Artificial Intelligence - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 21 Academic Reading Test 2 · Part 3 · Questions 27–40
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.
Artificial Intelligence
In many countries in the West, hysteria about the future of artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere. There seems to be no shortage of sensationalist news about how AI could cure diseases, accelerate human innovation and improve human creativity. Just looking at the media headlines, you might think that we are already living in a future where AI has infiltrated every aspect of society.
While it is undeniable that AI has opened up a wealth of promising opportunities, it has also led to the emergence of a mindset that can be best described as 'AI solutionism'. This is the philosophy that, given enough data, machine learning algorithms can solve all of humanity's problems. But, in fact, instead of supporting AI progress, this mindset actually jeopardises the value of machine intelligence by disregarding important AI safety principles and setting unrealistic expectations about what AI can really do for humanity.
In only a few years, AI solutionism has made its way from the technology evangelists' mouths in Silicon Valley in California to the minds of government officials and policymakers around the world. The pendulum has swung from the dystopian notion that AI will destroy humanity to the utopian belief that our algorithmic saviour is here.
We are now seeing governments pledge support to national AI initiatives and compete in a technological race to dominate the burgeoning machine-learning sector. While many politicians proclaim the transformative effects of the coming 'AI revolution', they fail to realise the complexity around deploying advanced machine learning systems in the real world.
One of the most promising varieties of AI technologies are neural networks. This form of machine learning is loosely modelled on the neuronal structure of the human brain, but on a much smaller scale. But what many politicians do not understand is that simply adding a neural network to a problem will not automatically mean that you'll find a solution. Similarly, adding a neural network to a system of government does not mean it will be instantaneously more inclusive or fair.
AI systems need a lot of data to function, but the public sector typically does not have the appropriate data infrastructure to support advanced machine learning. Most of the data remains stored in offline archives. The few digitised sources of data that exist tend to be buried in bureaucracy. More often than not, data is spread across different government departments that each require special permissions to be accessed. Above all, the public sector typically lacks the human talent with the right technological capabilities to fully reap the benefits of machine intelligence.
For these reasons, the sensationalism over AI has attracted many critics. Stuart Russell, a professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, has long advocated a more sensible and realistic approach that focuses on simple everyday applications of AI instead of the hypothetical takeover by super-intelligent robots. Similarly, Rodney Brooks, professor of robotics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, writes that 'almost all innovations in robotics and AI take far, far, longer to be really widely deployed than people in the field and outside the field imagine'.
One of the many difficulties in deploying machine learning systems is that AI is extremely susceptible to adversarial attacks. This means that a malicious AI can target another AI to make it behave in a certain way, such as forcing it to make wrong predictions. Many researchers have warned against the rolling out of AI without appropriate security standards and defence mechanisms. Still, AI security remains an often overlooked topic when machine learning systems are installed.
If we are to reap the benefits and minimise the potential harms of AI, we must start thinking about how machine learning can be meaningfully applied to specific areas of government, business and society. This means we need to have a discussion about AI ethics and the distrust that many people have towards machine learning.
Most importantly, we need to be aware of the limitations of AI and where people still need to take the lead. Instead of painting an unrealistic picture of the power of AI, it is important to take a step back and separate the actual technological capabilities of AI from fantasy.
The medical profession has also recognised the drawbacks to AI. The IBM Watson for Oncology programme was a piece of AI that was meant to help doctors treat cancer. Even though it was developed to deliver the best recommendations, human experts found it hard to trust the machine. As a result, the AI programme was abandoned in most hospitals where it was trialled.
Similar difficulties arose in the legal domain when algorithms were used in courts in the US to sentence criminals. An algorithm calculated risk assessment scores and advised judges on the sentencing. The system was found to amplify structural racial discrimination and was later abandoned.
There are some crucial lessons here for everyone aiming to boost investments in national AI programmes. These examples demonstrate that there is no AI solution for everything. Using AI simply for the sake of AI may not always be productive or useful, and not every issue is best addressed by applying machine intelligence to it. All solutions come with a cost and not everything that can be automated should be.
Questions
Questions 27–29 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Questions 30–35 Summary Completion
Complete the summary using the list of words, A-I, below.
A. reliability | B. funding | C. skills
D. prejudices | E. computers | F. equality
G. framework | H. confidentiality | I. approval
AI in government, medicine and the law
Neural networks are a promising area of AI technology for governments. However, many politicians overestimate their capabilities, believing that the mere addition of a neural network will produce solutions and promote 30 .
Most public sector organisations have not set up the necessary 31 to manage the huge amount of data required to enable AI to function. Complex bureaucracy is another issue, as each person involved needs 32 to access the relevant data, which is often spread across different departments. But the main problem is that few public sector employees have the 33 to take full advantage of machine intelligence.
The medical profession experimented with an AI programme, but their experts had little faith in its 34 , and the programme was abandoned. US courts also abandoned the use of algorithms when it was found that these reflected and magnified the existing 35 within the legal profession.
Questions 36–39 Yes / No / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 3?
