Read the text and choose the correct options for tasks 1-7

Most of us associate robots with films such as Star Wars, I, Robot or AI, but in reality they have more to do with social issues and politics rather than science fiction. The term robot first made its appearance in a play entitled Rossum's Universal Robots written almost a century ago by a Czechoslovakian playwright by the name of Karel Čapek. Čapek got the name robot from the Slavic word 'robota' which means forced labour. In his play, he portrays a society where robots, which look human, are mass produced to work in the place of people.

Čapek's story was well received by the critics but never really got credit for being the source of the notion of robots. The play has significant relevance to our society today, as humanoid−type robots are being created to fulfil a wide range of tasks. Robot engineers are not only developing mindless worker drones, but are attempting to create human−like companion robots for people. Consequently, the question of what actually makes us human is the subject of lively debate.

In the USA, sociable robotics is developing at a relatively rapid rate and a human companion type of robot could soon be a reality. Japanese researchers see a very bright future for these robots who will serve as friends or family to the lonely. Nevertheless, one needs to ask if a human being can have a relationship with a machine in the same way as they do with other people or animals, and if so, what effect this could have on our society. The success of robot toys or virtual pets suggests that this type of relationship is possible.

Research shows that children tend to have similar relationships with humans as with non−humans whereas the same is true for adults only with pets or when the robot is designed to look like a child. This is probably because robots display superficial emotions and cannot as yet replace human touch. But will these machines one day succeed in replacing humans?

Some paint a very dark picture of a robot society and predict that artificially intelligent machines will take control of the entire planet and dominate the human race. However, robot technology is still in its infancy and the idea of them taking over the world is pure fantasy to most of us, including scientists. In fact, most robots can only perform very basic tasks and even the most advanced robot that is capable of expressing over forty different emotions seems to do so in a totally random manner, regardless of what is going on around it.

In spite of the simplicity of today's robots, robotic technology is impacting our everyday lives in a dramatic way. Nowadays, our robots are becoming more and more like those portrayed in Čapek's work. In a society where human relationships are so often strained, it is no surprise that the possibility for human−robot relationships is increasing.

When most people think of robots, they tend to think of

• films.
• literature.
• politics.
• social issues.

In the second paragraph,'was well received by the critics' means

• they praised the writer for his linguistic skills.
• the story was sent to a lot of critics.
• the author was criticised by other writers.
• reviewers thought the story was good.

Most critics ignored the fact that

• humanoid robots are being created.
• Čapek came up with the idea of robots.
• robots are important in our society.
• robots can do a lot of tasks.

There is a lot of discussion about

• what a human really is.
• the truth about companionship.
• the nature of a humanoid robot.
• how a robot is made up.

Japanese researchers think that robots could

• be of use to families.
• be of use to people who live alone.
• be put to use as servants.
• be useful to engineers.

Adults tend to have good relationships with

• childlike robots.
• non-humans.
• robot toys.
• virtual pets.

Advanced robots still only

• react to emotions just like humans.
• perform basic tasks.
• express emotions randomly.
• express over forty emotions.