The mind machine?
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0 |
D |
Although intelligence has been studied, and the brain has been studied, there is little understanding of how the brain works to produce intelligence. This has something to do with the fact that the brain contains around 100 billion cells (about the number of stars in the Milky Way).
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1 |
__ |
One of the continuing myths about the relationship between intelligence and the brain is that the brains of very clever people are somehow physically different from those of ordinary people. At the beginning of the century an American scientist called E.A. Spitzka produced a list of the weights of the brains of important, well-known men. The heaviest brain on the list was that of Turgenev, the Russian novelist, at 2000g. However, the brain of another great genius, Walt Whitman, weighed only 1282g.
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2 |
__ |
There are no significant differences between the intelligence levels of males and females. However, girls under seven score a little higher than boys in IQ tests. However, men and women do differ in the way they think. Generally, women are more skilled verbally and men do better on visual-spatial tasks.
Interestingly, the fibres which join the two halves of the brain have been found to be larger in women than in men. This supports the theory that women can change from 'practical' to 'emotional' thinking more quickly than men.
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3 |
__ |
People with mental problems have often been treated extremely badly. Two hundred years ago, the mentally ill were swung around in revolving chairs, or holes were drilled in their skulls to release evil spirits. From the 1930s, the mentally ill were subjected to electric shock therapy and lobotomy − the removal of part of their brain. In the 1960s and 70s, thousands of people were given drugs to cope with anxiety and then became addicted to them.
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4 |
__ |
The brain needs ten times as much blood as other organs of the body, as it can't store glucose for later use. This is different to muscles and other organs and although the adult brain makes up only two per cent of the body weight, its oxygen consumption is twenty per cent of the body's total.
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5 |
__ |
There are similarities between brains and computers. Computers can do complicated calculations at incredible speeds. But they work in a fixed way, because they can't make memory associations. If we need a screwdriver and there isn't one, we will think laterally and use a knife or coin instead. Computers can't do this. In fact, it is claimed that when it comes to seeing, moving and reacting to stimuli, no computer can compete with even the brain power of a fly.
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6 |
__ |
Most of our mental processes are deeply formed habits. Challenging your brain to do things differently helps it develop. Try changing routines as often as you can: take a bus instead of going by car, sit in a different chair. An extreme but useful exercise is to read something upside down − you can actually feel your brain at work.
Look through the list of words and phrases and check if you know their Ukrainian equivalents. Use the Mini-Dictionary (UNIT 3) if necessary.
to produce intelligence
to contain
the continuing myth
ordinary people
a list of the weights of the brains
no significant differences
males and females
visual-spatial tasks
this supports the theory
the adult brain makes up
oxygen consumption
similarities between brains
complicated calculations
at incredible speeds
memory associations
a screwdriver
changing routines
to read upside down
Explain the meaning of the words and phrases.
to be more skilled, to support the theory, the brain makes up, visual-spatial tasks, no significant differences, habits, fibres, the Milky Way, ordinary
Cross the odd word out.
well-known, illustrious, weird, celebrated;
significant, trivial, important, crucial;
thinking, reasoning, thought, believing;
consumption, expending, depletion, condescension;
compete, contend, challenge, ally.
Match the words with their definitions.
1
brain
a
a false story which many people may believe
2
myth
b
a natural form of sugar found in fruit
3
to support
c
the organ in the top part of your head which controls thought, feeling and physical activity
4
glucose
d
precisely determined
5
fixed
e
to tend to establish (a theory, statement, etc.) by providing new facts; substantiate
6
consumption
f
to state to be true, especially when open to question; assert or maintain
7
routine
g
to act in response to or under the influence of a stimulus or prompting
8
to claim
h
a set of customary and often mechanically performed procedures or activities
9
to react
i
the capacity to acquire and apply knowledge
10
intelligence
j
the act or process of consuming
Find 10 words from the table above.
y
r
i
m
g
k
z
s
f
j
y
c
o
n
s
u
m
p
t
i
o
n
t
u
t
u
r
y
k
l
x
z
x
o
t
e
p
k
t
s
b
e
n
m
o
i
l
p
g
h
z
x
d
v
n
f
n
l
o
k
z
p
y
o
k
t
l
e
i
r
n
p
g
k
o
j
r
r
t
g
t
g
l
u
c
o
s
e
e
x
e
v
b
k
a
q
b
h
w
a
d
n
f
g
w
y
n
r
l
o
c
v
c
l
a
i
m
u
k
p
a
t
a
e
g
o
q
b
r
a
i
n
Fill in the blanks with the words from the list below. Use each word only once. Translate the collocations into Ukrainian.
visual-spatial, continuing, stimuli, complicated, verbally, laterally, compete, consumption, similarities, thinking
|
1 |
to change from 'practical' to 'emotional' ....... |
6 |
to react to .......... |
|
2 |
to ......... with even the brain power of a fly |
7 |
oxygen ....... |
|
3 |
to be skilled ......... |
8 |
......... calculations |
|
4 |
to do ..... tasks |
9 |
to think ........ |
|
5 |
....... between brains and computers |
10 |
the .......... myths |
Find the words in the text to which the following are the synonyms. The first letter is given to make the task easier.
include (c), men (m), women (f), great (i), difficult (c), spoken (v), create (p)
Match the words and phrases with their Ukrainian equivalents.
