4000 Essential English Words 5 » Unit 20: Microchips

Word List
  • aggregate [ˈӕgrəgit] adj.
    When a number is aggregate, it is made up of smaller amounts added together.
    → The company totaled its aggregate sales for the entire year.
  • antibiotic [ˈæntibaiˈɒtik] n.
    An antibiotic is a medical drug used to kill bacteria and treat infections.
    → The doctor gave me a shot of an antibiotic when I got the flu.
  • circuit [ˈsəːrkit] n.
    A circuit is a piece of an electronic device that allows electricity to flow.
    → Be very careful not to shock yourself when fixing an electrical circuit.
  • complement [ˈkɒmpləment] v.
    To complement something or someone is to make them better.
    → The wool scarf complemented her lovely eyes.
  • compress [kəmˈpres] v.
    To compress something means to press or squeeze it so that it takes up less space.
    → I compressed my clothes to fit into a single suitcase.
  • database [ˈdeitəbeis] n.
    A database is a collection of data that is stored in a computer.
    → The company has a database of all the names and accounts of their customers.
  • equivalent [iˈkwivələnt] n.
    An equivalent is an amount or value that is the same as another amount or value.
    → I worked the equivalent of sixty hours this week.
  • immune [iˈmjuːn] adj.
    When someone is immune to a disease, they cannot be affected by it.
    → Children usually get shots to make them immune to certain diseases.
  • input [ˈinput] n.
    Input is information that is put into a computer.
    → Type the input into the computer program.
  • intimate [ˈintəmit] adj.
    When a relationship is intimate, the two things are very closely connected.
    → I only tell my secrets to my most intimate friends.
  • magnet [ˈmægnit] n.
    A magnet is a piece of iron or other material which attracts iron toward it.
    → I used a magnet to pick up the nails that were scattered on the floor.
  • metabolism [məˈtæbəlizəm] n.
    A person’s metabolism is the way chemical processes in their body use energy.
    → If you exercise every day, your metabolism speeds up.
  • microchip [ˈmaikrouˌtʃip] n.
    A microchip is a small device inside a computer that holds information.
    → I can put more data on my computer if I buy a more powerful microchip.
  • phase [feiz] n.
    A phase is a stage in a process or the gradual development of something.
    → The first phase in the recycling project involves finding volunteers to help out.
  • pinch [pintʃ] v.
    To pinch means to take a piece of skin between one’s fingers and squeeze.
    → I pinched my nose, so I couldn’t smell the odor from the garbage.
  • prevalent [ˈprevələnt] adj.
    When something is prevalent, it is common.
    → Growing a beard is more prevalent behavior in men than women.
  • quantum [ˈkwɒntəm] adj.
    When something is quantum, it relates to the behavior of atomic particles.
    → The physics student studied quantum mechanics.
  • ratio [ˈreiʃou] n.
    A ratio is a relationship between two things expressed in numbers or amounts.
    → The boy to girl ratio is one to three.
  • spiral [ˈspaiərəl] n.
    A spiral is a shape which winds round and round in a larger and larger circle.
    → A strand of DNA looks like two interlocking spirals.
  • viral [ˈvaiərəl] adj.
    When something is viral, it is a disease or infection that is caused by a virus.
    → The girl was in bed fora week when she had a viral infection.
Exercise 1

Choose the answer that best fits the question.

  1. Where would you find a microchip?
    • a. In a salad
    • b. In a laptop
    • c. In a chair
    • d. In your dog
  2. What is found at a quantum level?
    • a. A comet
    • b. Atomic particles
    • c. A scale
    • d. Biological theories
  3. What does a magnet attract?
    • a. Metal
    • b. Trees
    • c. Water
    • d. Plastic
  4. What is an example of a ratio?
    • a. Rough to smooth
    • b. Cat to dog
    • c. Two to one
    • d. Black and white
  5. What is the equivalent of 60 minutes?
    • a. One hour
    • b. 30 minutes
    • c. One day
    • d. One century
Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the word bank.

WORD BLANK
spiral database prevalent antibiotic
immune input ratio viral
phase magnet    

The doctors just found out that the infection is 1___________ .
Since a virus is not a bacteria, it cannot be treated with a(n) 2___________ .

He looked at the information that was stored in the 3___________ .
After comparing the data, he expressed the results in a 4___________ .

The process of building the house is in the final 5___________ .
The last step is putting in a staircase in the shape of a 6___________ .

We learned what metals are attracted to a 7___________ .
We fed our results into the computer as 8___________ .

In this country, polio is not 9___________ .
It is highly uncommon because most people are 10___________ thanks to vaccines.

Exercise 3

Write a word that is similar in meaning to the underlined part.

