900 Almost Human

Non-fiction:Almost Human

2012 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved. Article: Copyright 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission.

Almost Human?

Robots become more and more like people.

At Aizo Chuo Hospital in Japan, employees greet newcomers, guide patients to and from the surgery area, and print out maps of the hospital for confused visitors. They dont take lunch breaks or even get paid. Why? Theyre robots!

AP Images David Hanson poses with his robotic creation, Hertz.

A robot is a machine that can complete complex tasks without human control. The child-sized machines at the hospital are just a few of the thousands of robots that help people around the world.

Robots have long worked in factories, helping to build cars and electronic appliances. But todays robots are a far cry from the clunky machines of the past. They dont just do the jobs of peoplethey actually look and act a lot like people.

Robo-People

Kansei, a robot from Japan, has a silicon face covering 19 movable parts. The robot can form up to 36 facial expressions in response to different words. Kansei quivers in fear at the word war and breaks into a smile when it hears the word sushi.

Researchers in Europe are going one step further with iCub, a baby robot. They are teaching it to speak and hold conversations.



The ability to interact is crucial, or necessary, for robots that will one day work closely with humans, says Chris Atkeson, a professor at the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania. It is important for robots and all machines that interact with people to understand what you say and how you are feeling and respond with appropriate emotions, he told WR News.

Japanese scientist Minoru Asada agrees. He is building a robot called CB2 that acts like a real toddler. Right now, it only goes, Ah, ah. But as we develop its learning function, we hope it can start saying more complex sentences and moving on its own will, Asada says. Next-generation robots need to be able to learn and develop themselves.

Helping Humans

Robot communication will allow the machines to help people more in the future, as the number of human workers declines in some countries. We are going to have so many more old people and not enough young people to take care of them, Matthew Mason, director of the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, told WR News. Technology can help the old people live at home longer, instead of going to nursing homes.

That would be a big help in Japan, which has an aging population. Already, more than 370,000 robots work in Japanese factories. Other robots perform tasks such as planting rice and tending the countrys rice paddies. Japanese officials estimate that one robot can do the work of 10 human employees.

Aizo Chuo Hospital patient Hiroshi Asami, 81, isnt thrilled about the prospect, or possibility, of robot workers. [The robot] just told us to get out of the way! he exclaims after almost running into one of the hospitals robot workers. Its a robot. Its the one that should get out of my way. I prefer dealing with real people.

Robots That Rock

People have been trying to rev up robots for hundreds of years. Heres a look at some of the most notable creations.



1737: Quacky Invention In 1737, French inventor Jacques de Vaucanson built a robotic duck that could flap its wings, paddle in water, and even eat grain.

1810: Early Robot Toot, toot! One of the first robots was a mechanical trumpet player. It is now in a museum in Germany.

1961: Strong Arm The 4,000-pound robotic arm Unimate got its start welding car parts. Today, the robots are among the most widely used industrial robots in the world.

1999: Robo Pup Forget fetching your own slippersthats what AIBO is for! Sony created the $2,000 robot dog in 1999 as a companion for people.

2002: Cleaning Machine One of the worlds most popular robots is Roomba, a robotic vacuum. Introduced in 2002, Roomba can clean a room all by itself, gliding over floors to pick up dirt.

AP Images

Carnegie Mellon/Robot Hall of Fame

AP Images

iRobot Corporation



2004: Space Pioneers NASA has robots that are out of this world! Spirit and Opportunity are twin rovers that have been exploring Mars since 2004. They send valuable data back to Earth.

AP Images

Questions: Almost Human?

2012 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Name: Date: _______________________ 1. According to the passage, one robot can do the work of how many human employees?

A two B seven C ten D twelve

2. According to the passage, what is one way robots have contributed over time?

A collecting data from other planets B going grocery shopping for people C driving patients to the hospital D cooking dinner for families in the evening

3. The author most likely wrote this passage because s/he

A thinks every company should have robots at work and believes that they consistently improve efficiency in the workplace

B has a robot and sees the benefits of a robot around the house, such as with vacuuming and cleaning

C wants to explain the role robots currently play in our society, as well as the potential roles they could play in the future

D thinks robots are best used in hospitals but not in other settings like schools, restaurants, or government

4. In the sentence, Heres a look at some of the most notable creations, the word notable means which of the following?

A worthy of attention B unimportant or inconsequential C easy to write about or take notes on D outlandish or wild

5. What is another good title for this passage?

A Robots: A Help or a Hindrance? B Robots: Past, Present, and Future C A History of Robots in the Workplace D The Robot Employee



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6. In the passage the writer describes some of the ways robots act like human employees. Provide at least two examples of human-like behavior robots display in the hospital in Japan. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 7. Why might a patient prefer to interact with a person instead of robot? Use evidence from the text to support your answer. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. _________ robots have long worked in factories, todays robots are a far cry from the clunky machines of the past.

A However B While C Yet D In contrast,

9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below. Robot communication will allow the machines to help people more in the future. What? _________________________________________________________________ (will do) What? allow machines to help people more When? ________________________________________________________________



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Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below to complete questions 10a, 10b, and 11. Vocabulary Word: crucial (crucial): to be critical and incredibly important. 10a. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word crucial.