1
speed
a
містити
2
calculations
b
викрутка
3
to contain
c
становить, складає
4
screwdriver
d
швидкість
5
to make up
e
обчислення
6
to read upside down
f
глибоко сформовані звички
7
deeply formed habits
g
конкурувати
8
memory associations
h
складні розрахунки
9
to compete
i
читати догори ногами
10
complicated calculations
j
асоціації пам'яті
Fill the cells in the table with the words derived from the given ones.
Verb
Noun
Adjective
relate
...................,
relation
relational,
....................
...................
....................
continuing,
....................
fix
fix,
....................,
fixing
fixative,
..................
.....................
....................,
readership,
.....................
..................
stimulate
.....................,
stimulus (pl. ............)
..................
Fill in the correct word derived from the word in bold.
Many people are trying to compare computers with the human 1) _____ (brainy), but they do not not understand what the 2) ______ (compare) involves. As for computers, their 3) ______ (functional) is known. They have been designed by scientists and engineers, and all aspects of 4) _______ (computerization) architecture and functions have been 5) _______ (rigorous) recorded by the designers. Anyone who wishes to spend the time can acquire the necessary 6) _______ (informative). By contrast, little is known about the functions, 7) _____ (connect), functional architecture, and internal mechanisms of human brains. Scientific knowledge in this area is inadequate, and most brain experts tacitly assume that the brain and the computer have 8) _____ (similarity) processes and functions. Humans have designed and implemented computers in 9) ______ (logic) ways that make sense, and there is no reason for the brain to be organized any other way. Thus, our expectation and 10) _______ (understand) of the world steer our cognition toward the familiar.
Fill each gap with an appropriate word from the list below.
intellectually, computers, habits, remember, improving, disease, retrieval, upgrade, complex, memory
If our brains were 1) ........, we'd simply add a chip to 2) ......... our memory. However, the human brain is more 3) ....... than even the most advanced machine, so 4) ........ human memory requires slightly more effort.
Just like muscular strength, your ability to 5) ......... increases when you exercise your 6) ......... and nurture it with a good diet and other healthy 7) ....... There are a number of steps you can take to improve your memory and 8) ........ capacity. Physical exercise and engaging your brain with 9) ......... stimulating activities will not only improve your memory, it can also afford your brain greater protection against 10) ........ or injury as you age.
Work in small groups. Match 1-5 with a-e to make sentences.
1
Your brain needs
a
your ability to think and learn will deteriorate.
2
If you use it often and in the right ways,
b
such as the capacities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning and problem solving.
3
But if you never use your brain, or abuse it with harmful chemicals,
c
exercise just like a muscle.
4
Intelligence is an umbrella term describing a property of the mind including related abilities,
d
psychometric testing.
5
A popular theory of intelligence is based on
e
you will become a more skilled thinker and increase your ability to focus.
Put the words in the correct order to make sentences. The first word is underlined.
of / natural / in / intelligence / Nature / brain / way / produces / the / a.
brain / a / Science / of / is / product / the.
functions / have / Neuroscientists / explain / the / worldwide / trying / human / to / decades / the / been / cognitive / of / brain / for.
Choose the correct answer.
Computer scientists _____ various criteria for deciding if a machine is intelligent.
-
A have proposed
B proposed
C propose
D have been proposing
The most fascinating question about artificial intelligence _____ whether machines can have minds or not.
A has been remaining
B remained
C remains
D remain
The possibility of human-created, non-living intelligence ______ a fantasy or goal of humans for years.
A has been being
B has
C has been
D have
Creativity in computers _____ only impossible; it is also undesirable.
A not is
B am not
C are not
D is not
Clearly, if we ________ the physical organ or device that controls human consciousness, and therefore do not fully understand it, we cannot attempt to set up such a device in a machine.
A have not even been discovering
B have not even discovered
C are not even discovering
D do not even discover
We __________ the problem about AI for a long time.
A are studying
B have been studying
C study
D studied
The scientists _______ hard these days.
A are working
B work
C have worked
D worked
Simon _________________.
A already has solved his equation
B has solved already his equation
C has solved his equation already
D has already solved his equation
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct present tense.
Mark ......... (study) intelligence at Oxford University. He is a scientist.
Now he .......... (study) brain visual mechanisms of reading.
Mark already ............ (study) some works of famous scientists about this problem.
He ............ (study) this problem since last year.
At the moment Mark ............ (write) a paper to analyse known approaches.
He already .......... (write) for five pages.
Mark ............ (write) this paper since Monday.
Find and correct the mistakes.
A computer consist of many many parts, including a motherboard, the disk drives, the processor, graphic cards and many more ... all of which has its own roles in the computer's processes.
