Reading: B1

Robot teachers
Read an article about robot teachers to practise and improve your reading skills.

Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–f) with the vocabulary (1–6).

Vocabulary Definitions
1. …… a takeover a. the ability to think of new ideas
2. …… to adapt b. to think something is less than it is
3. …… to underestimate c. to work out what kind of illness someone has
4. …… empathy d. when someone takes control of something, like a job or a
5. …… to diagnose place
6. …… creative e. to change something so that it fits better
f. the ability to deeply understand someone’s situation or
feelings

Reading text: Robot teachers

If you think of the jobs robots could never do, you would probably put doctors and teachers
at the top of the list. It’s easy to imagine robot cleaners and factory workers, but some jobs
need human connection and creativity. But are we underestimating what robots can do? In
some cases, they already perform better than doctors at diagnosing illness. Also, some
patients might feel more comfortable sharing personal information with a machine than a
person. Could there be a place for robots in education after all?
British education expert Anthony Seldon thinks so. And he even has a date for the robot
takeover of the classroom: 2027. He predicts robots will do the main job of transferring
information and teachers will be like assistants. Intelligent robots will read students’ faces,
movements and maybe even brain signals. Then they will adapt the information to each
student. It’s not a popular opinion and it’s unlikely robots will ever have empathy and the
ability to really connect with humans like another human can.
One thing is certain, though. A robot teacher is better than no teacher at all. In some parts of
the world, there aren’t enough teachers and 9–16 per cent of children under the age of 14
don’t go to school. That problem could be partly solved by robots because they can teach
anywhere and won’t get stressed, or tired, or move somewhere for an easier, higher-paid job.
Those negative aspects of teaching are something everyone agrees on. Teachers all over the
world are leaving because it is a difficult job and they feel overworked. Perhaps the question

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is not ‘Will robots replace teachers?’ but ‘How can robots help teachers?’ Office workers can
use software to do things like organise and answer emails, arrange meetings and update
calendars. Teachers waste a lot of time doing non-teaching work, including more than 11
hours a week marking homework. If robots could cut the time teachers spend marking
homework and writing reports, teachers would have more time and energy for the parts of the
job humans do best.

Tasks

Task 1
Are the sentences true or false?

Answer
1. Most jobs seem as if they can be done by robots or computers. True False
2. Robots are always better at diagnosing illness than doctors. True False
3. Many experts agree robots will replace teachers by 2027. True False
4. One advantage of robot teachers is that they don’t need to rest. True False
5. Robot assistants could help teachers by marking homework. True False
6. Some teachers use robots to reduce their time answering emails and True False
marking homework.

Task 2
Choose the best answer.

1. It’s easy to think robots …

a. will replace people even if we don’t like the idea.
b. are more capable than people and it’s true.
c. can do less than people but it’s not always true.
2. Anthony Seldon thinks teachers in the future will …
a. help robots in class.
b. teach knowledge to students.
c. no longer exist.
3. Robots will probably never …
a. have human understanding of emotions.
b. be a popular choice for teachers.
c. be intelligent enough to work in education.
4. Some parts of the world …
a. pay robots to teach.
b. already use robots in teaching jobs.
c. have a shortage of teachers.

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5. Teachers …
a. work harder than office workers.
b. have less help than office workers.
c. leave their jobs to become office workers.
6. Robots could …
a. empathise with students.
b. mark homework.
c. prepare lessons.

Discussion
Would you like to have a robot as a teacher?

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Answers

Preparation task
1. d
2. e
3. b
4. f
5. c
6. a

Task 1
1. False
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. False

Task 2
1. c
2. a
3. a
4. c
5. b
6. b

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 Reading: B1
Social media influencers
Read a blogpost about the impact of social media influencers in the business world to practise
and improve your reading skills.

Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–h) with the vocabulary (1–8).

Vocabulary Definitions
1. …… expertise a. something that is popular right now
2. …… a trend b. the people who watch or follow a public event, e.g. a film or
3. …… an audience concert
4. …… consistent c. expert knowledge or skill in an area
5. …… catchy d. to ask someone to pay
6. …… to charge e. a specialised area
7. …… a bio f. a short introduction of a person (short for ‘biography’)
8. …… a niche g. doing something in the same way over time
h. attractive and easily remembered

Reading text: Social media influencers

It is estimated that about 40 per cent of the world’s population use social media, and many of
these billions of social media users look up to influencers to help them decide what to buy
and what trends to follow.

So what is an influencer and how do we become one?

An influencer is a person who can influence the decisions of their followers because of their
relationship with their audience and their knowledge and expertise in a particular area, e.g.
fashion, travel or technology.
Influencers often have a large following of people who pay close attention to their views. They
have the power to persuade people to buy things, and influencers are now seen by many
companies as a direct way to customers’ hearts. Brands are now asking powerful influencers
to market their products. With some influencers charging up to $25,000 for one social media
post, it is no surprise that more and more people are keen to become influencers too. If you
are one of them, then here are five tips on how to do it.

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1. Choose your niche
What is the area that you know most about? What do you feel most excited talking about?
Find the specific area that you’re most interested in and develop it.

2. Choose your medium and write an interesting bio

Most influencers these days are bloggers and micro-bloggers. Decide which medium – such
as your own online blog, Instagram or Snapchat – is the best way to connect with your
followers and chat about your niche area. When you have done that, write an attention-
grabbing bio that describes you and your speciality area in an interesting and unique way.
Make sure that people who read your bio will want to follow you.

3. Post regularly and consistently

Many influencers post daily on their social media accounts. The more you post, the more likely
people will follow you. Also, ensure that your posts are consistent and possibly follow a theme.

