1. Get Ready a. Judging from this picture, which of the following words do you expect to find in the text? tough flames risky factories exploited

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "1. Get Ready a. Judging from this picture, which of the following words do you expect to find in the text? tough flames risky factories exploited"

Shauna McCarthy
5 years ago
Views:

1 1. Get Ready a. Judging from this picture, which of the following words do you expect to find in the text? tough flames risky factories exploited cost heat hostile carry out repair

2 I expect to find the words tough, flames, risky and hostile.

3 b. Imagine what the text is about. Make at least 3 or 4 sentences.

4 The text will deal with robots working in a hostile environment, doing tough jobs. Humans are no longer taking risks since robots replace them and are doing risky tasks. They replace firemen in the fight against fire. It will help save human lives.

5 2. Understanding the text a. Find the names and the occupations ( when posssible) of the characters present in the scene.

6 At the beginning of the story, a new employee at US Robots, Linda Rash, informs Dr Susan Calvin, a robotics expert, that one of the company's robots, Elvex, had a dream.

7 The characters present in the scene are : Dr Susan Calvin, a robotics expert, Linda Rash, a new employee at US Robots, and Elvex, a robot.

8 "I dream always very much the same dream, Dr. Calvin. Little details are different, but always it seems to me that I see a large panorama in which robots are working." "Robots, Elvex? And human begins, also?" "I see no human beings in the dream, Dr. Calvin. Not at first. Only robots." "What are they doing, Elvex?" "They are working, Dr. Calvin. I see some mining in the depths of the earth, and some laboring (working) in heat and radiation. I see some in factories and some undersea."

9 b. "They are working, Dr. Calvin. I see some... mining in the depths of the earth, and some... laboring (working) in heat and radiation. I see some... in factories and some... undersea." - Who do '' they'' and ''some'' refer to? - Some elements are missing in these sentences. Which ones?

10 They refers to the robots Elvex saw. Some refers to a certain category of robots. They are working, Dr Calvin. I see some who are mining in the depths of the earth,and some who are laboring in heat and radiation. I see some who are laboring in factories and some who are working undersea. (l. 6)

11 c. "Robots, Elvex? And human begins, also?" (l.3) "What are they doing, Elvex?" (l.5) Who asks these questions?

12 Dr Calvin asks these two questions.

13 "I dream always very much the same dream, Dr. Calvin. Little details are different, but always it seems to me that I see a large panorama in which robots are working." "Robots, Elvex? And human begins, also?" "I see no human beings in the dream, Dr. Calvin. Not at first. Only robots." "What are they doing, Elvex?" "They are working, Dr. Calvin. I see some mining in the depths of the earth, and some laboring (working) in heat and radiation. I see some in factories and some undersea."

14 Calvin turned to Linda. "Elvex is only ten days old, and I'm sure he has not left the testing station. How does he know of robots in such detail?" [ ] "What else did you see, Elvex?" "I saw that all the robots were bowed down ( pliés) with toil ( hard work) and affliction (détresse), that all were weary ( tired) of responsibility and care, and I wished them to rest." Calvin said, "But the robots are not bowed down, they are not weary, they need no rest." "So it is in reality, Dr. Calvin. I speak of my dream, however. In my dream, it seemed to me that robots must protect their own existence." Isaac Asimov, Robot Dreams,1986

15 d. ''Elvex is only ten days old, and I'm sure he has not left the testing station. How does he know of robots in such detail?" (l.8) What do the phrases in bold letters reveal about Elvex?

16 The phrases in bold letters reveal that Elvex is very young (he must have been built recently). He has little experience of the outside world since he has not left the testing station yet. That s why we can conclude that Elvex is clearsighted. Though he has seen very little, he knows a lot about his fellow robots. So Elvex must be very careful and observe a lot.

17 e. - List all the physical tasks mentionned in the text. - Find all the places associated with these tasks. What adjective would you use to characterize these activities?

18 "I dream always very much the same dream, Dr. Calvin. Little details are different, but always it seems to me that I see a large panorama in which robots are working." "Robots, Elvex? And human begins, also?" "I see no human beings in the dream, Dr. Calvin. Not at first. Only robots." "What are they doing, Elvex?" "They are working, Dr. Calvin. I see some mining in the depths of the earth, and some laboring (working) in heat and radiation. I see some in factories and some undersea."

19 Calvin turned to Linda. "Elvex is only ten days old, and I'm sure he has not left the testing station. How does he know of robots in such detail?" [ ] "What else did you see, Elvex?" "I saw that all the robots were bowed down ( pliés) with toil ( hard work) and affliction (détresse), that all were weary ( tired) of responsibility and care, and I wished them to rest." Calvin said, "But the robots are not bowed down, they are not weary, they need no rest." "So it is in reality, Dr. Calvin. I speak of my dream, however. In my dream, it seemed to me that robots must protect their own existence." Isaac Asimov, Robot Dreams,1986

20 The activities mentioned in the text are mining and laboring in heat and radiation. They are working in the depths of the earth, in factories and undersea. I would say these activities are harassing / tough, dull, dangerous / risky, dirty and boring.

21 f. Pick out the phrases linked to the robots' living conditions.

22 The robots are bowed down with toil and affliction, weary of responsibility and care and they need rest.

24 After the conversation with Elvex, Dr Calvin writes down a few key words on a paper, with the intention of writing a short report to her boss. Using the note opposite, write the report for her, explaining the situation, giving her impressions and asking for advice about the decision to take. (80 words) 4. Creative writing

Last night I dreamed,

Isaac Asimov, Robot Dreams, 1986 Tin God, 2003. PJ. Crook. Acrylic on canvas and wood. Private collection 1 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 "Last night I dreamed," said LVX-1, calmly. Susan Calvin said nothing,