Giải đề Cambridge IELTS 19 – Test 3: Reading Passage 3 – Is the era of artificial speech translation upon us?
Để cải thiện kỹ năng nghe nhằm chuẩn bị tốt cho kỳ thi IELTS, các bạn hãy luyện tập qua đề Cambridge IELTS 19 – Test 3: Reading Passage 3 – Is the era of artificial speech translation upon us? nhé!
A. Bài đọc Is the era of artificial speech translation upon us?
Is the era of artificial speech translation upon us?
Once the stuff of science fiction, technology that enables people to talk using different languages is now here. But how effective is it?
Noise, Alex Waibel tells me, is one of the major challenges that artificial speech translation has to meet. A device may be able to recognize speech in a laboratory, or a meeting room, but will struggle to cope with the kind of background noise I can hear in my office surrounding Professor Waibel as he speaks to me from Kyoto station in Japan. I’m struggling to follow him in English, on a scratchy line that reminds me we are nearly 10,000 kilometers apart—and that distance is still an obstacle to communication even if you’re speaking the same language, as we are. We haven’t reached the future yet. If we had, Waibel would have been able to speak more comfortably in his native German and I would have been able to hear his words in English.
At Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, where he is a professor of computer science, Waibel and his colleagues already give lectures in German that their students can follow in English via an electronic translator. The system generates text that students can read on their laptops or phones, so the process is somewhat similar to subtitling. It helps that lecturers speak clearly, don’t have to compete with background chatter, and say much the same thing each year.
The idea of artificial speech translation has been around for a long time. Douglas Adams’ science fiction novel, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, published in 1979, featured a life form called the ‘Babel fish’ which, when placed in the ear, enabled a listener to understand any language in the universe. It came to represent one of those devices that technology enthusiasts dream of long before they become practically realizable, like TVs flat enough to hang on walls: objects that we once could only dream of having but that are now commonplace. Now devices that look like prototype Babel fish have started to appear, riding a wave of advances in artificial translation and voice recognition.
At this stage, however, they seem to be regarded as eye-catching novelties rather than steps towards what Waibel calls ‘making a language-transparent society.’ They tend to be domestic devices or applications suitable for hotel check-ins, for example, providing a practical alternative to speaking traveler’s English. The efficiency of the translator is less important than the social function. However, ‘Professionals are less inclined to be patient in a conversation,’ founder and CEO at Waverly Labs, Andrew Ochoa, observes. To redress this, Waverly is now preparing a new model for professional applications, which entails performance improvements in speech recognition, translation accuracy and the time it takes to deliver the translated speech.
For a conversation, both speakers need to have devices called Pilots (translator earpieces) in their ears. ‘We find that there’s a barrier with sharing one of the earphones with a stranger,’ says Ochoa. That can’t have been totally unexpected. The problem would be solved if earpiece translators became sufficiently prevalent that strangers would be likely to already have their own in their ears. Whether that happens, and how quickly, will probably depend not so much on the earpieces themselves, but on the prevalence of voice-controlled devices and artificial translation in general.
Waibel highlights the significance of certain Asian nations, noting that voice translation has really taken off in countries such as Japan with a range of systems. There is still a long way to go, though. A translation system needs to be simultaneous, like the translator’s voice speaking over the foreign politician being interviewed on the TV, rather than in sections that oblige speakers to pause after every few remarks and wait for the translation to be delivered. It needs to work offline, for situations where internet access isn’t possible, and to address apprehensions about the amount of private speech data accumulating in the cloud, having been sent to servers for processing.
Systems not only need to cope with physical challenges such as noise, they will also need to be socially aware by addressing people in the right way. Some cultural traditions demand solemn respect for academic status, for example, and it is only polite to respect this. Etiquette-sensitive artificial translators could relieve people of the need to know these differing cultural norms. At the same time, they might help to preserve local customs, slowing the spread of habits associated with international English, such as its readiness to get on first-name terms.
Professors and other professionals will not outsource language awareness to software, though. If the technology matures into seamless, ubiquitous artificial speech translation, it will actually add value to language skills. Whether it will help people conduct their family lives or relationships is open to question—though one noteworthy possibility is that it could overcome the language barriers that often arise between generations after migration, leaving children and their grandparents without a shared language.
Whatever uses it is put to, though, it will never be as good as the real thing. Even if voice-morphing technology simulates the speaker’s voice, their lip movements won’t match, and they will look like they are in a dubbed movie. The contrast will underline the value of shared languages, and the value of learning them. Sharing a language can promote a sense of belonging and community, as with the international scientists who use English as a lingua franca, where their predecessors used Latin. Though the practical need for a common language will diminish, the social value of sharing one will persist. And software will never be a substitute for the subtle but vital understanding that comes with knowledge of a language.
B. Bài tập
Questions 27–30
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
Write the correct letter in boxes 27–30 on your answer sheet.
