The Reading / Listening - Biotechnology - Level 3

A Nigerian engineer and neuroscientist has created a revolutionary new computer that has artificial intelligence (AI). Dr Oshi Agabi has spent many years trying to make a computer that can smell. He launched his start-up project last year and called it Koniku. He has raised over $1 million in funding. Dr Agabi said his project is already making profits of $10 million. Technology giants like Google and Microsoft are very interested in it. The security industry is also keeping a close watch. Koniku could be put in drones and smell bombs and explosives. It could also be used in airport security systems to smell explosives. An additional use could be in hospitals to smell diseases in humans.

Dr Agabi did not base Koniku on silicon chips. Agabi said computers have used silicon for decades, but it is not powerful enough to deal with the maths needed to recognize smells. Instead, he based his device on neurons from the brain of a mouse. Neurons are cells in the brain that share information. They use electricity and chemical signals to process and send information. Using neurons in computers is called biotechnology. Agabi said biotechnology can make devices that can smell. He said: "Biology is technology. Bio is tech. Our deep learning networks are all copying the brain." Agabi added: "We want to build a…system that has intelligence. We do not want to build a human brain. It's not science fiction."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Biotechnology - Level 0 Biotechnology - Level 1   or  Biotechnology - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-40935771
  • http://www.nan.ng/tech/nigerian-agabi-makes-drones-smell-bombs/
  • http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/nigerian-scientist-creates-neuron-based-ai-device-that-can-smell/story-6ra9sFunYGj8l6k1M24q8K.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. BIOTECHNOLOGY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about biotechnology. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       engineer / artificial intelligence / computer / project / funding / security industry /
       silicon chips / decades / device / mouse / biotechnology / learning / networks / fiction

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. ROBOTS: Students A strongly believe robots are good for us; Students B strongly believe robots are bad for us.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. TECHNOLOGY: How do these technologies help us now and how will they help in the future? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How does it help?

What it will be like in 2117

Biotechnology

 

 

Food technology

 

 

Nanotechnology

 

 

Sports technology

 

 

Medical technology

 

 

Military technology

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. ENGINEER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "engineer". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. SMELLS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things for computers to smell at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • burglars
  • bad food
  • bad perfume
  • weather
  • explosives
  • diseases
  • bombs
  • gas leaks

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Two people invented the new device.     T / F
  2. The new project has made $10 million in profits.     T / F
  3. The security industry is not interested in it.     T / F
  4. The article says the device could make smells in hospitals disappear.     T / F
  5. Silicon chips are not powerful enough to make devices that can smell.     T / F
  6. The inventor used neurons from the brains of mice.     T / F
  7. The use of neurons in computers is called biotechnology.     T / F
  8. The inventor wants to try and build a human brain.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. created
  2. launched
  3. raised
  4. industry
  5. additional
  6. base
  7. powerful
  8. process
  9. devices
  10. intelligence
  1. deal with
  2. business
  3. form
  4. started
  5. brain power
  6. made
  7. gadgets
  8. got
  9. extra
  10. strong

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. created a revolutionary
  2. artificial
  3. He launched his start-
  4. his project is already making profits
  5. It could also be used in airport
  6. silicon
  7. Neurons are cells
  8. They use electricity and chemical
  9. Using neurons in computers is called
  10. science
  1. chips
  2. up project last year
  3. biotechnology
  4. security systems
  5. in the brain
  6. new computer
  7. fiction
  8. intelligence
  9. signals
  10. of $10 million

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
close
launched
profits
diseases
artificial
explosives
security
funding

A Nigerian engineer and neuroscientist has created a revolutionary new computer that has (1) ____________ intelligence (AI). Dr Oshi Agabi has spent many years trying to make a computer that can smell. He (2) ____________ his start-up project last year and called it Koniku. He has raised over $1 million in (3) ____________. Dr Agabi said his project is already making (4) ____________ of $10 million. Technology giants like Google and Microsoft are very interested in it. The (5) ____________ industry is also keeping a (6) ____________ watch. Koniku could be put in drones and smell bombs and (7) ____________. It could also be used in airport security systems to smell explosives. An additional use could be in hospitals to smell (8) ____________ in humans.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
decades
tech
share
fiction
silicon
system
device
process