4. Tell an interesting story

Whether it is a photo or a comment that you are posting, use it to tell a story that will catch
the attention of your followers and help them connect with you.

5. Make sure people can easily find your content

Publicise your posts on a variety of social media, use hashtags and catchy titles and make
sure that they can be easily found. There is no point writing the most exciting blogposts or
posting the most attractive photographs if no one is going to see them.
Most importantly, if you want to become a social media influencer, you need to have patience.
Keep posting and your following will gradually increase. Good luck!

Tasks

Task 1
Choose the best answer.

1. A social media influencer is not someone who …

a. guides the decisions of their followers.
b. is an expert in a particular area.
c. pays their followers to buy products.
d. has many followers who pay attention to their opinions.
2. Companies want to use influencers to help …
a. sell their products to their followers.
b. develop new products.
c. write their blogposts.
d. design their websites.

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3. If you want to be an influencer, your bio on your social media account shouldn’t …
a. say who you are.
b. talk about your niche area.
c. be interesting.
d. be the same as other people’s bios.
4. You should make sure that you post …
a. once a month.
b. every day for the first month and then once a month after that.
c. about similar subjects.
d. about all sorts of different things.
5. You can make sure that people find your post by …
a. using hashtags.
b. using funny or memorable titles.
c. using different social media to link to your post.
d. doing all of the above.
6. What should the title of this blogpost be?
a. Five ways to influence people
b. Five ways to use influencers in marketing
c. Five tips on becoming a social media influencer
d. Five tips on making money as an influencer

Task 2
Are the sentences true or false?

Answer
1. An influencer needs to know about as many topics as possible, e.g. True False
fashion, travel, technology, etc.
2. Companies are paying some influencers up to $25,000 to post about True False
their products.
3. Most influencers write regular posts on their blogs or micro-blogs. True False
4. You can chat with your followers using your bio. True False
5. Your posts should not only be attractive but should tell a story. True False
6. You can become a social media influencer in a short time. True False

Discussion
Do you know of any social media influencers? What are their niche areas?

If you became a social media influencer, what medium would you use and what would you
post about?

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Answers

Preparation task
1. c
2. a
3. b
4. g
5. h
6. d
7. f
8. e

Task 1
1. c
2. a
3. d
4. c
5. d
6. c

Task 2
1. False
2. True
3. True
4. False
5. True
6. False

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 Reading: B1
The Martian: a book review
Read a review of the book The Martian to practise and improve your reading skills.

Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation task
Put the words in the correct groups.

author botanist scientist scientific

story astronaut calculations base

ship character planet plot

books space science

Reading text: The Martian: a book review

The Martian tells the story of Mark Watney, an astronaut on the Ares 3 mission to Mars. After a
terrible storm almost destroys the ship and the base, the crew of his ship believe he is dead.
1) ………………… . Alone on the red planet, he has to survive until the next mission to Mars arrives.
While this novel is fiction, in some ways it feels like non-fiction. It is very scientific and packed
with details about survival on Mars. Watney is a botanist and engineer, and he begins to grow
food and produce water in his artificial camp. How does he do this? 2) ………………… .
The author is Andy Weir, and this is his first published book. In it he has created a realistic
character. There is a lot of humour in the story, and the reader can identify with the emotions
(although no one can really imagine what it’s like to be on Mars). Watney admits at the
beginning that he is in deep trouble, but he never gives up. 3) ………………… . Instead, what The
Martian gives us is a realistic look at an intelligent person alone on a planet and trying to
survive.

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The majority of the plot takes place on Mars and is written in the form of Watney’s journal
entries. 4) ………………… . Unfortunately, the other characters in the book (his fellow crew
members, the scientists at NASA on Earth) do not get much development and so they often
feel one-dimensional.
I should also mention that the book is thrilling to read. You will be on the edge of your seat
until the very end. 5) ………………… . It’s good not only for space travel fans and scientists but for
anyone who is looking for a unique and exciting story. The Martian was so popular that it was
made into a film starring Matt Damon in 2015, but I recommend reading the book first.

Tasks

Task 1
Match the missing sentences (a–e) with the correct place in the text (1–5).

a. The answers are explained with lots of very convincing calculations.

b. But Mark does not die in the storm, and he has been left behind.
c. I would recommend this book to all audiences.
d. Without the character of Mark Watney, this book would only be a scientific look at
survival on Mars.
e. This diary style makes the character of Watney very real.

Task 2
Circle the best definitions for the words in CAPITALS.

1. It is very scientific and PACKED with details about survival on Mars.

a. filled
b. ready for a trip
c. empty

2. … he begins to grow food and produce water in his ARTIFICIAL camp.

a. from the military
b. not natural
c. imaginary

3. Watney admits at the beginning that he is in deep trouble, but he never GIVES UP.
a. stops trying
b. escapes
c. begins

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4. The majority of the plot takes place on Mars, and is written in the form of Watney’s
JOURNAL ENTRIES.
a. things you write in a diary
b. newspaper articles
c. types of transport

5. Unfortunately, the other characters in the book (his fellow crew members, the scientists at
NASA on Earth) do not get much development and so they often feel ONE-DIMENSIONAL.
a. complicated
b. not deep, not realistic
c. interesting

6. I should also mention that the book is thrilling to read. You will be ON THE EDGE OF YOUR
SEAT until the very end.
a. bored and sleepy
b. confused and lost
c. very excited, wondering what is going to happen

Discussion
What book would you recommend?

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Answers

Preparation task

books space science

author ship scientist

plot base botanist

character astronaut calculations

story planet scientific

Task 1
1. b
2. a
3. d
4. e
5. c

Task 2
1. a
2. b
3. a
4. a
5. b
6. c

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