COURSE: IELTS Fighter Target 6.

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Reading 6: ADAPTEX - MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
LECTURE

I.Vocabulary
1. interface /ˈɪntəfeɪs/ (n): the way a computer program presents information to a user or receives information from
a user, in particular the layout of the screen and the menus
Giao diện
2. ergonomic /ˌɜːɡəˈnɒmɪk/ (adj): designed to improve people’s working conditions and to help them work more
efficiently
Đáp ứng nhu cầu lao động
3. pre-emptive /priˈemptɪv/(adj): done to stop somebody taking action, especially action that will be harmful to
yourself
ưu tiên thực hiện trước
4. intrusive /ɪnˈtruːsɪv/ (adj): too noticeable, direct, etc. in a way that is disturbing or annoying
xâm phạm
5. keystroke /ˈkiːstrəʊk/ (n): a single action of pressing a key on a computer or typewriter keyboard
Đánh phím/ nhấn phím

EXAMPLES
● 1. Dr Mark Dunlop of Strathclyde University and a leading authority on user interface systems, Dr James
Thompson are going to cooperate in an international project.
● 2. Office furniture must meet strict ergonomic standards.
● 3. The prime minister authorized a pre-emptive air strike against the rebels.
● 4. The constant presence of the media was very intrusive.
● 5. This software keeps a log of every keystroke typed on the keyboard.

II. Content

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 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

TIPS

1. Always underline the key words in the questions.

2. Scan the text for the key words and their synonyms.

3. Cross out the answers which are obviously wrong, this will help you identify the correct answers more quickly.

4. The order of the questions can help you. Answer for question 4 will be between answers for questions 3&5 in the
text.

5. Don’t rely on your own knowledge; the correct answer contains ONLY information stated in the text

Multiple choice questions have 3 or 4 answers, only one of which is correct. Usually, there are such types of
answers:

TYPES OF CHOICES

1. Irrelevant answer that gives information, which is not stated in the text.

2. Answer that gives completely opposite information.

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3. Answer that gives information that figures in the text, but not what you're asked about.

4. Correct answer.

III. Practice
'It was so good that my brother, Hash, can type faster than most people using both hands,' said the managing
director and founder of KeyPoint Technologies, based in the Innovation Centre, Hillington, Glasgow. 'It helped him
use his left hand effectively- and it gave him the confidence to paint again with that hand.'
Hash's accident, which left him disabled, was also the genesis of the software application, written and devised by
Sanjay Patel, now 38, that is set to change the way we punch information into our mobile phones and computer
keyboards.
Patel and his associates, John Locker, a former  games  developer, and Dr Mark  Dunlop  of Strathclyde
University and a leading authority on user interface systems, have created AdapTex, a language processing
system that cuts down keystroking by around 80%. The software analyses the user's writing patterns and predicts
words, cutting down on the number of keystrokes required. It has seen some of the technology industry's
biggest players knocking at Patel's door.
'Originally it was an ergonomic idea targeting people with disabilities, but the more research I did, I thought this
applies to more than disabled people. The driving force was to reduce the actual physical activity. So in 1997 I
started working on creating a piece of software for the mass market that would learn your language traits. It made
me realise how inefficient we were when it comes to writing information with e-mail, text messaging, and word-
processing on a keyboard. Everybody wants to go faster, so they build the technologies to move faster; what hasn't
changed is the human ability to use that technology more effectively,' he said.
‘We don't want to change people's practices, we have to complement or improve them. But you can't expect
people to change unless you make things better, simpler to use and non-intrusive. I think that's why AdapTex
intelligence systems are creating such interest.'
Over the past 15 years, Patel has worked within systems architecture in telecoms and finance. He worked for
Nucleus Consulting and project-managed the setting-up of a system for the Merchants' Exchange of St Louis,
under the guidance of the Chicago Board of Trade. He completed the two-year contract in a little over a year.
Today Sanjay Patel lives in Partick in Glasgow.  Previously from Croydon, he was encouraged to move to
Scotland by the prospect of support from Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International and by the
availability of specialist facilities at the Innovation Centre.
Patel's software takes the predictive text used on mobile phones to the next level: 'A mobile phone is predictive,
which uses guesswork, it isn't natural. What we have created is pre-emptive because it is relevant and uses the
context. It learns and reshapes itself dynamically. It is about recognition of the patterns you use and is therefore
unique to the user. It remodels itself from any document to reflect the author's natural vocabulary, language traits
and topics,’ he said.

