Man or Machine Reading Answers

To check how you performed in the Man or Machine Reading Practice test, read Man or Machine Reading answers with explanations and review your attempt.

Solution for Man or Machine

1. E	5. F	9. Interact with	13. False
2. C	6. B	10. facial expressions
3. F	7. 17 years	11. Cog/cognition
4. D	8. Backpack	12. True

In IELTS, the reading section is one of the most typical modules, but IELTS reading can be made easier if you use appropriate strategies and practice the reading question types well. Our man or machine reading answers article help with your IELTS preparation. 

In this practice test, you  are required to solve 3 important question types in IELTS reading. Practice all IELTS reading question types separately because practicing all question types will help you in real IELTS Reading exams as you never know what is going to come up in the exam. The following are the three reading question types given in this post along with man or machine reading answers :

• IELTS reading locating information questions
• IELTS reading summary completion questions
• IELTS reading true false not given questions

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Man or Machine Reading Passage

Man or Machine

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1–13, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below. After you've attempted all of the questions, review your answers using the provided Man or Machine reading answers with explanation.

A.
Honda's ASIMO, called "the world's most advanced human-looking robot," was on display at the Museum of Science in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in July 2003. (the Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility). Honda's creation is now touring North America, entertaining crowds everywhere it goes. After 17 years of development, ASIMO measures four feet in height, weighs around 115 pounds, and resembles a youngster in an astronaut's outfit. Though it is difficult to recognize ASIMO's face from a distance, it features a grin and two huge 'eyes' that hide cameras. The robot cannot function independently; its activities are "remotely directed" by scientists through the computer in its bag. However, witnessing AIMIO play at a performance in Massachusetts, it appeared preternaturally human. As ASIMO moved forward and backward, side to side, and up and down, the crowd applauded. Following the event, several individuals expressed their desire for robots to play a larger part in everyday life, with one even describing the robot as "another human."

B.
While the Japanese have made significant progress in handling some of the technical issues associated with human dynamics and bipedal motions, scientists at MIT's previous Artificial Intelligence (AI) lab (recently renamed the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, CSAIL) have been developing robots that can behave and communicate with humans for the last ten years. Kismet, one of MIT's robots, includes an anthropomorphic head with two eyes (complete with eyelids), ears, a mouth, and brows. It demonstrates numerous facial emotions, including pleased, sad, afraid, and disgusted. Human interlocutors can interpret some of the robot's facial emotions and often adjust their conduct towards the machine as a consequence–for example, by playing with it when it appears sad. Kismet is currently at the MIT Art Gallery, but the concepts discovered here are being explored in future robots.

C.
Another ground-breaking endeavor from MIT's previous AI lab is called “Cog” (short for “cognition”). Cog features a head, eyes, two arms, hands, and a torso, and its dimensions were derived from a researcher's body in the lab. Cog's work has been used to test notions of embodiment and developmental robotics, namely getting a robot to gain intelligence by reacting to its surroundings via sensors and learning through these sorts of interactions.

D.
MIT has made significant progress in developing engaging, human-like robots. Some scholars assert that despite ASIMO's impressive technical accomplishments, it is not an intelligent machine since it cannot engage meaningfully and independently with the unpredictable elements of its environment and learn from its mistakes. Robots like Cog and Kismet, as well as new robots at MIT's CSAIL and media lab, are starting to achieve this.

E.
These innovations are intriguing. It is an incredible accomplishment to create a machine that can walk, make gestures, and learn from its surroundings. And keep an eye on this space: these accomplishments are sure to be quickly surpassed. Autonomous robots might have a wide range of applications in society, freeing humans from routine duties. In Japan, for instance, the goal is to develop robots that can do jobs comparable to those of a typical person, as well as function in more complex scenarios such as firemen, astronauts, or medical assistance to the elderly in the workplace and at home–in part to counteract the impacts of an aging population.