In boxes 36-39 on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
Questions 40–40 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q27 | B | In many countries in the West, hysteria about the future of artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere. There seems to be no shortage of sensationalist news about how AI could cure diseases, accelerate human innovation and improve human creativity. Just looking at the media headlines, you might think that we are already living in a future where AI has infiltrated every aspect of society | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that there is a lot of strong emotion and excitement about AI in many countries. It says that because of flashy news stories, people might believe that AI is already a part of everything we do and that it can easily fix complex problems like diseases. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that the writer is describing how ordinary people and the media currently think about and react to artificial intelligence (AI). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the first paragraph focuses on how AI is seen by the public through words like "hysteria" and "sensationalist news." These words describe emotions and a general mood—or "perception"—created by media headlines. The author points out that these stories make people think AI is already used everywhere and can solve all problems, which tells us how society views the technology rather than just providing facts about it. |
| Q28 | A | But, in fact, instead of supporting AI progress, this mindset actually jeopardises the value of machine intelligence by disregarding important AI safety principles and setting unrealistic expectations about what AI can really do for humanity | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that thinking AI can solve everything is dangerous for the future of the technology. It says this attitude puts the value of AI at risk because it ignores safety rules and makes people believe AI is more powerful than it really is. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the writer warns us about a danger or a negative result of believing that AI can fix every human problem. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the writer explains that the approach called 'AI solutionism' is actually harmful. The writer points out that this way of thinking 'jeopardises' (which means to put in danger) the progress of technology. This is a clear mention of a risk because it shows that expecting too much from AI causes people to ignore 'safety principles' and creates a false idea of what the technology can actually achieve. |
| Q29 | C | While many politicians proclaim the transformative effects of the coming 'AI revolution', they fail to realise the complexity around deploying advanced machine learning systems in the real world | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that although politicians talk about how great AI will be, they do not understand the complicated problems involved in making AI systems work in everyday situations. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people in government (politicians) might not understand how difficult it is to actually start using AI programs across a country. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the author points out a specific gap in what politicians understand. While these leaders talk about the big changes AI will bring, the text says they "fail to realise" (which means to be unaware of) the "complexity" (which means the challenges or difficulties) of "deploying" (which means implementing or putting into use) these systems in real life. This directly matches the idea of being unaware of the challenges of implementation. |
| Q30 | F | Similarly, adding a neural network to a system of government does not mean it will be instantaneously more inclusive or fair | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that just because a government uses special computer programs, it does not mean the government will become fair or include everyone right away. Answer Explanation: The answer is equality, which means treating everyone in the same way and making sure things are fair for all people. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because the passage discusses how politicians have wrong ideas about what technology can do. They believe that using a computer system like a 'neural network' will quickly solve problems and make society better. The text specifically mentions that using this technology in government does not automatically make it 'more inclusive or fair.' In English, being inclusive and fair is the same as promoting equality. Therefore, the word 'equality' fits the summary perfectly. |
| Q31 | G | AI systems need a lot of data to function, but the public sector typically does not have the appropriate data infrastructure to support advanced machine learning | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that for AI to work, it needs many facts (data), but government offices usually do not have the correct computer systems (infrastructure) ready to handle that data. Answer Explanation: The answer G, 'framework', refers to a basic system or structure that supports how something works. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because the passage states that the public sector (meaning government organizations) usually does not have the right 'data infrastructure'. In this context, 'infrastructure' refers to the technical systems and organized structures needed to store and use information. The word 'framework' is used in the summary as a synonym for 'infrastructure' to describe these necessary technical systems. |
| Q32 | I | More often than not, data is spread across different government departments that each require special permissions to be accessed | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that government information is kept in many different locations, and you must ask for a formal 'yes' (special permission or approval) from each office if you want to use it. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'approval,' which means getting official permission or a 'yes' from someone in charge before you are allowed to do something. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'I' because the passage explains that government data is often hard to get because it is kept in many different offices. To see this data, a person must get 'special permissions.' In the list of choices, 'approval' is a synonym for 'permission.' Therefore, the summary uses 'approval' to describe the official agreement needed to access information kept in separate departments. |
| Q33 | C | Above all, the public sector typically lacks the human talent with the right technological capabilities to fully reap the benefits of machine intelligence | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage highlights that the biggest problem for government organizations is a lack of workers who have the advanced technical knowledge required to use AI systems successfully. Answer Explanation: The answer 'skills' refers to the technical knowledge and abilities that employees need to use AI technology effectively. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from the text's discussion on why the public sector struggles with AI. The passage points out that government departments often do not have people with the necessary 'human talent' and 'technological capabilities'. In the context of the summary, the word 'skills' acts as a synonym for these terms, explaining why it is difficult for these organizations to get the most out of machine intelligence. |