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 Patel's family arrived in the UK in the 1970s after fleeing from ldi Amin's regime in Uganda. He was brought up in
London and, even before his brother's accident; he was fascinated with the science of language patterns. The great
selling point is that this pre-emptys text in any language because it recognises the patterns,’ he said.
Patel is now in discussions with several large international companies interested in incorporating AdapTex into
their next-generation computers. ‘Some are more cautious than others, but we are on the verge of signing with one
of the big PC makers, and hopefully this will mean that they all follow suit,’ said Patel.
He is delighted with the support he has been given in Scotland. ‘I came because people understood what I was
talking about. The business network here, through Global Scot, has given me introductions to the highest levels in
the USA. This has been imperative.'
Patel's advisers include John Falconer, a former director of Xerox, who said: ‘The market is worth millions and
Sanjay could become a very rich man. It could become a significant success story for Scotland.'

Questions 1-6
Choose one correct answer for each question 1-4.
1. What is innovative about the predictive texting system that has been developed by Sanjay Patel?
A. It can help his disabled brother.
B. It uses guesswork.
C. It processes language very fast.
D. It works in a way that is unique to each writer.
2.  What types of hardware and software could work differently in the future because of this invention?
A. mobile phones, PCs, e-mail, text messaging, word-processing.
B. AdapTex intelligence systems.
C. mobile phones and computers.
D. telecoms and finance.
3. What characteristics of the new systems make them so fascinating for the general public?
A. It completely changes the way people do things.
B. It works with what people already do and makes it better.
C. It can help disabled people.
D. It reduces physical activity.
4. This invention is not just important for Sanjay, his family and the computer business but also for
Scotland because
A. the country has made him feel welcome.
B. it has given him financial support.
C. of the business network links with the USA.
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D. the country has helped him become successful.
5. Sanjay Patel (Choose 2 answers)
A. only has one sibling.
B. is not yet forty.
C. is Scottish.
D. has previous experience in his field.
E. worked in Chicago for two years.
6. Partick is (Choose 3 answers)
A. an area in Glasgow.
B. in Scotland.
C. a business centre.
D. a centre for computer technology.
E. where Patel grew up.
F. where Patel is based.

ANSWER KEY
1. D
2. A
3. B
4. D
5. B, D
6. A, B, F

EXPLANATION

For question 1, the correct answer is D [the software application ... is set to change the way we punch information
into our mobile phones and computer keyboards] “Hash's accident, which left him disabled, was also the genesis of
the software application, written and devised by Sanjay Patel, now 38, that is set to change the way we punch
information into our mobile phones and computer keyboards.”
For question 2, in B, AdapTex is the name of the new system itself. Things in C are mentioned but the answer is
not as complete as in A. For D, these are not examples of hardware and software. The correct answer should be A
as these are all mentioned in the text and are examples of both software and hardware
For question 3, the correct answer is B 'We don’t want to change people’s practices, we have to complement or
improve them. But you can't expect people to change unless you make things better, simpler to use and non-
intrusive. I think that's why AdapTex intelligence systems are creating such interest.'
For question 4, A and B are True but the link with his success is not clear enough. In C, there is no connection to
Scotland. D is the correct answer as Sanjay has received support from Scottish organisations and now lives in
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Scotland so the country shares in his success
For question 5 asking about Sanjay, we can scan and see that he’s now 38 and Over the past 15 years, Patel has
worked within systems architecture in telecoms and finance. So we choose B and D for this question. Other 3
choices are incorrect because
A. He has a brother, but we do not know if he has only one.
C. His nationality is not mentioned.
E. We know that he worked under the guidance of the Chicago Board of Trade and completed his two-year contract
in a little over a year. That is not the same as saying that he worked in Chicago for 2 years
For question 6, A, B and F are correct as (A) Today Sanjay Patel lives in Partick in Glasgow. Previously from
Croydon, he was encouraged to move to Scotland (B) and He is delighted with the support he has been given in
Scotland (F).
There is no evidence for C&D in the text. E is wrong as He was brought up in London

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 HOMEWORK
Exercise 1

Read the text and answer the questions below.

Why does coffee shoot out of the lid of your cup?

You're running late for work and you've purchased your coffee in a hurry. Just as you arrive at the office, a jet of hot
liquid escapes from the tiny hole in the lid, leaving you with hot beverage residue on your clothes before the day
has really started.

This is exactly what happened to Rob Kaczmarek after buying a cup of his favourite caffeinated drink. The
marketing director at Convergent Science was intrigued by why the coffee shoots out so far and therefore set about
modelling this, initially as a joke for those who enjoy a bit of computational fluid dynamics. It's the design of the lid
that's the problem, he explains.

"It happens because of the sloshing of the coffee against the lid, which is kind of unique. At the end of the lid, the
hole is right up above that. As the coffee sloshes against the end of the lid, that velocity is amplified and it splashes
up through the actual hole."

Not all coffee cups are designed with a hole, of course. Some have lids with a tiny hole and others peel back to
reveal a much larger gap, which offsets the shooting jets of hot liquid.