Dr Agabi did not base Koniku on (9) ____________ chips. Agabi said computers have used silicon for (10) ____________, but it is not powerful enough to deal with the maths needed to recognize smells. Instead, he based his (11) ____________ on neurons from the brain of a mouse. Neurons are cells in the brain that (12) ____________ information. They use electricity and chemical signals to (13) ____________ and send information. Using neurons in computers is called biotechnology. Agabi said biotechnology can make devices that can smell. He said: "Biology is technology. Bio is (14) ____________. Our deep learning networks are all copying the brain." Agabi added: "We want to build a…(15) ____________ that has intelligence. We do not want to build a human brain. It's not science (16) ____________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  created a revolutionary new computer that has ______ (AI)
     a.  arty fissure intelligence
     b.  arty facial intelligence
     c.  artificial intelligence
     d.  are tea fish all intelligence

2)  Dr Agabi said his project is already making ______ $10 million
     a.  profit soft
     b.  proffer soft
     c.  prof, its off
     d.  profits of

3)  The security industry is also keeping ______
     a.  a cloze watch
     b.  a clothes watch
     c.  ache loads watch
     d.  a close watch

4)  It could also be used in airport security systems to ______
     a.  smell explosives
     b.  smell explosive
     c.  smell explosion
     d.  smell expo sieves

5)  An additional use could be in hospitals to smell diseases ______
     a.  inhumane
     b.  inn humans
     c.  in who mans
     d.  in humans

6)  Dr Agabi did not base Koniku on silicon chips. Agabi said computers have used ______
     a.  silly con for decades
     b.  sill icon for decades
     c.  see lick on for decades
     d.  silicon for decades

7)  it is not powerful enough to deal with the maths needed to ______
     a.  cognize smells
     b.  re-cog nice smells
     c.  recognize smells
     d.  wreck cog nice smells

8)  Agabi said biotechnology can make ______ smell
     a.  devices what can
     b.  devices that can
     c.  devices than can
     d.  device is that can

9)  Our deep learning networks are all ______
     a.  copy in the brain
     b.  cope pee in the brain
     c.  copying in the brain
     d.  copying the brain

10)  We do not want to build a human brain. It's not ______
     a.  science fiction
     b.  science faction
     c.  science friction
     d.  science fraction

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A Nigerian engineer and neuroscientist (1) ___________________ revolutionary new computer (2) ___________________ intelligence (AI). Dr Oshi Agabi has spent many years trying to make a computer that can smell. He launched (3) ___________________ project last year and called it Koniku. He has raised over $1 million in funding. Dr Agabi said his project is already (4) ___________________ $10 million. Technology giants like Google and Microsoft are very interested in it. The security industry is also keeping a close watch. Koniku could (5) ___________________ and smell bombs and explosives. It could also be used in airport security systems to smell explosives. An additional (6) ___________________ hospitals to smell diseases in humans.

Dr Agabi did not base Koniku (7) ___________________. Agabi said computers have used silicon for decades, but it is not powerful (8) ___________________ with the maths needed to recognize smells. Instead, he based his device on neurons from (9) ___________________ mouse. Neurons are cells in the brain that share information. They use electricity and chemical (10) ___________________ and send information. Using neurons in computers is called biotechnology. Agabi said biotechnology can make devices that can smell. He said: "Biology is technology. Bio is tech. Our deep learning networks (11) ___________________ the brain." Agabi added: "We want to build a…system that has intelligence. We do not want to build a human brain. It's not (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. What is Dr Oshi Agabi's job besides being a neuroscientist?
  2. When did Dr Agabi launch his start-up project?
  3. How much profit has Dr Agabi made?
  4. What kind of industry is interested in Dr Agabi's device?
  5. Where could the new device smell diseases in humans?
  6. What did Dr Agabi say was not powerful enough for his device?
  7. From what animal's brain does the device use brain neurons?
  8. What do neurons use to send information, besides chemical signals?
  9. What did Dr Agabi say bio was?
  10. What did Dr Agabi say he didn't want to build?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is Dr Oshi Agabi's job besides being a neuroscientist?
a) CEO
b) engineer
c) physicist
d) robot builder

2) When did Dr Agabi launch his start-up project?
a) earlier this year
b) three years ago
c) 2011
d) last year

3) How much profit has Dr Agabi made?
a) $10 million
b) $11 million
c) $12 million
d) $14 million

4) What kind of industry is interested in Dr Agabi's device?
a) the food industry
b) the spying industry
c) the security industry
d) the engineering industry

5) Where could the new device smell diseases in humans?
a) in airports
b) in hospitals
c) in the streets
d) in people's homes

6) What did Dr Agabi say was not powerful enough for his device?
a) silicon chips
b) the human brain
c) electricity
d) processes

7) From what animal's brain does the device use brain neurons?
a) a dog
b) a chimpanzee
c) a mouse
d) a monkey

8) What do neurons use to send information, besides chemical signals?
a) electricity
b) processes
c) silicon
d) protein

9) What did Dr Agabi say bio was?
a) tech
b) important
c) bionics
d) biomass

10) What did Dr Agabi say he didn't want to build?
a) a hospital
b) a building
c) a silicon chip computer
d) a human brain

Role play

Role  A – Biotechnology

You think biotechnology is the most important kind of technology. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their technology. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): food technology, weapons technology or sports technology.

