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Book 7 Unit 1
Science Fiction
Reading and Thinking—
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Guess a riddle
I’m not alive, but I can move.
I follow commands—I never disapprove.
Made of metal, wires, and gears,
I’ll clean your house or explore Mars with no fears.
What am I?
If you have a robot, what do you expect it to do for you?
1
Read for the characters.
Larry Belmont worked for a company that made robots. Recently it had begun experimenting with a household robot. It was going to be tested out by Larry’s wife, Claire.
2
Read Para 2 and 3 and fill in the table.
Claire didn’t want the robot in her house, especially as her husband would be away on a business trip for three weeks, but Lary persuaded her that the robot wouldn’t harm her or allow her to be harmed. It would be a bonus. However, when she first saw the robot, she felt alarmed. His name was Tony. He seemed more like a human than a machine. He was tall and handsome with smooth hair and a deep voice, although his facial expression never changed.
On the second morning, Tony brought her breakfast and then asked her whether she needed help dressing. She felt embarassed and quickly told him to go. Now she was being looked after by a robot that looked so human, and it was disturbing.
Claire’s problems Tony’s services Claire’s feelings
didn’t want the robot in her house
was scared of Tony’s appearance
felt embarrassed
felt reluctant/unwilling
brought her breakfast and offered to help dressing
felt alarmed
basic necessities
3
Read para 4-6 and fill in the table.
One day, Claire mentioned that she didn’t think she was clever. Tony said that she must feel very unhappy to say that. Claire thought it was ridiculous that she was being offered sympathy by a robot, but she gradually admired his wisdom and integrity and began to trust him. He always treated her with dignity. She told him how she was unhappy that her home wasn’t elegant enough for Lary, who wanted to improve his social position with a bigger salary. She wasn’t like Gladys Claffern, one of the richest and most powerful women around.
As a favour, Tony promised to help Claire make herself more beautiful and her home more elegant...
Tony gave Claire a new hairstyle and improved her makeup. As he was not allowed to accompany her to the shops, he wrote out a list of things that he would need for his work on the house. Claire went downtown and bought these things. She had an appointment to paint her nails, then she went into an expensive clothes shop. The saleswoman there was rude to her, so she rang Tony and told him she was being treated badly. He spoke to the woman, who immediately changed her attitude. Claire thanked Tony, telling him that he was a “dear”.
Claire’s problems Tony’s services Claire’s feelings
lack of confidence and security
admired his wisdom and integrity; began to trust him
offered sympathy and took action to improve her home and appearance
was treated badly
spoke to the woman and changed her attitude
was thankful and called him a “dear”
4
Read Para 6-8 and fill in the table.
...As she turned around, there stood Gladys Claffern. How awful to be discovered by her, Claire thought. By the look on her face, Claire knew that Gladys thought they were in a relationship. After all, she knew Claire’s husband’s name was Larry, not Tony. Although it was completely innocent, Claire felt guilty.
When Claire got home, she wept. Gladys was everything Claire wished to be. Tony told her she was being sensitive and was just as good as Gladys. He suggested that she invite Gladys and her friends to the house the night before he was to leave and Larry was to return. By that time, Tony expected that the house, which was being completely transformed, would be ready.
Tony worked steadily on the improvements. Claire tried to help by working on a light suspended from the ceiling, but she fell off the ladder. Even though Tony had been in the next room, he managed to catch her in time. As he held her, she felt the warmth of his body. She screamed, pushed him away and ran to her room.
Claire’s problems Tony’s services Claire’s feelings
be misunderstood and wept
fell off the ladder
felt guilty
told her she was being sensitive and was just as good as Gladys
felt his warmth but panicked
managed to catch her in time
Claire’s problems Tony’s services Claire’s feelings
didn’t want the robot in her house
was scared of Tony’s appearance
felt embarrassed
felt reluctant/unwilling
brought her breakfast and offered to help dressing
felt alarmed
lack of confidence and security
admired his wisdom and integrity; began to trust him
offered sympathy and took action to improve her home and appearance
was treated badly
spoke to the woman and changed her attitude
was thankful and called him a “dear”
be misunderstood and wept
fell off the ladder
felt guilty
told her she was being sensitive and was just as good as Gladys
felt his warmth but panicked
managed to catch her in time
basic necessities
Claire’s problems Tony’s services Claire’s feelings
didn’t want the robot in her house
was scared of Tony’s appearance
felt embarrassed
felt reluctant/unwilling
brought her breakfast and offered to help dressing
felt alarmed
lack of confidence and security
admired his wisdom and integrity; began to trust him
offered sympathy and took action to improve her home and appearance
was treated badly
spoke to the woman and changed her attitude
was thankful and called him a “dear”
be misunderstood and wept
fell off the ladder
felt guilty
told her she was being sensitive and was just as good as Gladys
felt his warmth but panicked
managed to catch her in time
basic necessities
perform basic household duties
offer emotional support
handle external conflict
boost confidence
guarantee physical safety
Claire’s problems Tony’s services Claire’s feelings
didn’t want the robot in her house
was scared of Tony’s appearance
felt embarrassed
felt reluctant/unwilling
brought her breakfast and offered to help dressing
felt alarmed
lack of confidence and security
admired his wisdom and integrity; began to trust him
offered sympathy and took action to improve her home and appearance
was treated badly
spoke to the woman and changed her attitude
was thankful and called him a “dear”
be misunderstood and wept
fell off the ladder
felt guilty
told her she was being sensitive and was just as good as Gladys
felt his warmth but panicked
managed to catch her in time
basic necessities
negative start
growing trust
emotional conflict
Think
spoke to the saleswoman and changed her attitude
spoke to the saleswoman and changed her attitude
1. Why is Claire panicked?
2. Can humans love robots? Why?
The night of the party arrived. The clock struck eight. The guests would be arriving soon, so Claire dismissed Tony for the rest of the night. At that moment, Tony took her in his arms, bringing his face close to hers. She heard him declare that he did not want to leave her the next day, and that he felt more than just the desire to please her. Then the front door bell rang.
5
Read and ask.
6
Work in groups, discuss and finish the story.
7
Self-assessment
Self-assessment Checklist 5 4 3 2 1
1. I can analyze the cahracters and their relations.
2. I can use the title of a passage to predict the ending of the story.
3. I can figure out the emotional and plot line of a story.
4. I can use different reading strategies to finish the reading tasks.
5. I can use clues to ask questions and to finish a story.
Complete the story according to the discussions in class.
7
Assignment
Thank you!
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