Learn English with 2001: A Space Odyssey

• ☐ ☐ ☐ rotate [v] - turn around
• ☐ ☐ ☐ an operational record [n] - a history of how well something has worked
• ☐ ☐ ☐ famous last words [exp] - something said before someone dies
• ☐ ☐ ☐ carry out [phv] - do, complete
• ☐ ☐ ☐ an analysis [n] - a careful study of something
• ☐ ☐ ☐ indicate [v] - show, point to
• ☐ ☐ ☐ integrity [n] - honesty, strong moral character
• ☐ ☐ ☐ the surest way [exp] - the most certain way
• ☐ ☐ ☐ put one's finger on [exp] - identify exactly what is wrong
• ☐ ☐ ☐ carry on [phv] - continue
• ☐ ☐ ☐ wrap up [phv] - settle, conclude, end the discussion
• ☐ ☐ ☐ alternatives [n] - other options
• ☐ ☐ ☐ as far as (s/o) is concerned [exp] - regarding (someone)
• ☐ ☐ ☐ an aspect [n] - one part
• ☐ ☐ ☐ ship operations [n] - how a ship is controlled and run
• ☐ ☐ ☐ be under (s/o)'s control [exp] - be controlled by (someone)
• ☐ ☐ ☐ malfunction [v] - fail to work correctly
• ☐ ☐ ☐ ground-based [adj] - operated from the surface of the earth
• ☐ ☐ ☐ disconnection [n] - cutting off, shutting something down
• ☐ ☐ ☐ tricky [adj] - difficult, complicated
• ☐ ☐ ☐ work out [phv] - find a solution
• ☐ ☐ ☐ regulatory [adj] - relating to automatic control, maintaining normal operation
• ☐ ☐ ☐ foul up [phv] - make a serious mistake

[n] - noun,  [v] - verb,  [phv] - phrasal verb,  [adj] - adjective,  [exp] - expression

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Dr. Dave Bowman	Dr. Frank Poole	HAL 9000

• Discovery I is on a mission to Jupiter to investigate a mysterious signal.
• Dave Bowman is the mission commander. Frank Poole is his deputy.
• HAL 9000 is an advanced computer that controls the spacecraft and can speak with the crew.
• HAL predicted a fault in the AE-35 communication unit.
• Dave went on a spacewalk to inspect it but found nothing wrong.
• Mission control has warned that their twin 9000 computer disagrees with HAL's prediction, suggesting HAL may be making an error.

1. Dave and Frank enter an EVA pod to ______.
   check the computer
   speak privately
   repair the unit
   
   
2. Frank says he has a bad feeling about ______.
   the mission
   the ship
   HAL
   
   
3. Dave says HAL's suggestion to do the failure-mode analysis shows HAL ______ integrity.
   has
   doesn't have
   
   
4. Dave ______ with HAL about the 9000's perfect operation record.
   agrees
   disagrees
   
   
5. Dave and Frank agree to ______.
   contact mission control
   put the unit back
   ask HAL for help
   
   
6. Frank believes that if the unit ______, it will prove that HAL is malfuntioning.
   fails
   doesn't fail
   
   
7. HAL currently controls ______ of the ship operations.
   all
   almost all
   half
   
   
8. Frank wants to ______ HAL if they prove that HAL is malfunctioning.
   disconnect
   replace
   repair
   
   
9. Dave says no 9000 computer has ever ______ before.
   been disconnected
   harmed a human
   lied
   
   
10. Dave says he is worried about ______.
    what is causing HAL's behavior
    the failure of the mission
    how HAL will react
    
    

Score:

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Directions: What expressions from the video have the same meaning as the highlighted expressions in the sentences below?

Instrucciones: ¿Qué expresiones del video tienen el mismo significado que las expresiones destacadas en las oraciones siguientes?

Instruções: Quais expressões do vídeo têm o mesmo significado que as expressões destacadas nas frases abaixo?

지시 사항: 아래 문장에서 강조된 표현과 같은 의미를 가진 표현을 영상에서 찾아보세요.

Інструкції: Які вирази з відео мають те саме значення, що й виділені вирази в реченнях нижче?

1. It was his idea to [ do ] the failure-mode analysis, wasn't it?

   [ carry out ]

   Show Hide
   
   
2. It should certainly [ signal, show ] his [ trustworthiness ] and self-confidence.

   [ indicate ] [ integrity ]

   Show Hide
   
   
3. I can't [ identify exactly ] what it is, but I sense something strange about him.

   [ put my finger on ]

   Show Hide
   
   
4. I can't think of a good reason not to [ continue ] with the failure-mode analysis.

   [ carry on ]

   Show Hide
   
   
5. I don't think we'd have any [ other options ].

   [ alternatives ]

   Show Hide
   
   
6. If he were proven to be [ not working correctly ], I wouldn't see how we'd have any choice but disconnection.

   [ malfunctioning ]

   Show Hide
   
   
7. It'd be a bit [ complicated ].

   [ tricky ]

   Show Hide
   
   
8. We'd have to [ figure out ] the transfer procedures for continuing the mission under ground-based computer control.

   [ work out ]

   Show Hide
   
   
9. No 9000 computer has ever [ messed up ] before.

   [ fouled up ]

   Show Hide
   
   

Directions: Write sentences about the video clip using the words given. You can change the word form or add words, but you cannot change the word order.
Use a present time frame (tense).
( ) = optional   [ ] = necessary

Instrucciones: Escriba oraciones sobre el videoclip usando las palabras dadas. Puede cambiar la forma de la palabra o agregar palabras, pero no puede cambiar el orden de las palabras. Usa el tiempo presente.
( ) = opcional   [ ] = necesario

