Possible answer(s):

1. I use my smartphone all day. I ride in a car to school and

take a bus to go downtown. I do my schoolwork on a computer.
I watch movies on my tablet or on the TV.

2. I think all cars will be self-driving and people will live longer
due to advances in medicine.

U12-p.159
12A

U12A-p.160
 BEFORE YOU READ
DISCUSSION A. What can robots do that humans can’t? What can humans do that
robots can’t? Use the words and phrases from the box, and add
your own ideas.

climb stairs feel emotions talk to people

jump play soccer run
take care of people drive cars dance
walk up walls learn new things write poems

Possible answer(s):

I think robots can climb stairs, jump, walk up walls, drive cars,
talk to people, run, and dance. They can probably be
programmed to write poems and play soccer, and even take care
of people by taking their blood pressure or temperature. I don't
think they can feel emotions or learn new things on their own.

U12A-p.160
SCANNING B. Look quickly at the reading. Which of the things above are
mentioned? Do you think today’s robots can do them? Read the
passage to check your ideas.

climb stairs, talk to people, jump, run, take care of people,

dance, walk up walls, learn new things

U12A-p.160
A You have probably seen robots in movies such as Star Wars or Transformers. But
soon, robots may be part of our daily lives. Today’s scientists are working on
robots with various skills. For example, it is likely that robots will soon help take
care of children or the elderly,1 or do dangerous jobs such as fighting fires.

B Early robots were made to do simple things, mainly in factories. Since then,
robots have changed a lot. Humans operated these early robots. Today’s robots
—like Honda’s ASIMO—work on their own. ASIMO can run, climb stairs, and
dance. Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot can run fast, jump, and even do backflips 2—
all on two legs!

1 Someone who is elderly is old.

2 A backflip is a movement that involves jumping, spinning around in the air, and landing again on your
feet.

U12A-p.161
C Then there are robots designed to be like humans. These
robots have faces and can also talk. Such robots can
learn new things, and show us how they “feel.” Sophia—
a social robot—has a face that looks so human she
sometimes makes people feel uncomfortable.

1 Someone who is elderly is old.

2 A backflip is a movement that involves jumping, spinning around in the air, and landing again on your
feet.

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U12A-p.161
 Animal-bots

D Scientists aren’t just building humanlike robots. They are also making
robots that look and act like animals.

E At NASA, for example, scientists have made a robot snake. These snake-
bots can enter holes and move over rough ground. They might one day
help scientists look for signs of life on Mars. Other animal robots include
the frog-bot, which can jump over objects, and the sticky-bot, which can
walk up walls. There are also doglike robots, like SpotMini, which have
four legs and can run at high speed. Who knows? Perhaps in the future,
we’ll all have our own robot pet.

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U12A-p.162
 READING COMPREHENSION
A. Choose the best answer for each
question.
GIST 1. The passage is mainly about ____.
a. things robots can do
b. famous robots from movies
c. how to make your own robot

PURPOSE 2. What is the purpose of paragraph B?

a. to describe how the first robots worked
b. to explain how today’s robots are different
from early robots
c. to give an example of a robot that worked
in a factory

U12A-p.163
REFERENCE 3. In paragraph C, the word they refers to _____.
a. humans
b. robots
c. scientists

DETAIL 4. Which of the following robots would best be able to move over
a large rock in its path?
a. frog-bot
b. Sophia
c. SpotMini

DETAIL 5. Why was the snake-bot created?

a. to help scientists learn more about real snakes
b. as a toy for young children
c. to help study other planets

U12A-p.163
SCANNING B. Scan the reading for each of the robots in the box (a–f).
Complete the sentences using the correct options.

a. ASIMO b. Atlas c. Snake-bot

d. Sophia e. SpotMini f. Sticky-bot

d
1. ______ is a social robot that can talk and show emotions.
f
2. ______ can climb walls.
a
3. ______ b
and ______ can run on two legs.
c
4. ______ was developed by NASA.
e
5. ______ looks and moves like a dog.

U12A-p.163
READING SKILL
Identifying Examples
Writers often use examples to support their ideas or help explain
difficult concepts. Finding examples in a text will help you understand
the writer’s main ideas. Words that show where examples are in a text
include for example, like, and such as.

U12A-p.164
IDENTIFYING A. Look back at Reading A. Find and circle all of the words and
EXAMPLES
phrases that introduce examples.

Paragraph A: such as, for example, such as;

Paragraph B: like;
Paragraph C: Such; Paragraph E: for example, like

U12A-p.164
IDENTIFYING B. Find and write the example(s) of each thing below given in the
EXAMPLES
reading passage.