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

1. What accident might occur at work in the morning, after you bought coffee? 

A.  You spill it all over the place accidently.

B.  You get burns from the hot coffee.

C.  You contaminate your clothes with it.

D.  Nothing out of ordinary.

2. Rob Kaczmarek explains to us that: 

A.  The coffee shoots out very far.

B.  He sat his experiment as a joke.

C.  He was really intrigued by spilling the coffee.

D.  Coffee spills because of the design of the lid.

3. The main reason coffee spills is: 

A.  Velocity.

B.  Sloshing.

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 C.  Design of the cup.

D.  It is not stated.

4. This text might be classified as: 

A.  Scientific.

B.  Humorous.

C.  Fictional.

D.  Romantic.

Exercise 2

How bacteria invented gene editing

This week the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority okayed a proposal to modify human embryos
through gene editing. The research, which will be carried out at the Francis Crick Institute in London, should
improve our understanding of human development. It will also undoubtedly attract controversy - particularly with
claims that manipulating embryonic genomes is a first step towards designer babies. Those concerns shouldn't be
ignored. After all, gene editing of the kind that will soon be undertaken at the Francis Crick Institute doesn't occur
naturally in humans or other animals.

It is, however, a lot more common in nature than you might think, and it's been going on for a surprisingly long time
- revelations that have challenged what biologists thought they knew about the way evolution works. We're talking
here about one particular gene editing technique called CRISPR-Cas, or just CRISPR. It's relatively fast, cheap and
easy to edit genes with CRISPR - factors that explain why the technique has exploded in popularity in the last few
years. But CRISPR wasn't dreamed up from scratch in a laboratory. This gene editing tool actually evolved in
single-celled microbes.

CRISPR went unnoticed by biologists for decades. It was only at the tail end of the 1980s that researchers studying
Escherichia coli noticed that there were some odd repetitive sequences at the end of one of the bacterial genes.
Later, these sequences would be named Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats - CRISPRs.
For several years the significance of these CRISPRs was a mystery, even when researchers noticed that they were
always separated from one another by equally odd 'spacer' gene sequences.

Then, a little over a decade ago, scientists made an important discovery. Those 'spacer' sequences look odd
because they aren't bacterial in origin. Many are actually snippets of DNA from viruses that are known to attack
bacteria. In 2005, three research groups independently reached the same conclusion: CRISPR and its associated
genetic sequences were acting as a bacterial immune system. In simple terms, this is how it works. A bacterial cell
generates special proteins from genes associated with the CRISPR repeats (these are called CRISPR associated -

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Cas - proteins). If a virus invades the cell, these Cas proteins bind to the viral DNA and help cut out a chunk. Then,
that chunk of viral DNA gets carried back to the bacterial cell's genome where it is inserted - becoming a spacer.
From now on, the bacterial cell can use the spacer to recognise that particular virus and attack it more effectively.

These findings were a revelation. Geneticists quickly realised that the CRISPR system effectively involves
microbes deliberately editing their own genomes - suggesting the system could form the basis of a brand new type
of genetic engineering technology. They worked out the mechanics of the CRISPR system and got it working in
their lab experiments. It was a breakthrough that paved the way for this week's announcement by the HFEA.
Exactly who took the key steps to turn CRISPR into a useful genetic tool is, however, the subject of a huge
controversy. Perhaps that's inevitable - credit for developing CRISPR gene editing will probably guarantee both
scientific fame and financial wealth.

Beyond these very important practical applications, though, there's another CRISPR story. It's the account of how
the discovery of CRISPR has influenced evolutionary biology. Sometimes overlooked is the fact that it wasn't just
geneticists who were excited by CRISPR's discovery - so too were biologists. They realised CRISPR was evidence
of a completely unexpected parallel between the way humans and bacteria fight infections. We've known for a long
time that part of our immune system "learns" about the pathogens it has seen before so it can adapt and fight
infections better in future. Vertebrate animals were thought to be the only organisms with such a sophisticated
adaptive immune system. In light of the discovery of CRISPR, it seemed some bacteria had their own version. In
fact, it turned out that lots of bacteria have their own version. At the last count, the CRISPR adaptive immune
system was estimated to be present in about 40% of bacteria. Among the other major group of single-celled
microbes - the archaea - CRISPR is even more common. It's seen in about 90% of them. If it's that common today,
CRISPR must have a history stretching back over millions - possibly even billions - of years. "It's clearly been
around for a while," says Darren Griffin at the University of Kent.

The animal adaptive immune system, then, isn't nearly as unique as we thought. And there's one feature of
CRISPR that makes it arguably even better than our adaptive immune system: CRISPR is heritable. When we are
infected by a pathogen, our adaptive immune system learns from the experience, making our next encounter with
that pathogen less of an ordeal. This is why vaccination is so effective: it involves priming us with a weakened
version of a pathogen to train our adaptive immune system. Your children, though, won't benefit from the wealth of
experience locked away in your adaptive immune system. They have to experience an infection - or be vaccinated -
first hand before they can learn to deal with a given pathogen.

