Unit 8 Science and Technology

(Part I)

Getting started (page 93)

 

Discuss in pairs and answer these questions.

a. What technological advancement do you think these pictures represent?

Answer: These pictures represent the technological advancement of internet devices and service and the electric bulb.

b.  How will these inventions and innovations shape our future? Give specific examples.

Answer: These inventions and innovations make our life easy and comfortable.

 

Reading I (page 93)

Answer the following questions.

a. What do you think Artificial Intelligence (AI) is?

Answer: I think artificial intelligence is the intelligence created by man made objects.

b. Can a robot have real intelligence like a human being does?

Answer: No, robot cannot have artificial  intelligence like a human being does. But the intelligence may not be for long time and for different situations.

 

Humanoid Robot Sophia

A. Match the following words with their meanings.

a. humanoid     i. a famous person

b.  awe             ii.  to clap in approval

c.  revolution    iii.  feelings of respect and slight fear

d.  celebrity      iv. the first design of a device or machine

e.  enthusiast    v.  an act of controlling somebody or something

f.  applaud        vi.  a person who is very interested in a  particular activity or

                             subject

g.  takeover      vii.  a great change in conditions,  beliefs, etc.

h.  prototype     viii.  a machine or creature that looks and behaves like a human

Answer:

a. humanoid    viii.  a machine or creature that looks and behaves like a human

b.  awe             iii.  feelings of respect and slight fear

c.  revolution   vii.  a great change in conditions,  beliefs, etc.

d.  celebrity     i. a famous person

e.  enthusiast   vi.  a person who is very interested in a  particular activity or

                             subject

f.  applaud       ii.  to clap in approval

g.  takeover     v.  an act of controlling somebody or something

h.  prototype   iv. the first design of a device or machine

 

B. Fill in the blanks with the suitable words/phrases from the text above.

a.       Sophia ……….the audience in Kathmandu with a ‘Namaste’.

b.      She presented her ………speech about the importance of technology.

c.       The Innovation Conference and Fair was organised by ………….

d.      Sophia was built ……………years ago. 

e.       According to Sophia, technology can ………….state institutions.

f.        Using artificial intelligence could bring ………in the agriculture sector.

g.      According to the robot, the news of ……taking over humans was fake.

h.      In the opinion of Valerie Julliand, technology is giving us………to various problems.

Answer:

a.      Sophia greeted the audience in Kathmandu with a ‘Namaste’.

b.      She presented her keynote speech about the importance of technology.

c.       The Innovation Conference and Fair was organised by UNDP.

d.      Sophia was built two and a half years ago. 

e.       According to Sophia, technology can transform state institutions.

f.        Using artificial intelligence could bring revolution in the agriculture sector.

g.      According to the robot, the news of fearing taking over humans was fake.

h.      In the opinion of Valerie Julliand, technology is giving us solution to various problems.

 

B.           Answer the following questions.

a.       Who is Sophia?

b.      What was the main highlight of the conference?

c.       How can artificial intelligence be useful in Nepal, according to Sophia?

d.      Who was the audience comprised of?

e.       How long did Sophia speak for?

f.        Why are innovative project models being developed in Nepal, according to UNDP?

Answer:

a.     Sophia is a social humanoid robot and the first robot citizen.

b.     The main highlight of the conference was the importance of technology in the development of human lives.

c.      According to Sophia, Artificial intelligence can be useful in Nepal by ensuring better public services, a revolution in the agriculture sector, making better use of limited resources, protecting the environment and making the world better place.

d.     The audience was comprised of government officials, private sector representatives, civil servants and tech enthusiasts.

e.      Sophia spoke for three minutes.

f.   According to UNDP, the innovative project models are being developed in Nepal to address gender empowerment, combat gender-based violence, and disaster risk reduction, with a focus on green energy, youth engagement and post disaster recovery.

 

How do you think AI technology can help to end poverty and fight starvation in Nepal?

 

Grammar I (page 98)

 

A.          Read the following 'thank you' letter and underline the relative clauses.

Phungling, Taplejung

6 June 2021

Dear  Sujita,

Thank you very much for the wonderful birthday gift. The vase you have gifted me is exactly what I wanted. It reminds me of the vase which my little sister broke last week. It has exactly the same patterns. In fact, this is the best china that I have ever seen. My mother, who loves flowers, arranged roses in the vase.  Can you guess where I have kept it? Just outside my bedroom. Thank you once again for the lovely gift.

Love,

Punam

Answer

Phungling, Taplejung

6 June 2021

Dear  Sujita,

Thank you very much for the wonderful birthday gift. The vase you have gifted me is exactly what I wanted. It reminds me of the vase which my little sister broke last week. It has exactly the same patterns. In fact, this is the best china that I have ever seen. My mother, who loves flowers, arranged roses in the vase.  Can you guess where I have kept it? Just outside my bedroom. Thank you once again for the lovely gift.

Love,

Punam

 

B. Complete the following sentences with relative clauses.

a.        Manju works for a company …………….

b.       The story is about a girl………

c.        What was the name of the dog………….. ?

d.       The police have caught the criminals……..

e.        Gram Bell was the man …………

f.         What happened to the painting……….. ?

g.       An encyclopedia is a book……….

h.       I hate people……….

i.         The Earth seems to be the only planet……

j.         A detective is a person …………

k.       Can you tell me the name of the book ……………… ?

Answer:

a.        Manju works for a company which produces plastic items.

b.       The story is about a girl who is over ambitious.

c.        What was the name of the dog which you bought in Manang ?

d.       The police have caught the criminals who robbed the bank of Parsa.

e.        Gram Bell was the man who discovered telephone.

f.         What happened to the painting which was painted by Leonardo ?

g.        An encyclopedia is a book which gives information about everything.

h.        I hate people who believes on dowry system.

i.         The Earth seems to be the only planet where living creatures are found.

j.         A detective is a person who investigates the crime.

k.       Can you tell me the name of the book which you read yesterday afternoon?