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What Do You Think the Word Probot Means

The age of Probot Exercises || English For Undergraduates

Unit: 2

THE AGE OF PROBOT EXERCISE

Do you think? Before you read the passage on pages 21 and 22, try to answer these questions:

1. Have you read stories or seen films about robots? If so, what did the robots look like? What was their relationship with human beings? What are some of the things they could do? Were the robots good or evil?

2. There are lots of robots use nowadays. Where would you find them? What sort of jobs do they do?

3. If you had your own personal robot, what are some of the things you might use it for?

Now survey the passage in the usual way by looking at the title, pictures, opening and closing paragraphs, and the first sentence of each paragraph. Then try to answer the questions below.

4. What do you think the word Probot means?

Ans: Personal robot

5. In the title of the passage, the word age means

Ans:A lengthy period of time.

6. Which two kinds of robot are likely to be mentioned in the passage? Which of these is likely to be the main topic of the passage.

Ans:Industrial Robots & Probots

7. The opening paragraph describes one man's start to an imaginary day. What do you think the second paragraph will do?

Ans:It tell us the daily routine of a person.

8. The first sentence of paragraph 3 mentions Utopia. This is an imaginary country, famous in English literature, where everything was perfect. What do you think is the connection between Utopia and the topic of the passage?

Ans:Blessing of Technology

9. What will probably be the topic of paragraphs 3, 4 and 5?

Ans:Advancement in technology (Probots & Robots)

10. The last four paragraphs of the passage compare two things. What are they?

Ans:Computer and Robots

For better understanding go through our YouTube lectures

  • The Age of Probot || Summary & Exercises || Part 1 || Unit 2 || English for Undergraduates.
  • The age of Probot unit 2 || Exercises part 2 || English for undergraduates


Finding the facts
As a reporter for your local T V station, you interviewed the author of "Probots and People". Below and on page 21 is a typescript of part of the interview. Read it through and complete it with information from the passage. Note that some information is stated directly and some is only implied.

You: Mr. Knight, you start your book with a little story about what daily life will be like in a few years' time. What is the purpose of this story?

Ans:Knight, COMPUTER, ROBOTS.

Could you summarize these changes for us?

Ans: SAFE, EASIER, WORK, TIME.

You: You talk of new inventions and exciting advances. Which do you think will be the most exciting?

Ans: PERSONAL ROBOTS, DOUBTS.

You: But they're already working in factories, aren't they?

Ans: INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS. ECONOMY, LONGER TIME

You: You've given this invention, which you think is so important, a special name. Can you tell us something about it?

Ans: PROBOT, PERSONAL ROBOTS, MACHINE, BODY. WHEELS, ARM, PICK UP, MOVE, MANIPULATE, COMFORT/HELP


I. WORDS IN CONTEXT;

Guess the meaning of each word by reading its context, number shows paragraph

SLUMBER (1)
Ans:Sleep


DRIFTED (1)
Ans:Move to another place

WHISK (2)
Ans:Take or move

PRECEDING (3)
Ans:Former, previous

ALTERED (4)
Ans:Change

CHORES (6)
Ans:works

2; Choose the best word or phrase from the given choices to complete the sentences

a) The phrase virtually eliminated tell us that the problem of un employment has been …
Ans:almost solved

b) A more profound effect means a … effect faster more interesting
Ans:deeper

c) Extensive space exploration means... exploration
Ans:large amount of

d) To demonstrate its potential means to show its ability to become more ….
Ans:useful

3. Find words in the passage with these meanings, numbers shows the paragraph number. 1
a perfect place
Ans:UTOPIA

circumstances or things that cause something to happen
Ans:INVENTION

ways of developing & using machines in a noticeable or exciting way
Ans:DRAMATICALLY

the ability to reproduce goods
Ans:PRODUCTIVITY

4. Definitions of some words and phrases used in the passage are given blow. The first part of each sentence is in box A & the ending are in box B in the wrong order. Match the words A with the appropriate words in B to complete definitions.

  • The gross national product (GNP) The GNP is the total value of products produced by a country
  • Stocks are ownership stakes in a company.
  • Catch & racquetball Are ball games.
  • An excerpt is a section of a book, film, or other work that is presented separately.
  • A strenuous lifestyle necessitates a lot of energy.
  • To portray something is to show it in a lifelike or picture-like manner.
  • Manipulation is the skillful handling of something.

Arif is telling a friend about the book "Probot & People", part of which you read on page 21 & 22


Complete what Arif is saying with words from the passage. All the words you need have been used in exercise 2 or are answer you find in exercise 3.

