Task 5 ---- Brain Mapping

Task 5: Brain Mapping

As the two articles, "A computer that can 'read' your mind" and "Ethics and mapping the brain", indicate that nowadays, technology is so developed that it is possible to detect what a person is thinking about and make predictions from brain imaging. In fact, it is a two-side sword. On the one hand, it could help cure mental illness such as paranoid schizophrenia, and solve criminal problems. On the other hand, it could be inaccurate and be abused, leading to ethical controversial.

As a researcher of brain mapping, it is the responsibility to predict and minimize the unethical abuses of the technology. Just as Lou Marano stated in his article "Ethics and Mapping the Brain" (2003), such technology may be used to test an unwilling criminal defendant, an innocent child to determine his talent, and be controlled by some people who are not authorial enough. All these are the potential ethical problems.

In order to minimize these unethical abuses, firstly, I should try my best to improve the accuracy of the test and convince the public to accept the evidence in court. More importantly, it is necessary to convince the government to agree the evidences to be effective, such as by making laws or setting rules. That is to say, the police would have the right to test an criminal defendant using the brain mapping technology, just like the right to take notes about what a defendant says which are effective in court. Secondly, as a researcher, I would suggest a systemic access for brain mapping test. To be more detailed, the test should be done by those people who are professional on this technology; while the system must be run by the government officials to ensure the privacy. Furthermore, within such system, test should to be restricted to those with a reasonable need such as medical care or legal defense, rather than the personal predictions. Last but not least, in principle, the cost should be paid personally as it is for personal reasons no matter medical or legal aspects. However, as it is a large amount of money, it is unpractical for ordinary people to use. Therefore, the government needs to aid a certain percent of the cost to push such technology into market.

All in all, although the brain mapping technology is a two-side coin, we can try to maximize its advantages and reduce the unethical abuses by a legal, systematic and restricted policy.

References:
(1) Lou Marano, June 3, 2003, Ethics and Mapping the Brain, in the Washington Times. Retrieved on October 29th, 2008, form http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/neuro/brain_mapping_rthics.htm
(2) National Science Foundation. (2008, May 30). A computer that can 'read' your mind [Press release 08-091]. Retrieved October 29th, 2008, from http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=111641&org=olpa&from=news

Task 4--- Difficulties in writing in Engineering classes

The Difficulties in Writing in Engineering Classes

There are always some writing assignments in engineering courses, such as experiment reports, some questions which need to be answered in words, and sometimes essays. Just as same with other academic writings, there comes along with the difficulties in writing.

To start with, there are different difficulties with different kinds of writing, even within a same task. For instance, when writing an experiment report, the most common writing assignment in engineering classes, it needs high accuracy in describing the processes with all the single words. It makes a big difference to the experiment result if a single word changes. Here are three very similar sentences: (1) Pour HCl into NaCO₂ slowly; (2) Pour HCl into NaCO₂; (3) Pour XXml (some certain large amount) HCl into NaCO₂ at once. As we can see, the results are totally different between the first one and the third one, while the second one can be considered wrong due to its inaccuracy. Besides the language, the organization can have the same importance, because for almost every experiment, it should be done continuously, thus requires a very clear flow of statements for the processes. To sum up, it should be accurate, clear and quite straight forward. In contrast, when writing the discussion section, it requires more about contents (ideas) and logic.

To solve these problems, of course the first thing is to work hard to get clear concepts and ideas about what I am writing. In other words, it is to make the content valuable. Apart from this, it is also very important to improve the language for writing. In fact, in the past time, if I am mot sure about my expressions, I would just refer to some other reports to check whether it is usually reported in a certain way. However, it is only a temporary solution obviously. I think I really need to read more and learn more, not only about the academic reports, but also other good English works. Only in this way, I can accumulate more knowledge and experience to master the language well. At the same time, practice plays an inevitably role, since it is always the best way to understand and remember. All in all, although the difficulties in writing in engineering classes may come up in different forms, they can be solved if the academic knowledge are well-mastered and language can be improved.

Task 3: Article Summary

Lack of clean water is a very serious problem. Many people have no adequate access to clean water, and even suffer from the poor health due to the lack of basic sanitation. Actually, the total amount of water is in abundance in the world. However, some of the water cannot be used directly like the salty water and the water in forms of ice and snow. Furthermore, the water available to use is distributed improperly in the whole world and some are polluted both by human and naturally. Besides, many groundwater aquifers are used too fast to replenish because of the inefficient ways of using. While, water is so important that we use it in many areas with the agriculture and industry as a major. It becomes one of the greatest challenges to overcoming the crisis in water and sanitation for engineers who have historically provided methods to meet water supply and quality needs. To meet current needs, the methods will have to be more sophisticated. One large-scale approach used in many countries is to divert water from some regions to others; whereas it is an explosive political issue since it reduces water for some people as it is diverted to others. Another solution is about desalination, which is to extract the salt from seawater, and has already been used. It is effective but expensive and mainly suitable for seaside cities. It is considered that new technologies may help lower the cost like nano-osmosis. Nevertheless, it is still not enough to solve the problem. Then, engineers are providing more methods to solve the water problem. Technologies like recycling of wastewater and sewage treatment are being developed. Different technical approaches are also available through strategies of reducing water use, such as improved technologies with higher efficiency and small decentralized distillation units. In addition, technical solutions must be developed within a system where the inequities for poor people who have to seek out water supplies at higher costs are recognized and addressed.

