2020-2021学年度高三第3期总第721期

Brain technology (P6)
邯郸市第一中学  李松

Lead-in
Have you ever seen sci-fi movies in which people have chips implanted in their brains?
What are the functions of those chips in the movies?
Would you get a microchip implanted in your brain? Why or why not?

Prediction
What do you expect to see from this passage?

Read Paragraph 1 and tell us the main idea.

Paragraph 1:
Having a microchip implanted in a man's brain may be common in sci-fi movie plots, but it may soon become an actual possibility.

Main idea:
Having a microchip implanted in a man's brain may soon become an actual possibility.

Reading for details
Read the article and answer the following questions.
1. What achievement has been attained in brain technology?
A chip was implanted into the head of a pig named Gertrude.

2. What’s the main feature of the chip?
The chip is tiny, about the size of a coin. But the tiny chip has over 3,000 electrodes  attached to flexible threads, which can monitor about 1,000 neurons.

3. Where is this technology likely to be applied?
This technology “would solve a lot of brain/spine injuries and is ultimately essential for AI symbiosis”, according to Musk.
When the device can be applied to humans, its main goal will be to help those who have mobility issues, such as those suffering from paralysis.

4. What are the potential problems that remain to be solved before this technology is put into practice?
Currently, the device can transmit signals from about 500 neurons in the pig’s brain. Compared to 80 billion neurons in a human brain, this number is tiny. And to cover the whole human brain also means the electrodes have to be much smaller.
Also, implanting the chip into the brain poses a potential danger. There is a risk of the immune system attacking this foreign body.

Post-reading
Please list some facts about this technology according to the article.
1. A microchip was _______ into the head of a _____.
2. The chip is _____ but ______ in function. It collects ____________ from an area of the brain and then _____________ to nearby computers.
3. The technology is in its _______, but it's _________ for human beings.
4. Although such chips could, in principle, repair problems such as ________, putting it into practice is ________.
5. Implanting the chip may ___________. Right now, people seem _________ about the technology.

Possible answers:
1. A chip was implanted into the head of a pig .
2. The chip is tiny but powerful in function. It collects neural signals from an area of the brain, and then transmits those signals wirelessly to nearby computers.
3. The technology is in its early stage, but it's encouraging for human beings.
4. Although such chips could, in principle, repair problems such as brain/spine injuries, putting it into practice is by no means a piece of cake.
5. Implanting the chip may pose a potential danger. Right now people seem overly optimistic about the technology.

Language study
1. 从事于…
2. 进行了现场演示
3. 处于早期阶段
4. 被应用于...
5. 原则上
6. 绝不是小菜一碟
7. 造成潜在危险
8. 过于乐观

Key:

Exercise
Imitative writing
The tiny chip has over 3,000 electrodes attached to flexible threads, which can monitor about 1,000 neurons.
仿写：这台机器装载有备用电源，停电时可以保障机器继续运转。
This machine is loaded with a backup power supply, which ensures the machine can continue to run in case of power failure.

When the device can be applied to humans, its main goal will be to help those who have mobility issues, such as those suffering from paralysis.
仿写：新的法律将改变税收规则，这对低收入人群是个好消息，尤其是那些要赡养老人和孩子的人。
The new law will change tax rules, which is good news for those who have a low income, especially those who have to support the elderly and children.

Homework
Write an argumentative essay about your opinion on whether the technology can be applied to humans.
Requirements:
1. State your opinion and explain your reasons.
2. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence.
3. Use examples, data or expert quotes to support your ideas.
4. No less than 100 words.