EnglishClub

Pre-listening vocabulary

• compile: to collect multiple documents and put them in one place
• interview: a meeting where a reporter asks someone questions about their life and experiences
• ethical: good; not harmful to anyone
• criticize: to speak negatively about something or someone
• trope: a common storyline in works of fiction
• morality: a set of rules that humans use to define good and evil
• artificial intelligence: a program that is designed to think like a human

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:35 — 2.2MB)

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Gapfill exercise

I, Robot is a collection of fiction stories by American writer and scientist Isaac Asimov. The stories were originally published in science fiction magazines. They were compiled into a book in 1950. The stories are structured as parts of an interview with a robotics named Susan Calvin. Throughout the book, robots follow Asimov’s famous Three Laws of Robotics. These laws are designed to ensure that robots make ethical . At the time, Asimov’s book was for describing robots as humanlike beings. Asimov often criticized a trope he called the “Frankenstein complex,” which was the belief that robots would eventually turn against their creators. Although has changed since I, Robot was published, it is still seen as an important exploration of morality in artificial intelligence.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. The stories in I, Robot are structured as
   a. journal entries
   b. parts of an interview
   c. letters
   
2. The Three Laws of Robotics are meant to ensure that
   a. robots think like humans
   b. robots function properly
   c. robots make ethical decisions
   
3. The “Frankenstein complex” is the belief that
   a. robots will never be as smart as humans
   b. robots will eventually turn against their creators
   c. robots are incapable of emotions

Discussion/essay questions

1. In recent years, scientists have made many advancements in artificial intelligence. Do you think robots will ever be able to think like humans? Do you think it will happen in the near future? Why or why not?

Transcript

I, Robot is a collection of science fiction stories by American writer and scientist Isaac Asimov. The stories were originally published in science fiction magazines. They were compiled into a book in 1950. The stories are structured as parts of an interview with a robotics expert named Susan Calvin. Throughout the book, robots follow Asimov’s famous Three Laws of Robotics. These laws are designed to ensure that robots make ethical decisions. At the time, Asimov’s book was unique for describing robots as humanlike beings. Asimov often criticized a trope he called the “Frankenstein complex,” which was the belief that robots would eventually turn against their creators. Although technology has changed since I, Robot was published, it is still seen as an important exploration of morality in artificial intelligence.

Answers to comprehension questions

1b 2c 3b

Pre-listening vocabulary

• epic poem: a long narrative poem with a large-scale storyline
• theological: relating to the study of religion
• dictate: to tell someone what to write down
• salvation: the process of being saved, especially by a religious figure
• free will: the ability to make your own choices
• morality: the set of values that determine what is “good” and what is “evil”
• interpretation: a belief about a story’s message

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:11 — 1.1MB)

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Gapfill exercise

Paradise Lost is an epic poem by English writer John Milton. It is viewed as one of the most important works of Christian theological literature. Paradise Lost was originally published in ten books in 1667. Milton, who was , wrote the work by dictating to a scribe. The epic retells the biblical story of Satan’s banishment from , as well as mankind’s and salvation. Paradise Lost is famous for its mastery of the form and of classical epics, but also for raising interesting questions about free will. Although it was intended as a Christian work, the morality of Paradise Lost has led to many different interpretations of its meaning.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. Paradise Lost is
   a. a play
   b. a novel
   c. an epic poem
   
2. The biblical story that Paradise Lost tells is
   a. the banishment of Satan and fall of mankind
   b. the birth and crucifixion of Jesus Christ
   c. the story of Noah and the flood
   
3. The form and style of Paradise Lost take inspiration from
   a. medieval romances
   b. classical epics
   c. parables from the Bible

Discussion/essay questions

1. Do you think that humans have free will? Why or why not?
2. What can literature teach us about morality? Are there any important lessons you have learned from stories?

Transcript

Paradise Lost is an epic poem by English writer John Milton. It is viewed as one of the most important works of Christian theological literature. Paradise Lost was originally published in ten books in 1667. Milton, who was blind, wrote the work by dictating to a scribe. The epic retells the biblical story of Satan’s banishment from heaven, as well as mankind’s fall and salvation. Paradise Lost is famous for its mastery of the form and style of classical epics, but also for raising interesting questions about free will. Although it was intended as a Christian work, the complex morality of Paradise Lost has led to many different interpretations of its meaning.

Answers to comprehension questions

1c 2a 3b