27. What does the reader learn about the conversation in the first paragraph?
28. What assists the electronic translator during lectures at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology?
29. When referring to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the writer suggests that:
30. What does the writer say about sharing earpieces?
Questions 31–34
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A–F, below.
Write the correct letter, A–F, in boxes 31–34 on your answer sheet.
Options:
A. but there are concerns about this.
B. as systems do not need to conform to standard practices.
C. but they are far from perfect.
D. despite the noise issues.
E. because translation is immediate.
F. and have an awareness of good manners.
31. Speech translation methods are developing fast in Japan .
32. TV interviews that use translation voiceover methods are successful .
33. Future translation systems should address people appropriately .
34. Users may be able to maintain their local customs .
Questions 35–40
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 3?
In boxes 35–40 on your answer sheet, write:
- YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
- NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
- NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
Điểm số của bạn là % - đúng / câu
C. Giải đáp án chi tiết
Questions 27-30: Dạng Multiple Choice Questions Cách làm:
Chứng minh các đáp án ĐÚNG/SAI bằng cách lần lượt trả lời 2 câu hỏi:
*Nội dung tương ứng là những nội dung cùng chỉ về 1 điều, mang cùng 1 chức năng trong câu. Ví dụ: Anh ấy đến nơi lúc 8h vs. Sau 9h anh ấy mới tới ⇒ “lúc 8h” và “sau 9h” đều nêu thời điểm anh ta tới nơi ⇒ 2 thông tin này dù khác về nội dung những vẫn được coi là tương ứng với nhau (đều chỉ mặt thời gian)
| |
27. What does the reader learn about the conversation in the first paragraph? | |
D. Aspects of the conversation are challenging for both speakers. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án là D | Đoạn 1: I’m struggling to follow him in English, on a scratchy line that reminds me we are nearly 10,000 kilometres apart – and that distance is still an obstacle to communication even if you’re speaking the same language, as we are. |
A. The speakers are communicating in different languages. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án A là FALSE | Đoạn 1: […] and that distance is still an obstacle to communication even if you’re speaking the same language, as we are. |
B. Neither of the speakers is familiar with their environment. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án B là NOT GIVEN | Đoạn 1: […] I can hear in my office surrounding Professor Waibel as he speaks to me from Kyoto station in Japan. |
C. The topic of the conversation is difficult for both speakers. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án C là NOT GIVEN | |
28. What assists the electronic translator during lectures at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology? | |
A. the repeated content of lectures Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án là A | Đoạn 2: At Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, where he is a professor of computer science, Waibel and his colleagues already give lectures in German that their students can follow in English via an electronic translator. The system generates text that students can read on their laptops or phones, so the process is somewhat similar to subtitling. It helps that lecturers speak clearly, don’t have to compete with background chatter, and say much the same thing each year. |
B. the students’ reading skills Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án B là NOT GIVEN | Đoạn 2: […] The system generates text that students can read on their laptops or phones, so the process is somewhat similar to subtitling. |
C. the languages used Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án C là NOT GIVEN | Đoạn 2: […] Waibel and his colleagues already give lectures in German that their students can follow in English via an electronic translator. |
D. the lecturers’ technical ability Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án D là NOT GIVEN | |
29. When referring to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the writer suggests that | |
C. artificial speech translation was not a surprising development. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án là C | Đoạn 3: The idea of artificial speech translation has been around for a long time. Douglas Adams’ science fiction novel, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, published in 1979, featured a life form called the ‘Babel fish’ which, when placed in the ear, enabled a listener to understand any language in the universe. It came to represent one of those devices that technology enthusiasts dream of long before they become practically realisable, […] |
A. the Babel fish was considered undesirable at the time. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án A là FALSE | Đoạn 3: […] Douglas Adams’ science fiction novel, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, published in 1979, featured a life form called the ‘Babel fish’ which, when placed in the ear, enabled a listener to understand any language in the universe. It came to represent one of those devices that technology enthusiasts dream of long before they become practically realisable, […] |
B. this book was not seriously intending to predict the future. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án B là NOT GIVEN | Đoạn 3: […] Douglas Adams’ science fiction novel, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, published in 1979, featured a life form called the ‘Babel fish’ which, when placed in the ear, enabled a listener to understand any language in the universe. It came to represent one of those devices that technology enthusiasts dream of long before they become practically realisable, […] |
D. some speech translation techniques are better than others. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án D là NOT GIVEN | |
30. What does the writer say about sharing earpieces? | |