Star Wars, __________

1. two movies with robots (paragraph A) __________, Transformers
2. two jobs that future robots might do (paragraph A)
take care of children
_____________________, the elderly, fight fires
_____________________
ASIMO
3. a robot that works on its own (paragraph B) __________
4. a robot created by NASA that acts like an animal (paragraph E)
snake-bot
__________
SpotMini
5. a doglike robot (paragraph E) __________

U12A-p.164
IDENTIFYING C. Complete the information using examples from the box.
EXAMPLES

a. he could be seen at the Henry Ford Museum

b. “I am Elektro” and “My brain is bigger than yours.”
c. sitting, barking, and begging for food
d. he could walk, talk, and move his arms and legs

One of the first humanlike robots was Elektro. He was

built between 1937 and 1939 and could do many simple
human actions. For example, 1_____.d He was first seen
at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. He was joined by
c
Sparko, a robot dog that could do tricks, such as 2_____.
In 1992, a dance band made a song that used some
b
things Elektro said, like, 3_____. Elektro’s home is at the
Mansfield Memorial Museum in Ohio, United States.
However, he often travels to other museums. For
a
instance, in 2013, 4_____.

U12A-p.164
 CRITICAL THINKING Justifying Opinions

▶ List three jobs you think robots will someday do instead of humans.

nurse
__________ teacher
__________ chef
__________

▶ Compare your jobs with a partner. Give reasons for your choices.

possible answer(s):

I think nurses will be replaced by robots because they could take a

person’s temperature, blood pressure, and vital signs. They could also
draw blood and manage lab results. I think teachers will be replaced by
robots because they can present information to students and then give
computerized tests. I think chefs could be replaced by robots because
they can cut and chop food and then be programmed to put it together
and cook it in specific ways.

U12A-p.164
 VOCABULARY PRACTICE
COMPLETION A. Complete the information using the words in the box.

act rough signs simple uncomfortable

simple
For humans, walking is usually a very 1______________
task. But for robots, it’s very difficult—especially over
2 rough
______________ ground. Researchers are working to
help robots walk better by giving them machine parts that
3 act
______________ like human bones and muscles.

Walking on four legs is much simpler. Robot pets have

already been developed and are becoming more and
more popular. They move, cry, sense your movements,
Aibo is a puppy-

>
and can even learn basic words. But there are no sized pet robot dog
4
signs
______________ yet that robot pets will replace real developed by Sony.
ones. Many people find that robot pets make them feel
5 uncomfortable
______________.

U12A-p.165
DEFINITIONS B. Complete the sentences. Choose the correct options.

1. An example of a daily event is _____.

a. eating dinner b. going on vacation
2. A factory is a place where things are _____.
a. made b. sold
3. If you operate a machine, you _____ it.
a. fix b. use

U12A-p.165
COLLOCATIONS C. The nouns in the box are often used with the adjective daily.
Complete the sentences using the correct words.

events exercise work

work
1. A big part of my daily ____________ involves using a computer.
exercise
2. To stay fit and healthy, it’s important to do daily ____________.
3. Rather than newspapers, many people use social media to keep up
events
to date with daily ____________ around the world.

U12A-p.165
12B

U12B-p.166
BEFORE YOU READ
DISCUSSION A. Read the title of the reading passage. In what ways do you think
life will be different in 2045? Discuss with a partner and list
your ideas.

Possible answer(s):

I think all appliances will be computerized with voice

recognition. For example, if you want a piece of cheese from
the refrigerator, you’d just say ‘‘cheese,’’ and a robot in the
fridge would bring it to you. Shopping will be done by robots,
and all cars will drive themselves. Air and train travel will be
much faster, and car lanes will be at different altitudes, so
there won’t be any traffic jams. I also think people will live
much longer.

U12B-p.166
SKIMMING B. Skim the reading. Which of your ideas in activity A are
mentioned? What other things does the reading passage
discuss?

Possible answer(s):

People will live longer. Nanotechnology will be used to cure

illnesses. People will wear smart clothes. Robots will know
what’s in your fridge and will shop for you. Homes will
automatically go into ‘‘sleep’’ mode when you leave to save
energy. Cars will drive themselves.

U12B-p.166
A Welcome to life in the future! You get up in the morning and look into the
mirror. You’ve recently had a new anti-aging treatment, so you look like a 30-
year-old. And many people your age could live to be 120 now, so—at 60—
you’re not old at all.

B Science has also found amazing ways to keep people healthy.

Nanotechnology1 can help cure many illnesses, including cancer. And if any
part of your body is unhealthy, you can “grow” a new one in a laboratory.

C As you get dressed, you say to your shirt, “Turn red.” It becomes red. In
2045, “smart” clothes contain nanoparticles that carry electricity. So you can
program clothes to change colors or patterns.

