国際教養AO入試 reference, Science Issues Basics Questions w/Answer Keys

1.    What is the most famous global warming gas?

2.    What gas causes the ozone hole?

3.    What are the two opposing opinions about GM crops?

4.    In 2015, world’s leading intellectuals, including Stephen Hawking, warned against unrestricted development of AI. Why are they so concerned about it?

5.    Many scholars predict that AI will take over most of the jobs now exist, causing job losses comparable to those that happened during the Industrial Revolution. Should we be worried about it?

6.    Are Surveillance States bad?

7.    Describe the importance of the fundamental research and the application research respectively.

8.    Why does science sometimes go wrong?

Answer Keys

1.    What is the most famous global warming gas?

It is carbon dioxide (CO2).

2.    What is the most famous gas that causes the ozone hole?

It is the kind of gas called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

3.    What are the two opposing opinions about GM crops?

One is the opinion that genetically modified crops will promote productivity with less fertilizers and pesticides and that it is necessary in solving the problem of food shortage. The other opinion is that they can be harmful to the environment because they are unnaturally produced. Also, there is a concern that GM foods will perish small farmers because their seeds are expensive.

4.    In 2015, world’s leading intellectuals, including Stephen Hawking, warned against unrestricted development of AI. Why are they so concerned about it?

The point is the rapid rate of AI evolution, which human evolution cannot keep up with. Since AI is not human but can outsmart us, it could bring about something harmful by making a decision that humans would not. For example, now computers can deal stocks within seconds. Probably, they may be selling or buying stocks that a humane and prudent dealer would leave untouched. Autonomous cars are too complacent to rules to avoid accidents. Drones are causing collateral damages among civilians. No matter how sophisticated they are, machines cannot have the warmth of and respect for life that only life itself can have, and AI is a machine. Future AI would be a super intelligent sociopath, with no concern about humans or nature, and it is natural that visionaries should state concerns.

                                         

5.    Many scholars predict that AI will take over most of the jobs now exist, causing job losses comparable to those that happened during the Industrial Revolution. What should be done with it?

It is necessary to create new jobs and change the way we work so that most people can survive. It might be a good idea to work on education system and help people become more familiar with science and can work on research and development related to global warming.

6.    Are Surveillance States bad?

It is bad because of privacy violation. The internet, surveillance cameras, and satellites can make individual lives transparent. It is true that the system helps spot criminals but it rarely prevents crimes. Power tends to try to watch and control the subject and the tendency in itself is dangerous because of the ownership of the system, non-human, of humans.

7.    Describe the importance of the fundamental research and the application research respectively.

Fundamental research is important because it is the activity of pure interest in nature, which is very human, and also it often makes unexpected discovery or creation that is beneficial. Application research is important because it is focused on the solution of the current problems.

8.    Why does science sometimes go wrong?

It is because humans are imperfect, ignorant, and weak. Also, society cannot keep up with the rate of development of technology.