The Dark Side of the Technological Boom IELTS Reading Answers

Jan 16, 2023

The Dark Side of the Technological Boom IELTS Reading Answers contains sample answers about the effects on the individual of working in modern technological workplaces. The Dark Side of the Technological Boom IELTS Reading Answers has 14 different questions. IELTS The Dark Side of the Technological Boom IELTS Reading Answers contains three types of questions: match the statement, complete the sentences and true/false/not given. Candidates are required to read the IELTS Reading passage and complete the given sentences by choosing the correct ending from the given options. Candidates are required to match the statements with people given in the provided list correctly. For the last set of questions, candidates are supposed to answer whether the given statements are true, false or not given in the passage. Candidates can gain proficiency on diverse topics by undertaking IELTS Reading practice papers.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

The Dark Side of the Technological Boom IELTS Reading Answers

Changes in the way we work and how our offices are structured come faster and faster. Waves of state-of-the-art information technology and instant telecommunications let us reach anyone, anywhere, and speed is the key. Most of the US are too busy struggling to keep pace with ongoing innovations to question the implications of our new electronic authority figures. According to a number of psychologists, however, the need to stay on top of the information flow and the degree to which we remain in touch with our offices exact a profound toll on the US as individuals.

Mass exposure to technological innovations in the workplace has come too recently for psychologists to reach a consensus on its societal implications. Many agree, however, that one of the first signs of the struggle to adapt to the electronic office is often 'technostress', a cognitive shift that results from an over-identification with information systems. Psychologist Craig Brod says people become accustomed to the patterns set by electronic tools - accelerated time and yes/no logic - and internalise these patterns. When they leave the office or go home, Brod says, they need complete isolation to recover from the effects of the technology.

Brod warns that over-reliance on electronic tools could also have serious repercussions on our ability to think creatively and develop new ideas. Because we don't create in a vacuum, he points out, we need to avoid the temptation to replace informal gatherings for bouncing ideas off colleagues with electronic networking. It's also more difficult to spot errors or even evaluate the shape of a project displayed in a flat, two-dimensional way on a screen.

Electronically networked offices can also make it increasingly difficult to convince ourselves that we're doing an adequate job and accumulating enough information to make informed decisions. Philosopher Daniel Dennett points out that modern technology eliminates the possibility of unavoidable ignorance. As the opportunity to amass information grows larger, the obligation to make accurate predictions - the right decisions - becomes more onerous. Instead of consoling ourselves that we're doing as good a job as we can, we are tormented by the knowledge that the world of information is limitless.

For executives near the top of the office pyramid, the benefits of the electronic revolution - like telecommuting and flexible scheduling - may outweigh the disadvantages of being continuously on call. But in Workplace 2000, authors Joseph Boyett and Henry Conn describe a future in which millions of people now charged with analysing information and making routine decisions will be replaced by less skilled workers using 'intelligent' software to make decisions for them. They predict that a cult of performance excellence will engulf most businesses.

The millions of people on the bottom levels of electronic hierarchies are increasingly likely to spend their days in an isolated no-man's land, subservient to intelligent information systems that report their progress to unseen supervisors far away. Because computers measure quantity and quality, such systems tend to reward employees who work faster more than those who work better.

Service people on the telephone or at a cash register curtly terminate attempts at idle conversation because their performance is being electronically monitored. Once judged on their ability to troubleshoot unexpected situations, they're now evaluated by the number of transactions they complete in a shift or the number of keystrokes required to draft a sweatshops', the computers are running the people, not the other way around.

."I think people are going to feel an increased fragmentation of self. They won't be able to hold the pieces together,' human resources consultant Philip Nicholson says. "How do you keep a coherent space if you’re going in and out of spaces that don't exist?' He likens the psychic numbing of electronic information overload to symptoms of post- traumatic stress syndrome (a mental disorder following a horrific event). In office 'wars', people become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available, internalise the diversity of the world outside, and fear losing their own lives.

If we are to survive the challenges of information-driven, hardwired offices, says Nicholson, we need to provide psychological support systems. As no one has yet measured the social cost of the workplace revolution, some psychologists are mobilising efforts to pool information as it is derived. Nicholson started the Technostress International Information Network in Massachusetts to foster an exchange of data and ideas on the effects of computerization and information technology Meanwhile, Brod wants to examine the parallels between electronic work environments and sealed- cabin ecologies' like space capsules or submarines, both totally automated artificial worlds in which people live in highly confined circumstances surrounded by technology that dictates the tenor of their days as well as their survival. He is petitioning other psychologists to convince the American Psychological Association to form a specialised study group.

In addition, Brod suggests that we re-examine our value systems and that we make greater allowances for privacy in order to circumvent potential revolts against technology. We need to coevolve with technology,' he says. "These are wonderful tools, but if we exploit them without imposing appropriate values on their use, they become alienating and dangerous.'

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 1-3

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-E, below.

Write the correct letter, A-E, in boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet.

requires more detailed study by psychologists.
means people have no time to challenge the significance of the new technology.
may reduce inventiveness and innovation.
suggests computers will take over the workplace.
results from increased electronic supervision.

The speed of technological changes

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Waves of state-of-the-art information technology and instant telecommunications let us reach anyone, anywhere, and speed is the key.
Keyword : waves, states, telecommunication, anyone, anywhere
Keyword Location: paragraph 1, line 2
Explanation: According to paragraph 1, changes to the way we work and how our offices are set up happen more frequently. We are able to communicate instantly with anybody, everywhere because of advances in information technology.

