1. Read the following text and decide whether the sentences given after it are true or false. Robot teachers If you think of the jobs robots could never do, you would probably put…

1. Read the following text and decide whether the sentences given after it are true or false. Robot teachers If you think of the jobs robots could never do, you would probably put doctors and teachers at the top of the list. It’s easy to imagine robot cleaners and factory workers, but some jobs need human connection and creativity. But are we underestimating what robots can do? In some cases, they already perform better than doctors at diagnosing illness. Also, some patients might feel more comfortable sharing personal information with a machine than a person. Could there be a place for robots in education after all? British education expert Anthony Seldon thinks so. And he even has a date for the robot takeover of the classroom: 2027. He predicts robots will do the main job of transferring information and teachers will be like assistants. Intelligent robots will read students’ faces, movements and maybe even brain signals. Then they will adapt the information to each student. It’s not a popular opinion and it’s unlikely robots will ever have empathy and the ability to really connect with humans like another human can. One thing is certain, though. A robot teacher is better than no teacher at all. In some parts of the world, there aren’t enough teachers and 9-16 per cent of children under the age of 14 don’t go to school. That problem could be partly solved by robots because they can teach anywhere and won’t get stressed, or tired, or move somewhere for an easier, higher-paid job. Those negative aspects of teaching are something everyone agrees on. Teachers all over the world are leaving because it is a difficult job and they feel overworked. Perhaps the question is not ‘Will robots replace teachers?’ but ’How can robots help teachers?’ Office workers can use software to do things like organise and answer emails, arrange meetings and update calendars. Teachers waste a lot of time doing non-teaching work, including more than 11 hours a week marking homework. If robots could cut the time teachers spend marking homework and writing reports, teachers would have more time and energy for the parts of the job humans do best. True False 1. Most jobs seem as if they can be done by robots or computers. 2. Robots are always better at diagnosing illnesses than doctors. 3. Many experts agree robots will replace teachers by 2027. 4. One advantage of robot teachers is that they don’t need to rest. 5. Robot assistants could help teachers by marking homework and writing. 6. Some teachers use robots to reduce their time answering emails and marking homework. 2. Choose the best answer. 1. It’s easy to think robots … a) will replace people even if we don't like the idea. b) are more capable than people and it's true. c) can do less than people but it's not always true. 2. Anthony Seldon thinks teachers in the future will … a) teach knowledge to students. b) no longer exist. c) help robots in class. 3. Robots will probably never … a) be intelligent enough to work in education. b) have human understanding of emotions. c) be a popular choice for teachers. 4. Some parts of the world ... a) have a shortage of teachers. b) already use robots in teaching jobs. c) pay robots to teach. 5. Teachers … a) have less help than office workers. b) leave their jobs to become office workers. c) work harder than office workers. 6. Robots could … a) prepare lessons. b) mark homework. c) empathise with students. Exercise 23. Chose the correct option: CAN, CAN'T, COULD, COULDN’T. 1. When Tom was 16, he was a fast runner. He ______ run 200 metres in 22 seconds. a) can b) could c) can‘t d) couldn‘t 2. I'm afraid I ______ come to your party next Saturday. a) can b) could c) can‘t d) couldn‘t 3. I'm not in a hurry. I've got plenty of time. I _______ wait. a) can b) could c) can‘t d) couldn‘t 4. I was feeling terribly sick yesterday. I ________ eat anything. a) can b) could c) can‘t d) couldn‘t 5. Can you speak loudly, please? I _______ hear you very well. a) can b) could c) can‘t d) couldn‘t 6. "You look exhausted." "Yes, I _________ sleep last night. a) can b) could c) can‘t d) couldn‘t