Robots At Work Reading Passage
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Robots At Work Reading Passage
Paragraph A
The newspaper production process has come a long way from the old days when the paper was written, edited, typeset and ultimately printed in one building, with the journalists working on the upper floors and the printing presses going on the ground floor. These days, the editors, subeditors, and journalists who put the paper together are likely to find themselves in a totally different building or even in a different city. This is the situation which now prevails in Sydney. The daily paper is compiled at the editorial headquarters, known as the prepress centre, in the heart of the city, but printed far away in the suburbs at the printing centre. Here, human beings are in the minority as much of the work is done by automated machines controlled by computers.
Paragraph B
Once the finished newspaper has been created for the next morning’s edition, all the pages are transmitted electronically from the prepress centre to the printing centre. The system of transmission is an update on the sophisticated page facsimile system already in use in many other newspapers. An imagesetter at the printing centre delivers the pages as films. Each page takes less than a minute to produce, although for colour pages, four versions, once each for black, cyan, magenta and yellow, are sent. The pages are then processed into photographic negatives, and the film is used to produce aluminium printing plates that are ready for the presses.
Paragraph C
A procession of automated vehicles is busy at the new printing centre where the Sydney Morning Herald is printed each day. With lights flashing and warning horns honking, the robots (to give them their correct name, the LGVs or laser-guided vehicles) look for the world like enthusiastic machines from a science fiction movie, as they follow their own random paths around the plant busily getting on with their jobs. Automation of this kind is now standard in all modern newspaper plants. The robots can detect unauthorised personnel and alert security staff immediately if they find an “intruder”; not surprisingly, tall tales are already being told about the machines starting to take on personalities of their own.
Paragraph D
The robots’ principal job, however, is to shift the newsprint (the printing paper) that arrives at the plant in huge reels and emerges at the other end sometime later as newspapers. Once the size of the day’s paper and the publishing order are determined at head office, the information is punched into the computer, and the LGVs are programmed to go about their work. The LGVs collect the appropriate size paper reels and take them where they have to go. When the press needs another reel, its computer will alert the LGV system. The Sydney LGVs move busily around the press room, fulfilling their two key functions: collecting reels of newsprint either from the reel stripping stations or from the racked supplies in the newsprint storage area. At the stripping station, the tough wrapping that helps to protect a reel of paper from rough handling is removed. Any damaged paper is peeled off, and the reel is then weighed.
Paragraph E
Then one of the four paster-robots moves in. Specifically designed for the job, it trims the paper neatly and prepares the reel for the press. If required, the reel can be loaded directly onto the press; if not needed immediately, an LGV takes it to the storage area. When the press computer calls for a reel, an LGV takes it to the reel-loading area of the presses. It lifts the reel into the loading position and places it in the correct spot with complete accuracy. As each reel is used up, the press drops the heavy cardboard core into a waste bin. When the bin is full, another LGV collects it and deposits the cores into a shredder for recycling.
Paragraph F
The LGVs move at walking speed. Should anyone step in front of one or get too close, sensors stop the vehicle until the path is clear. The company has chosen a laser guide function system for the vehicles because, as the project development manager says, “The beauty of it is that if you want to change the routes, you can work out a new route on your computer and lay it down for them to follow”. When an LGV’s batteries run low, it will take itself offline and go to the nearest battery maintenance point for replacement batteries. All this is achieved with absolute minimum human input and a much-reduced risk of injury to people working in the printing centres.
Paragraph G
The question newspaper workers must now ask, however, is, “How long will it be before the robots are writing the newspapers as well as running the printing centre, churning out the latest edition every morning?”
Robots At Work Reading Question & Answers
Questions and Answers 1-6
List of Headings
i. Robots working together
ii. Preparing LGVs for take-over
iii. Looking ahead
iv. The LGVs' main functions
v. Split location for newspaper production
vi. Newspapers superseded by technology
vii. Getting the newspaper to the printing centre
viii. Controlling the robots
ix. Beware of robots!
1. Paragraph A
2. Paragraph B
3. Paragraph D
4. Paragraph E
5. Paragraph F
6. Paragraph G
Robots At Work Reading Answers with Explanations (1-6)
Type of question: Matching Headings
In this question type, you will be asked to choose the correct heading for each paragraph from a list of headings provided. This type of question assesses your ability to understand the main idea or theme of each paragraph.
How to best answer:
- Familiarise yourself with the list of headings before reading the paragraphs. This helps you know what to look for.
- Identify the main idea or theme of each paragraph by looking for topic sentences or recurring themes.
- Find keywords or phrases that are similar to those in the headings. This can help you make connections.
- Eliminate incorrect options that don't match any paragraphs to narrow down your choices.
- Skim and Scan each paragraph efficiently to get a context about the content.
Reference:
From paragraph A: "These days the editor, subeditors and journalists who put the paper together are likely to find themselves in a totally different building or maybe even in a different city."
Explanation: This line shows that newspaper production has shifted from a single location to multiple locations, with editorial tasks separated from printing. It emphasises the change in newspaper production logistics, thus making "split location for newspaper production" the correct heading. This reflects the modern practice where different stages of production are handled in different places.
Reference:
From paragraph B: "Once the finished newspaper has been created for the next morning’s edition, all the pages are transmitted electronically from the prepress centre to the printing centre."
Explanation: This line explains the electronic transmission of newspaper pages from the prepress centre to the printing centre. It describes the process used to deliver the completed newspaper pages, which directly aligns with the heading “getting the newspaper to the printing centre”. The electronic transmission system is a crucial step in modern newspaper production, confirming that this heading is the most suitable.
