Answer:
To tell the reader that the teacher was not human
To gain the readers attention
Step-by-step explanation:
The given line in the question was taken from the story book, "The Fun They Had". The book was written by author, Isaac Asimov. It is a science fiction story book written for children. It is a story that depicts the future world and the education system. It shows how modernization and computers have taken the classroom and the studies.
The author used the prelude to put an impression on the readers that the teacher was not a human but computerized robot who performs the duty of a teacher. The author added the prelude with an intention to gain the attention of the readers at first instant.
It is an effective way to achieve declaration of an intention in the text or to suggest the topic of the text indirectly.