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COMPREHENSION2013 BROADER PERSPECTIVES The Essay Issue

COMPREHENSION

CONTENT

NAME CLASS

/35M /15M /50M

LANGUAGE TOTAL

Pax Technologica

Comprehension Answers available at www.broaderperspectives.com.sg & www.twitter.com/ThinkTankMags

QUESTIONS ATTACHED

ABREAK

FROMTHEPAST.

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The election of a new pope always sparks debate about the tension between tradition andmodernity in the Catholic Church. Perhaps more interesting is the ongoing modernization of thelanguage in which those debates are conducted: Latin. While Catholic doctrines have evolved

slowly, the Latin vocabulary has been expanding steadily in recent years, reecting the surgeof neologisms (new words, usages, and expressions) that has accompanied technologysincreasingly prominent role in peoples daily lives. The addition of terms like telephonium albotelevisico coniunctum (video telepresence) and usus agonisticus medicamenti stupecfactivi

(performance-enhancing drugs) has helped to spark a revival of Latin education in the West,despite growing competition from Mandarin. Likewise, the English languages ability to produceand absorb neologisms is an important reason why it will endure as the worlds lingua franca

in so many different countries. The Oxford English Dictionary, now updated quarterly, revisedmore than 1,900 entries in its March 2011 edition, and added new terms, such as subdomain,dataveillance, and geotagging.

Humans use language to make sense not only of specic concepts, but also of larger scientic,social, and historical movements. With technology changing the faceand paceof suchmovements, devising terms that capture its far-reaching impact on human life is becoming

increasingly important. For example, according to Nobel laureate Robert Fogel, medicaland nutritional advances since the Industrial Revolution have accelerated and directed theevolutionary process, making modern humans a fundamentally different species from Homosapiens. Bio-technology investor Juan Enriquez coined the term Homo evolutis to denote this

shift. But do widely accepted labels like Information Age and knowledge-based societyadequately describe the global movement that is underway? Technology-fueled developmentis causing historical eras to become cumulative, rather than linear. As the world enters the

Information Age, most countries are still experiencing the Agricultural and Industrial Ages. In orderto describe emerging socio-technological patternsincluding the merging of scientic disciplinesand the fusion of human life with progress in these eldsthe current era should be called theHybrid Age.

It is an age, most tellingly, of proliferating new terminology to encompass emerging new areas ofresearch, discovery and innovation. For example, we now have synthetic biology to describe a

hybrid of biology and chemical engineering in which scientists create biological systems that arenot found in nature. Man-made cells can now be inserted into humans. In 2010, the biologist CraigVenter created the rst fully synthetic and self-replicating cell. Humans biological hybridization

with technology also requires new vocabulary. At the MIT Media Lab, double-amputee HughHerr has pioneered biomechatronics, which combines biology, mechanical engineering, andelectronics to invent efcient, lifelike prosthetics. Some believe that Herrs work heralds an ageof bionic superhumans. Moving from muscles to the mind, brain-computer interface technologies

have advanced signicantly in recent years, giving rise to neuro-prosthetics, which has alreadyenabled paraplegics to navigate a computer mouse with their thoughts and monkeys to operatea giant robotic arm. The implications of all these technologies are huge and exciting, but our

societies have yet to seriously discuss the ramications such extensive hybridization have on ouridentity as human beings.

Pax Technologica

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Adapted from Beyond the Welfare State by Yuval Levin, for the purposes of the A level General Paper

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With scientists working tirelessly to rene such technologies, the public must become moreknowledgeable about their socioeconomic implications. Neither of the existing paradigms forassessing individual potentialintelligence quotient and emotional quotient can assess a

persons ability to compete against the growing robo-collar workforce. Industrial robots are nowdisplacing Foxconn workers making iPhones in China; Intuitive Surgicals da Vinci robot reducesthe need for surgical assistants in operating rooms; and the Engkey robot teaching English inSouth Korea may gradually ll the 30,000 teaching positions that Westerners there currently

occupy. Increasingly sophisticated algorithms are replacing currency traders, paralegals, andeven news reporters. Competing with the increasingly competent robotic labor force will requirepeople to enhance their technology quotient. Societies and governments must drive this shift

by boosting technologys role in both the form and content of educational curricula. Improvedtechnological capacity would not only help citizens to compete for jobs; it would help countriesthrive in the new global environment of increasing hybridization.

This new global environment would also bring with it new ways of framing competition amongnations, where technological advancements would feature more prominently. The rise and fall ofempires has long been considered a geopolitical matter, based on factors such as military assets,

resource endowments, and population size. Likewise, geo-economic calculations of relative GDP,terms of trade, and foreign-exchange reserves carry signicant weight in determining the balanceof power. But all of these metrics fail to account for factors like research and development,technological innovation, and commercialization, which are now more indicative of future success

than nuclear arsenals or economic size. Indeed, the Hybrid Age is shaping up to be an era ofgeo-technology.

