Read the text. Think of the word which best fits each gap. Write the correct word in each gap (9 – 16).
My new friend's a robot
In fiction robots have a personality, but reality is disappointingly different. Although sophisticated 9 to assemble cars and assist during complex surgery, modern robots are dumb automatons,10 of striking up relationships with their human operators.
However, change is11 the horizon. Engineers argue that, as robots begin to make12 a bigger part of society, they will need a way to interact with humans. To this end they will need artificial personalities. The big question is this: what does a synthetic companion need to have so that you want to engage13 it over a long period of time? Phones and computers have already shown the14 to which people can develop relationships with inanimate electronic objects.
Looking further 15, engineers envisage robots helping around the house, integrating with the web to place supermarket orders using email. Programming the robot with a human-like persona and16it the ability to learn its users’ preferences, will help the person feel at ease with it. Interaction with such a digital entity in this context is more natural than sitting with a mouse and keyboard.