Role  B – Food Technology

You think food technology is the most important kind of technology. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their technology. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): biotechnology, weapons technology or sports technology.

Role  C – Weapons Technology

You think weapons technology is the most important kind of technology. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their technology. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): food technology, biotechnology or sports technology.

Role  D – Sports Technology

You think sports technology is the most important kind of technology. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their technology. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): food technology, weapons technology or biotechnology.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'bombs'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'diseases'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • decades
    • based
    • mouse
    • signals
    • deep
    • fiction
    • engineer
    • spent
    • launched
    • making
    • close
    • additional

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - New device can smell bombs and diseases

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'silicon'?
    3. What do you know about neuroscience?
    4. What do you know about artificial intelligence?
    5. What do you think of computers that can smell?
    6. How important are computers?
    7. How important is artificial intelligence?
    8. How useful is a computer that can smell?
    9. How could computers that can smell fight terrorism?
    10. Would you like a computer that can smell?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'chip'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How useful are silicon chips?
    5. What do you think of the new neurons computer?
    6. What do you know about biotechnology?
    7. How difficult is it for a computer to copy the brain?
    8. What do you think of science fiction?
    9. How much is life like science fiction?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Dr Agabi?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A Nigerian engineer and neuroscientist has (1) ____ a revolutionary new computer that has (2) ____ intelligence (AI). Dr Oshi Agabi has spent many years trying to make a computer that can smell. He launched his start-(3) ____ project last year and called it Koniku. He has raised over $1 million in funding. Dr Agabi said his project is already (4) ____ profits of $10 million. Technology giants like Google and Microsoft are very interested in it. The security industry is also keeping a (5) ____ watch. Koniku could be put in drones and smell bombs and explosives. It could also be used in airport security systems to smell explosives. An additional use could be in hospitals to smell diseases (6) ____ humans.

    Dr Agabi did not (7) ____ Koniku on silicon chips. Agabi said computers have used silicon for decades, but it is not powerful enough to deal (8) ____ the maths needed to recognize smells. Instead, he based his device on neurons from the brain of a mouse. Neurons are cells in the brain that (9) ____ information. They use electricity and chemical signals to (10) ____ and send information. Using neurons in computers is called biotechnology. Agabi said biotechnology can make devices that can smell. He said: "Biology is technology. Bio is tech. Our (11) ____ learning networks are all copying the brain." Agabi added: "We want to build a…system that has intelligence. We do not want to build a human brain. It's not science (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     creative     (b)     creation     (c)     created     (d)     creates    
    2. (a)     artificial     (b)     artifice     (c)     artificially     (d)     arty-farty    
    3. (a)     up     (b)     down     (c)     on     (d)     off    
    4. (a)     making     (b)     makes     (c)     made     (d)     made    
    5. (a)     closely     (b)     close     (c)     closet     (d)     closed    
    6. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     by     (d)     in    
    7. (a)     basis     (b)     bases     (c)     base     (d)     bias    
    8. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     by     (d)     with    
    9. (a)     share     (b)     shave     (c)     shade     (d)     shame    
    10. (a)     recess     (b)     process     (c)     regress     (d)     digress    
    11. (a)     depth     (b)     deep     (c)     deeply     (d)     deepen    
    12. (a)     fraction     (b)     faction     (c)     fiction     (d)     friction

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. irfacialti intelligence (AI)
    2. raised over $1 million in dgunifn
    3. making ospfrti of $10 million
    4. The usrtyiec industry
    5. smell bombs and ilpsevsxoe
    6. smell adessies in humans

    Paragraph 2

    1. nilscoi chips
    2. for ecdsaed
    3. srcpoes and send information
    4. make edievcs that can smell
    5. Our deep learning trekwosn
    6. It's not science tcoiifn

    Put the text back together

    (    )     are very interested in it. The security industry is also keeping a close watch. Koniku could be put in drones and smell bombs

    (    )     smell. He launched his start-up project last year and called it Koniku. He has raised over $1 million

    (    )     and explosives. It could also be used in airport security systems to smell

    (    )     tech. Our deep learning networks are all copying the brain." Agabi added: "We want to build a…system

    (    )     in funding. Dr Agabi said his project is already making profits of $10 million. Technology giants like Google and Microsoft

    (    )     explosives. An additional use could be in hospitals to smell diseases in humans.