Reference:

Provide access to clean water, Grand Challenges for Engineering , National Academy of Engineering, 500 Fifth Street, NW | Washington, DC 20001 | T. 202.334.3200 | F. 202.334.2290

Retrieved on Sep 29, 2008.

From http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/8996/9142.aspx

Task 2--- Grammar Structure

Task 2: Grammar Mistakes ---- Adjective

Grammar is a very important point when we write our essays. It can influence the whole essay, and we should pay attention to it to make our essay more smooth and accurate. But there are some mistakes that we usually make without recognition. As to myself, one of the common mistakes is about adjective. After doing some research on the Internet, I want to share with you what I know about the grammar structure on adjective.

To start with, adjective is defined as the words which are used to decorate or restrict nouns or pronouns directly or indirectly, such as “big”, “many”, “afraid” and so on. It can be abbreviated as “adj.”. Then what is the difference between directly and indirectly? Usually we call them in two different ways, which are attributive (for directly decoration) and predictive (for indirectly decoration)? When we say “She is a beautiful girl”, “beautiful” here is an attributive; while when we say “She looks very beautiful”, then “beautiful” is a predictive. To sum up, adjective is used as an attributive when it is put before the object, and as a predictive when after the object. However, there are two special cases. One is that the adjective should be put behind the object when the object is an indefinite pronoun, like “something important” and “nothing serious”. The other exception is that once the adjective is related to measurement, it should be put behind. For instance, “we have dug a hole two meters deep”.

After introduction about how to use adjective generally, here are some special rules. Firstly, for the comparative degree, we add –er behind or “more” before it; for the superlative degree, we add –est behind “most” before it. But there are some special cases like “good-better-best”, we need to remember them specifically. Secondly, for many cases, we can change an adjective to an adverb by simply adding –ly behind, such like “quick” and “quickly”. Lastly, it is important to order the adjectives which are used to decorate the same object. We usually order them in this manner:
(1) expressing people’s opinion, like “nice”, “horrible”;
(2) figuring the shape, like “short”, “narrow”;
(3) indicating age, like “old”, “new”;
(4) representing color, like “white”, “red”;
(5) showing the nationality, “British”, “Chinese”;
(6) stating material, like “plastic”, “metal”.
So, as a whole, it should be like: nice long new black British plastic pen.

These are the basic grammar structures for adjective. In order to master them well, it is more important to use them more, and to remember by heart. Practice can always make things better!

So now, it is the time for practicing. Try the exercises below, and check the answers. See how well you can master adjective.