Reference:
From paragraph D: "The Sydney LGVs move busily around the press room fulfilling their two key functions to collect reels of newsprint either from the reel stripping stations or from the racked supplies in the newsprint storage area. At the stripping station, the tough wrapping that helps to protect a reel of paper from rough handling is removed. Any damaged paper is peeled off, and the reel is then weighed."
Explanation: This line details the primary responsibilities of the LGVs, which involve collecting and transporting newsprint reels. It explains their operational roles within the printing centre, making "the LGVs' main functions" the correct heading. This accurately describes the specific tasks that the LGVs perform in the newspaper production process.
Reference:
From paragraph E: "When the press computer calls for a reel, an LGV takes it to the reel loading area of the presses. It lifts the reel into the loading position and places it in the correct spot with complete accuracy. As each reel is used up, the press drops the heavy cardboard core into a waste bin. When the bin is full, another LGV collects it and deposits the cores into a shredder for recycling."
Explanation: This line illustrates the coordinated efforts of the LGVs (robots) in handling and positioning paper reels with precision. It demonstrates how these robots work together to perform complex tasks, which fits the heading “robots working together”. This coordination is essential for efficient operation in the printing centre.
Reference:
From paragraph F: "The company has chosen a laser guide function system for the vehicles because, as the project development manager says “The beauty of it is that if you want to change the routes, you can work out a new route on your computer and lay it down for them to follow”. When an LGV’s batteries run low, it will take itself offline and go to the nearest battery maintenance point for replacement batteries."
Explanation: This line explains how the laser guide function system allows for flexible routing and efficient control of the LGVs. It highlights the advanced technology used to manage and direct the robots, making "controlling the robots" the correct heading. This system is crucial for optimising the performance and operation of the LGVs.
Reference:
From paragraph G: "The question newspaper workers must now ask, however, is, “How long will it be before the robots are writing the newspapers as well as running the printing centre, churning out the latest edition every morning?” "
Explanation: This paragraph speculates about the future possibility of robots taking over more tasks in newspaper production, including writing the news. It reflects concerns about automation's potential expansion into new areas, making "preparing LGVs for take-over" the correct heading. The question illustrates the ongoing debate about robots' roles in the industry.
Also Read: IELTS General Reading Test.
Questions and Answers 7-14
The Production Process
Robots At Work Reading Answers with Explanations (7-14)
Type of question: Flowchart Completion
In this task, you are required to fill in these gaps with specific information or steps described in the passage. The information might relate to a process, sequence of events, steps in a procedure, or stages in a development.
How to best answer:
- Pay close attention to the flowchart or diagram and the instructions provided.
- Quickly scan the relevant section of the passage to gather information that fits the gaps in the flowchart.
- Ensure that the information you choose accurately fits the context of the flowchart or diagram.
- Look for keywords or synonyms in the passage that match the information needed for each gap.
- Ensure your answers are grammatically correct and fit within any word limit specified.
- Finalise your answers.
Reference:
From paragraph B: "Once the finished newspaper has been created for the next morning’s edition, all the pages are transmitted electronically from the prepress centre to the printing centre."
Explanation: This line indicates that the newspaper's pages are sent from the prepress centre to the printing centre using electronic transmission. This method highlights the modern approach to newspaper production, where electronic transfer replaces physical delivery methods. Therefore, "transmitted (electronically)" is the correct answer.
Reference:
From paragraph B: "The pages are then processed into photographic negatives, and the film is used to produce aluminium printing plates ready for the presses."
Explanation: This line explains that after the pages are transmitted, they are processed into photographic negatives. The film from these negatives is then used to create aluminium printing plates. This detailed process is essential for the production of the final printed newspaper, making "photographic film/negative(s)" the right answer.
Reference:
From paragraph B: "The pages are then processed into photographic negatives, and the film is used to produce aluminium printing plates that are ready for the presses."
Explanation: This line specifies that the film produced from the photographic negatives is used to create aluminium printing plates. These plates are crucial for the actual printing of newspapers, as they carry the image to be transferred onto paper. Hence, "aluminium printing plates" is the accurate answer.
Reference:
From paragraph D: “Once the size of the day’s paper and the publishing order is determined at head office, the information is punched into the computer, and the LGVs are programmed to go about their work.“
Explanation: This line describes the process of entering information into the computer to instruct the LGVs (laser-guided vehicles) on their tasks. The LGVs follow these programmed instructions to carry out their duties efficiently. Therefore, "programmed" is the correct answer as it reflects the setup process for the LGVs.
Reference:
From paragraph D: "At the stripping station, the tough wrapping that helps to protect a reel of paper from rough handling is removed. Any damaged paper is peeled off, and the reel is then weighed."
Explanation: This line outlines the steps taken at the stripping station where the protective wrapping of the paper reels is removed and any damaged paper is peeled off. These actions ensure the reels are in good condition for printing. Thus, "tough wrapping // damaged paper" is the correct answer.
Reference:
From paragraph D: "Any damaged paper is peeled off, and the reel is then weighed."
Explanation: This line indicates that after the removal of damaged paper and tough wrapping, the reel is weighed. This step is part of the quality control process to ensure the paper reels are ready for use in printing. Therefore, "weighed" is the appropriate answer.
Reference:
From paragraph E: "Then one of the four paster-robots moves in."
Explanation: This line introduces the paster robots, which are specifically designed to handle and prepare the paper reels for the press. The paster robots are crucial in the paper preparation process, highlighting their role in the production line. Thus, "paster robot(s)" is the correct answer.
Reference:
From paragraph E: "If required, the reel can be loaded directly onto the press; if not needed immediately, an LGV takes it to the storage area."
Explanation: This line explains that after processing, the LGV transports the paper reel to the storage area if it is not needed immediately. This storage area is essential for organising and managing the reels until they are required for printing. Therefore, "storage area" is the correct answer.
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