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Practice dictation & shadowing on the Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Listening Part 3 Test 3.
Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Listening Test 3 Part 3
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Speaker 2 (1)
That seminar yesterday on automation and the future of work was really good, wasn't it?
Speaker 2 (2)
Looking at the first industrial revolution in Britain in the 19th century and seeing how people reacted to massive change was a real eye-opener.
Speaker 1 (3)
Yes. It was interesting to hear how people felt about automation then and what challenges they faced.
Speaker 1 (4)
I didn't know that first started with workers in the textile industry.
Speaker 2 (5)
With those protesting workers called the Luddites destroying their knitting machines because they were so worried about losing their jobs.
Speaker 1 (6)
Yes, and ultimately, they didn't achieve anything.
Speaker 1 (7)
And anyway, industrialization created more jobs than it destroyed.
Speaker 2 (8)
Yes, that's true. But it probably didn't seem a positive thing at the time.
Speaker 2 (9)
I can see why the Luddites felt so threatened.
Speaker 1 (10)
I know, I'm sure I would have felt the same.
Speaker 1 (11)
The discussion about the future of work was really optimistic for a change.
Speaker 1 (12)
I like the idea that work won't involve doing boring, repetitive tasks, as robots will do all that.
Speaker 1 (13)
Normally, you only hear negative stuff about the future.
Speaker 2 (14)
Bit too optimistic, don't you think?
Speaker 2 (15)
For example, I can't see how people are about to have more leisure time when all the evidence shows people are spending longer than ever at work.
Speaker 1 (16)
No, that's true. And what about lower unemployment? I'm not so sure about that.
Speaker 2 (17)
Perhaps in the long term, but not in the foreseeable future.
Speaker 1 (18)
And I expect most people will be expected to work until they're much older as everyone's living much longer.
Speaker 2 (19)
That's already happening.
Speaker 1 (20)
I enjoyed all that stuff on how technology has changed some jobs and how they're likely to change in the near future.
Speaker 2 (21)
Yeah, incredible. Like accountants. You might think all the technological innovations would have put them out of a job, but in fact there are more of them than ever.
Speaker 2 (22)
They're still really in demand and have become far more efficient.
Speaker 1 (23)
Right. That was amazing. 20 times more accountants in this country compared to the 19th century.
Speaker 2 (24)
I know. I'd never have thought the demand for hairdressing would have gone up so much in the last hundred years.
Speaker 2 (25)
One hairdresser for every 287 people now, compared to one for over 1500.
Speaker 1 (26)
Yeah, because people's earning power has gone up so they can afford to spend more on personal services like that.
Speaker 2 (27)
But technology hasn't changed the actual job that much.
Speaker 1 (28)
No, they've got hair dryers, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (29)
But it's one job where you don't depend on a computer.
Speaker 1 (30)
The kind of work that administrative staff do has changed enormously, thanks to technology.
Speaker 1 (31)
Even 20 years ago, there were secretaries doing dictation and typing.
Speaker 2 (32)
Yes. Really boring compared to these days when they're given much more responsibility and higher status.
Speaker 1 (33)
A lot of graduates go in for this kind of work now.
Speaker 1 (34)
But the 1871 census showed that roughly 25% of the population worked on the land.
Speaker 2 (35)
Yeah, I'd have assumed it would be more than 50%. Now it's less than 0.2%.
Speaker 1 (36)
What about care workers?
Speaker 2 (37)
They barely existed in the 19th century as people's lifespan was so much shorter, but now, of course, this sector will see huge growth.
Speaker 1 (38)
Yeah, and it's hard enough to meet current demand.
Speaker 1 (39)
The future looks quite bleak for bank clerks.
Speaker 1 (40)
They've been in decline since ATM's were introduced in the 80s.
Speaker 2 (41)
And technology will certainly make most of the jobs they do now redundant, I think.
Speaker 1 (42)
I agree, although the situation may change. It's very hard to predict what will happen.
bit difficult