اهتحانات الشهادة الثانىية العاهة الفروع : علىم عاهة و علىم الحياة مسابقة في مادة اللغة االنكليزية المدة ساعتان ونصف

Transcription

1 وزارة التربية والتعلين العالي الوديرية العاهة للتربية دائرة االهتحانات اهتحانات الشهادة الثانىية العاهة الفروع : علىم عاهة و علىم الحياة مسابقة في مادة اللغة االنكليزية المدة ساعتان ونصف االسن: الرقن: الدورة اإلستثنائية للعام 21 Part One: Reading (Score: 11/20) Read the following text in which the writer deals with the widespread robot making in Japan and its impact(s) on the Japanese, and then answer the questions that follow. Better Than People 1 Her name is Marie, and her impressive set of skills comes in handy in a nursing home. Marie can walk around under her own power. She can distinguish among similar-looking objects, such as different bottles of medicine, and has a delicate enough touch to work with frail patients. Marie can interpret a range of facial expressions and gestures, and respond in ways that suggest compassion. Although her language skills are not ideal, she can recognize speech and respond clearly. Above all, she is inexpensive. Unfortunately for Marie, however, she has one glaring trait that makes it hard for Japanese patients to accept her: she is a flesh-and-blood human being from the Philippines. If only she were a robot instead. 2 Robots, you see, are wonderful creatures, as many a Japanese will tell you. They are getting more adept all the time, and before too long will be able to do cheaply and easily many tasks that human workers do now. They will care for the sick, collect the rubbish, guard homes and offices, and give directions on the street. 3 This is great news in Japan, where the population has peaked, and may have begun shrinking in With too few young workers supporting an ageing population, somebody- or something- needs to fill the gap, especially since many of Japan s young people will be needed in science, business and other inspiring or knowledge- intensive jobs. Making humanoid robots is clearly the simple and practical way to go. 4 Japan certainly has the technology. It is already the world leader in making industrial robots, which look nothing like pets or people but increasingly do much of the work in its factories. Japan is also racing far ahead of other countries in developing robots with more human features, or that can interact more easily with people. A government report released recently estimated that the market for service robots will reach 1.1 trillion ($ 10 billion) within a decade. 5 The country showed off its newest robots at a world exposition in Aichi area. More than 22 million visitors came, 95 % of them Japanese. The robots stole the show from the nanny robot that babysits to a Toyota that plays a trumpet. And Japan s robots do not confine their talents to controlled environments. As they gain skills and confidence, robots such as Sony s QRIO (pronounced curio ) and Honda s ASIMO are venturing to unlikely places. They have attended factory openings, greeted foreign leaders, and rung the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange. ASIMO can even take the stage to accept awards. 6 Few Japanese have the fear of robots that seems to haunt Westerners in seminars and Hollywood films. In western popular culture, robots are often a threat, either because they are manipulated by evil forces or because something goes horribly wrong with them. By contrast, most Japanese view robots as friendly and benign. Robots like people, and can do well. 7 The Japanese are well aware of this cultural divide, and commentators devote lots of attention to explaining it. The two most favored theories, which are assumed to reinforce each other, involve religion and popular culture. 8 Most Japanese take an electric approach to religious beliefs, and the native religion, Shintoism, is infused with animism: it does not make clear distinctions between inanimate things and organic beings. A popular Japanese theory about robots, therefore, is that there is no need to explain why Japanese are fond of them: what needs explaining, rather, is why Westerners allow their Christian hang-ups to get in the way of a good technology. When Honda started making real progress with its humanoid-robot project, it consulted the Vatican on whether Westerners would object to a robot made in man s image. 1