    (    )     intelligence (AI). Dr Oshi Agabi has spent many years trying to make a computer that can

    (    )     and chemical signals to process and send information. Using neurons in computers is called

    (    )     decades, but it is not powerful enough to deal with the maths needed to recognize smells. Instead, he based his

    (    )     that has intelligence. We do not want to build a human brain. It's not science fiction."

    1  )     A Nigerian engineer and neuroscientist has created a revolutionary new computer that has artificial

    (    )     device on neurons from the brain of a mouse. Neurons are cells in the brain that share information. They use electricity

    (    )     Dr Agabi did not base Koniku on silicon chips. Agabi said computers have used silicon for

    (    )     biotechnology. Agabi said biotechnology can make devices that can smell. He said: "Biology is technology. Bio is

    Put the words in the right order

    1. that   computer   new   revolutionary   A   intelligence   artificial   has   .
    2. to   computer   spent   trying   a   has   years   make   Agabi   many   .
    3. close   is   watch   also   The   keeping   security   a   industry   .
    4. be   systems   used   It   in   could   airport   also   security   .
    5. to   An   could   hospitals   diseases   use   in   smell   additional   be   .
    6. not   to   the   is   enough   with   It   powerful   deal   maths   .
    7. on   device   his   based  He  mouse   a   of  brain   the  from  neurons  .
    8. computers   called   Using   in   is   biotechnology   neurons   .
    9. all   deep   copying   learning   the   networks   brain   are   Our   .
    10. We   build   do   a   not   human   want   brain   to   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A Nigerian engineer / engineering and neuroscientist has created a revolutionary new computer that has artificially / artificial intelligence (AI). Dr Oshi Agabi has spent many years tried / trying to make a computer that can smell. He launched his start-up project last year and called it Koniku. He has rise / raised over $1 million in funding / finding. Dr Agabi said his project is already making profitable / profits of $10 million. Technology giants like Google and Microsoft are very interested on / in it. The security industry is also keeping a close watch. Koniku could be put in drones / drains and smell bombs and explosives. It could also be used in airport security systems to smell explosion / explosives. An additional use could be in hospitals to smell diseases on / in humans.

    Dr Agabi did not bias / base Koniku on silicon chips. Agabi said computers have used silicon for decadence / decades, but it is not powerful enough to deal / dealing with the maths needed to recognize smells. Instead, he based his device on / in neurons from the brain of a mouse. Neurons are cells in the brain that share informative / information. They use electricity and chemical signals to process and send information. Using neurons in computers is calling / called biotechnology. Agabi said biotechnology can make devices / device that can smell. He said: "Biology is technology. Bio is tech. Our deep learning networks are every / all copying the brain." Agabi added: "We want to build a…system that was / has intelligence. We do not want to build a human brain. It's not science fiction / friction."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _ N_g_r__n _ng_n__r _nd n__r_sc__nt_st h_s cr__t_d _ r_v_l_t__n_ry n_w c_mp_t_r th_t h_s _rt_f_c__l _nt_ll_g_nc_ (__). Dr _sh_ _g_b_ h_s sp_nt m_ny y__rs try_ng t_ m_k_ _ c_mp_t_r th_t c_n sm_ll. H_ l__nch_d h_s st_rt-_p pr_j_ct l_st y__r _nd c_ll_d _t K_n_k_. H_ h_s r__s_d _v_r $1 m_ll__n _n f_nd_ng. Dr _g_b_ s__d h_s pr_j_ct _s _lr__dy m_k_ng pr_f_ts _f $10 m_ll__n. T_chn_l_gy g__nts l_k_ G__gl_ _nd M_cr_s_ft _r_ v_ry _nt_r_st_d _n _t. Th_ s_c_r_ty _nd_stry _s _ls_ k__p_ng _ cl_s_ w_tch. K_n_k_ c__ld b_ p_t _n dr_n_s _nd sm_ll b_mbs _nd _xpl_s_v_s. _t c__ld _ls_ b_ _s_d _n __rp_rt s_c_r_ty syst_ms t_ sm_ll _xpl_s_v_s. _n _dd_t__n_l _s_ c__ld b_ _n h_sp_t_ls t_ sm_ll d_s__s_s _n h_m_ns.