1 Nanotechnology is the science of very small things that are measured in nanometers
(one billionth of a meter).

U12B-p.167
D On the way to the kitchen, you want to call a friend. Your cell phone is by the
window because it gets its energy from the sun. But you don’t need to pick up
the phone. You can just touch your jacket sleeve2 to make the call.

E It’s breakfast time. You reach for the milk, but a voice says, “Don’t drink that!”
Your fridge knows the milk is old, and tells the supermarket to replace it. Ten
minutes later, it’s delivered by a drone.3
F
As you leave for work, the lights turn off by themselves. Your home goes into
“sleep” mode to save energy. In 2045, cars drive themselves, so you just tell
your driverless car where you want to go.
G
Will all this come true? Perhaps the future is much closer than we think.

2 The sleeves of a shirt or jacket are the parts that cover your arms.
3 A drone is a kind of flying robot.

U12B-p.167
U12B-p.167
 READING COMPREHENSION
A. Choose the best answer for each
question.
DETAIL 1. What does the writer say about aging in the future?
a. Age 60 will not be thought of as old.
b. People who are 120 will be very healthy.
c. People who are 60 can expect to live 120 more years.

DETAIL 2. What is NOT mentioned as a reason

people are healthier in 2045?
a. Serious illnesses have been cured.
b. Robot doctors work in hospitals.
c. New body parts can be grown
by scientists.

U12B-p.168
REFERENCE 3. In paragraph C, It refers to _____.
a. electricity
b. your shirt
c. the pattern

DETAIL 4. Which of the following predictions is NOT mentioned in the passage?

a. Homes will use less energy.
b. Clothes will be able to change their patterns.
c. People won’t use cars.

INFERENCE 5. In paragraph E, what says, “Don’t drink that!”?

a. the milk
b. the fridge
c. the drone

U12B-p.168
 SHORT B. Write short answers for these questions. Use information
ANSWERS
from the reading passage.

1. In 2045, what has helped cure cancer?

nanotechnology
__________________________________________________

2. Where does the cell phone get energy from?

the sun
__________________________________________________

3. After the fridge orders milk, how long does it take to be delivered?
ten minutes
__________________________________________________

4. What is special about cars in the future?

they drive themselves
__________________________________________________

U12B-p.168
 READING SKILL

Understanding Prefixes
A prefix is one or more letters (e.g., un-, mis-, dis-, inter-, trans-) that can be
added to the beginning of a word to make a new word (e.g., e- + book = e-
book, and pre- + program = preprogram). Understanding prefixes can help
you guess the meaning of unfamiliar words and build your vocabulary. Some
words with prefixes require a hyphen (e.g., self-taught, ex-president), so it’s
best to check in a dictionary.

U12B-p.169
UNDERSTANDING A. Look at the prefixes, meanings, and examples. Write a new word
PREFIXES
for each prefix using words in the box. Check your words in a
dictionary.

social view kind star

Prefix Meanings Examples Your ideas:

1. un- not uncomfortable ___unkind___
2. re- again reprogram review
____________
3. super- above supercomputer superstar
____________
4. anti- against anti-virus anti-social
____________

U12B-p.169
DEFINITIONS B. Find words in Reading B that contain these prefixes. Write the
full word and then a definition.

anti-aging
1. anti- (paragraph A) Word: __________________
against aging (not getting old)
Definition: ___________________________________

unhealthy
2. un- (paragraph B) Word: __________________
not healthy (sick)
Definition: ___________________________________

replace
3. re- (paragraph E) Word: __________________
Definition: replace: place again (put a new one
___________________________________
there)
supermarket
4. super (paragraph E) Word: __________________
above a market (bigger than a market)
Definition: _________________________________

U12B-p.169
 CRITICAL THINKING Rating Predictions

Look back at Reading B. Rate each prediction about 2045 below 1–3 (1 =
very likely, 3 = very unlikely). Compare your answers with a partner, and
discuss your reasons.

_____ many people live to be 120 _____ you can grow new body parts in a lab
_____ clothes can change colors _____ cell phones get energy from the sun
_____ every home has a smart fridge _____ most cars are driverless

U12B-p.169
Possible answer(s):

I would rate the predictions: many people live to be 120: 3; clothes can
change colors: 2; every home has a smart fridge: 1; you can grow new
body parts in a lab: 3; cell phones get energy from the sun: 1; most
cars are driverless: 1.

I think the most likely prediction is that most cars will be driverless,
and every home will have a smart fridge, because I know this technology
is being created now. I think solar power is going to be the most
common way to generate energy in the future, so using solar power to
charge phones is also very likely. Growing new body parts in a lab is
something scientists are working on, but it seems much too difficult to
become a normal part of life in the next few decades.

