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    ILS SB1 Final Test Script

    Uploaded by

    Celina Jade

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    ILS SB1 Final Test Script

    Uploaded by

    Celina Jade
    8 views3 pages

    Original Title

    ILS_SB1_Final_Test_Script

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    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    8 views3 pages

    ILS SB1 Final Test Script

    Uploaded by

    Celina Jade

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    Inside Listening and Speaking 1

    Final Assessment

    AUDIO SCRIPT

    [Passage 1 – M1: Male Interviewer; F1: Female Interviewee]

    M1: Good morning, listeners. Welcome to the Technology Show. My guest today is
    Dr. Gretchen Sanders, a robotics engineer, who will give a presentation at the annual
    Robotics Convention later this week. Thanks for coming in, Gretchen.

    F1: It’s a pleasure to be here, Kyle.

    M1: Could you explain what a robotics engineer does?

    F1: Well, a robotics engineer is really a designer. We design robots that can perform
    tasks that humans are either unable to do or prefer not to do. We aim to make jobs
    safer, easier, and more efficient.

    M1: So, when was robotic technology invented?

    F1: There is no particular date that robotic technology started because it evolved
    over a long period of time. We can go right back to 400 BCE when the ancient Greek
    mathematician Archytas constructed an artificial bird. The bird was made of wood
    and powered by steam. In the 13th century, the Arab engineer Al-Jazari designed
    several automatons, which are mechanical devices that can move and perform tasks.
    Al-Jazari actually published a text called The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious
    Mechanical Devices. Then, in the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci sketched plans for a
    human-like robot. After the 17th century, the Japanese created their own
    automatons.

    M1: Such as?

    F1: Well, they made karakuri puppets. Karakuri means “mechanism” or “trick,” so
    they were designed to entertain people. Automatons were often displayed at public
    events. People loved to see them. In the 18th century, Swiss inventor Pierre Jaquet-
    Droz made some extraordinary automatons that consisted of thousands of moving
    parts. They still work perfectly today. So, these were the early prototypes for
    modern robots.

    M1: Interesting. When did we first see 20th-century robots?

    F1: Well, the word “robot” was first used in 1921 by the Czech playwright Karel
    Capek. But it wasn’t until computer technology was invented that modern robots
    became a reality. The Artificial Intelligence Center, which was founded in 1966 and
    became part of the Stanford Research Institute, built a robot called Shakey. Shakey
    was the first intelligent robot that could make its own decisions about how to

    © Oxford University Press. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use. 1


    Inside Listening and Speaking 1
    Final Assessment

    behave. You could give Shakey instructions such as “move the block onto the table”
    and it would reason how to perform the task.

    M1: That’s very impressive. What is artificial intelligence, exactly?

    F1: Well, AI, as we call it, is a really exciting area. But building artificially intelligent
    robots isn’t like building an artificial heart. Intelligence is more complex and
    mysterious than a body organ. We’re still learning about how and why humans think
    the way they do. Robots have a limited capacity to think and learn, and they can’t
    process complex information like humans can. So while some robots are similar to
    humans, they will always be fundamentally different.

    M1: What are the benefits of robotic technology?

    F1: Right now, there are exciting developments in the medical field—for instance,
    robotic surgery. These robots assist surgeons in performing operations with
    minimal errors. The robot can often access hard-to-reach locations in the human
    body with more flexibility than a surgeon’s hands.

    M1: Really? Well, I’m afraid that’s all we have time for today. Thanks, Gretchen.

    F1: You’re welcome, Kyle.

    [Passage 2 – M1: Male Student; F1: Female Student]

    M1: Hi, Erica. Are you ready to practice our presentation?

    F1: Sure, Max. I think I have all the information. I’ve organized our notes into three
    main ideas. One: I’ll give an overview of the topic. Two: You’ll describe the problem
    of dumping e-waste in developing countries. And three: We’ll make
    recommendations for the proper disposal of e-waste. Should I begin?

    M1: Sure. Go ahead.

    F1: Okay. Good morning, everyone. Max and I are going to talk about e-waste
    disposal. E-waste refers to electronic devices such as phones, computers, and TVs
    that people dispose of, or throw away. The United States is the world leader in
    producing e-waste. It throws away about 3 million tons each year. Next is China,
    which produces about 2.3 million tons. Electronic devices contain toxic metals such
    as lead, cadmium, and mercury …

    M1: Should we define “toxic”?

    © Oxford University Press. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use. 2


    Inside Listening and Speaking 1
    Final Assessment

    F1: Okay, “toxic” means poisonous, or very dangerous to people’s health. Now, many
    people aren’t aware that electronic devices contain gold, silver, and copper. 100,000
    cell phones contain about $130,000 worth of gold, $100,000 worth of copper, and
    $27,000 worth of silver. So, that’s why a lot of developing countries accept e-waste.
    People can make money breaking up the devices and selling the parts. Sadly, many
    young children do this work. Some countries have banned dumping e-waste in
    developing countries, but it still happens. Your turn, Max.

    M1: Okay. A lot of this e-waste goes to Ghana, a country in West Africa. Ghana
    imports more than 200,000 tons of e-waste. This has caused terrible pollution
    problems. A Ghanaian researcher named Atiemo Sampson tested the soil near a
    school, a church, a soccer field, and a market, all located near an e-waste site. He
    found that toxic metal levels were nearly 50 times higher than in other areas. Some
    of these toxins get into the soil and sometimes they enter the water source. When e-
    waste is burned, toxins pollute the air. Sampson says it’s hard to end the e-waste
    recycling industry because it generates income for so many families. Plus, there is
    no alternative employment for these people. A group called StEP, which stands for
    Stop the e-Waste Problem, recommends that the recycling process be changed. The
    group thinks people should still be able to work at the sites, but in a way that is safe
    for them and the environment. E-waste recycling plants are a possible solution, but
    they are expensive to build and a low priority in poor countries. Back to you, Erica.

    F1: There are other countries besides Ghana, aren’t there?

    M1: Er, yes, China is the largest e-waste recycler, then India, Nigeria, Ghana, Cote
    D’Ivoire, Benin, and Liberia. But I think we should focus on one country because
    we’ve only got 15 minutes.

    F1: Okay. So, obviously, we should dispose of our e-waste properly. Never throw old
    devices in the trash. They’ll end up in landfills and pollute the soil, water, and air.
    There are other options. First, some stores accept old devices for recycling. You can
    search online for the nearest location. Second, donate your old device to a family
    member or a charity. Third, turn it into a piece of art! Check out Computer Part Art,
    a creative new genre. Thanks, everyone.

    © Oxford University Press. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use. 3

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