Lessening Effect of Robots on the Human Work Force

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Materials Daily News

Intermediate

Exercise 1

Vocabulary

activist

Noun

ˈæktəvɪst

a person who works to achieve a particular social or political goal

Environmental activists fight to save the environment.

appeal

Verb

əˈpiːl

to make a serious request

The public are appealing for more information about the new law.

lessen

Verb

ˈlɛsən

to make something less strong, intense, important, etc.

Regular exercise lessens the chance of heart disease.

If you lessen the pressure on the brush, the ink will flow more smoothly.

This new process will lessen the amount of time it takes to publish a new announcement.

The client would like us to lessen the amount of color we used in the design.

There are medications that can be taken to help lessen the side effects.

fear

Verb

fiːr

to feel worried that something bad might happen

I fear the teacher is going to give me detention because I didn't do my homework.

head

Verb

hɛd

to be in charge of a group or organization

He's now heading the company after the CEO resigned last month.

augment

Verb

ɔːgˈmɛnt

to increase the size, value, effectiveness, etc. of something

I'm trying to augment my savings, one dollar at a time.

cooperate

Verb

koʊˈɑːpəˌreɪt

to work with a person or organization in order to achieve a goal; to help a person or organization or follow their requests

I cooperated on this project with a new colleague.

Everyone on the team must cooperate with each other.

The team members gradually learned how to cooperate with each other.

The CFO is cooperating with the authorities in their money laundering investigation.

Both companies will cooperate in the area of product development.

The two groups cooperated to find a solution.

delegate

Noun

ˈdɛləˌgɪt

someone who is chosen to represent a group, organization or country

How many delegates have attended the conference?

Delegates from various countries will be meeting at the United Nations building today.

The delegates are assembled to listen to the presentation.

John is a delegate to the regional meeting.

Delegates from 57 nations gathered in Beijing to sign a new free trade agreement.

Our delegates have voted against the proposal.

Exercise 2

Article

AI Generated Audio––:–– / ––:––

Lessening Effect of Robots on the Human Work Force

Technology activists are appealing to tech companies and their leaders to build a future in which the effect of machinery on humans is lessened.

Some workers fear that machines are going to take away their jobs.

Robots are now doing more work than ever before.

Tim O’Reilly heads O’Reilly Media, a technology advisory service. He says it is important for people and machines to work together. He spoke recently at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City.

“It’s so important that we have to think about not using technology to replace people -- but to augment them, to do something that was previously impossible,” O’Reilly said.

Jonathan Brewer is a trainer at the Network Startup Resource Center. He believes the next step in technology should improve on the one before it.

Brewer hopes that people and machines will continue to cooperate.

Many delegates at the conference support technology and the changes it will bring. But many are also starting to think about its effect on humans and how to help people live in a world where machines do so much work.

Exercise 3

Questions

What kind of future do technology activists see?

How does Tim O'Reilly think technology should be used?

Where was the conference held?

How does Jonathan Brewer feel about people and machines?

Exercise 4

Discussion

Does the fact that robots are doing more work than ever before worry you? Why? Why not?

Are there already some jobs that could not be done without robots?

What type of work is most at risk of being completely taken over by machines?

Why do you think it is important for people and machines to work together?

Looking at the photo, what do you imagine Baxter does?

Exercise 5

Further Discussion

Why do you think people created robots in the first place?

Can you think of any jobs where a robot would be very helpful?

Can you think of any jobs that a machine would never be able to do?

What do you think robots will be able to do 50 years from now?

Men have become the tools of their tools. - Henry David Thoreau. Do you think that one day people will serve robots just like robots are serving us presently? Why? Why not?

Exercises for Further Self-Study

These self-study exercises are optional and should be carried out after the lesson has finished.

Exercise 6

Sentence Building

Write at least one sentence for each of the words in Exercise 1: Vocabulary. Begin by making sure you understand the definition of each word. Use the example sentences as a guide if you are unable to think of a sentence. Practice reading your sentences out loud.

Exercise 7

Summary

Make a brief summary of the article. Focus on the main topic and consider which pieces of information are most important. Make sure you include details such as what the article is about, who is mentioned in it, where and when the events took place, and also how and why they happened.

Parts of this lesson are based on:

An article by Voice of America.