    Dr _g_b_ d_d n_t b_s_ K_n_k_ _n s_l_c_n ch_ps. _g_b_ s__d c_mp_t_rs h_v_ _s_d s_l_c_n f_r d_c_d_s, b_t _t _s n_t p_w_rf_l _n__gh t_ d__l w_th th_ m_ths n__d_d t_ r_c_gn_z_ sm_lls. _nst__d, h_ b_s_d h_s d_v_c_ _n n__r_ns fr_m th_ br__n _f _ m__s_. N__r_ns _r_ c_lls _n th_ br__n th_t sh_r_ _nf_rm_t__n. Th_y _s_ _l_ctr_c_ty _nd ch_m_c_l s_gn_ls t_ pr_c_ss _nd s_nd _nf_rm_t__n. _s_ng n__r_ns _n c_mp_t_rs _s c_ll_d b__t_chn_l_gy. _g_b_ s__d b__t_chn_l_gy c_n m_k_ d_v_c_s th_t c_n sm_ll. H_ s__d: "B__l_gy _s t_chn_l_gy. B__ _s t_ch. __r d__p l__rn_ng n_tw_rks _r_ _ll c_py_ng th_ br__n." _g_b_ _dd_d: "W_ w_nt t_ b__ld _…syst_m th_t h_s _nt_ll_g_nc_. W_ d_ n_t w_nt t_ b__ld _ h_m_n br__n. _t's n_t sc__nc_ f_ct__n."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a nigerian engineer and neuroscientist has created a revolutionary new computer that has artificial intelligence (ai) dr oshi agabi has spent many years trying to make a computer that can smell he launched his start-up project last year and called it koniku he has raised over $1 million in funding dr agabi said his project is already making profits of $10 million technology giants like google and microsoft are very interested in it the security industry is also keeping a close watch koniku could be put in drones and smell bombs and explosives it could also be used in airport security systems to smell explosives an additional use could be in hospitals to smell diseases in humans

    dr agabi did not base koniku on silicon chips agabi said computers have used silicon for decades but it is not powerful enough to deal with the maths needed to recognize smells instead he based his device on neurons from the brain of a mouse neurons are cells in the brain that share information they use electricity and chemical signals to process and send information using neurons in computers is called biotechnology agabi said biotechnology can make devices that can smell he said "biology is technology bio is tech our deep learning networks are all copying the brain" agabi added "we want to build a…system that has intelligence we do not want to build a human brain it's not science fiction"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ANigerianengineerandneuroscientisthascreatedarevolutionarynew
    computerthathasartificialintelligence(AI).DrOshiAgabihasspentma
    nyyearstryingtomakeacomputerthatcansmell.Helaunchedhisstart-
    upprojectlastyearandcalleditKoniku.Hehasraisedover$1millioninfu
    nding.DrAgabisaidhisprojectisalreadymakingprofitsof$10million.Te
    chnologygiantslikeGoogleandMicrosoftareveryinterestedinit.These
    curityindustryisalsokeepingaclosewatch.Konikucouldbeputindrones
    andsmellbombsandexplosives.Itcouldalsobeusedinairportsecuritys
    ystemstosmellexplosives.Anadditionalusecouldbeinhospitalstosmel
    ldiseasesinhumans.DrAgabididnotbaseKonikuonsiliconchips.Agabis
    aidcomputershaveusedsiliconfordecades,butitisnotpowerfulenough
    todealwiththemathsneededtorecognizesmells.Instead,hebasedhisd
    eviceonneuronsfromthebrainofamouse.Neuronsarecellsinthebraint
    hatshareinformation.Theyuseelectricityandchemicalsignalstoproce
    ssandsendinformation.Usingneuronsincomputersiscalledbiotechnol
    ogy.Agabisaidbiotechnologycanmakedevicesthatcansmell.Hesaid:"
    Biologyistechnology.Bioistech.Ourdeeplearningnetworksareallcopy
    ingthebrain."Agabiadded:"Wewanttobuilda…systemthathasintellig
    ence.Wedonotwanttobuildahumanbrain.It'snotsciencefiction."

    Free writing

    Write about biotechnology for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Robots with artificial intelligence will never be a danger to humans. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about biotechnology. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. BIOTECHNOLOGY: Make a poster about biotechnology. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. ROBOTS: Write a magazine article about robots becoming an important part of our home life. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on biotechnology. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how it can help us. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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