U12B-p.169
 VOCABULARY PRACTICE
DEFINITIONS A. Complete the definitions using the correct form of the words in
the box.

electricity get dressed mirror pick up

program recently turn voice

mirror
1. If you look into a(n) _______________, you see yourself.
voice
2. You hear a person’s _______________ when they speak.
pick up
3. When you _______________ something, you lift it up.
get dressed
4. When you _______________, you put on your clothes.
turns
5. If something _______________ red, it becomes red.
program
6. You _______________ a machine by giving it instructions
so it performs an action.
recently
7. If something happened _______________, it happened not
very long ago.
Electricity
8. _______________ is energy that travels through wires and
is used to operate machines.

U12B-p.170
COMPLETION B. Complete the information using the correct form of the
words in activity A.

get dressed in the morning, you

When you 1___________
may soon choose your clothes based on what
they can do rather than how they look. “Smart
turn
clothes” of the future will 2______________
electricity
energy from the sun into 3______________.
This power could be used to charge your phone
or computer. Some clothes could even be
4 programmed to heat up or to change
______________
color.

U12B-p.170
WORD USAGE C. The phrasal verb pick up has more than one meaning.
Look at the definitions (1–3) below. Match each one with an
example sentence (a–c).

1. pick up (v) to collect someone • • a. The robot is able to pick up

from a place, usually in a car objects from the floor.
2. pick up (v) to learn naturally • • b. I picked up Spanish pretty
quickly when I lived in Madrid.
3. pick up (v) to lift something • • c. I’ll pick you up from school
at 4 p.m.

U12B-p.170
Viewing-p.171
 BEFORE YOU WATCH

PREVIEWING A. Read the information. The words in bold appear in the video.
Match each word with its definition.

A social robot is a robot that can communicate with a human. Many

can create humanlike facial expressions that show their emotions.
Some social robots can also “read” human faces. For example, they
can tell if we are sad and can say something to make us happy. A
robot named Sophia is one of the most advanced social robots. Many
believe that robots like her could become common in homes of the
future.

1. advanced • • a. our feelings, e.g., anger, sadness

2. facial expression • • b. modern; with the latest technology
3. emotions • • c. a way people show their feelings,
e.g., smiling

Viewing-p.171
DISCUSSION B. What do you think social robots like Sophia could be used for
in the future? Work with a partner and note some ideas below.

Possible answer(s):

I think robots like Sophia could be used to help

lonely people feel better and help take care of people
in hospitals and nursing homes.

Viewing-p.171
WHILE YOU WATCH

GIST A. Watch the video. Which of your ideas in Before You Watch B are
mentioned? Note any other uses for social robots below.

Possible answer(s):

The video mentions talking with elderly people and helping

doctors diagnose patients. It also says that social robots
could help manage crowds in busy places and help teachers
by answering students’ questions in classrooms.

Viewing-p.172
 SHORT B. Watch the video again. Note answers to the questions.
ANSWER

1. What happened to Sophia in February 2016?

She was activated.
_______________________________________

2. What does Sophia’s name mean?

‘‘wisdom’’ in Greek
_______________________________________

3. How many different facial expressions can

Sophia make?
around 50
_______________________________________

4. What happened to Sophia in 2018?

She was given legs and the ability to walk.
_______________________________________

Viewing-p.172
 CRITICAL THINKING Evaluating Ideas

What are the advantages of having more robots in our daily lives? What are
the disadvantages? Note some ideas in the chart below. Then discuss with a
partner.

Advantages of Robots Disadvantages of Robots

Possible answer(s): Possible answer(s):

They could help free up They could take away

time for more important people’s jobs. People
work, like research. could become too
They could make people’s dependent on them.
lives easier. They could They could get out of
provide friendship to control and create
lonely people. unforeseen problems in
the world.

Viewing-p.172
VOCABULARY REVIEW

Do you remember the meanings of these words? Check (✓) the ones you know.
Look back at the unit and review any words you’re not sure of.

Reading A
 act  daily  factory  operate
 rough  sign  simple  uncomfortable

Reading B
 electricity  get dressed  mirror  pick up
 program  recently  turn  voice

* Academic Word List

U12-p.172
 12A Vocabulary Definitions

act (v.) one thing that you do

daily (adj.) happening or done every day

factory (v.) a building or group of buildings where products are made

operate (v.) to work or to make something work

rough (adj.) not smooth or flat

sign (n.) something that tells you about another thing

simple (adj.) not hard to understand or do

uncomfortable (adj.) causing a feeling of physical discomfort

 12B Vocabulary Definitions

a form of energy that is carried through wires and is used to

electricity (n.)
operate machines, lights, etc.
get dressed to put clothes on

mirror (n.) a piece of glass that reflects images

pick up to lift something or someone up

to plan of things that are done in order to achieve a specific
program (v.)
result
recently (adv.) not long ago
to move your body so that you are looking in a different di-
turn (v.)
rection
voice (n.) the sounds that you make when you speak