The Reading section of the IELTS exam evaluates your ability to comprehend written texts and answer questions accurately. One emerging topic that could potentially be explored in future IELTS exams is “What Are The Implications Of AI On Social Justice?” Given its prominence in current affairs and its relevance to various fields, comprehending this topic is crucial for achieving a good score. This article will provide a thorough analysis, a practice reading passage, and valuable insights to aid you in mastering the Reading section.
Reading Passage and Questions
Practice Reading Passage
In this practice passage, we will delve into the multifaceted implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on social justice. This passage is formatted to mimic the style and complexity of an actual IELTS reading passage at a medium difficulty level.
“The Implications of AI on Social Justice”
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing various aspects of our lives, from healthcare to transportation. However, its impact on social justice is multifaceted and continues to evoke significant debate among scholars and policymakers. On one hand, AI has the potential to democratize access to services and enhance fairness. On the other hand, it can entrench existing biases and inequalities if not implemented responsibly.
AI can lead to more equitable distribution of resources by predicting needs and allocating them efficiently. For instance, in education, AI-driven tools can personalize learning experiences, ensuring that students receive support tailored to their unique needs. Similarly, in healthcare, AI algorithms can assist in diagnosing diseases accurately, potentially reducing disparities in medical treatment.
However, AI systems are not free from bias. These systems learn from historical data, which may contain existing societal prejudices. Consequently, if the data fed into AI models includes biased information, the AI can perpetuate these biases. For example, facial recognition technologies have been criticized for their inability to accurately identify individuals with darker skin tones, leading to wrongful accusations and broader social implications.
Facial Recognition Bias
Moreover, the deployment of AI in law enforcement raises significant concerns. Predictive policing algorithms are designed to forecast criminal activity, but they often disproportionately target minority communities due to biased historical crime data. This can lead to over-policing and further marginalization of these groups, exacerbating social injustices rather than alleviating them.
Therefore, ensuring that AI is harnessed for social good requires rigorous oversight, transparent policymaking, and collaborative efforts between technologists, ethicists, and social advocates. Only through such interdisciplinary cooperation can the benefits of AI be equitably distributed, mitigating its adverse impacts on social justice.
Questions
1. Multiple Choice
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The passage mainly discusses:
a) The technical aspects of AI development.
b) The integration of AI in healthcare.
c) The potential impact of AI on social justice.
d) The role of AI in educational reform. -
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a potential benefit of AI?
a) Personalized learning experiences.
b) More accurate disease diagnosis.
c) Equitable resource distribution.
d) Unbiased decision-making.
2. Identifying Information (True/False/Not Given)
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AI can enhance fairness by democratizing access to services. (True/False/Not Given)
-
AI algorithms are always free from bias. (True/False/Not Given)
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Predictive policing algorithms mainly focus on affluent communities. (True/False/Not Given)
3. Matching Information
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Match each role to the appropriate implication mentioned in the passage:
a) Education
b) Healthcare
c) Law enforcement ___
i. AI-driven tools personalize learning experiences.
ii. AI assists in accurate disease diagnosis.
iii. Predictive policing algorithms can target minority communities.
4. Sentence Completion
- It is necessary for AI systems to be implemented with __ to prevent the entrenchment of existing societal prejudices.
5. Short-answer Questions
- What is required to ensure that AI is used for social good according to the passage?
Answer Key and Explanations
1. Multiple Choice
- c) The potential impact of AI on social justice. (The passage primarily discusses the implications of AI on social justice, both positive and negative.)
- d) Unbiased decision-making. (The passage specifically mentions that AI is not free from bias, particularly because it learns from historical data.)
2. Identifying Information
- True (The passage states that AI can democratize access to services and enhance fairness.)
- False (The passage clearly mentions that AI systems can perpetuate biases present in historical data.)
- False (The passage indicates that predictive policing algorithms disproportionately target minority communities, not affluent ones.)
3. Matching Information
- a) i. AI-driven tools personalize learning experiences. (Education)
b) ii. AI assists in accurate disease diagnosis. (Healthcare)
c) iii. Predictive policing algorithms can target minority communities. (Law enforcement)
4. Sentence Completion
- rigorous oversight (The passage highlights the necessity of rigorous oversight, transparent policymaking, and collaboration to prevent AI from entrenching societal prejudices.)
5. Short-answer Questions
- Rigorous oversight, transparent policymaking, and collaboration between technologists, ethicists, and social advocates. (The passage mentions that these are required to ensure AI is used for social good.)
Key Vocabulary
Vocabulary
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Revolutionize (verb): To change something radically or fundamentally.
- Pronunciation: /ˌrɛv.əˈluː.ʃən.aɪz/
- Example: The introduction of AI has the potential to revolutionize many industries.
-
Democratize (verb): To make (something) accessible to everyone.
- Pronunciation: /dɪˈmɒk.rə.taɪz/
- Example: The goal is to democratize education through AI-driven platforms.
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Alleviate (verb): To make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe.
- Pronunciation: /əˈliː.vi.eɪt/
- Example: The new policy aims to alleviate the adverse impacts of AI on marginalized communities.
Grammar Points
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Relative Clauses: A clause that usually starts with a relative pronoun (who, which, that) and describes a noun mentioned earlier in the main clause.
- Example: AI can lead to more equitable resource distribution by predicting needs, which helps in efficient allocation.
- Structure: [Main Clause] + (Relative Pronoun) + [Relative Clause]
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Passive Voice: Often used in scientific and formal writing, it emphasizes the action rather than the subject performing the action.
- Example: AI-driven tools are used to personalize learning experiences.
- Structure: [Subject] + [Form of “to be”] + [Past Participle]
Common Pitfalls
One common mistake in the IELTS Reading section is not managing time effectively. It is crucial to allocate your time wisely, ensuring you spend adequate time on questions without lingering too long on any single one. Another frequent error is not reading the instructions carefully, which can lead to providing incorrect types of answers.
Conclusion and Recommendations
To excel in the IELTS Reading section, practice comprehensively with varied topics, including the impact of AI on social justice. Utilize active reading strategies, improve your vocabulary and grammar, and practice with real IELTS reading passages. Ensure you practice time management to simulate exam conditions effectively.
For further practice and insights, you can explore our related articles on similar topics, such as The Influence of Political Activism on Social Justice.
