UNIT ONE

1.1 READING
Inferencing

Exercise 1. Choose the correct answer.

1. You can tell from this passage that the word ignoble probably means ____.
a) not noble
b) like a noble person
c) very noble
d) in a noble way
2. The third paragraph says that the people who receive an Ig Nobel Prize aren’t
always too happy about it. What is the most likely reason for that?
a) They have to stop their important work to go to Harvard.
b) They don’t want to be photographed.
c) They are embarrassed because the prizes poke fun at them.
d) They are afraid someone will copy their work.
3. What is one thing that all the work done by these prize winners has in
common?
a) It is extremely important.
b) It is meant to improve health.
c) It is all done by foreigners.
d) It is kind of silly.

Exercise 2. Answer the following questions.

1. The second paragraph mentions leeches. How can you tell from the
paragraph that a leech is a kind of animal instead of a rock?
 You can tell that a leech is a kind of animal because the paragraph mentions
that sour cream makes leeches hungry. Animals eat, while rocks do not.

2. Do you think most scientists would rather get a Nobel Prize or an Ig Nobel
Prize? Tell why you think so.

Most scientists would probably prefer to receive a Nobel Prize. While the Ig noble
prizes are humorous and light-hearted, the Nobel Prize is a prestigious recognition
of significant contributions to science. Winning a Nobel Prize typically signifies
groundbreaking research or discoveries that have a substantial impact on society or
scientific knowledge.
Read the following passage and answer the questions below.

Exercise 1. Skimming & Scanning Questions**

1. How many jobs did AI eliminate in May, according to the Challenger report?

a. 3,900

b. 4,000

c. 5,000

2. According to the report, what percentage of all jobs lost in May were due to AI?

a. 5%

b. 10%

c. 15%

3. Which job sector is most likely to be replaced by chatbots like ChatGPT?

a. Finance

b. Healthcare

c. Legal

What did Goldman Sachs predict about the impact of AI on global employment in
a report released in March?

a. It could replace 300 million full-time jobs globally and affect nearly one-
fifth of employment

b. It will not have a significant impact on employment

c. It will only affect low-skilled jobs

4. What is the estimated size of the AI market that will boost sales and ad
spending for the tech industry, according to Ben Emons?

a. $1.3 trillion

b. $1.3 million

c. $1.3 billion

5. In what industry did the TV and entertainment writers' strike begin in May, with
writers demanding a near-total ban on the use of AI to produce written
entertainment content?

a. Entertainment

b. Legal

c. Healthcare

Exercise 2. Careful Reading & Inferencing Questions**

1. What is the significance of the Challenger, Gray & Christmas report

mentioned in the article?

a. A report on AI's impact on the job market

b. A report on the growth of the AI industry

c. A report on the use of chatbots in customer service

d. A report on the effects of automation on the economy

2. How many jobs were lost in May, and what was the contribution of AI to
those losses?

**
Exercises and examples marked by double asterisks in this book are generated by ChatGPT 3.5.
a. 80,000 jobs lost, with AI responsible for 3,900 of them

b. 4,000 jobs lost, with AI responsible for 3,900 of them

c. 8,000 jobs lost, with AI responsible for 3,900 of them

d. 80,000 jobs lost, with AI responsible for 4,000 of them

3. What types of tasks are businesses automating using AI technology?

a. A range of tasks including creative, administrative, and clerical work

b. Only administrative and clerical work
c. Only creative work, such as writing
d. None of the above
4. What is the expected growth of the AI industry, and what technological
advancements are fueling it?

a. $13 trillion, fueled by major technological advancements

b. $1 trillion, fueled by the use of chatbots in customer service
c. $1 billion, fueled by the launch of ChatGPT bot
d. $13 billion, fueled by automation of manufacturing processes
5. How has AI affected the job market in the media industry, and what are
some examples of this?

a. AI has resulted in layoffs of reporters and copywriters.

b. AI has had no impact on the media industry job market
c. AI has created new job opportunities in the media industry
d. AI has only affected the advertising industry, not the media industry
6. What is the prediction of investment bank Goldman Sachs regarding the
impact of AI on employment, and which types of jobs are likely to be
affected the most?
a. AI could eventually replace 300 million full-time jobs globally, with a
particular hit to white-collar jobs.
b. AI will have no significant impact on employment
c. AI will mainly affect blue-collar jobs, not white-collar jobs
d. AI will only affect jobs in the manufacturing industry, not other sectors
7. What is the concern of TV and entertainment writers regarding the use of
AI in producing written content?

a. The use of AI will result in job losses for writers.

b. The use of AI will result in lower quality content
c. The use of AI will lead to increased competition in the industry
d. The use of AI will require additional training for writers
8. What is the positive outlook regarding generative AI, and what is expected
to be its impact on employment?

a. Generative AI is already creating new jobs and is expected to be a "monster

employment generator".
b. Generative AI will result in widespread unemployment
c. Generative AI will mainly affect low-skilled jobs, not high-skilled jobs
d. Generative AI will only be used in the manufacturing industry, not other sectors
9. What is the quote by Ben Emons, and how does it relate to the expected
growth of the AI industry?

