The Rise of Artificial Intelligence - TOEFL Reading Test

In the TOEFL iBT^®exam, mastering the academic texts in English is very important for acing in the TOEFL Reading section. This segment mirrors the challenges of reading in English-speaking academic environments, assessing skills like identifying main ideas, extracting details, making inferences, and recognising text structure. Consistent practice is the key to excelling in this section. 

Our practice tests closely mimic the format and writing style of the actual exam, ensuring that you feel prepared and self-assured on  the test day. Therefore, join us in taking the TOEFL Practice Test centered on the passage 'The Rise Of Artificial Intelligence' to familiarise yourself with the test format and note the areas for improvement!

Reading Instructions

• You have 15 minutes to read the following passage and answer all 9 questions related to it.  
• Most questions are worth 1 point, but the last question is worth more. The directions indicate how many points you will receive for that specific question. 
• The specific section/paragraphs have been provided again with the question for ease of understanding and quick solution.
• Some questions include a word or phrase that is highlighted in the question as well as in the paragraph for quick reference. 

The Rise of Artificial Intelligence

Nowadays, AI has been rapidly growing and emerging from being an exclusive area of research to a major trend in society. Such developments have been influencing almost every sector and component of an individual's daily life. Artificial Intelligence (AI) are capable of carrying out activities like speech recognition, visual perception, decision making, and language translation replacing human intelligence. This could happen by involving and training algorithms on massive data sets to find patterns and make predictions. As a result, its achievements have led to the growth of AI in recent years.

In the 1940s and 1950s, one of the early pivotal moments in the history of AI research was the development of the first artificial neural networks. The interconnected nodes, or "neurones," process information quite similar to humans, as they were inspired by the structure and operation of the human brain. However, the development of more sophisticated AI systems faced obstacles by the early computers' low processing capability. In the 21st century, there has been an emergence of strong processors and the acquisition of enormous volumes of data, which is when artificial intelligence started to make major strides.

There have been numerous industries which have changed. AI is being used in the field of medicine to assess medical imaging, forecast patient outcomes, and help with medication development. AI systems are used in finance to gauge credit risk, detect fraudulent transactions, and supervise investment portfolios. In the automotive sector, artificial intelligence (AI) has become especially vital since it has made it possible to produce self-driving cars, which use advanced algorithms to safely move through traffic. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming widely used, enhancing customer support and personalising user experiences.

Even though AI has many benefits, the rise of AI has also raised many concerns as well. The most significant issue is the potential for job displacement, as AI systems can perform tasks which are usually done by humans, but not these can be done by AI more efficiently at a lower cost. Due to this, there are fears of massive unemployment and increasing inequalities. In addition, AI systems possess the potential to reinforce the prejudices that exist within their training sets, generating unfair or skewed results in fields like lending, hiring, and law enforcement.

The ethical effects of AI could be another challenge.  Since AI systems are more independent, transparency and accountability could be a problem.  It can be difficult to identify the faults such as in a self-driving car, where the manufacturer, the programmer, or the vehicle itself is AI generated. Along with that, there could be opportunity like the production of deepfakes.

Many governments and organisations around the world are debating on the best way to regulate AI in order to make its advancement and application consistent and inline with moral principles and societal norms. Some experts support the establishment of international frameworks and agreements while others stress that AI-systems' decision-making procedures can be comprehended and examined by people.

In the recent years, advancements in AI has led to its integration into a number of industries, including healthcare, banking, transportation, and entertainment. AI algorithms can manage financial portfolios, diagnose illnesses, optimise supply chains, and even produce art. While there are many possible advantages and hazards of AI technology, the progression has generated both excitement and anxiety. The ethical ramifications of AI are still being debated, despite these breakthroughs. Moreover, the algorithms used in AI are quite complicated and challenging to comprehend, giving a rise in concerns regarding its transparency.

Directions: Once you have read the passage, answer the following questions.

Paragraph 1 

Nowadays, AI has been rapidly growing and emerging from being an exclusive area of research to a major trend in society. Such developments have been influencing almost every sector and component of an individual's daily life. Artificial Intelligence (AI) are capable of carrying out activities like speech recognition, visual perception, decision making, and language translation replacing human intelligence. This could happen by involving and training algorithms on massive data sets to find patterns and make predictions. As a result, its achievements have led to the growth of AI in recent years.

1. According to Paragraph 1, all of the following are mentioned as capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) EXCEPT:
   1. Speech recognition
   2. Visual perception
   3. Language translation
   4. Human emotion simulation

Paragraph 2

In the 1940s and 1950s, one of the early pivotal moments in the history of AI research was the development of the first artificial neural networks. The interconnected nodes, or "neurones," process information quite similar to humans, as they were inspired by the structure and operation of the human brain. However, the development of more sophisticated AI systems faced obstacles by the early computers' low processing capability. In the 21st century, there has been an emergence of strong processors and the acquisition of enormous volumes of data, which is when artificial intelligence started to make major strides.

1. In paragraph 2, what was a significant early obstacle to the development of more sophisticated AI systems?
   1. Lack of interest in AI research
   2. Ethical concerns related to AI
   3. Limited processing capability of early computers
   4. Insufficient data for AI training

Paragraph 3

There have been numerous industries which have changed. AI is being used in the field of medicine to assess medical imaging, forecast patient outcomes, and help with medication development. AI systems are used in finance to gauge credit risk, detect fraudulent transactions, and supervise investment portfolios. In the automotive sector, artificial intelligence (AI) has become especially vital since it has made it possible to produce self-driving cars, which use advanced algorithms to safely move through traffic. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming widely used, enhancing customer support and personalising user experiences.