F.
Such robots reveal a lot about how we see mankind, and they bring out the best and worst in us. On the one hand, these advancements demonstrate human creativity—our capacity to create, explore, and increase our influence over the environment. On the other hand, the desire to construct a humanoid robot is motivated by inhuman notions, such as the belief that human friendship can be replaced by machines, that people lose their humanity when interacting with technology, or that we are nothing more than surface and ceremonial behaviors, which can be mimicked with metal and electrical circuits.

Man or Machine reading questions

Question 1–6

Reading passage 1 has six paragraphs, A-F.
 
Which paragraph contains the following information?
 
Write the correct letters, A-F, in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.
 
NB  You may use any letter more than once.
 
1. Using robots in various ways.
2. A robot with proportions that are identical to those of an adult.
3. The capacity of robots to replicate humans and take their positions.
4. A comparison of ASIMO for Honda and other robots. 
5. Advantages and disadvantages of robotics.
6. A robot with eyebrows.

Click here to learn more about IELTS Reading locating information. 

Questions 7–11

Complete the following summary of the paragraphs of Reading Passage 1.
 
Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the Reading Passage for each answer.
 
Write your answers in boxes 7-10 on your answer sheet.
 
In 2003, Massachusetts displayed a robot named ASIMO, which was invented by Honda, after a period of 7……………………… in the making. The operating information is stored in the computer in its 8……………………… so that scientists can control ASIMO’s movement. While Japan is making great progress, MIT is developing robots that are human-like and can 9 ... ...………………………. Humans. What is special about Kismet is that it has different 10………………………. which can be read by human interlocutors. 11……………………… is another robot from MIT.

Do more practice in IELTS Reading summary completion to acquire a good score in the IELTS exam.

Question 12–13

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

 In boxes 12–13 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE             if the statement agrees with the information. 

FALSE           if the statement contradicts the information.

NOT GIVEN   if there is no information on this passage.
 
12. In Japan, the main aim of developing robots was to make them function in complex scenarios like firemen, and astronauts.
 
13. Humanoid robot systems are inspired by seeing human notions.

Read IELTS Reading True False Not Given to enhance your reading skills. 

Man or Machine IELTS Reading answers with an explanation

1. E 

Answer location: Paragraph E

Answer explanation: Paragraph E illustrates the fact that creating a machine that can walk, make gestures, and learn from its environment is an amazing achievement. And watch this space: these achievements are likely rapidly to be improved upon. Humanoid robots could have a plethora of uses in society, helping to free people from everyday tasks. In Japan, for example, there is an aim to create robots that can do the tasks similar to an average human and also act in more sophisticated situations as firefighters, astronauts, or medical assistants to the elderly in the workplace and homes – partly to counterbalance the effects of an aging population. These lines indicate the achievement of creating robots that can walk, make gestures and learn from their environment. An example is also illustrated in paragraph E, which signifies different ways of using robots. Thus, the answer is E.

2. C

Answer location: Paragraph C

Answer explanation: The 2nd line of paragraph F states that, on one hand, these developments express human creativity—our ability to invent, experiment, and extend our control over the world. On the other hand, the aim of creating a robot like a human being is spurred on by dehumanized ideas—by the sense that human companionship can be substituted by machines; that humans lose their humanity when they interact with technology. These lines suggest that human creativity is expressed through these developments, and a reference to the statement that humans can be copied and replaced by robots can be found in paragraph F.

3. F 

Answer location: Paragraph F, line 2.

Answer explanation: The 2nd line of paragraph F states that, on one hand, these developments express human creativity—our ability to invent, experiment, and extend our control over the world. On the other hand, the aim of creating a robot like a human being is spurred on by dehumanized ideas—by the sense that human companionship can be substituted by machines; that humans lose their humanity when they interact with technology. These lines suggest that human creativity is expressed through these developments, and a reference to the statement that humans can be copied and replaced by robots can be found in paragraph F.

4. D

Answer location: Paragraph D, line 2.

Answer explanation: The 2nd line of paragraph D states that some scientists argue that ASIMO is a great engineering feat but not an intelligent machine—because it is unable to interact autonomously with unpredictabilities in its environment in meaningful ways and learn from experience. We find that the author has compared ASIMO to Honda and other robots in Paragraph D. Thus, the answer is D.