CRISPR is different. When a microbe with CRISPR is attacked by a virus, the record of the encounter is hardwired
into the microbe's DNA as a new spacer. This is then automatically passed on when the cell divides into daughter
cells, which means those daughter cells know how to fight the virus even before they've seen it. We don't know for
sure why the CRISPR adaptive immune system works in a way that seems, at least superficially, superior to ours.
But perhaps our biological complexity is the problem, says Griffin. "In complex organisms any minor [genetic]
changes cause profound effects on the organism," he says. Microbes might be sturdy enough to constantly edit
their genomes during their lives and cope with the consequences - but animals probably aren't. The discovery of
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this heritable immune system was, however, a biologically astonishing one. It means that some microbes write their
lifetime experiences of their environment into their genome and then pass the information to their offspring – and
that is something that evolutionary biologists did not think happened.

Darwin's theory of evolution is based on the idea that natural selection acts on the naturally occurring random
variation in a population. Some organisms are better adapted to the environment than others, and more likely to
survive and reproduce, but this is largely because they just happened to be born that way. But before Darwin, other
scientists had suggested different mechanisms through which evolution might work. One of the most famous ideas
was proposed by a French scientist called Jean-Bapteste Lamarck. He thought organisms actually changed during
their life, acquiring useful new adaptations non-randomly in response to their environmental experiences. They then
passed on these changes to their offspring.

People often use giraffes to illustrate Lamarck's hypothesis. The idea is that even deep in prehistory, the giraffe's
ancestor had a penchant for leaves at the top of trees. This early giraffe had a relatively short neck, but during its
life it spent so much time stretching to reach leaves that its neck lengthened slightly. The crucial point, said
Lamarck, was that this slightly longer neck was somehow inherited by the giraffe's offspring. These giraffes also
stretched to reach high leaves during their lives, meaning their necks lengthened just a little bit more, and so on.
Once Darwin's ideas gained traction, Lamarck's ideas became deeply unpopular. But the CRISPR immune system
- in which specific lifetime experiences of the environment are passed onto the next generation - is one of a tiny
handful of natural phenomena that arguably obeys Lamarckian principles.

"The realisation that Lamarckian type of evolution does occur and is common enough, was as startling to biologists
as it seems to a layperson," says Eugene Koonin at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, who
explored the idea with his colleagues in 2009, and does so again in a paper due to be published later this year.
This isn't to say that all of Lamarck's thoughts on evolution are back in vogue. "Lamarck had additional ideas that
were important to him, such as the inherent drive to perfection that to him was a key feature of evolution," says
Koonin. No modern evolutionary biologist goes along with that idea. But the discovery of the CRISPR system still
implies that evolution isn't purely the result of Darwinian random natural selection. It can sometimes involve
elements of non-random Lamarckism too – a "continuum", as Koonin puts it. In other words, the CRISPR story has
had a profound scientific impact far beyond the doors of the genetic engineering lab. It truly was a transformative
discovery.

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 1–4 on your answer sheet.

1. 'Spacer' sequences look odd because:

A.  they are a bacterial immune system

B.  they are DNA from viruses

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 C.  they aren't bacterial in origin

D.  all of the above

2. The ones, who were excited about the CRISPR's discovery, were:

E.  biologists

F.  geneticists

G.  physicists

H.  A and B

3. Word "learns" in the line 44, 6th paragraph means:

I.  determines

J.  gains awareness

K.  adapts

L.  studies

4.  What makes CRISPR better than even our adaptive immune system?

M.  long history of existence

N.  immortality

O.  heritability

P.  adaptiveness

ANSWER KEYS

Exercise 1
1. C

Answer A is incorrect because there is no information about spilling coffee all over the place. Also, there is
nothing says about burning yourself.

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 2. D

Although all 4 answers are present in the second paragraph, answers A, B and C are not important and they
are not really explained to us, unlike answer D.

3. B

The answers C and D aren't in the third paragraph. And the answer A is not the reason coffee is spilling.

4. A

All answers, except for A, are invalid. this text has no humour in it, and no romance. And it is not a fictional
text.

Exercise 2

1. C

The second sentence of paragraph 4 said “Those 'spacer' sequences look odd because they aren't bacterial in
origin.” 

2. D

The third sentence of paragraph 6 said “Sometimes overlooked is the fact that it wasn't just geneticists who

were excited by CRISPR's discovery - so too were biologists.”

3. B

Learn(v)= Gain awareness = học hỏi, tích lũy kiến thức

4. C

The second sentence of paragraph 7 said “And there's one feature of CRISPR that makes it arguably even better than
our adaptive immune system: CRISPR is heritable”.

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