Comprehension Practice
The third great defect of our civilization is that it does not know what to do with its knowledge. Science has given us powers fit for the gods, yet we use them like small children. For example, we do not know how to manage our machines. Machines were made to be manās servants; yet he has grown so dependent on them that they are in a fair way to become his master. Already most men spend most of their lives looking after and waiting upon machines. And the machines are very stern masters. They must be fed with coal, and given petrol to drink, and oil to wash with, and they must be kept at the right temperature. And if they do not get their meals when they expect them, they grow sulky and refuse to work, or burst with rage, and blow up, and spread ruin and destruction all around them. So we have to wait upon them very attentively and do all that we can to keep them in a good temper. Already we find it difficult either to work or play without the machines, and a time may come when they will rule us altogether, just as we rule the animals. And this brings me to the point at which I asked, āWhat do we do with all the time which the machines have saved for us, and the new energy they have given us?ā On the whole, it must be admitted, we do very little. For the most part we use our time and energy to make more and better machines; but more and better machines will only give us still more time and still more energy, and what are we to do with them? The answer, I think, is that we should try to become mere civilized. For the machines themselves, and the power which the machines have given us, are not civilization but aids to civilization. But you will remember that we agreed at the beginning that being civilized meant making and linking beautiful things. Thinking freely, and living rightly and maintaining justice equally between man and man. Man has a better chance today to do these things than he ever had before; he has more time, more energy, less to fear and less to fight against. If he will give his time and energy which his machines have won for him to making more beautiful things, to finding out more and more about the universe, to removing the causes of quarrels between nations, to discovering how to prevent poverty, then I think our civilization would undoubtedly be the greater, as it would be the most lasing that there has ever been.
Questions & Answers
1. Instead of making machines our servants the author says they have become our masters. In what sense has this come about?
This has come about because man has grown so dependent on them that they are in a fair way to become his master. Most men spend their lives looking after and waiting upon machines, which act as stern masters demanding specific requirements (coal, petrol, right temperature) and punishing non-compliance by becoming sulky or blowing up.
2. The use of machines has brought us more leisure and more energy. But the author says that this has been a curse rather than a blessing. Why?
Answer: The author implies this is a curse because instead of using the time and energy saved to become more civilized, we use our time and energy to make more and better machines, resulting in a cycle that merely produces more resources without advancing true civilization.
3. What exactly is the meaning of ācivilizationā? Do you agree with the authorās views?
Being civilized means making and linking beautiful things. Thinking freely, and living rightly and maintaining justice equally between man and man. (The source does not contain material to support an argument for agreement or disagreement.)
4. āMaking more beautiful thingsā ā what does this expression mean? Make a list of the beautiful things that you would like to make and how you would make them.
The expression āmaking more beautiful thingsā means giving time and energy to: finding out more and more about the universe, to removing the causes of quarrels between nations, [and] to discovering how to prevent poverty. (The source does not contain information to list personal items or plans.)
5. Mention some plans you may have to prevent poverty in the world. Who would receive your most particular attention, and why?
The source does not contain information regarding personal plans to prevent poverty or attention given to specific groups.