1 . American researchers say the thought that machines could take over the world is becoming an increasing reality, rather than the nightmarish plot of a sci-fi horror movie. Now, they are fueling workplace worry, with some employees reportedly sabotaging (暗中破坏) and even attacking their robot replacements.
However, psychologists think that reminding ourselves of our humanity could help alleviate irrational (不合理的) fears about machines replacing people in the workplace. It involves repeating positive statements used to promote confidence and belief in your own uniquely human abilities. These statements help shift focus away from perceived failures or inadequacies and onto a worker’s strengths — those you already have and those you want to develop.
Lead author Professor Kai Chi Yam says in a media release, “Some economists theorize that robots are more likely to take over blue-collar jobs faster than white-collar jobs. However, it doesn’t look like robots are taking over that many jobs yet, at least not in America, so a lot of these fears are rather subjective.”
Yam’s team carried out tests and analyzed data from participants in the U.S., Singapore, and India. In one experiment, working with industrial robots fueled stress and unrest among 118 engineers employed by an auto manufacturing company in India. An online survey of 400 participants found self-affirmation exercises reduced feelings of hopelessness. The workers then wrote about characteristics or values that were important to them. “Most people are overestimating the capabilities of robots and underestimating their own capabilities,” Yam says.
While some individuals may have legitimate concerns, media coverage may be unnecessarily heightening fears among the general public. “Media reports on new technologies like robots and algorithms tend to be apocalyptic (毁灭性的) in nature, so people may develop an irrational fear about them,” Yam concludes.
1. Why do people hate robots in workplace?| A．They are attacked by robots. | B．They feel threatened by robots. |
| C．Robots appear in sci-fi horror movies. | D．Robots take charge of their workplace. |
| A．Remove all their fears and horrors. |
| B．Remind them of their advantages. |
| C．Help them focus better on their work. |
| D．Rid them of failures and inadequacies. |
| A．White-collar jobs won’t be replaced. |
| B．There are too many robots in the U.S. |
| C．Worries about robots are not justified. |
| D．Robots have taken the place of labor. |
| A．One of factors fueling people’s worries. |
| B．Other irrational fears of general public. |
| C．The media’s attitude toward robots. |
| D．The nature of robots and algorithms. |
2 . Move over, helicopter parents. “Snowplow (扫雪机) parents” are the newest reflection of an intensive (强化的) parenting style that can include parents booking their adult children haircuts, texting their college kids to wake them up so they don’t sleep through a test, and even calling their kids’ employers.
Helicopter parenting, the practice of wandering anxiously near one’s children, monitoring their every activity, is so 20th century. Some rich mothers and fathers now are more like snowplows: machines moving ahead, clearing any difficulties in their children’s path to success, so they don’t have to suffer failure, frustration (挫折) or lose opportunities.
It starts early, when parents get on wait lists for excellent preschools before their babies are born and try to make sure their kids never do anything that may frustrate them. It gets more intense when school starts: running forgotten homework to school or calling a coach to request that their children make the team.
Rich parents may have more time and money to devote to making sure their children don’t ever meet with failure, but it’s not only rich parents practicing snowplow parenting. This intensive parenting has become the most welcome way to raise children, regardless of income, education, or race.
Yes, it’s a parent’s job to support the children, and to use their adult wisdom to prepare for the future when their children aren’t mature enough to do so. That’s why parents hide certain toys from babies to avoid getting angry or take away a teenager’s car keys until he finishes his college applications.
But snowplow parents can take it too far, some experts say. If children have never faced a difficulty, what happens when they get into the real world?
“Solving problems, taking risks and overcoming frustration are key life skills,” many child development experts say, “and if parents don’t let their children experience failure, the children don’t acquire them.”
1. What do we know about snowplow parenting?| A．It appeared before helicopter parenting. |
| B．It costs parents less than helicopter parenting. |
| C．It was a typical phenomenon of the 20th century. |
| D．It provides more than enough services for children. |
| A．Its cost. | B．Its benefits. | C．Its popularity. | D．Its ending. |
| A．To show teenagers are no better than babies. |
| B．To advise teenagers not to treat their cars as toys. |
| C．To advise parents not to buy cars for their teenagers. |
| D．To show it’s appropriate to help children when necessary. |
| A．Children lacking problem-solving ability in reality. |
| B．Children mastering more key life skills than parents. |
| C．Children gaining great success in every aspect of life. |
| D．Children meeting no problems or frustration after growing up. |