2 9 The prevailing view in Japan is that the country is lucky to be uninhibited by robophobia. With fewer of the complexes that trouble many Westerners, so the theory goes, Japan is free to make use of a great new tool, just when its needs and abilities are happily about to converge. Of all the nations involved in such research, the Japan Times wrote in a 2004 editorial, Japan is the most inclined to approach it in a spirit of fun. 10 These positive explanations, however, may capture only part of the story. Although they are at ease with robots, many Japanese are not as comfortable around other people. That is especially true of foreigners. Immigrants cannot be programmed as robots can. You never know when they will do something spontaneous, ask an awkward question, or use the wrong honorific in conversation. But, even leaving foreigners out of it, being Japanese, and having always to watch what you say and do around others, is no picnic. 11 What seems to set Japan apart from other countries is that few Japanese are all that worried about the effects that hordes of robots might have on its citizens. Nobody seems prepared to ask awkward questions about how it might turn out. If this bold social experiment produces lots of isolated people, there will of course be an outlet for their loneliness: they can confide in their robot pets and partners. Only in Japan could this be thought less risky than having a compassionate foreigner drop by for a chat. Questions A. Answer each of the following in 1-4 sentences of your own. 1. State two reasons that push the Japanese to reject Marie in spite of her skills. (Score: ) 2. What urges the Japanese to make humanoid robots? Refer to paragraph 3 for your answer. (Score: ) 3. Explain what the writer means by Japan is uninhibited by robophobia. What impact does this have on the Japanese? Illustrate. (Score:) 4. What common ideas are there between paragraphs 1 and 10? (Score: ) B. Skim paragraphs 6, 7, and 8 to show the difference in attitude between the Japanese and the Europeans with regard to robots. Copy the table in your booklet and then fill it with suitable information. Use phrases only. (Score: ) Religiously Culturally Japanese Europeans C. 1. Mention four different means of support the writer uses to achieve credibility in paragraphs 4, 5, and 9. (Score: ) 2. What type of introduction is employed in paragraph 1? What is/are the writer s purpose(s) behind using this technique? (Score:) D. What do the underlined pronouns refer to? (Score: ) 1. This, paragraph 3 3. They, paragraph 5 2. its, paragraph 4 4. it, paragraph 9 Part Two: Writing (Score:9/20) Although technology has some negative effects, as a whole, it is considered indispensible for man s progress and development. Explain this statement, focusing on two fields: medicine, education, business, communication etc. to show technology s vital role in man s life. Develop your point of view in an essay of words. Use reasons and examples to support your opinion. Make sure that, in your introduction, you put your reader in the general atmosphere of your topic and clearly provide a thesis statement, and that each of your body paragraphs starts with a topic sentence which you back up with relevant supporting details. Draft, revise, and proofread your essay. Your writing will be assessed for ideas, language and style, and tidiness. (Score: 05 for ideas and organization, 03 for language and style, and for tidiness and legible handwriting) 2

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4 وزارة التربية والتعلين العالي الوديرية العاهة للتربية دائرة االهتحانات هشروع هعيار التصحيح اهتحانات الشهادة الثانىية العاهة الفروع : علىم عاهة و علىم الحياة مسابقة في مادة اللغة االنكليزية المدة ساعتان ونصف االسن: الرقن: الدورة اإلستثنائية للعام 21 First exercise (20 points) Part of the Q Answer Key Competencies: - Utilize reading strategies - Develop literal and interpretive comprehension of written discourse - Produce transactional writing I-A-1 The two reasons are: a) Marie is a Philippine woman with flesh and blood. b) The Japanese would have liked her better had she been a robot. I-A-2 a) an ageing population with few young workers b) the urgent need for many Japanese young people in science These two reasons make humanoid robots a must. I-A-3 Japan is not controlled by extreme fear of robots. This has a positive impact on the Japanese, for they : * are free to make use of this new technology any time they want. * can deal with it in a spirit of fun. * can practice a feeling of security which no human being is able to provide them with. N.B. for interpretation of the meaning, for the impacts I-A-4 Both paragraphs show the Japanese discomfort around human beings, particularly foreigners/ immigrants. Additionally, the two paragraphs reflect the Japanese s comfort and sense of security around robots since these can be programmed contrary to foreigners. I-B Japanese Europeans Religiously Shintoism regards inanimated things and organic beings equally Clergymen get in the way of good technology Culturally Robots are friendly and benign Robots are a source of threats N.B. 0.5 for each answer I-C-1 To achieve credibility, the writer uses facts and statistics (paragraph 4); percentages and examples (QRIO, ASIMO )/ (paragraph 5); and reports and an editorial (paragraphs 4 and 9). N.B for each support I-C-2 It is an anecdote in the form of a real life example or case (that of Marie). Such a type: a) introduces the topic and gives background information about humanoid robots in Japan b) arouses the reader s interest in robots, c)implicitly presents the thesis statement which focuses on the constructive roles of robots in Japan, and consequently d) prepares the reader for a thorough discussion of this issue in the body of the text. Mark I-D-1 This(Par. 3) = what will robots do in the future

5 I-D-2 its (Par.4) = Japan s factories 0.25 I-D-3 They (Par. 5) = Sony s QRIO and Honda s ASIMO robots 0.25 I-D-4 it (par. 9) = making use of robots 0.25 II-A Ideas and organization 05 II-B Language and style 03 II-C Tidiness and legible handwriting 2