Non-fiction:Almost Human

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

Non-fiction:Almost Human

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.

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

Non-fiction:Almost Human

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.
AP Images

Carnegie
Mellon/Robot Hall of
Fame

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.
AP Images

iRobot Corporation

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.

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.

Non-fiction:Almost Human

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

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.

Questions: Almost Human?

Name:

Date: _______________________

1. According to the passage, one robot can do the work of how many human
employees?
A
B
C
D

two
seven
ten
twelve

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

collecting data from other planets

going grocery shopping for people
driving patients to the hospital
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
B
C
D

worthy of attention
unimportant or inconsequential
easy to write about or take notes on
outlandish or wild

5. What is another good title for this passage?

A
B
C
D

Robots: A Help or a Hindrance?

Robots: Past, Present, and Future
A History of Robots in the Workplace
The Robot Employee

2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.

Questions: Almost Human?

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
B
C
D

However
While
Yet
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? ________________________________________________________________
2

2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.

Questions: Almost Human?

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?

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3

2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.

Teacher Guide & Answers: Almost Human?

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
B
C
D

two
seven
ten
twelve

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

collecting data from other planets

going grocery shopping for people
driving patients to the hospital
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
B
C
D

worthy of attention
unimportant or inconsequential
easy to write about or take notes on
outlandish or wild

5. What is another good title for this passage?

A
B
C
D

Robots: A Help or a Hindrance?

Robots: Past, Present, and Future
A History of Robots in the Workplace
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]
1

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Teacher Guide & Answers: Almost Human?

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
B
C
D

However
While
Yet
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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Teacher Guide & Answers: Almost Human?

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

2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.