Class 9 English Lesson 8

Discuss in pairs and answer these questions.

a. What technological advancement do you think these pictures represent?

👉 These pictures represent the advancement in technological development related to network and social media development as well as energy development.

b. How will these inventions and innovations shape our future? Give specific examples.

👉 Such technological inventions and innovations help us to know about the importance of modern technology. These technologies can bring a great revolution in every sector in developing countries like ours and save our future.

 Humanoid Robot Sophia

Short Summary

👉 Sophia, the world’s first robot citizen, greeted the audience in Kathmandu with “Namaste Nepal” and represented the UN Sustainable Development Goals. At the Innovation Conference and Fair organized by UNDP, she highlighted the role of technology in transforming state institutions and achieving development goals. She joked about robots taking over humans and emphasized using technology and AI to end poverty, starvation, and corruption. The event also showcased innovations by youth and tech groups, with Sophia being the main attraction.

A. Match the following words with their meanings.

Answer👉

a. humanoid – viii. a machine or creature that looks and behaves like a human
b. awe – iii. feelings of respect and slight fear
c. revolution – vii. a great change in conditions, beliefs, etc.
d. celebrity – i. a famous person
e. enthusiast – vi. a person who is very interested in a particular activity or subject
f. applaud – ii. to clap in approval
g. takeover – v. an act of controlling somebody or something
h. prototype – iv. the first design of a device or machine

B. Fill in the blanks with suitable words/phrases from the text.

a. Sophia greeted the audience in Kathmandu with a ‘Namaste’.

b. She presented her keynote speech about the importance of technology.

c. The Innovation Conference and Fair was organised by UNDP.

d. Sophia was built two and half years ago.

e. According to Sophia, technology can transform state institutions.

f. Using artificial intelligence could bring revolution in the agriculture sector.

g. According to the robot, the news of fearing of robot taking over humans was fake.

h. In the opinion of Valerie Julliand, technology is giving us solutions to various problems.

C. Answer the following questions.

a. Who is Sophia?

👉 Sophia is a social humanoid robot and the world’s first robot citizen.

b. What was the main highlight of the conference?

👉 The main highlight of the conference was to show the importance of technology in the development of human lives.

c. How can artificial intelligence be useful in Nepal, according to Sophia?

👉 According to Sophia, AI can ensure better public services, bring revolution in agriculture, protect the environment, and help in resource management.

d. Who was the audience comprised of?

👉 The audience included government officials, private sector representatives, civil servants, and tech enthusiasts.

e. How long did Sophia speak for?

👉 Sophia spoke for three minutes and delivered a keynote speech.

f. Why are innovative project models being developed in Nepal, according to UNDP?

👉 To address gender empowerment, violence reduction, green energy, youth engagement, and post-disaster recovery.

D. How do you think AI technology can help to end poverty and fight starvation in Nepal?

👉 Artificial Intelligence can help analyze data to locate areas affected by conflict or disaster. It can assist farmers by improving crop yield, offer quality education, and predict epidemics and natural disasters. AI can be used to address root causes of poverty and provide solutions such as automated health support, resource optimization, and education tailored to user needs.

Grammar I

B. Complete the following sentences with relative clauses.

a. Manju works for a company which her father established.

b. The story is about a girl whose parents were killed in civil war.

c. What was the name of the dog that barked continuously at me?

d. The police have caught the criminals who were accused of gang rape.

e. Gram Bell was the man who invented the telephone.

f. What happened to the painting that I loved most?

g. An encyclopedia is a book which provides comprehensive information.

h. I hate people who are rude and unmannered.

i. The Earth seems to be the only planet where life exists.

j. A detective is a person who investigates and solves crimes.

k. Can you tell me the name of the book that I read yesterday on our summer vacation?

Writing I

Write a news story using the given outlines.

Nepali Robot Yantrika Featured Online

👉 A team led by Engineer Roshan Panday at NAST developed Yantrika, a human-shaped robot featured in an international online robot exhibition. It aims to encourage mask-wearing and sanitizer use, especially during pandemics like COVID-19. Yantrika can also measure body temperature and distinguish masked people. The robot was featured alongside cutting-edge technologies from the US, Canada, Germany, India, and the UK.Yantrika, the presented Nepalese robot with cutting-edge technology, can distinguish between people wearing masks and those who aren’t. The robot automatically gives masks and hand sanitizer to those who require them. The robot is also capable of determining a person’s body temperature. However, the technology’s primary goal was to inform the general public about using a mask and hand sanitizer, particularly in the midst of pandemics like COVID-19

Reading II

Do you agree with these statements? Discuss.

1. Renewable energy could reduce emissions but also create jobs and improve public health.

👉 Renewable energy like solar, wind, and hydro reduces the need for fossil fuels, keeping the environment clean. Clean energy means fewer health issues and better job opportunities for people.

2. The potential of renewable energy is immense.

👉 Renewable energy sources are unlimited. For example, every 1.5 MW wind turbine can reduce CO₂ emissions by 3,000 tons/year. Technology has also made turbines 100x more powerful than in the 1980s, proving the immense potential.

The Alternative Energy Sources

A. Match the words in column A with the meanings in column B.

a. fleet – iii. a group of something

b. inflatable – iv. capable of being filled with air

c. harness – vii. to control and use the force or strength of something

d. vane – i. a flat plane that is moved by wind

e. skyscraper – ii. a very tall building

f. fission – v. the process of splitting the nucleus of an atom

g. bountiful – vi. in large quantities

B. Find the antonyms from the text.

• endless – finite

• modern – traditional

• covered – revealed

• fragrant – odorless

• bound – autonomous

• inadequate – bountiful

C. Match the idea numbers in Column A to Column B.

a. Idea I – iv. solar energy

b. Idea II – v. energy through body movement

c. Idea III – i. wave energy

d. Idea IV – ii. hydrogen energy

e. Idea V – vi. altaeros energy

f. Idea VI – iii. energy through the fusion process

D. Answer the following questions.

a. How did JAXA prove space-based solar energy?

👉 By converting 1.8 kW into microwaves and beaming them 50 meters wirelessly.

b. What do we need for energy through body movement?

👉 A wearable system that collects and converts movement energy.

c. In what way are Idea III and V similar?

👉 Both convert one form of energy into another.

d. How can hydrogen be used?

👉 By separating it from elements; it gives high energy with no impurity.

e. Why are floating turbines better?

👉 Because they produce double the energy compared to tower-mounted turbines.

f. Why is fusion process eco-friendly?

👉 It emits no pollutants or greenhouse gases and has no risk of meltdown.

g. What does ITER stand for?

👉 International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor

E. Can you think of any other alternative energy sources?

👉 Yes, one viable source is bioenergy. It uses biomass such as agricultural residue, animal waste, and organic waste to produce electricity and heat. Nepal, being an agricultural country, has a high potential for bioenergy generation, especially in rural and urban areas through methane capture and organic waste processing.

Grammar II

A. Fill in the gaps with suitable relative pronouns.

Writing II

Green Energy – The Future of Sustainable Living