5. F

Answer location: Paragraph F.

Answer explanation: The initial lines of paragraph F state that such robots say much about how we view humanity, and they bring out the best and worst in us. On one hand, these developments express human creativity—our ability to invent, experiment, and extend our control over the world. On the other hand, the aim to create a robot like a human being is spurred on by dehumanized ideas—by the sense that human companionship can be substituted by machines; that humans lose their humanity when they interact with technology; or that we are a little more than surface and ritual behaviors that can be simulated with metal and electrical circuits. Thus, these lines indicate the pros and cons of creating robots. So, the answer is F.

6. B 

Answer location: Paragraph B.

Answer explanation:  Paragraph B illustrates that one of MIT’s robots, Kismet, has an anthropomorphic head and has two eyes (complete with eyelids), ears, a mouth, and eyebrows. We can deduce from these lines that Kismet is an anthropomorphic head and has two eyes with eyebrows, a mouth, and ears. Therefore, the answer is B.

7. 17 years

Answer location: Paragraph A, line 4.

Answer explanation: The 4th line of paragraph A states that after 17 years in the making, ASIMO stands at four feet tall, weighs around 115 pounds, and looks like a child in an astronaut’s suit. We can deduce from these lines that Massachusetts displayed a robot named ASIMO, which weighs around 115 pounds, stands 4 feet tall, and resembles a child. It was invented by Honda after 17 years. Thus, the answer is 17 years.

8. Backpack

Answer location: Paragraph A, line 7.

Answer explanation: The 7th line of paragraph A states that the robot cannot work autonomously – its actions are ‘remote-controlled’ by scientists through the computer in its backpack. These lines indicate that the robots can’t work by themselves, and their actions are remote-controlled by scientists via a computer in their backpack. Therefore, the operating information is stored in the computer in its backpack. So, the answer is the backpack.

9. Interact with

Answer location: Paragraph B

Answer explanation: The introductory lines of paragraph B state that the Japanese have made huge strides in solving some of the engineering problems of human kinetics and bipedal movements. For the past 10 years, scientists at MIT’s former Artificial Intelligence (AI) lab (recently renamed the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, CSAIL) have been making robots that can behave like humans and interact with humans. These lines illustrate that while Japan is making great progress, the scientists at MIT are developing robots resembling humans that can also interact with humans. Thus, the answer is to interact.

10. facial expressions

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 7.

Answer explanation: It is mentioned in paragraph B that one of MIT’s robots, Kismet, has an anthropomorphic head and has two eyes (complete with eyelids), ears, a mouth, and eyebrows. It has several facial expressions. We understand that Kismet is one of MIT’s robots, which has several facial expressions that make the robot special. These expressions can be read by human interlocutors. Thus, the answer is facial expressions.

11. Cog/cognition

Answer location: Paragraph C

Answer explanation: The introductory lines of Paragraph C state that “Cog”(short for cognition) is another pioneering project from MIT’s former AI lab. It is evident from these lines that Cog/cognition is another pioneering project from MIT’s former AI lab, whose body proportions are the same as adults. Thus, the answer is Cog/cognition.

12. True

Answer location: Paragraph E

Answer explanation: In Japan, for instance, the goal is to develop robots that can do jobs comparable to those of a typical person as well as function in more complex scenarios such as firemen, astronauts, or medical assistance to the elderly in the workplace and at home—in part to counteract the impacts of an aging population.

13. False 

Answer location: Paragraph F

Answer explanation: the desire to construct a humanoid robot is motivated by inhuman notions, such as the belief that human friendship can be replaced by machines, that people lose their humanity when interacting with technology, or that we are nothing more than surface and ceremonial behaviors, which can be mimicked with metal and electrical circuits.

Check the other reading passages

Click here to check out the other important reading passages listed below,

• The Nature and Aims of Archaeology Reading Answers
• The Benefits of Being Bilingual Reading Answers
• Biomimetic Reading Answers

Conclusion

After completing Man or Machine Reading Answers, we hope that it will be helpful to the readers appearing for the IELTS exam. Save this passage for practicing in the future.