四 川 建 筑 职 业 技 术 学 院 授 课 教 案 Text B Are Computers Alive? I. Introduction 1. Introductory Remarks Can computers think and behave intelligently like man? Can we create AI (artificial intelligence)? Such are the questions that have been asked time and again ever since the computers came into being. However, it is generally assumed that whatever intelligence is, it is one of the characteristics that man has; while the computer is just a dumb machine which does only what it is told by its human programmer. The computer can never think and behave intelligently like man. Nevertheless, the scientific study on the subject is still going and various approaches toward the question are being worked out. People are now just waiting to see what are the answers that these approaches may give them, even though most of them know only too well that a machine is nothing but a machine. 2. Introductory Questions Exercise 1 Exercise 2 after reading the passage II. Outline A. The Possibility People Are Reluctant to Be Faced with (Para. 1) The concept that computers might be capable of thought B. The Problems Arising in the Course of People's Speculation (Para. 2) 1. People do not know what the term "thought and thinking" really mean. 2. Dreams which happen outside people's control are some type of mental experience. 3. Higher mammals show complex brain activity in their brain. C. The Conclusion (Para. 3) Computers have superior mental abilities to many life forms. III. Detailed Study of the Text 1. .... and many observers have considered this aspect in connection with robots and computers: ... -- ... and quite a few observers have associated this aspect with robots and computers: ... aspect: a particular side of a many-sided situation, idea, plan, etc. e.g. The training program covers every aspect of the job. The rise in violent crime is one of the most worrying aspects of the current situation. in connection with: concerning; with regard to e.g. The police are interviewing two men in connection with the jewel robbery. The travel agents wrote to us in connection with our holiday booking. 2 .... were closely linked to the question of whether computers could think. -- Some of the longtime worries about AI were related in people's mind to the question of whether computers were able to think. 四 川 建 筑 职 业 技 术 学 院 授 课 教 案 be linked to: be related to; have something to do with e.g. The fall in the cost of living is directly linked to the drop in the oil price. A college teacher's promotion is primarily linked to the quantity as well as the quality of his or her works and research papers. 3. The first massive electronic computers, capable of ... be capable of (doing) sth: to have the skills, power, intelligence, etc. needed to do something e.g. Is the kid capable of understanding this? This train is capable of carrying 2 000 persons. cf. be able to do sth.: to have the power, skill, knowledge, time, etc., necessary to do something e.g. As I had plenty of money I was able to help her. 4. A reaction to this terminology quickly followed ... -- A response to this terminology followed immediately ... follow: to happen, take place, or come directly after (something) e.g. July follows June. The late-night movie follows the 10 o'clock news. terminology: specialized words and expressions used in a particular science, profession, activity, etc. e.g. Such words and expressions as "schema", "genre", "cognitive code", "top down processing strategy" are terminology used in teaching methodology. Medical terminology is not within the reach of those who study humanity science. 5. To put them in their place, ... -- To show that computers were not as clever or important as they were considered to be/To humble computers, ... "To put someone in their place" means showing someone they are less important or cleaver than they think they are. 6. In such a climate the possibility of computers actually being alive was rarely considered .., -- In such a situation, people seldom considered the possibility that computers were in fact alive ... In the sentence, the word climate means a situation that exists at a particular time, especially one which involves people's opinions and attitudes, e.g. social/political/economic climate. 7. It has not been pointed out ... point out: to show, indicate, or draw attention to e.g. He pointed out the advantages of the plan. May I point out that if we don't leave now we shall miss the bus. 8. If the early computers were even that intelligent, it was already a remarkable state of affairs. 四 川 建 筑 职 业 技 术 学 院 授 课 教 案 Even if the early computers were intelligent to such a degree, the present situation they created was worth noticing. that (adv.): informal, so; to such a degree e.g. I like her but not (all) that much! I was that hungry that I could have eaten a horse! 9. We tend to assume that human beings think, some more than others ... -- We are likely to accept it as true that human beings think and that some think more than others ... 10. ....partly because they usually happen outside our control. -- ... to some extent for the reason that they usually happen beyond our control. partly because: part of the reason being The word "because" is sometimes preceded by such words as "only", "mainly", etc. with the respective meaning of "the only reason being", "the main reason being", etc. e.g. He failed in the exam mainly/only/partly because he had spent little time reviewing his lessons. 11. Many of us would maintain that some of the higher animals ... the higher animals / mammals: the more advanced animals / mammals in their development 12. what about ... ? This expression is used to introduce a new thing or person into a conversation or when asking for opinion or information about something. e.g. We've chosen the food, now, what about the wine? What about going out for a walk in the rain? Hong Kong is considered to be an international financial center, what about Shanghai? 13 ....when tested with the appropriate equipment. appropriate: correct or suitable for a particular situation or occasion e.g. His bright clothes were hardly appropriate for such a solemn occasion. Complaints must be addressed to the appropriate authority. 14. It is already clear that machines have superior mental abilities to many life forms. -- It is already clear that machines have stronger or better mental abilities than many life forms. superior to: better than e.g. A conceited man feels superior to everyone else. cf. He handles affairs impartially and is superior to the temptations of money. (not influenced by) 15 ... viewed in terms of intellect, the computer should be set well above plants and most animals. -- ... considered from the viewpoint of intellect, the computer should be placed well above plants and most animals / the computer is much more intelligent than plants and most animals.