Reading

Read the text and mark the sentences True or False.

Reading Comprehension 9 form

Task 1

If you think of the jobs robots could never do, you would probably put doctors and teachers at the top of the list. It’s easy to imagine robot cleaners and factory workers, but some jobs need human connection and creativity. But are we underestimating what robots can do? In some cases, they already perform better than doctors at diagnosing illness. Also, some patients might feel more comfortable sharing personal information with a machine than a person. Could there be a place for robots in education after all?

British education expert Anthony Seldon thinks so. And he even has a date for the robot takeover of the classroom: 2027. He predicts robots will do the main job of transferring information and teachers will be like assistants. Intelligent robots will read students’ faces, movements and maybe even brain signals. Then they will adapt the information to each student. It’s not a popular opinion and it’s unlikely robots will ever have empathy and the ability to really connect with humans like another human can.

One thing is certain, though. A robot teacher is better than no teacher at all. In some parts of the world, there aren’t enough teachers and 9–16 per cent of children under the age of 14 don’t go to school. That problem could be partly solved by robots because they can teach anywhere and won’t get stressed, or tired, or move somewhere for an easier, higher-paid job.

Those negative aspects of teaching are something everyone agrees on. Teachers all over the world are leaving because it is a difficult job and they feel overworked. Perhaps the question is not ‘Will robots replace teachers?’ but ‘How can robots help teachers?’ Office workers can use software to do things like organise and answer emails, arrange meetings and update calendars. Teachers waste a lot of time doing non-teaching work, including more than 11 hours a week marking homework. If robots could cut the time teachers spend marking homework and writing reports, teachers would have more time and energy for the parts of the job humans do best. 

1. Most jobs seem as if they can be done by robots or computers. 

Read the text and mark the sentences True or False.

I

2. Robots are always better at diagnosing illness than doctors. 

Read the text and mark the sentences True or False.

3. Many experts agree robots will replace teachers by 2027. 

Read the text and mark the sentences True or False.

4. One advantage of robot teachers is that they don’t need to rest. 

Read the text and mark the sentences True or False.

I

5. Robot assistants could help teachers by marking homework.

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Play to win

Play to win

16-year-old Harry Moore writes about his hobby, tennis.

My parents have always loved tennis and they’re members of a tennis club. My older brother was really good at it and they supported him - taking him to lessons all the time, So I guess when I announced that I wanted to be a tennis champion when I grew up I just intended for them to notice me, My mother laughed. She knew I couldn’t possibly be serious, | was just 4-year-old kid!

Later, I joined the club’s junior coaching group and eventually took part in my first proper contest, confident that my team would do well. We won, which was fantastic, but I wasn't so successful. I didn’t even want to be in the team photo because I didn't feel I deserved to be. When my coach asked what happened in my final match, I didn't know what to say. I couldn't believe I’d lost - I knew I was the better player. But every time I attacked, the other player defended brillianty. I couldn’t explain the result.

After that, I decided to listen mоre carefully to my coach because he had lots of tips. I realised that you need the right attitude to be a winner. On court I have a plan but sometimes the other guy will do something unexpected so I'll change it. If I lose a point, I do my best to forget it and find a way to win the next one.

At tournaments, it's impossible to avoid players who explode in anger. Lots of players can be negative - including myself sometimes. Once I got so angry that I nearly broke my racket! But my coach has helped me develop ways to control those feelings. After all, the judges have a hard job and you just have to accept their decisions.

My coach demands that I train in the gym to make sure I'm strong right to the end of a tournament. I’m getting good results: my shots are more accurate and I’m beginning to realise that with hard work there's a chance that I could be a champion one day.

6. Harry thinks he said that he was going to be a tennis champion in order to

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Play to win

7. How did Harry feel after his first important competition?

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Play to win

8. What does Harry try to remember when he's on the court?

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Play to win

9. What does Harry say about his behavior in tournaments?

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Play to win

10. What might a sports journalist write about Harry now?

For each question, choose the correct answer.

There are three extra sentences which you do not need to use.

Planting trees

Questions 11-15

For each question, choose the correct answer.

There are three extra sentences which you do not need to use.

Planting trees

by Mark Rotheram, aged 13

This spring, our teacher suggested we should get involved in a green project and plant some trees around the school. Everyone thought it was a great idea, so we started looking online for the best trees to buy. [11 -  ] If we wanted them to grow properly, they had to be the right type – but there were so many different ones available! So our teacher suggested that we should look for trees that grew naturally in our part of the world. [12 -  ] They'd also be more suitable for the wildlife here.

Then we had to think about the best place for planting the trees. We learnt that trees are happiest where they have room to grow, with plenty of space for their branches. The trees might get damaged close to the school playgrounds, for example. [13 -  ] Finally, we found a quiet corner close to the school garden — perfect!

Once we'd planted the trees, we knew we had to look after them carefully. We all took turns to check the leaves regularly and make sure they had no strange spots or marks on them. [14 -  ] And we decided to check the following spring in case the leaves turned yellow too soon, as that could also mean the tree was sick.

We all knew that we wouldn’t be at the school anymore by the time the trees grew tall, and that was a bit sad. But we'd planted the trees to benefit not only the environment, but also future students at the school. [15 -  ] And that thought really cheered us up!

11 - ?

For each question, choose the correct answer.

There are three extra sentences which you do not need to use.

Planting trees

12 - ?

For each question, choose the correct answer.

There are three extra sentences which you do not need to use.

Planting trees

13 - ?

For each question, choose the correct answer.

There are three extra sentences which you do not need to use.

Planting trees

14 - ?

For each question, choose the correct answer.

There are three extra sentences which you do not need to use.

Planting trees

15 -?