a. "Generative AI is expected to become a monster employment generator" -

it predicts an increase in sales and ad spending in the tech industry.
b. "Generative AI will lead to widespread unemployment" - it predicts a decline in
the tech industry
c. "Generative AI is a threat to the economy" - it predicts a recession in the tech
industry
d. "Generative AI is irrelevant to the economy" - it predicts no impact on the tech
industry
10. What is the implication of the article regarding the future of human
employment in relation to the increasing use of AI technology?

a. AI will only affect certain types of jobs, not all of them.

b. AI will ultimately replace all human jobs
c. AI will create new job opportunities to replace those lost to automation
d. AI will have no impact on human employment in the long run

Exercise 3. Vocabulary Questions**

1. What does "outplacement" mean?

a. The process of finding a new job for someone who has been laid off
b. The process of firing someone with cause
c. The process of hiring new employees
2. What does "layoff" mean?

a. The termination of an employee's contract due to poor performance or

misconduct

b. The temporary suspension of an employee's contract

c. The termination of an employee's contract due to a lack of work or funds

3. What does "automation-proof" mean?

a. A job that cannot be automated due to its complexity or importance

b. A job that is easy to automate and likely to be replaced by machines or software

c. A job that is not affected by automation

4. What does "plagiarism" mean?

a. The act of using someone else's work without giving proper credit

b. The act of creating original work without permission

c. The act of copying someone else's work and claiming it as one's own

5. What does "generative AI" mean?

a. AI that is capable of creating new content, such as writing or art

b. AI that can only follow pre-defined instructions without creativity

c. AI that mimics human-like conversation

6. What does "mushrooming" mean?

a. Growing or expanding rapidly

b. Shrinking or decreasing rapidly

c. Remaining stable or stagnant over time.

7. What does the word “intensified” mean in the context of the text?

a. Weakened

b. Strengthened

c. Reduced

8. What does the word “livelihoods” mean in the context of the text?

a. A person’s means of supporting themselves financially

b. A person’s hobbies or interests

c. A person’s physical health

9. What does the word “burgeoning” mean in the context of the text?

a. Growing or increasing rapidly in size or importance

b. Shrinking or decreasing in size or importance

c. Staying constant or unchanged in size or importance

10. What does the word “clerical” mean in this context?

a. Related to manual labor.

b. Related to creative work.

c. Related to administrative work.

1.2 VOCABULARY

Tech support/Troubleshooting*
Designed to teach you the most up-to-date IT (information technology)-related
words and expressions. This exercise is on the terminology relating to I.T. tech
support and troubleshooting.

EXERCISE 1. CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER.

(Remember: Although several of the responses may be acceptable, you should

choose the best one)

1. I have to install a new (a. release - b. version - c. layout) of the anti-virus

software.
2. One of your cables was (a. clean - b. disengaged - c. unplugged).

*
This exercise is adopted and retrieved from: https://www.businessenglishsite.com/esl-it-tech-
support1.html. Accessed on July 30, 2023.
3. Your computer is (a. sick - b. infected - c. infiltrated) with a virus.
4. (a. Spyware - b. Software - c. Shareware) can gather data from a user's system
without the user knowing it.
5. It is (a. illegal - b. illogical - c. legal) to download these programs. (= You are
not allowed to download these programs.)
6. If you have any problems (a. confiscating - b. commending - c. configuring)
the operating system, please let me know.
7. That program won't be able to open files with that (a. extension - b. expansion -
c. extraction).
8. Please (a. reboot - b. re-initiate - c. rework) your computer.
9. I've (a. named - b. identified - c. inspected) the problem. (= I have found the
source of the problem.)
10. It's not a major (a. subject - b. release - c. issue). = It's not a big problem.

Fill in the blanks using the words above.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to 1 outperform human

performance in several tasks. However, if not properly managed, it could 2
wreak havoc on our privacy and security. AI systems can 3 replicate human
cognitive abilities, enabling them to learn from data and make decisions. These
systems can 4 endure challenging conditions and operate over extended
periods, which humans may not be able to.

However, there’s a risk that AI systems could be used for 5 malevolent

purposes, leading to 6 devastating consequences. For instance, AI could be
used to commit 7 fraud causing significant 8 casualty/ harm/ losses to
individuals and organizations. On the other hand, AI can also be used for 9
benevolent purposes, such as improving healthcare outcomes and advancing
scientific research.
It’s important to ensure that AI systems 10 align with human values and goals.
This involves careful design and regulation to prevent AI systems from 11
inadvertently acting in ways that could be harmful. Despite these challenges,
the pursuit of advancements in AI continues, with researchers and organizations
12 chasing improvements in AI technology.

AI systems can 13 replicate human behavior, enabling them to interact with

humans in more natural and intuitive ways. However, these systems could 14
replicate bias if their training data is biased, leading to unfair or discriminatory
outcomes. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure the quality and fairness of the data
used to train AI systems.

In conclusion, AI has the potential to bring about 15 striking changes in our

society. However, it’s crucial to manage these changes carefully to ensure that
they benefit humanity and do not cause unintended harm.