A dependency on technology and computers

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: Craig Brod says people become accustomed to the patterns set by electronic tools - accelerated time
Keyword : accustomed, pattern, accelerated
Keyword Location: paragraph 2, line 5
Explanation: As per Craig Brod, who is quoted in paragraph 2, people internalise the patterns that electronic instruments establish over time. They require total isolation to recover from the impacts of the technology when they leave the office or go home, according to Brod.

A deterioration in personal service

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: have serious repercussions on our ability to think creatively and develop new ideas
Keyword : repercussions, ability, think
Keyword Location: paragraph 3, line 2
Explanation: As per paragraph 3, Brod warns that an over reliance on technology may seriously affect our capacity for original thought and the generation of new ideas. We don't produce in a vacuum, thus. We must resist the urge to replace casual get-togethers for exchanging ideas with colleagues with online networking.

Questions 4-9

Look at the following statements and the list of people below.

Match each statement with the correct person or people, A, B, c or D.
Write the correct letter, A, B, c or D, in boxes 30-35 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

List of People

Craig Brod

Daniel Dennett

Joseph Boyett and Henry Conn

Philip Nicholson

Technology has placed greater expectations on workers not to make mistakes.

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: the obligation to make accurate predictions - the right decisions - becomes more onerous.
Keyword : obligation, accurate, onerous
Keyword Location: paragraph 4, line 5
Explanation: Daniel Dennett, a philosopher, points out that the notion of unavoidable ignorance is no longer a possibility in paragraph 4. Making accurate predictions and the proper decisions becomes more difficult as the window of opportunity to gather information gets wider.

People will need time away from technology to reduce the frustrations caused by it.

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: When they leave the office or go home, Brod says, they need complete isolation to recover from the effects of the technology.
Keyword : home, isolation, recover, technology
Keyword Location: paragraph 2, last line
Explanation: Paragraph 2 states people internalise the patterns created by electronic instruments as they grow accustomed to them. They require total isolation to recover from the impacts of the technology when they leave the office or go home, as per Brod.

Interacting with others at work contributes to creative thinking.

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: over-reliance on electronic tools could also have serious repercussions on our ability to think creatively and develop new ideas
Keyword : over reliance, electronic tools, repercussions
Keyword Location: paragraph 3, line 1
Explanation: Paragraph 3 as per Brod, relying too heavily on technology could seriously impair our capacity for original thought. And it generates fresh concepts. We must resist the urge to substitute informal encounters for bouncing ideas off colleagues with electronic networking since we do not produce in a vacuum.

The psychological effect of working with technology is similar to the anxiety felt after surviving a major ordeal.

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: ."I think people are going to feel an increased fragmentation of self. They won't be able to hold the pieces together,' human resources consultant Philip Nicholson says.
Keyword : people, increased, fragmentation
Keyword Location: paragraph 8, line 1
Explanation: According to paragraph 8, Nicholson believes that people will experience a greater sense of self-fragmentation. They won't be strong enough to keep everything together. It suggests that people experience anxiety.

Technology will ultimately increase unemployment for more highly qualified personnel.

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: analysing information and making routine decisions will be replaced by less skilled workers using 'intelligent' software
Keyword : information, technology, decisions, replaced, skilled workers
Keyword Location: paragraph 5, line 5
Explanation: Authors Joseph Boyett and Henry Conn describe the future in paragraph 5. It will require millions of workers to analyse data and make everyday judgements. Less skilled people who use 'intelligent' software to make decisions for them will replace it. They forecast that most firms will become engulfed in a cult of performance perfection.

More counselling is required to help people cope with the demands of the modern workplace.

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: to survive the challenges of information-driven, hardwired offices, says Nicholson, we need to provide psychological support systems
Keyword : survive, challenge, psychological, support
Keyword Location: paragraph 9, line 1
Explanation: According to Nicholson, paragraph 9 states that we must overcome the difficulties of information-driven, hardwired offices. Systems of psychological support must be offered. Since the societal cost of the workplace transformation has not yet been calculated, some psychologists are mobilising efforts to gather data as it comes in.

Questions 10-14

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
In boxes 10-14 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

Our knowledge of the effects of technology on workers is still limited.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: the right decisions - becomes more onerous. Instead of consoling ourselves that we're doing as good a job as we can, we are tormented by the knowledge that the world of information is limitless.
Keyword : onerous, tormented, information
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, Lines 5-7
Explanation: As mentioned in the reading passage, knowledge has a role to play in the effects of technology. However, it remains limited.

An early indicator of technological anxiety is a tendency to adopt machine-like thinking.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: people become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available
Keyword : overwhelmed, sheer, information
Keyword Location: paragraph 8, line 2nd last
Explanation: As per paragraph 8, post-traumatic stress symptoms are exacerbated by electronic information overload. People become overwhelmed by the volume of information available during workplace "wars." They internalise the diversity of the outer world and are terrified of dying.

We have now started to doubt our ability to perform well at work.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: Brod suggests that we re-examine our value systems. We make greater allowances for privacy in order to circumvent potential revolts against technology.
Keyword : re-examine, value system, allowance, revolts, technology
Keyword Location: Last paragraph, 1st line
Explanation: As said in the previous sentence, Brod suggests that we reevaluate our moral principles. We allow for more privacy in order to avoid potential backlash against technology.