Trabajo 4

Idioma Intermedio Intensivo

Participant: Franklin Lezama

 

Reading techniques for translations. (Part I)
 

Skimming is used to quickly identify the main ideas of a text. When you read the newspaper, you're probably not reading it word-by-word; instead you're scanning the text. Skimming is done at a speed three to four times faster than normal reading. People often skim when they have lots of material to read in a limited amount of time. Use skimming when you want to see if an article may be of interest in your research.

There are many strategies that can be used when skimming. Some people read the first and last paragraphs using headings, summarizes and other organizers as they move down the page or screen. You might read the title, subtitles, subheading, and illustrations. Consider reading the first sentence of each paragraph. This technique is useful when you're seeking specific information rather than reading for comprehension. Skimming works well to find dates, names, and places. It might be used to review graphs, tables, and charts.

Exercises
Read the following questions carefully. Then answer the questions. (In Spanish)

1. Robots - The Future

They have been around for years. They come in all shapes and sizes. When they were first invented nobody knew their importance. But, how soon will it be before they are so intelligent that they take over jobs which only human beings can do, such as, treating patients or constructing houses? You may wonder what I am talking about…..well, I am talking about robots.

 If we examine the possible advantages that robots could offer us in the future, we see that there are numerous. Just imagine if there was a robot that could carry out all of the housework, drive you about, prepare your food and build houses. How would your life be? I bet millions of people would say, "Just perfect". Having a robot to do all these things would undoubtedly save a lot of time and money.

 However, there are, of course, some disadvantages. I can envisage that in the future, possessing a robot will be very expensive, and perhaps only those elitists will be able to afford them. Something that might worry me a little, would be, 'what if the robot began to malfunction and started to destroy things?' I am sure that in the future, just as there may be robots that are good and helpful, there are also going to be those that are bad and made to kill. This is something extremely important to bear in mind.

 I think I can conclude by saying that although having a robot in the future could be extremely useful, I personally see more disadvantages than advantages. I am happy with my life at the moment even if I have to do my own ironing and cooking!

According to the speaker:

What jobs might robots be able to do in the future?

Tratar pacientes o construir casas.

What are the advantages of having a robot?

Las ventajas que los robots pueden ofrecer son numerosas; realizar todos los quehaceres domésticos, llevarlo en carro, preparar su comida y construir casas. Tener un robot que haga todas esas cosas hará indudablemente ahorrar mucho tiempo y dinero.

What are the main disadvantages?

En el futuro poseer un robot seria muy costoso, y solo aquellos podrán costearlos.

What concerns the speaker?

Lo que le preocupa es que pasaría si l robot comienza a mal funcionar y empieza a destruir cosas.

How does the speaker conclude?

Concluye que aunque tener un robot en el futuro podría ser extremadamente útil, el ve mas desventajas que ventajas, y que esta feliz con su vida hasta el momento, aunque tenga que hacer su propio planchado y comida.

 

2. Coat of Arms of England

The Coat of Arms was introduced by King Richard I of England in the 1190s, apparently as a version of the arms of the Duchy of Normandy.
Normandy currently uses two leopards, although an alternative historical version uses three leopards identical to the English arms.
According to one tradition, following the Norman Conquest an extra leopard was added to two existing Norman leopards to represent the combined Anglo-Norman realm. According to another tradition the two leopards were combined with the single lion of Aquitaine on the acquisition of these continental territories by the English Crown.

Other heraldic authorities have claimed that at an early stage in the development of heraldry the number of Norman leopards was not fixed and that it is simply a matter of design as to why England has ended up with three heraldic leopards (now called lions) and Normandy with two.

Now, answer the questions about the text.

1. The coat of arms of England was introduced by

•  the king.
•  the queen.
•  the president.

2. The three leopards represent the combined Anglo-Norman realm.

•  True.
•  False.
•  We don't know.

3. Normandy currently also has three leopards in its coat of arms.

•  True.
•  False.
•  We don't know.

4. Some people think that the number of leopards is simply a matter of design.

•  True.
•  False.
•  We don't know.

5. The coat of arms was created in the 1190s.

•  True.
•  False.
•  We don't know.

3. House of Commons

In many bicameral parliaments of a Westminster System, the House of Commons has historically been the name of the elected lower house. The Commons generally holds much more power than the upper house (the senate or House of Lords). The leader of the majority party in the House of Commons usually becomes the Prime Minister.

Historically, "the commons" were an estate in a traditional pre-Enlightenment European government which typically divided the governance of an area between "estates" of society. Other estates included the clergy, nobles, merchants and knights. The word "commons" has at times been confused with the word "commoner", but they are very different in this context. The House of Commons was created to serve as the political outlet for this "commons" class, while the elite estates were represented in the House of Lords. The House of Commons was thus elected by the people while members of the upper house were appointed on the basis of various forms of elite "merit", such as wealth, family, or prestige.
States with a House of Commons base their democratic systems upon this original British house of parliament (it is thus occasionally called "the mother of parliaments"). Many such places were part of the British Empire, and are now part of the Commonwealth of Nations. In distancing themselves from the rule of empire, they have often renamed that part of their government (or abolished it, e.g. in favour of a military dictatorship).

Most Westminster-system nations which originally used the term "House of Commons" have changed the name of their lower house to "the House of Representatives." There are only two existing Houses of Commons. These are the: British House of Commons (at the Palace of Westminster, London) and the Canadian House of Commons (on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa).

The House of Commons was also the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, before its abolition under the 1801 Act of Union, and the short-lived Parliament of Southern Ireland in 1920, which was subsequently superseded by the Dáil of the Irish Free State. Similarly, the House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Northern Ireland before its abolition in 1972.

Questions

Now, answer the questions about the text.
1. The Parliament is divided into two houses.

•  True.
•  False.
•  We don't know.

2. The leader of the majority party in the House of Commons is the Prime Minister.

•  True.
•  False.
•  We don't know.

3. The members of the House of Commons are elected by the people.

•  True.
•  False.
•  We don't know.

4. The British House of Parliament is called "the mother of parliaments".

•  True.
•  False.
•  We don't know.

 

5. All countries belonging to the British Empire have a House of Commons nowadays.

•  True.
•  False.
•  We don't know.

6. The Canadian House of Commons was abolished in 1801.

•  True.
•  False.
   We don't know.