| Q34 | A | The IBM Watson for Oncology programme was a piece of AI that was meant to help doctors treat cancer. Even though it was developed to deliver the best recommendations, human experts found it hard to trust the machine. As a result, the AI programme was abandoned in most hospitals where it was trialled | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that there was an AI program designed to help doctors with cancer patients, but the human experts did not believe it worked well enough to be trusted. Because of this lack of trust, hospitals stopped using the program. Answer Explanation: The answer 'reliability' refers to whether something can be trusted to behave in a consistent way and perform its job correctly without failing. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'reliability' because the text explains that medical experts (doctors) did not feel they could 'trust' the recommendations given by the IBM Watson AI program. In English, having 'little faith' in something is a way of saying you do not find it 'reliable' or trustworthy. Because the doctors could not depend on the machine to be right, they stopped using it, which is why the program was 'abandoned'. |
| Q35 | D | The system was found to amplify structural racial discrimination and was later abandoned | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the computer program used in courts made unfair treatment based on race stronger, so they stopped using it. Answer Explanation: The answer 'D' refers to 'prejudices', which means unfair feelings or opinions against a group of people based on things like their race. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'D' because the passage explains that a specific AI system used in US courts was eventually stopped because it made existing unfair treatment worse. In the text, it mentions that the system would 'amplify structural racial discrimination'. 'Prejudices' is a synonym for discrimination, and 'magnified' in the summary matches the word 'amplify' from the passage, showing that the AI increased these unfair patterns. |
| Q36 | NO | Stuart Russell, a professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, has long advocated a more sensible and realistic approach that focuses on simple everyday applications of AI instead of the hypothetical takeover by super-intelligent robots | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage shows that Stuart Russell wants people to focus on using AI for normal, everyday tasks. It describes his ideas as being smart and possible to achieve. Answer Explanation: The answer is NO because the statement says Stuart Russell's plans are difficult or impossible to use, but the writer actually thinks his plans are smart and can work in real life. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NO because the text describes Stuart Russell’s suggestions as a 'sensible and realistic approach.' In English, 'sensible' means showing good judgment, and 'realistic' means something that can actually happen or be done. These words are the opposite of 'impractical,' which describes something that is not useful or cannot be done easily. Therefore, the writer disagrees with the idea that Russell's proposals are impractical. |
| Q37 | NOT GIVEN | Similarly, Rodney Brooks, professor of robotics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, writes that 'almost all innovations in robotics and AI take far, far, longer to be really widely deployed than people in the field and outside the field imagine' | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains Rodney Brooks' opinion that AI progress is slow, but it never mentions what other people think about his opinion or if they have attacked his ideas. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the text does not say how AI supporters feel about Rodney Brooks' ideas or if they have criticized him. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because while the passage mentions Rodney Brooks and summarizes his viewpoint, it provides no information regarding the reaction of other people to his work. The text explains that he believes AI development takes a long time, but it does not mention 'unfair criticism' or any feedback from 'supporters of AI'. Since this information is missing, we cannot determine if the statement is true or false. |
| Q38 | NO | Still, AI security remains an often overlooked topic when machine learning systems are installed | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when new AI systems are put into use, people often forget to think about how to keep them safe and protected. Answer Explanation: The answer "NO" means that the writer disagrees with the statement. The writer says that people often forget to protect AI systems when they are being set up. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "NO" because the passage states that AI security is an 'often overlooked' topic. While the statement says that protection is 'always taken into account' (considered or thought about), the writer explains that when machine learning systems are 'installed' (put into place or set up), people frequently fail to focus on their security. This direct contradiction between 'always' and 'often overlooked' makes the statement false according to the text. |
| Q39 | YES | If we are to reap the benefits and minimise the potential harms of AI, we must start thinking about how machine learning can be meaningfully applied to specific areas of government, business and society. This means we need to have a discussion about AI ethics and the distrust that many people have towards machine learning | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that if we want to gain the advantages of AI and lower its risks, we must talk about why people do not trust it and what the fair rules for using it should be. Answer Explanation: The answer 'YES' means the author believes that to get the most good out of AI and reduce its dangers, we must talk about why people are worried and what the right rules for using it should be. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'YES' because the writer says that if we want to 'reap the benefits' (gain good things) and 'minimise the potential harms' (make bad things smaller), we must discuss 'AI ethics' and the 'distrust' that people have. Talking about ethics and distrust is the same as 'exploring people's concerns' as mentioned in the question. |
| Q40 | B | These examples demonstrate that there is no AI solution for everything. Using AI simply for the sake of AI may not always be productive or useful, and not every issue is best addressed by applying machine intelligence to it | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states clearly that AI cannot fix every problem. It explains that using AI just to use it isn't always helpful and that some problems are better solved without using machines. Answer Explanation: The answer suggests that the article should be titled to reflect that artificial intelligence (AI) is not always the best way to fix our issues. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the passage focuses on the limitations and problems with 'AI solutionism'—the idea that AI can solve every human problem. It mentions several reasons why AI might not work well, such as the lack of proper data infrastructure, security risks, and historical failures in medical and legal fields. The author warns about setting unrealistic expectations and suggests that we should not apply AI to every single problem just because we can. Keywords like 'limitations,' 'drawbacks,' and 'no AI solution for everything' point to this main theme. |