The stakes of geo-technological competition are higher than ever. Cyberwarfare is proving to beas threatening to political and economic stability as conventional military conict. At the sametime, technologies like water ltration systems, drought-resistant seeds, renewable energy, andthe Internet have the potential to fulll the basic needs of a crowded planet better than any empire

could. However, we must remember that ultimately it is humans who have to steer and applythese technologies, however wonderful they may be, for any real benets to be reaped.

Many historical periods have been named after imperial hegemons: Pax Romana, Pax Britannica,Pax Americana. Some believe that, with the rise of China, Pax Sinica is next. But these erashave been characterized by conquest and exploitation, not peace. What should come next

should be a fundamental break from the past, a truly modern era of Pax Technologica. The worldought to capitalize on this nascent trend in a united effort to overcome the barriers to change inprevious ages. If we could get our act together, then it will be an age that transcends all physicalboundaries and geographical connes.

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Adapted from Beyond the Welfare State by Yuval Levin, for the purposes of the A level General Paper

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PAX TECHNOLOGICA2013 BROADER PERSPECTIVES The Essay Issue

Comprehension Questions

1 What is the tension between tradition and modernity in the Catholic Church in paragraph 1? [1]

2 Why is the English languages ability to produce and absorb neologisms important?

(lines 9-10) [2]

3 What do the words but and adequately suggest about the authors view in lines 21-22? [1]

4 What does the author mean by historical eras becoming cumulative, rather than linear

(line 23) and how does he illustrate this? Use your own words as far as possible. [3]

5 In paragraph 3, how does the author justify the phrase most tellingly? [2]

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6 What does the word herald in line 35 suggest about Herrs work? [1]

7 In your own words as far as possible, explain the socioeconomic implications highlighted in

paragraph 4? (line 43) [3]

8 Explain the authors use of the word even in the phrase and even news reporters

line 69? [2]

9 Explain what the author mean by The stakes of geo-technological competition are higher thanever. Using your own words as far as possible (line 64) [2]

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10 Using material from paragraphs 4 to 7, summarise what the author has to say about the effects

of the Hybrid Age and what society ought to do in response.Write your summary in no more than 120 words not counting the opening words which are

printed below. Use your words as far as possible. [8]

The Hybrid Age will require people to enhance their technology quotient so that

11 If we could get our act together, then it will be an age that transcends all physical boundariesand geographical confnes.

How far do you agree with the authors views in the last line? Illustrate your answer/own views

by referring to the examples found in your society that demonstrate the vision of the author.

[10]

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Comprehension Answers

1 What is the tension between tradition and modernity in the Catholic Church in paragraph 1? [1]

The tension refers to the phenomena occurring in the Catholic Church, which is a result of on onehand, the slow evolution of traditional Catholic doctrines and on the other, the steady growth of

modernity as evidenced by the neologisms in the Latin vocabulary.

2 Why is the English languages ability to produce and absorb neologisms important?

(lines 9-10) [2]

It is important because we can create new expressions (1/2) as well as encompass or accept new

ones (1/2) invented by other people to reect new areas of knowledge (1/2), and thus expand our

ability to use English express ourselves and understand each other (1/2).

3 What do the words but and adequately suggest about the authors view in lines 21-22? [1]

Since the word but is usually used to signify an opposing view or a counter position (1/2) and the

word adequately raises the notion of sufciency (1/2) we can infer that the author thinks that these

terms are not able to sufciently describe the current Age that we live in.

4 What does the author mean by historical eras becoming cumulative, rather than linear

(line 23) and how does he illustrate this? Use your own words as far as possible. [3]

Line Lifted Paraphrased

23

Technology-fueled development is causing

historical eras to become cumulative,

rather than linear.As the world enters the Information Age,

most countries are still experiencing the

Agricultural and Industrial Ages.

The author means that technology-fuelled

development is causing periods in the past

(1/2) such as the Agricultural and IndustrialAges, to be growing at different rates and

as such building upon one another (1/2),

instead of (1/2) developing in a sequential

manner (1/2) suchas from Agricultural to

Industrial and to an Information Age. He

illustrates this by pointing out to the fact

that the world is currently experiencing

three different stages (1/2) of development

concurrently (1/2), namely the Agricultural,

the Industrial and the Information Ages.

5 In paragraph 3, how does the author justify the phrase most tellingly? [2]

The author justies the use of the phrase by citing a range of disciplines (1/2) in which new hybrid

terms have emerged (1/2) that reveal (1/2) the prominence of (1/2) the lingual trend.

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6 What does the word herald in line 35 suggest about Herrs work? [1]

It suggests that Herrs work is historic as it may be the pivotal development that will usher in a new

age of scientic development of bionic superhumans.

7 In your own words as far as possible, explain the socioeconomic implications highlighted in

paragraph 4? (line 43) [3]


43

Neither of the existing paradigms

for assessing individual potential

intelligence quotient and emotional

quotient can assessa persons ability

to competeagainst the growing robo-

collar workforce.