  1. Walking was the most common form of transportation in the big city.
    ____________
  2. We are now ready to begin the first particular stage in the process.
    ____________
  3. Do the doctors know if the condition is a disease caused by a virus?
    ____________
  4. Some people don’t believe in taking drugs used to treat infections.
    ____________
  5. We were offered a bottle of sparkling cider to go well with our meal.
    ____________
  6. I seem to have lost some of the information that is put into a computer.
    ____________
  7. I wish they wouldn’t store personal information in the collection of data in the computer.
    ____________
  8. His grandmother loves to take a piece of skin and squeeze his cheeks.
    ____________
  9. I don’t really understand my body’s way that chemical processes cause food to be used.
    ____________
  10. A spring looks like a shape which winds round and round.
    ____________
Exercise 4

Write C if the italicized word is used correctly. Write I if the word is used incorrectly.

  1. ______ The microchip was damaged when she spilled water on the computer.
  2. ______ Quantum mechanics deals with planets and stars.
  3. ______ People with fast metabolisms are usually thin and in good shape.
  4. ______ I compressed the sponge into a little ball.
  5. ______ You should pinch your homework if you want to get it turned in on time.
  6. ______ I was amazed by the aggregate total of donated gifts and money.
  7. ______ The children played all day on the circuit.
  8. ______ Dressing and pepper complemented the tasty salad.
  9. ______ Intimate friends should not tell lies about each other.
  10. ______ This tuba is the equivalent of a set of drums.
Answer Key
Exercise 1
  1. b
  2. b
  3. a
  4. c
  5. a
Exercise 2
  1. viral
  2. antibiotic
  3. database
  4. ratio
  5. phase
  6. spiral
  7. magnet
  8. input
  9. prevalent
  10. immune
Exercise 3
  1. prevalent
  2. phase
  3. viral
  4. antibiotics
  5. complement
  6. input
  7. database
  8. pinch
  9. metabolism
  10. spiral
Exercise 4
  1. C
  2. I
  3. C
  4. C
  5. I
  6. C
  7. I
  8. C
  9. C
  10. I
Answer Key
Microchips

The bond between humans and computers is becoming more intimate than ever before. Scientists are now putting microchips inside people’s bodies. They are made up of compressed electrical circuits that can detect and record data about the body. They are tiny, but they hold the equivalent amount of data as most computers.

A microchip is put to use inside a person with a simple procedure. First, a doctor must put data about the patient onto a chip. Input about the person’s age, race, gender, and medical history is stored on the chip. The second phase of the process involves putting it in the person’s skin. The doctor pinches a piece of skin and cuts a tiny hole with a tool shaped like a spiral. The chip is inserted, and the skin is allowed to heal. At last, it begins the task of putting data into its database.

Microchips scan the patient’s body to record what is happening on the quantum level. They can find problems with the person’s metabolism and organs. They can also detect viral infections. They can find the aggregate number of immune and infected cells and present the results in a ratio. They can even tell doctors what type of antibiotic to give to the patient!

To recover the chip’s data, the doctor uses a special magnet that copies it. This way, the doctor can put the information from the chip onto a computer. Then they can find out exactly what is wrong with the person.

The idea of putting chips in humans is still very new. However, it is now becoming more prevalent. Scientists and doctors are hopeful about the future uses of microchips. Someday, all new babies might get a microchip soon after they are born. Doctors will be able to know about any problems from the very beginning. It is obvious that medicine and computers complement each other well.

Reading Comprehension

Part A: Mark each statement T for true or F for false. Rewrite the false statements to make them true.

  1. _____ Microchips are made up of compressed electrical circuits.
    • _____________________________________________________
  2. _____ Chips express the aggregate number of immune and intimate cells in a ratio.
    • _____________________________________________________
  3. _____ Chips detect viral infections and problems with people’s metabolism.
    • _____________________________________________________
  4. _____ A doctor pinches the skin and cuts a hole with a tool shaped like a spiral.
    • _____________________________________________________
  5. _____ Putting antibiotics in humans is becoming more prevalent.
    • _____________________________________________________

Part B: Answer the questions.

  1. What does the doctor’s special magnet do?
    _____________
  2. What holds the equivalent amount of storage as most computers?
    _____________
  3. After the input is stored on the chip, what is the next phase of the process?
    _____________
  4. What do microchips do to record what is happening on the quantum level?
    _____________
  5. What complements each other, according to the passage?
    _____________
Answer Key
Answer Key
Reading Comprehension
Part A
  1. T
  2. F / Chips express the aggregate number of immune and infected cells in a ratio.
  3. T
  4. T
  5. F / Putting microchips in humans is becoming more prevalent.
Part B
  1. The special magnet copies the chip’s data.
  2. Microchips hold about the same amount of data as most computers.
  3. The next phase of the process involves putting it underneath the person’s skin.
  4. Microchips scan the patient’s body.
  5. Medicine and computer technology complement each other.
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