take over four million jobs in the British private sector.

8. In the future, people will just do the jobs that require strong cognitive and social skills.

Choose the letter A, B, C or D to answer these following questions

Robots through the Middle Ages were used primarily for entertainment. However, the 20th century featured a boom in the development of industrial robots. Industry has benefited drastically from the expanse of a robotic work force. Automated machines have taken over dangerous and boring jobs from humans. Because robots never get tired, extra shifts have been added to factories. Farmers have taken advantage of new technology with automated harvesters. The medical industry benefits from advancements in assisted surgical robotics. The military has launched various programs in robotic technology.

Question:Did industrial robots develop in the 20th century?

A. Yes, it is

B. Yes, it did

C. No, it wasn’t

D. No, it hasn’t