1. The word “self-driving cars” in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to
   1. To illustrate the limitations of AI in the automotive sector
   2. To provide an example of how AI is transforming an industry
   3. To discuss the potential ethical challenges of AI
   4. To compare AI with other forms of advanced technology

1. What can be inferred about the role of AI in different industries from Paragraph 3?
   1. AI is primarily used in industries where human decision-making is unreliable.
   2. AI's role in industries is limited to customer support and user experience personalization.
   3. AI's integration into various industries has led to advancements that would be difficult to achieve without it.
   4. The use of AI in industries like medicine and finance is still in its early stages.

Paragraph 4

Even though AI has many benefits, the rise of AI has also raised many concerns as well. The most significant issue is the potential for job displacement, as AI systems can perform tasks which are usually done by humans, but not these can be done by AI more efficiently at a lower cost. Due to this, there are fears of massive unemployment and increasing inequalities. In addition, AI systems possess the potential to reinforce the prejudices that exist within their training sets, generating unfair or skewed results in fields like lending, hiring, and law enforcement.

1. The word “displacement” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to
   1. Replacement
   2. Promotion
   3. Migration
   4. Growth

1. According to paragraph 4, which of the following is a concern related to the rise of AI?
   1. AI's inability to perform complex tasks
   2. The high cost of implementing AI systems
   3. The potential for AI to displace human jobs
   4. AI's limited application in law enforcement

Paragraphs 5

The ethical effects of AI could be another challenge.  Since AI systems are more independent, transparency and accountability could be a problem.  It can be difficult to identify the faults such as in a self-driving car, where the manufacturer, the programmer, or the vehicle itself is AI generated. Along with that, there could be opportunity like the production of deepfakes.

1. In Paragraph 5, the phrase "it can be difficult to identify the faults" refers to difficulties in:
   1. Understanding how AI systems operate
   2. Determining who is responsible for errors in AI systems
   3. Developing new AI technologies
   4. Integrating AI systems with other technologies

Paragraph 6

Many governments and organisations around the world are debating on the best way to regulate AI in order to make its advancement and application consistent and inline with moral principles and societal norms. Some experts support the establishment of international frameworks and agreements while others stress that AI-systems' decision-making procedures can be comprehended and examined by people.

1. The word "frameworks" in Paragraph 6 most nearly means:
   1. Physical structures used to support buildings
   2. Sets of guidelines or systems for managing something
   3. Detailed reports or studies on a subject
   4. Tools and equipment needed for a task

Paragraph 7

In recent years, advancements in AI has led to its integration into a number of industries, including healthcare, banking, transportation, and entertainment. (A) AI algorithms can manage financial portfolios, diagnose illnesses, optimise supply chains, and even produce art. (B) While there are many possible advantages and hazards of AI technology, the progression has generated both excitement and anxiety.  (C) The ethical ramifications of AI are still being debated, despite these breakthroughs. (D) Moreover, the algorithms used in AI are quite complicated and challenging to comprehend, giving a rise in concerns regarding its transparency.

Directions: Review the excerpt from the passage provided above. The letters (A), (B), (C), and (D) denote where the subsequent sentence could be incorporated.

1. As AI continues to advance, it is important to address both its benefits and its potential risks.
   
   Where would the sentence most appropriately belong?
   1. Choice A
   2. Choice B
   3. Choice C
   4. Choice D

Hold on!  Before checking your answers and matching them, explore the TOEFL Exam Pattern and Syllabus!

Answer Key with Explanation for TOEFL Reading Passage - The Rise of Artificial Intelligence

1.  Answer: D

Explanation:  The correct answer is option D. This question is asked for specific information from Paragraph 1. In the paragraph, they have listed capabilities such as speech recognition, visual perception, decision making, and language translation. However, human emotion simulation is not mentioned, making option D the correct answer.

2. Answer: C

Explanation: The correct answer is option C. The paragraph mentions that early AI systems faced many difficulties due to the low processing capability of early computers, which hindered their development. This is the reason that option C is the correct answer.

3. Answer: B

Explanation: The correct answer is option B. In the paragraph, the phrase "self-driving cars" has been used as an example and illustrates the transformative impact of AI on the automotive industry. The meaning closest to this information would be option B.

4. Answer: C

Explanation: The correct answer is option C. This question mentions the information through which conclusion has to be drawn. In Paragraph 3, it indicates that AI has brought significant advancements across multiple industries, suggesting that these improvements would be challenging without AI. Hence, the option C would be the correct answer.

5. Answer: A

Explanation: The correct answer is option A. The word "displacement" provided in the paragraph refers to the replacement of human jobs by AI systems. According to the paragraph, it also performs tasks more efficiently, making option A is the correct answer.

6. Answer: C

Explanation: The correct answer is option C. In this question, it asks for specific information about concerns mentioned in the paragraph. Paragraph 4 focuses on the concerns about job displacement which could happen due to AI systems since they would also affect human labor, as well as other related issues in the future.

7. Answer: B

Explanation: The correct answer is option B. The phrase "it can be difficult to identify the faults" suggests the difficulties and hindrances which one might face while assigning responsibility for faults found in AI systems. The paragraph particularly focuses on the time when multiple parties are involved.

8. Answer: B

Explanation: The correct answer is option B. In the context of paragraph 6, the word "frameworks" refers to structured guidelines or systems proposed for regulating AI in accordance with ethical standards. Therefore, option B is quite close to the word “frameworks” and explains the meaning perfectly.

9. Answer: C

Explanation: The correct answer is option C. This is an Insert Text question where you are required to select the appropriate place to insert the provided sentence within the passage. The sentence mentioned is about addressing both benefits and risks of AI and based on the paragraph, it fits best with Choice C. This is due to the fact that option C  discusses the excitement, anxiety, and ongoing debate about AI's ethical implications.

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