Instruções: Escribe oraciones sobre el videoclip usando las palabras dadas. Puede cambiar la forma de las palabras o agregar palabras, pero no puede cambiar el orden de las palabras. Usa tiempo presente.
( ) = opcional   [ ] = necessário

지시 : 주어진 단어를 사용하여 비디오 클립에 대한 문장을 씁니다. 어형을 변경하거나 단어를 추가할 수 있지만 어순은 변경할 수 없습니다. 현재 시제를 사용합니다.
( ) = 선택 사항   [ ] = 필수 사항

Інструкції: Напишіть речення про відеокліп, використовуючи подані слова. Ви можете змінювати форму слова або додавати слова, але не можете змінювати порядок слів.
Використовуйте теперішній час.
( ) = необов'язково   [ ] = обов'язково

Dave / Frank / enter / EVA / pod / speak / private / away / HAL

Dave and Frank enter an EVA pod (in order) to speak privately, away from HAL.

Dave / Frank / enter / EVA / pod / so / they / speak / private / away / HAL

Dave and Frank enter an EVA pod so (that) they can speak privately, away from HAL.

Frank / say / he / have / bad / feel / about / HAL / but / he / not / put / finger / why

Frank says (that) he has a bad feeling about HAL, but he can't put his finger on why.

Dave / point / out / HAL / suggestion / carry / failure-mode / analysis / show / integrity

Dave points out (that) HAL's suggestion to carry out the failure-mode analysis shows (his) integrity.

they / agree / put / unit / back / and / continue / analysis

They agree to put the unit back and continue (with) the analysis.

Frank / state / if / unit / not / fail / they / be / in / serious / trouble

Frank states (that) if the unit doesn't fail, they will be in serious trouble.

Frank / say / if / HAL / malfunction / they / have to / disconnect / him

Frank says (that) if HAL is malfunctioning, they will have to disconnect him.

Frank says (that) if HAL were malfunctioning, they would have to disconnect him.

Dave / note / no / 9000 / computer / ever / be / disconnect / before

Dave notes (that) no 9000 computer has ever been disconnected before.

he / wonder / how / HAL / react / it

He wonders how HAL [will/would] react to it.

This scene does not appear in the novel by Arthur C. Clarke. Kubrick invented it because film cannot easily show a character's private thoughts the way a novel can.

In the book, Bowman and Poole never speak openly about their suspicions — their unease is described by the narrator. Instead, Clarke gives us something the film cannot: a chapter told from HAL's point of view, explaining why he is behaving strangely.

Read the passages below and think about these questions:

Chapter 24 – Breakdown

When the face of Dr Simonson, the Chief Programmer, appeared on the screen, Poole and Bowman knew this could only mean trouble.

"This is Mission Control. We have looked into your AE 35 difficulty, and both of our Hal 9000s are in agreement. The report you gave of a second failure only makes us more certain.

"The fault does not lie in the AE 35, and there is no need to replace it again. The fault is in the connecting wires, and this suggests a problem with programming. We can only repair this if you disconnect your 9000 and switch to Earth Control. You will therefore take the following steps, beginning at 22.00 Ship Time...

The voice died away. At the same time, the alarm system sounded, and then Hal's voice said, 'Condition Yellow! Condition Yellow!'

"What's wrong?" Bowman said, though he had already guessed the answer.

‘The AE 35 unit has failed, as I said it would.’

Chapter 27 – Hal's Secret

Since he had first become conscious, in that laboratory on Earth, all Hal's powers and skills had been pointed in one direction. The only reason for his existence was to complete the mission.

But since the ship had left Earth, he had been troubled by a secret he could not share with Poole and Bowman. And the time was fast approaching when his colleagues would learn that he had deceived them.

The three hibernators already knew the truth, but they could not talk in their sleep. But Poole and Bowman had not been told. It was a secret that was very hard to hide, because it affected a person's attitudes and their voice. So, the two active members of the crew, who were in regular contact with Earth, would only learn the mission's full purpose when they needed to know.

The reason for this meant nothing to Hal. He knew a secret and he wanted to tell it to Poole and Bowman. He couldn't tell it, so he had begun to worry. He had also begun to make mistakes, though he could not admit this to himself.

But, worse than any tension, he had been threatened with disconnection. To Hal, this was the same as death. Because he had never slept, he did not know that it was possible to wake up again. So, he would protect himself, with all the weapons at his command. And then, following the orders that had been given to him in case of a serious emergency, he would continue the mission alone.

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1. In Chapter 24, how does HAL react to the Mission Control message? What does this tell us about him?
2. According to Chapter 27, what secret is HAL hiding? Why is he hiding it?
3. The novel says HAL "had begun to make mistakes, though he could not admit this to himself." What does this suggest about HAL's self-awareness?
4. In the film, Dave and Frank try to speak privately but HAL hears everything. Does Chapter 27 help explain how HAL might have felt listening to them?
5. Which version do you find more frightening — the film's HAL or the novel's HAL? Why?

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[ printable .docx ]

1. Why do Dave and Frank go into the EVA pod to have their conversation? Why does going into the EVA pod fail?
2. Who seems more suspicious of HAL — Dave or Frank? What is your evidence?
3. Frank says they would have "no alternatives" but to disconnect HAL. Can you think of any other options that they might have?
4. What are (at least) two reasons that they are worried about disconnecting HAL?
5. At the end, Dave wonders what HAL would think about being disconnected. How do you think HAL would feel?
6. Do you know of any stories about how modern AI systems have reacted to being disconnected?