Speaking Boost · B1 · Lesson 47 of 50
Speaking Boost B1 · Block 10: The Future and Final Review

How should a self-driving car decide?

40 million people's decisions from 233 countries and territories: the Moral Machine asked what a car should do when its brakes fail. Discuss moral dilemmas, talk about grey areas, and learn the Third Conditional for past choices.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Right or wrong?

Answer and give a real example for each one.

  1. Have you ever found money in the street? What did you do?
  2. Is it ever OK to lie?
  3. What is the most difficult decision you have ever made?
  4. Do you always tell your friends the truth about how they look?
  5. Would you tell a friend if their partner was cheating?
  6. Who do you ask for advice in a difficult situation?
2

Words and phrases

10 min
2.1

New words

For each word or phrase, say one true sentence or give your opinion.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word or phrase that fits.

  1. Should I tell her the truth or not? It's a real .
  2. It's not about the law — it's a question.
  3. It was difficult, but I did the .
  4. I didn't like the dinner, but I told a and said it was delicious.
  5. The manager knew about the problem but .
  6. My wouldn't let me keep the money.
  7. I felt for not calling my grandmother.
  8. You should always people who are being bullied.
2.3

Meanings

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. to pretend not to see = to turn a blind
  2. not clearly right or wrong = a grey
  3. never = under no
  4. to not keep a promise = to
    a promise
  5. always supporting someone =
  6. a small kind lie = a
2.4

Useful phrases

Use each phrase to discuss difficult choices.

  • If I were in that situation, I'd...Якби я був(-ла) у тій ситуації, я б...If I were in that situation, I'd call the police.
  • I'd probably... but I'm not sure.Я б, мабуть,..., але не впевнений(-а).I'd probably keep quiet, but I'm not sure.
  • It depends on...Це залежить від...It depends on how much money it is.
  • Under no circumstances would I...За жодних обставин я б не...Under no circumstances would I lie to my children.
  • I'd feel guilty if...Я б почувався(-лася) винним(-ою), якби...I'd feel guilty if I didn't help.
  • If I had known..., I would have...Якби я знав(-ла)..., я б...If I had known she was sick, I would have visited her.
  • It's a grey area.Це сіра зона.Using AI for homework? It's a grey area.
  • The right thing to do would be to...Правильно було б...The right thing to do would be to tell the truth.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

The moral machine

Read the article. Hover over the dotted words for help.

How should a self-driving car decide?

Imagine a self-driving car. Its brakes suddenly fail. It can stay on its road and hit three old people crossing the street, or turn and hit two young people on the pavement. What should it do?

This is a modern version of a famous philosophical puzzle called the "trolley problem". With self-driving cars, it has become a real question for engineers. So researchers at MIT created an online game called the Moral Machine, where people could choose what the car should do in different situations.

The response was enormous. In a study published in 2018, the team analysed about 40 million decisions from people in 233 countries and territories. Some preferences were found almost everywhere: people preferred to save humans rather than animals, more lives rather than fewer, and young people rather than old.

But there were also interesting cultural differences. For example, in some countries, people showed a weaker preference for saving young people over older people. The researchers suggested that culture and values shape what we think is the "right" choice.

The study didn't give engineers a simple answer. But it showed that moral decisions are rarely black and white, and that before machines make life-and-death choices, societies need to discuss what they believe is right.

3.2

True or false?

  1. The trolley problem is a famous philosophical puzzle.
  2. The Moral Machine was a real car tested on the roads.
  3. About 40 million decisions were analysed.
  4. People almost everywhere preferred saving animals over humans.
  5. The study showed cultural differences in moral choices.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. What would you choose in the self-driving car situation? Why?
  2. Should machines ever make life-and-death decisions?
  3. Why might different cultures answer differently?
  4. Who should decide how cars are programmed: engineers, governments or the public?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Second Conditional (review)

Imaginary present or future: If + Past Simple, would + verb.

If I found a wallet, I would take it to the police.

Third Conditional

Imaginary past (it didn't happen): If + had + past participle, would have + past participle.

If I had known, I would have helped. If she hadn't told me, I wouldn't have found out.

Questions

Ask about imaginary situations.

What would you do if...? What would you have done if...?

Third Conditional is great for regrets and stories: If I hadn't missed the bus, I wouldn't have met my husband! Careful: ✗ If I would have known... → If I had known... ✗ I would helped → I would have helped.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. If I
    €1,000 in the street, I'd take it to the police.
  2. If I
    about the problem, I would have helped.
  3. What
    if your friend asked you to lie for them?
  4. She
    failed if she had studied.
  5. If he hadn't told the truth, he
    guilty.
  6. If I
    you, I'd tell her now.
  7. If we
    the train, we would have arrived on time.
  8. I
    you if I had had your number.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. If I would have known, I would have come. →
  2. If she had asked me, I would helped. →
  3. If I find a wallet, I would keep it. →
  4. If they hadn't lie, nobody would have known. →
  5. What would you have do in my place? →
  6. If I had more money, I would have bought a car yesterday. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use the Second and Third Conditionals.