B. The reluctance to do this is understandable Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án là B | Đoạn 5: […] For a conversation, both speakers need to have devices called Pilots (translator earpieces) in their ears. ‘We find that there’s a barrier with sharing one of the earphones with a stranger,’ says Ochoa. That can’t have been totally unexpected. […] |
A. It is something people will get used to doing. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án A là NOT GIVEN | |
C. The equipment will be unnecessary in the future Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án C là FALSE | Đoạn 5: For a conversation, both speakers need to have devices called Pilots (translator earpieces) in their ears. “We find that there’s a barrier with sharing one of the earphones with a stranger”, says Ochoa. That can’t have been totally unexpected. The problem would be solved if earpiece translators became sufficiently prevalent that strangers would be likely to already have their own in their ears. |
D. It is something few people need to worry about. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án D là NOT GIVEN | |
Questions 31-34: Dạng Matching Phrases Cách làm: Bước 1: Đọc list các cụm từ đề bài cho, xác định organizing words & content words Bước 2: Scan từ khóa trong các đoạn văn và tìm ra nét nghĩa tương đồng Bước 3: Hoàn thành đáp án với các kí tự A, B, C … ám chỉ từng đoạn văn Note: Làm dạng bài này cuối cùng, sau khi đã hiểu được nội dung chính cả bài Một số đoạn văn có thể chứa 2 mẩu thông tin | |
31. Speech translation methods are developing fast in Japan Waibel nói rằng dịch giọng nói ở Nhật Bản thì đang phát triển nhanh nhưng vẫn còn một chặng đường dài phía trước (still a long way to go). ⇒ Đáp án là C. but they are far from perfect. | Đoạn 6: […] Waibel highlights the significance of certain Asian nations, noting that voice translation has really taken off in countries such as Japan with a range of systems. There is still a long way to go, though. |
32. TV interviews that use translation voiceover methods are successful Một hệ thống dịch cần phải có kết quả ngay lập tức, giống như giọng của phiên dịch nói đề lên tiếng chính trị gia nước ngoài trong phỏng vấn trên TV. ⇒ Đáp án là E. because translation is immediate. | Đoạn 6: […] A translation system needs to be simultaneous, like the translator’s voice speaking over the foreign politician being interviewed on theTV, rather than in sections that oblige speakers to pause after every few remarks and wait for the translation to be delivered. |
33. Future translation systems should address people appropriately Các hệ thống cần có nhận thức xã hội bằng cách xưng hô đúng đắn và tôn trọng những truyền thống văn hóa. ⇒ Đáp án là F. and have an awareness of good manners. | Đoạn 7: […] Systems not only need to cope with physical challenges such as noise, they will also need to be socially aware by addressing people in the right way. Some cultural traditions demand solemn respect for academic status, for example, and it is only polite to respect this. |
34. Users may be able to maintain their local customs Các hệ thống (dịch) có thể giúp giữ gìn văn hóa địa phương bằng cách làm chậm việc làm truyền các thói quen trong việc nói tiếng Anh. ⇒ Đáp án là B. as systems do not need to conform to standard practices. | Đoạn 7: […] Etiquette-sensitive artificial translators could relieve people of the need to know these differing cultural norms. At the same time, they might help to preserve local customs, slowing the spread of habits associated with international English, such as its readiness to get on first-name terms |
Questions 35 – 40: Dạng YES/NO/NOT GIVEN Cách làm:
| |
35. Language translation systems will be seen as very useful throughout the academic and professional worlds. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án là NO | Đoạn 9: […] Whatever uses it is put to, though, it will never be as good as the real thing. Even if voice morphing technology simulates the speaker’s voice, their lip movements won’t match, and they will look like they arc in a dubbed movie. |
36. The overall value of automated translation to family life is yet to be shown. Nhận xét
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án là YES | Đoạn 8: […] Whether it will help people conduct their family lives or relationships is open to question – though one noteworthy possibility is that it could overcome the language barriers that often arise between generations after migration, […] |
37. Automated translation could make life more difficult for immigrant families. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án NO | Đoạn 8: […] though one noteworthy possibility is that it could overcome the language barriers that often arise between generations after migration, leaving children and their grandparents without a shared language. |
38. Visual aspects of language translation are being considered by scientists. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án là NOT GIVEN | Đoạn 9: […] Sharing a language can promote a sense of belonging and community, as with the international scientists who use English as a lingua franca, where their predecessors used Latin. Though the practical need for a common language will diminish, the social value of sharing one will persist. And software will never be a substitute for the subtle but vital understanding that comes with knowledge of a language. |
39. International scientists have found English easier to translate into other languages than Latin. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án là NOT GIVEN | Đoạn 9: […] Sharing a language can promote a sense of belonging and community, as with the international scientists who use English as a lingua franca, where their predecessors used Latin. Though the practical need for a common language will diminish, the social value of sharing one will persist. |
40. As far as language is concerned, there is a difference between people’s social and practical needs. Nhận xét:
Cụ thể:
⇒ Đáp án là YES | Đoạn 9: […] Though the practical need for a common language will diminish, the social value of sharing one will persist. |