Like all machinery, computers are breaking down with time.
Now the computer rapidly changes with technology.
But does the the computer really superior to the human brain in terms of ability, processing power and adaptability?
Computers probably is the most great achievement and pride of the human race.
Read the sentences. If a sentence is correct, put a tick. If it has a word which should not be there, write it in the space provided.
1
Organizing and ordering information can a significantly improve memory.
2
You can have organize material by grouping related ideas together.
3
Some people remember information best when it is encoded visually.
4
Repeating information aloud can help you encode in the information and identify how well you have learned it.
5
An effective way to enhance recall and understanding of dense material is to teach it to an imaginary an audience.
Fill in a, an, the where necessary.
"...... existence of forgetting has never been proved: We only know that some things don't come to ....... mind when we want them." Friedrich Nietzsche
"Memory is what tells ...... man that his wife's birthday was yesterday." Mario Rocco
"The two offices of memory are ...... collection and ....... distribution." Samuel Johnson
"...... observation is ....... old man's memory." Jonathan Swift
".... clear conscience is ..... sure sign of a bad memory." Mark Twain
"........ things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember." Seneca
"If you wish to forget anything on the spot, make ..... note that this thing is to be remembered." Edgar Allan Poe
Fill in the gaps with for, on (2), by, in (3), of (3).
People who believe that the mind can be replicated 1) ..... a computer tend to explain the mind 2) ...... terms of a computer. When theorizing about the mind, especially to outsiders but also to one another, defenders 3) ..... artificial intelligence (AI) often rely 4) ...... computational concepts. They regularly describe the mind and brain as the “software and hardware” 5) ..... thinking, the mind as a “pattern” and the brain as a “substrate,” senses as “inputs” and behaviors as “outputs,” neurons as “processing units” and synapses as “circuitry,” to give just a few common examples.
Those who employ this analogy tend to do so with casual presumption. They rarely justify it 6) ..... reference to the actual workings of computers, and they misuse and abuse terms that have clear and established definitions 7) ..... computer science − established not merely because they are well understood, but because they 8) ..... fact are products of human engineering. An examination of what this usage means and whether it is correct reveals a great deal about the history and present state 9) ..... artificial intelligence research. And it highlights the aspirations of some of the luminaries of AI − researchers, writers, and advocates 10) .... whom the metaphor of mind-as-machine is dogma rather than discipline.
Edit the Ukrainian translation (B).
A new brain-computer-interface technology could turn our brains into automatic image-identifying machines that operate faster than human consciousness. Researchers at Columbia University are combining the processing power of the human brain with computer vision to develop a novel device that will allow people to search through images ten times faster than they can on their own. Darpa, or the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, is funding research into the system with hopes of making federal agents' jobs easier. The technology would allow hours of footage to be very quickly processed, so security officers could identify terrorists or other criminals caught on surveillance video much more efficiently.
Новий мозок-комп'ютер-інтерфейс технології можуть перетворити наш мозок в автоматичному зображенні виявлення машин, які працюють швидше, ніж людська свідомість. Дослідники з Колумбійського університету поєднують обчислюваної потужності людського мозку з розробки нового пристрою, який дозволить людям шукати за допомогою образів в десять разів швидше, ніж вони можуть самі по собі. DARPA, або досліджень передових оборонних проектів агенства, фінансування досліджень в системі з надіях на створення робочих місць федеральних агентів простіше. Технологія дозволить годин відеоматеріалів, дуже швидко опрацьовуються, тому співробітники служби безпеки могли ідентифікувати терористів або інших злочинців спіймали на відеоспостереження набагато більш ефективно.
Translate into English.
Мозок потребує в десять разів більше крові, ніж інші органи тіла.
Є схожість між мозком людини і комп'ютером.
Комп'ютери можуть робити складні розрахунки з неймовірною швидкістю.
Більшість наших психічних процесів глибоко формуються звичками.
Мислення чоловіків абстрактне і символічне, а у жінок конкретне і образне.
У жінок більш розвинутий емоційний і вербальний інтелект.
Чоловіки краще за жінок орієнтуються в просторі і часі і мають певні переваги в розумінні механічних відносин та математичних дій.
Органiзацiя людської пам'ятi суттєво вiдрiзняється вiд комп'ютерної, i передусiм наявнiстю семантики й контексту.
S
PEAKING
At the symposium "Innovations in Science and Technologies", you are going to talk about 10 differences between brains and computers. Give a comparative analysis. Use the suggested prompts and information from the text "The Mind Machine?" to cover this topic.
Brains are analogue; computers are digital.
The brain uses content-addressable memory.
The brain is a massively parallel machine; computers are modular and serial.
Processing speed is not fixed in the brain; there is no system clock.
Short-term memory is not like RAM.
No hardware/software distinction can be made with respect to the brain or mind.
Synapses are far more complex than electrical logic gates.
Unlike computers, processing and memory are performed by the same components in the brain.
The brain is a self-organizing system.
Brains have bodies.