Casa · C1 Advanced · Lesson 20 of 20 · Step 2

Future of Humanity

Review: Advanced Transformations and Paraphrasing at C1 Level

Paraphrase complex sentences using a range of C1-level grammatical structures
Transform sentences between active/passive, personal/impersonal, formal/informal registers
Synthesise the grammar and vocabulary from the entire C1 course in extended discourse

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Grammar

Review: advanced transformations and paraphrasing at C1 level

C1-level paraphrasing requires command of all the structures studied in this course: nominalisation, complex passives, hedging, subjunctive, advanced reporting, inverted conditionals, discourse markers, reduced relatives, formal register, emphatic structures, ellipsis, semi-modals, concession, hypothetical past, register shifts, and lexical cohesion. Effective paraphrasing preserves meaning while changing structure, and demonstrates the writer's ability to manipulate language flexibly. Key transformations include: active → passive, personal → impersonal, clause → noun phrase, informal → formal, and direct → reported speech.

Original: 'Scientists believe AI will transform society.' → Paraphrase: 'It is widely believed that the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on society is inevitable.'

Original: 'If we don't act now, it will be too late.' → Paraphrase: 'Were we to fail to take immediate action, the consequences would be irreversible.'

Original: 'The technology is amazing but also dangerous.' → Paraphrase: 'Much as the technology represents a remarkable advance, it poses significant risks.'

Original: 'People should have started planning earlier.' → Paraphrase: 'It is high time that comprehensive planning had been undertaken.'

Exercises · type, then check

1. Paraphrase each sentence using the structure indicated in brackets.

1.Scientists think that AI poses risks. (Impersonal passive) →

2.If the government doesn't invest now, the opportunity will be lost. (Inverted conditional) →

3.The technology is impressive, but it raises ethical questions. (Advanced concession with 'much as') →

4.People should start taking this seriously. (It's high time) →

5.The rapid development of AI has created new challenges. (What-cleft for emphasis) →

2. Choose the best paraphrase for each sentence.

1. 'Nobody has ever faced a challenge like this before.'

2. 'If only we had prepared for this scenario.'

3. 'Experts say the trend will continue.'

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Reading

What Comes Next

It is widely acknowledged that humanity stands at a crossroads. The convergence of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and climate science has created a set of challenges and opportunities that are unprecedented in their scale and complexity. Were we to fail to address these challenges collectively, the consequences would be not merely inconvenient but existential. Much as technological optimists celebrate the possibilities of transhumanism and exponential innovation, the risks of uncontrolled development cannot be dismissed. Not only does the pace of change outstrip our capacity for regulation, but it also exceeds our ability to anticipate consequences. What concerns many thinkers is not technology itself but the structures of governance — or lack thereof — within which it operates. It is high time that intergenerational equity became a central principle of policy-making: the decisions taken today will shape the world inherited by those who had no voice in making them. Had previous generations exercised greater stewardship over the planet's resources, the current crisis would be far less acute. Granting that the future is inherently uncertain, it is incumbent upon us to act with both ambition and humility. The question is not whether the future will be transformed, but whether we will have shaped that transformation, or merely been swept along by it.

1. What does the passage identify as the central concern — technology itself or something else?

2. What principle does the passage argue should be central to policy-making, and why?

Speaking · say it out loud, with a partner or alone

1Give a short presentation (3 minutes) on the biggest challenge facing humanity this century. Use at least six different C1 grammar structures from across the course (e.g. nominalisation, inverted conditionals, emphatic structures, hedging, concession, discourse markers).

2Discuss with your partner: 'Had you been born a hundred years from now, what kind of world would you want to inherit?' Use a range of advanced structures in your response.

Writing

Write a formal essay paragraph (8–10 sentences) on the topic: 'What is the most important challenge facing humanity, and how should we respond?' Use at least eight different C1 grammar structures studied across this course.

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