Lesson 8 The effects of computers on our ability to think

1. Read and memorize the following words.

to decrease –зменшувати, знижати;

to reduce –послабляти;

mental – інтелектуальний, розумовий;

to deteriorate – погіршувати;

properly – як слід;

to penalize – покарати;

to deteriorate – погіршуватися;

reference – відношення;

widespread – розповсюджений;

math – математика, математичні дії;

incapable – неспроможній;

skill – уміння;

ridiculous – цікаво;

stick down – записувати;

to sort it out – выдсортирувати;

equal – рівний;

to judge – засуджувати;

sensible – доцільно;

boring – нудний;

to improve – вдосконалюватися;

nightmare – кошмар;

scenario – сценарій;

to attain – досягати;

consciousness – розуміння;

to team – об’єднуватися;

monitor – радник.

2. You are going to hear a man and a woman discussing the effects of computers on our ability to think. Before you listen look at the statements below and tick (/) those which support the idea that computers decrease our ability to think and put a cross (x) by those which are against this view.

1. The pocket calculator has reduced our ability to do mental arithmetic.

2. The pocket calculator is a great time-saver and gives people time to do more

interesting tasks.

3. People who learn to write on a computer with a spell-check can't spell properly.

4. People who can’t spell won't be penalized аnу more.

5. The level of culture will deteriorate because the software programmers will

become the main reference.

6. Humans will always be needed to program computers.

3. Discuss and dramatize the following dialogue.

WOMAN OK, take the pocket calculator, that was the first widespread tool. It has destroyed the ability of a whole generation to do simple maths - yeah, mental arithmetic. And that means a generation of teachers who are incapable of teaching simple maths. How are we going to get that skill back?

MAN That's ridiculous! It's just a time-saver, I mean, there's so much more to learn and understand that. I mean, just using а calculator or any machine frees our minds. It gives us time for, to think about much more difficult and interesting things.

WOMAN OK, OK, what about the spell-check programs on word processors? You don't have to worry about learning to write properly anymore. You just stick it down any old how and the computer will sort it out. Well, look, just imagine a teacher who can't spell or write properly.

MAN I think that that's, that's just the best development. It means that people are actually more equal now. Because somebody who, who couldn't spell at all can become the best speller in the world. We won't be judging people on the way they write, but on their ideas. And that's much more important. It's far more sensible. It's just stupid to judge people on how they spell. Look, imagine all the time you can save at school. No more, no more boring dictation exercises.

WOMAN OK. What about, what about reading, our source of culture will be the software programmers and not novelists. You know, no, in the future, it won't be novelists. Just imagine that. How can our thinking processes improve if we are all culturally the poorer and we all think the same? Already children spend more time in front of the screen and less time in books.

MAN That's just, that's just a nightmare scenario. That's just panic. These programs are all tools; they just give people more time for other more important things. Maybe reading books! Computers will never replace the human brain. They can't! We need humans to, to program them in the first place.

WOMAN Unless computers attain consciousness, then they'll be able to program themselves!

MAN Oh, never!

WOMAN No, I'm sure that isn't far off. They already make important decisions for us. These so-called networks which team from experience. They do. They already do things like monitor drugs for patients who are very ill or they, they even take business decisions. It's just a question оf time. In a few decades we'll be asking the computers to re-teach us how to make decisions. You wait and see!

4. Match the pairs of words and memorize them to read the text easily:

a fellow to earn a degree UCLA residency in pediatrics М. D.

- спеціалізація в педіатрії; - член наукового товариства; - отримати диплом; - Doctor of Medicine; - University of California, Los Angeles

5. Read and translate the text very carefully.