  1. What would you do if you saw a colleague stealing from the company?
  2. Tell about a decision in your past: what would have happened if you had chosen differently?
  3. If you could change one decision in your life, what would it be?
  4. What would you have done if you had been born 100 years ago?
  5. When was the last time you told a white lie? What would have happened if you'd told the truth?
  6. Under what circumstances would you break a promise?
5

Moral dilemmas

8 min
5.1

What would you do?

For each dilemma: what would you do and why? What would you feel? Then think of a real dilemma from your past: what did you do, and what would have happened if you had done the opposite?

Dilemma 1

The wallet

  • You find a wallet with €500 and an ID
  • There's no one around
  • You really need money this month
  • What would you do?
Dilemma 2

The friend

  • Your best friend's partner is cheating
  • Your friend is very happy right now
  • The partner asks you to keep quiet
  • What would you do?
Dilemma 3

The job

  • Your colleague made a big mistake
  • The boss thinks it was you
  • If you tell the truth, your colleague will lose their job
  • What would you do?
5.2

Grey areas

Give your opinion: right, wrong, or a grey area? Explain.

  1. Is it OK to download films for free?
  2. Is it OK to use AI to write a work report?
  3. Is it OK to call in sick when you're just tired?
  4. Is it OK to lie about your age online?
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. When did you last do the right thing even though it was hard?
  2. Are you good at keeping secrets?
  3. Have you ever broken a promise?
  4. When did your conscience stop you from doing something?
  5. Are you more loyal or more honest?
  6. Have you ever stood up for someone?
  7. What is a white lie you often tell?
  8. What would you never forgive?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Should children be taught to always tell the truth?
  2. Is it OK for politicians to lie to protect the country?
  3. Should you report a friend who breaks the law?
  4. Are people more honest online or offline?
  5. Do different generations have different morals?
  6. Who taught you the difference between right and wrong?
6.3

Part III: Thinking deeper

  1. Is it ever right to lie?
  2. Should machines make moral decisions?
  3. Is loyalty more important than honesty?
  4. Are people born good or bad?
  5. Can a good person do bad things?
  6. Is morality the same in every culture?
7

Roleplay

10 min
7.1

The ethics panel

You

Ethics expert

You are an expert on a TV panel discussing self-driving cars and AI. Explain your views:
  • what the Moral Machine study showed
  • what you think cars should be programmed to do
  • who should be responsible when something goes wrong
  • what would happen if we let machines decide everything
Speak for at least 3 minutes in total. Use the Second and Third Conditionals.
Your teacher

TV host

Asks tough questions, for example:
  1. What would you do if you were the engineer?
  2. Would you buy a car that might choose to sacrifice you?
  3. What if the AI had made a mistake?
  4. Should we stop developing these cars?
7.2

The advice line

You

Advice line volunteer

You answer calls on a radio advice line. A caller (your teacher) has a moral dilemma. Help them:
  • listen and ask questions
  • explain the different options
  • say what you would do if you were them
  • help them decide
You do most of the talking. Use: If I were you, I'd... · If you did that, ... · It depends on... · The right thing to do would be to...
Your teacher

Caller

Chooses one dilemma:
  1. "I saw my boss's child shoplifting."
  2. "My friend copied my work and got a better grade."
  3. "I found out a secret about my sister's husband."
8

Debate

7 min
8.1

Agree or disagree?

"It's sometimes right to lie."

Ideas for

White lies protect people's feelings. Lies can save lives in dangerous situations. Total honesty can be cruel.

Ideas against

Lies destroy trust. One small lie leads to bigger ones. People deserve to know the truth. There are kind ways to tell the truth.

Round 1: give your real opinion for 1–2 minutes. Round 2: defend the opposite side for 1 minute. Use: If I were in that situation... · If I had known... · It depends on... · Under no circumstances...

9

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

dilemmawhite lieconscienceguiltytemptedloyalstand up forgrey area
  1. Which job should I choose? It's a real .
  2. I told a to protect her feelings.
  3. My told me to give the money back.
  4. I felt after I shouted at my son.
  5. I was to eat the whole cake.
  6. He's very to his old friends.
  7. You should always your friends.
  8. Is it cheating or not? It's a .
H2

Second or Third Conditional?

  1. If I a wallet, I'd return it.
  2. If I yesterday, I would have helped.
  3. What if you won the lottery?
  4. She if she had studied.
  5. If I you, I'd apologise.
  6. If we the bus, we wouldn't have been late.
  7. I you if I had remembered.
  8. If he me the truth, I wouldn't have been angry.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. If I had known, I would have helped.
  2. If I would have known, I would have come.
  3. If I found money, I would return it.
  4. If she had asked, I would helped.
  5. If I were you, I'd tell the truth.
  6. If they hadn't lied, nobody would have been hurt.
  7. What would you have do?
H4

Match the two halves

  1. If I were in that situation,
  2. I'd probably keep quiet,
  3. It depends on
  4. Under no circumstances
  5. I'd feel guilty if
  6. If I had known she was sick,
  7. The right thing to do would be

Finished the lesson?

Mark it as complete to keep track of your progress.