Reading: A Complex Argumentative Text AI and Society

A complex argumentative text AI and society is a C1 reading text in the academic-argumentative genre. The text presents a nuanced argument about AI’s social effects — neither uncritically positive nor reflexively negative — weighing productivity gains against displacement, capability extension against deskilling, accessibility against bias, transparency against opacity. The argument structure is sophisticated: thesis, supporting evidence, anticipated counterarguments, qualifications, conclusion. Learners read for argument-mapping, qualification-recognition, and analytical evaluation.

This worksheet builds C1 reading comprehension through a complex argumentative text.

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What’s inside:

• A C1 reading text (~650 words) presenting a nuanced argument on AI and society
• Pre-reading vocabulary box with AI-ethics and argumentation terms
• Comprehension items: argument-mapping, qualification-finding, evaluation
• Vocabulary-in-context: argumentation vocabulary
• Writing follow-up: identify the writer’s main qualifications and write your own response
• Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

Common challenges: Argument-structure reading at C1 requires explicit mapping — thesis, premise, support, counter, qualification, conclusion. Argumentation vocabulary: argue, contend, posit, premise, infer, qualify, concede, refute. Hedged language at C1: arguably, debatably, ostensibly, putatively. Recognising the writer’s commitment level on each claim.

For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR C1, in advanced classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study. Maps directly onto Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) and C2 Proficiency (CPE) Reading. Part of the Society & Issues Readings collection — the natural next step is Bias and Perspective in News Media, which extends C1 argumentative reading into the media-analysis dimension.