As civilization proceeds in the direction of technology, it passes the point of supplying all the basic
essentials of life-food, shelter, clothes and warmth. Then we are faced with a choice between using
technology to provide and fulfill needs which have now been regarded as unnecessary or, on the
other hand, using technology to reduce the number of hours of work which a man must do in order
to earn a given standard of living. In other words, we either raise our standard of living above that
necessary for comfort and happiness or we leave it at this level and work shorter hours.
I shall take it for granted that mankind has, by that time, chosen the latter alternative. Men will be
working shorter and shorter hours in their paid employment. It follows that the housewife will also
expect to be able to have more leisure in her life without lowering her standard of living. It also follows
that human domestic servants will have completely ceased to exist. Yet the great majority of the
housewives will wish to be relieved completely from the routine operations of the home such as
scrubbing the floors or the bath of the cooker, or washing the clothes or washing up, or dusting or
sweeping, or making beds.
By far the most logical step to relieve the housewife of routine is to provide a robot which can be
trained to the requirements of a particular home and can be programmed to carry out half a dozen
or more standard operations, when switched by the housewife.
1. As civilization develops in the direction of technology,________.
A. the basic essentials of life must be supplied
B. it is important to supply the basic essentials of life
C. it is no longer so important as it was in the past to supply all the basic essentials of life
D. it is not necessary to supply the basic essentials of life
2. According to the author, we are faced with________.
A. the choice of providing and fulfilling our needs
B. the choice of using technology
C. the choice of earning a standard of living
D. a choice between using technology to provide and fulfill needs to reduce the number of working hours
3. What alternative will mankind have chosen in future?
A. To leave our standard of living at this level and work shorter hours.
B. To raise our standard of living.
C. To fulfill needs which have been regarded as unnecessary.
D. To lower our standard of living and work shorter hours.
4. Now most housewives wish to________.
A. stop doing their housework
B. do more housework to improve their life
C. get rid of the heavy burden of their housework
D. do only simple and light housework
5. It can be inferred that robots will be invented ____.
A. to take the place of housewives
B. to help manage a family
C. to do the routine of housework instead of human
D. to provide the daily necessities for man