6; Finding the main idea.

1. Robots & other machine will...
Ans: make home life easier & safer

2. Robots &other machine will enable us to...
Ans: work less & have more leisure

3 The personal robot....
Ans: Will have more effect on society than any other invention

4. Industrial robots...
Ans: Have not yet changed in the society dramatically

5. The effects of...
Ans: Personal robots on society will be great

6. Probots will...
Ans: Have a more immediate & direct effect on our lives than the industrial robots.

7. A Probot
Ans:

a) Much more useful than a personal computer
b) Can be programmed to perform many task.
c) Has tremendous potential if it can move & handle objects.

E Summary

Your family has bought a personal robot called Robert. A friend writes to you to as you about him. Here is part of her letter.

Reply to your friend's letter using the information in the passage on pages 21 and 22 and the notes below. The verbs in the notes are in brackets and should be put in the right tense and form. Your reply should contain no more than 120 words

LANGUAGE PRACTICE

A. Talking about events in time using As, Before, After

In the first 2 paragraphs of the passage on pages 21 and 22, the writer describes events that were happening during one day. He uses As, Before and, "After tell us the order in which the events happen. Note that "As here means the same as While, i.e. at the same time.

Look at paragraph 2 and complete this table by writing the appropriate letters and numbers in the boxes. The first one has been done for you one has been done for you

EVENTS

Events happening first

Events happening together

a) Eating

b) glancing

A

A, B

a) Leaving

b) reminding

B

B, A

a) planning

b) deciding

deciding

Deciding, planning

a) eating

b) working

eating

Eating, working

Giving reasons and expressing surprise

In the passage on pages 21 and 22, the writer gives reasons by using because:

1. Respond to the following questions about the passage in complete sentences, using because to give reasons.

a. Why did the person in paragraph 1 sleep peacefully?
Ans:Because he have a personal robot

b. How did he know that his breakfast was ready?
Ans:Because his household computer informs him

c. Why will industrial robots not have such a dramatic effect on people's lives? (Paragraph 4)
Ans:Because only few robots are there working are in factories

d. Why does the writer say that a Probot is a personal computer and a great deal more?
Ans:Because it may be thought as an extension of personal computer.

D. PROBOTS Ltd. Sales Figure

a. Because, rose
b. Although, fell.
c. As a result of a 20% discount in May, sales increased from 2,000 to 3,000.
d. Despite the removal of the 20% discount in July, sales increased from 5,000 to 6,000.
e. Because prices increased by 15% in October, the price dropped from 4,000 to 3,000.
f. Despite this, prices were reduced by 25% in December, falling from 2,000 to 1,000.

29–31

1. You need it in cold Weather.
Ans:Heater

2.  This clean your clothes.

Ans:Washing Machine

3. It keeps food fresh longer.
Ans:Refrigerator

4. This machine stores information.
Ans:Computer

5. This produces sound.
Ans:Record Player

6. It clean carpets and floors
Ans:Vacuum Cleaner

7. This provide hot food
Ans:Microwave Oven

B
1. How does Waqar start the conversation? What does he offer?
Ans:Waqar start the conversation with a greeting. He gave service to the customer by giving him offer to help.

2. What positive thing does he say about the machine?
Ans:The fact that it is the most recent model of the machine is a plus, according to him.

3. Why is the customer unwilling to buy?
Ans:The customer thinks it is a bit expensive

4. Why can't Waqar give a discount?
Ans:Because it's a fixed-price item

5. What do you think the customer will do after leaving the Waqar?
Ans:To look at various washing machines models, the consumer will go to other shops.

6. How does Waqar end the conversation?
Ans:Waqar end the conversation in a very polite manner. To say goodbye to the customer he uses the expression good morning.

Facts & Figures

PRACTICAL CONVERSATION Pages 32–34

D. Study the picture and answer the question below.

What might be the family relationship between the people who are doing chores?
Ans:Mother, daughter and grandmother

Can you see anything else that the females have been doing or will do?

What are the boys doing?
Ans:Listening music, using computer.

What is the middle ages man and elderly man doing?
Ans:The newspaper is being read by a middle-aged man. An elderly man sits in front of the television.

How many pieces of equipment for making chores easier, can you see?

What is the main difference between the things the female are doing and what the males are doing?
Ans:Males are engaged in leisure activities while females are engaged in home tasks (The child who uses a computer can work or study)

Do you think the Artist who drew this is trying to tell us something? If so what he is saying?

What Do You Think the Word Probot Means

Source: https://literatureofficials.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-probot-english-for-undergraduates.html