Exercises:
1. (comparative degree)
--- How large is your city?
--- It is ______ yours.
A. larger three times than
B. larger than three times
C. as three times large as
D. three times as large as
Answer: D
2. (comparative degree)
--- Is Mr. White out of danger?
　 --- No, ______ than before, I am afraid.
A. no better B. a little better
C. not worse D. no worse
Answer: A
3. (words used to decorate adj.)
--- The disease he suffers is not easy to cure.
--- I know, but is he ______ better?
A. much B. rather C. any D. little
Answer: C
4. (comparative degree)
He is more diligent than ______ in his class.
A. all the students B. anyone
C. any other student D. everyone
Answer: C
5. There was a ______ change in the weather, and the rain came pouring down.
A. quick B. slow C. fast D. sudden
Answer: D
6. You can speak ______ in front of him, but you can’t eat ______ in his restaurant.
A. freely; freely B. free; freely
C. freely; free D. free; free
Answer: C
7. Tom will not be at the picnic, ______ to the family’s disappointment.
A. much B. more C. too much D. much more
Answer: A
8. --- I have seen so little of Mike ______. Is he away on business?
　 --- Oh, no. He just leaves for his office early and comes back very ______.
　A. later; lately B. later; later
C. lately; late D. late; lately
Answer: C
9. From his ______ voice on the phone I know everything is well under way.
A. satisfactory B. satisfying
C. satisfied D. satisfaction
Answer: C
10. --- He is ______ a brave man.
--- We cannot admire his courage ______.
A. actually; very much
B. indeed; too a lot
C. really; too much
D. truly; a bit
Answer: C
11. The Education Ministry suggests teachers should receive ______ education to catch up with the ______ development.
A. farther; late B. farther; later
C. further; lately D. further; latest
Answer: D
12. --- Why did she spend so much time searching shop after shop only for a blouse?
--- Oh, she was very ______ about her clothes.
A. pleased B. particular C. worried D. curious
Answer: B
13. (words used to decorate adj.)
His voice was quite ordinary, and not ______ angry.
A. a little B. very much
C. a bit D. plenty of
Answer: C
14. Oh, boy, why are you killing your time this way? Can’t you find something else ______ doing at all?
A. useful B. valuable C. worth D. good
Answer: C
15. --- Mum, we have got to be ______ and buy only what we need.
--- Oh, I am glad to hear that.
A. practical B. content C. familiar D. actual
Answer: A
16. Mr. Smith was ______ with the boys who had picked flowers in his garden without his permission.
A. strict B. gentle C. delighted D. cross
Answer: D
17. --- If you’re free tonight, I’d like to invite you to a football match.
--- That is nice of you, but are you ______?
A. rich B. careful C. serious D. true
Answer: C
18. Attention please, everybody! Please keep ______ for a moment. And let me take a photo.
A. calm B. still C. silent D. quiet
Answer: B
19. (words used to decorate adj. in comparative degree)
That night I felt especially tired and went to bed ______earlier than usual.
A. quite B. rather C. fairly D. so
Answer: B
20. (the position of adj. and words used to decorate adj.)
--- Doctor, have I got a bad cold?
--- Oh, there is not ______ with you.
　A. anything wrong much
B. anything much wrong
　C. much wrong anything
D. wrong much anything
Answer: B
21. --- She seems a ______ waitress.
---Yes, each of us always feels______ with her good manners and service.
　A. pleased; pleased
B. pleasant; pleasant
　C. pleased; pleasant
D. pleasant; pleased
Answer: D
22. Sending short messages by mobile phones has become a ______ way to send festival greetings in recent years in China.
A. welcome B. popular C. general D. simple
Answer: B
23. (comparative degree and superlative degree)
I think whoever makes ______ contributions to the company than others should get ______ income.
　A. greater; the higher
B. more greater; a higher
　C. greater; a higher
D. more greater; the highest
Answer: C
24. (order of adj.)
While tidying the room, Jim found the ______ toy bought for him as a birthday present.
　A. fine plastic small
B. plastic fine small
　C. small fine plastic
D. fine small plastic
Answer: D
25. People are encouraged to speak openly, but careless remarks are _____to hurt others’feelings.
A. possible B. probable C. likely D. sure
Answer: C
26. (order of adj.)
If the doctor had not been here yesterday, ______ babies would have died.
　A. the all poor little
B. all the poor little
　C. the poor all little
D. all the little poor
Answer: B



References:
(1) He Tian Yu, 14 December, 2006, English Grammar: Adjective.
Retrieved on 9th September, 2008.
From: http://www.enfang.com/english/2006-12/6191.htm
(2) He Tian Yu, 1 July, 2007, English Grammar: Adjective and Adverb, Adjective and the grammar structure.
Retrieved on 9th, September, 2008.
From: http://www.enfang.com/english/2006-07/3164.htm
(3) He Tian Yu, 4 March, 2007, Grammar Exercises: Adjective and Adverb.
Retrieved on 10th September, 2008.
From: http://www.enfang.com/english/2007-03/8611.htm

Challenges for engineering

These two articles, "Introduction to the Grand Challenges for Engineering" and "The expanding world of engineers", are mainly talking about the challenges for engineering as we can see in the titles. In my opinion, there are actually two main parts in both articles: one is about the achievements of engineering, and the other is the great challenges for engineering in the future.

Firstly, based on the past, we know that engineering is such a powerful hand that it always brings us all kinds of benefits. In terms of transportation, it gives us so much convenience since the birth of wheel to the invention of airplane. In terms of agriculture, it provides us many valuable techniques to make more and healthy food. Especially in our daily life, engineering makes our life more colorful and enjoyable in different ways, such as building high-rise buildings and manufacturing electronic goods. It is too much to list all the things that engineering brings to us. Its power makes the world more like a village where we are getting closer and closer.

However, our modern world is not so peaceful in spit of all the accomplishments by engineering. It is a fact that the resource in our world is limited and demand is keeping growing, we are facing more and more problems about of lack of resource. For example, the demand for water can seldom be satisfied in many places; energy shortage also causes problems in our life, and even wars; and global warming seems like to engulf the whole world. More importantly, the problem is becoming a global issue. No matter the problems are about our personal health or the stabilization of our society or any other aspects, it is a big challenge for the engineers. Furthermore, such challenge is not isolated any more. Engineers should consider the integrality of the world, and treat the planet’s people as a whole. Engineering’s responsibility is not only coming up with better technologies, but more importantly to make our world a better place to live in.

The achievements by engineering in the past are enormous, while the challenges in the future for engineering are much greater.

Hello

Hello,
I am Rao Ying, or if you think it is difficult to pronounce, you can call me catherine.
Actually, this post is just to say hello to all of you, since you know the blog looks so empty at this very first beginning.
Very glad to know all of you, and hopefully we all can do better and have a big improvement in English!
And Good Luck~~~~