1. Robots ability to interact is crucial for those robots that work closely with humans.

2. It is crucial that I know how many students come with us on field trips so that I can keep count and be sure everyone is accounted for at all times. 3. Robots will be crucial in helping with Japans aging population, providing a resource to support older people who live longer at home and avoid transitioning to nursing homes.

4. Wearing your seatbelt is a crucial step in making sure you are safe while in a car. 5. Even though robots that clean the floor by themselves make vacuuming easier, they are not crucial for getting the job done; we can still do it ourselves! 10b. Which image shows someone who is crucial to the safety of a community?

11. Are food and water crucial to our survival? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

Teacher Guide & Answers: Almost Human?


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Teacher Guide & Answers Passage Reading Level: Lexile 970 Featured Text Structure: Descriptive the writer explains, defines, or illustrates a concept or topic Passage Summary: Almost Human? highlights the ways robots help as well as some of the current and future challenges of integrating robots into our society. Additionally, the article provides an overview of the history of robots and their roles over time. 1. According to the passage, one robot can do the work of how many human employees?

A two B seven C ten D twelve

2. According to the passage, what is one way robots have contributed over time?

A collecting data from other planets B going grocery shopping for people C driving patients to the hospital D cooking dinner for families in the evening

3. The author most likely wrote this passage because s/he

A thinks every company should have robots at work and believes that they consistently improve efficiency in the workplace

B has a robot and sees the benefits of a robot around the house, such as with vacuuming and cleaning

C wants to explain the role robots currently play in our society, as well as the potential roles they could play in the future

D thinks robots are best used in hospitals but not in other settings like schools, restaurants, or government

4. In the sentence, Heres a look at some of the most notable creations, the word notable means which of the following?

A worthy of attention B unimportant or inconsequential C easy to write about or take notes on D outlandish or wild

5. What is another good title for this passage?

A Robots: A Help or a Hindrance? B Robots: Past, Present, and Future C A History of Robots in the Workplace D The Robot Employee

6. In the passage the writer describes some of the ways robots act like human employees. Provide at least two examples of human-like behavior robots display in the hospital in Japan. Suggested answer: In the passage the writer describes how robots act like human beings. For example, the robots greet newcomers, guide patients to and from the surgery area, and print out maps of the hospital for confused visitors. [paragraph 1]



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7. Why might a patient prefer to interact with a person instead of robot? Use evidence from the text to support your answer. Suggested answer: A person may prefer to work with or interact with another person because a robot might be limited in its abilities to deal with people in a human-like manner. In the passage the 81-year-old patient said a robot was really rude to him, telling him to get out of the way. He said he preferred to work with real people. Many patients might share his feelings about robots because most robots do not have the ability to empathize or be more sensitive to human beings needs. [paragraph 10] 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. _________ robots have long worked in factories, todays robots are a far cry from the clunky machines of the past.

A However B While C Yet D In contrast,

9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below. Robot communication will allow the machines to help people more in the future. What? robot communication (will do) What? allow machines to help people more When? in the future To the Teacher: ReadWorks recommends that you teach this vocabulary word to the whole class out loud using the four steps listed below. Vocabulary Word: crucial (cru cial): to be critical and incredibly important. Step 1: Introduce the word

a. Teacher writes the word on the board and divides it into syllables: (cru cial)

b. Teacher says: This word is crucial. What is the word? [All students reply together out loud: crucial.]

Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition

a. Teacher says: Something that is crucial is critical and incredibly important. It is so important that it impacts the success or failure of something.

b. Teacher says: In the passage the ability of robots to interact with humans is described as being crucial because it is very important and necessary for them to able to interact if they are going to be working closely with humans in the future.

c. Teacher says: What is the word? [All students reply together out loud: crucial.]



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Step 3: Practice the word Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the first sentence out loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to the vocabulary word prompt students to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish reading the sentence out loud to your students. Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below to complete questions 10a, 10b, and 11. Vocabulary Word: crucial (cru cial): to be critical and incredibly important. 10a. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word crucial. 1. Robots ability to interact is crucial for those robots that work closely with humans.

2. It is crucial that I know how many students come with us on field trips so that I can keep count and be sure everyone is accounted for at all times. 3. Robots will be crucial in helping with Japans aging population, providing a resource to support older people who live longer at home and avoid transitioning to nursing homes.

4. Wearing your seatbelt is a crucial step in making sure you are safe while in a car. 5. Even though robots that clean the floor by themselves make vacuuming easier, they are not crucial for getting the job done; we can still do it ourselves!

Step 4: Check for student understanding To the Teacher: This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an independent practice. 10b. Which image shows someone who is crucial to the safety of a community?

11. Are food and water crucial to our survival? Suggested answer: Yes, because they are critical to providing the nutrition and hydration our bodies need to function and to stay alive.

Suggested Additional Vocabulary: prospect, clunky, robots, interact, mechanical

900 Almost Human

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