Industrial robots are now displacing

Foxconn workers making iPhones in

China; Intuitive Surgicals da Vinci robot

reduces the need for surgical assistants

in operating rooms; and the Engkey robot

teaching English in South Korea may

gradually ll the 30,000 teaching positions

that Westerners there currently occupy.

Increasingly sophisticated algorithms are

replacing currency traders, paralegals, and

even news reporters.

As none of the tools we currently have (1/2)

for measuring human qualities (1/2) can

evaluate (1/2) our competitive capacity (1/2)

against technological replacements,

we need to realise that it is not just blue

collar / labour-intensive workers but even

skilled technicians and professionals (1/2)

in various industries who are at risk of being

supplanted (1/2).

8 Explain the authors use of the word even in the phrase and even news reporters

line 69? [2]

The author used the word even to emphasize the extent of technologys impact on employability and

how technology is replacing increasingly sophisticated jobs such as news reporting (1). The use of the

word even was to convey his astonishment that even a job which required a lot of human intuition

and spontaneity like news reporting, which was in his view more difcult to replace than paralegals

and currency traders, could be replaced by new technologies (1).

9 Explain what the author mean by The stakes of geo-technological competition are higher than

ever. Using your own words as far as possible (line 64) [2]


64

The stakes of geo-technological

competition are higher than ever.

The author means that there could be a

lot more (1/2) to lose (1/2)in this geo-

technological race (1/2)compared to

previousraces (1/2) .

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10 Using material from paragraphs 4 to 7, summarise what the author has to say about the effects

of the Hybrid Age and what society ought to do in response.

Write your summary in no more than 120 words not counting the opening words which are

printed below. Use your words as far as possible. [8]

The Hybrid Age will require people to enhance their technology quotient so that

Lifted Paraphrased

From paragraph 4:

Competing with the increasingly competent robotic

labor force will require people to enhance their

technology quotient.

Societies and governments must drive this shift by

boosting technologys role

in both the form and content of educational

curricula.

Improved technological capacity would not only

help citizens to compete for jobs; it would help

countries thrive in the new global environment of

increasing hybridization.

From paragraph 5:

But all of these metrics fail to account for factorslike research and development, technological

innovation, and commercialization,

which are now more indicative of future success

than nuclear arsenals or economic size.

From paragraph 6:

Cyberwarfare is proving to be as threatening to

political and economic stability as conventional

military conict.

At the same time, technologies like water ltration

systems, drought-resistant seeds, renewable

energy, and the Internet have the potential to fulll

the basic needs of a crowded planet better than

any empire could.

However, we must remember that ultimately it

is humans who have to steer and apply these

technologies, however wonderful they may be, for

any real benets to be reaped.

From paragraph 4:

they could vie with the machines which are

becoming more and more capable.

Nations could push for this by strengthening

technologys function

in the style and substance of the curriculum.Upgraded technological expertise could

assist people to get jobs and nations ourish in the

worldwide context of more hybridization.

From paragraph 5:

The Hybrid Age is inuencing the world to view

countries success more in terms

of research and development, technological

creativity, and its market viability, rather than theirnuclear weaponry or economic productivity.

From paragraph 6:

It also causes conicts fought using computer

technology, showing them to be as potentially

dangerous to political and economic order as

normal military clashes.

On the other hand, certain scientic applications

have the latent ability to meet the fundamentaldemands of a overpopulated earth better than any

hegemony is able to,

provided we use them properly.

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Lifted Paraphrased

From paragraph 7:

But these eras have been characterized by

conquest and exploitation, not peace. What should

come next should be a fundamental break from thepast, a truly modern era of Pax Technologica.

If we could get our act together, then it will be an

age that transcends all physical boundaries and

geographical connes.

From paragraph 7:

Then we can enter a genuinely modern age of Pax

Technologica that is marked by stability rather than

strife,

If we perform well, overcoming all geographical

demarcations.

*Award full marks for 8 points.

11 If we could get our act together, then it will be an age that transcends all physical boundaries

and geographical confnes. How far do you agree with the authors views in the last line? Illustrate your answer/own views

by referring to the examples found in your society that demonstrate the vision of the author.

[10]

This passage is about the new Hybrid Age and the modernity that the world is entering in due to the

amazing technological advancement since the Information Age. It serves as appropriate material for

candidates to ponder on the scientic, socio-economic, and philosophical implications for the world that

we live in today, in particular within the society of the candidates. Students are expected to demonstrate

a mature and balanced view to temper the authors optimism displayed in the conclusion of the

passage, as well as to point out factors that may potentially hinder the peace that such an age may wellusher in.

Key arguments/threads of thoughts that students can consider are:

How plugged in is your society to the latest developments in technology? Do you see the developments

described in the passage happening in your society?

Are there any reasons we should choose not to accept such technologies in the rst place?

Even if your society did embrace these technologies fully, how possible is it that Pax Technologica will

usher in an era of peace that is different from previous ages?

What are some of the possible factors that will render the authors vision impossible?

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