English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate » Unit 33: Science and technology

Word List
  • 3D
  • alter
  • analyse
  • associated
  • branch
  • button
  • camcorder
  • cell
  • chemical
  • clone
  • combine
  • conclude
  • creation
  • digital
  • disk
  • display
  • dissect
  • enable
  • ergonomics
  • establish
  • experiment
  • extract v
  • feature
  • flash
  • flaw
  • function
  • genetic engineering
  • genetically modified
  • GM
  • GPS
  • high-definition
  • hydroponics
  • insert
  • install
  • interact
  • interpret
  • lever
  • light
  • molecular biology
  • molecule
  • organ
  • photo frame
  • press
  • problem
  • pull
  • react
  • rotate
  • satnav
  • smartphone
  • software
  • soil
  • stem cell research
  • structure
  • tablet (computer)
  • theory
  • traditional
  • utilise
  • voice technology
  • wheel
Exercises

33.1 ‣ Fill the gaps with words from A. Then say what branch of science each person is probably talking about.

  1. We grow the plants in liquids, without using s.
    Science:
  2. The software i_____ your speech and e_____ you to turn it into text.
    Science: _____
  3. We're interested in workplaces and how people i_____ with their working environment.
    Science: _____
  4. People are often worried. They feel that the c_____ of an exact copy of an animal is not morally right.
    Science: _____
  5. We study how human c_____ can be used to rebuild our bodies and to repair them when they are injured.
    Science: _____
  6. My work is concerned with the s_____ and f_____ of the organic molecules a_____ with living organisms.
    Science: _____
  7. Many people refuse to eat g_____ m_____ foods. They consider GM foods to be unnatural.
    Science: _____
  8. By manipulating DNA, we can a_____ hereditary f_____.
    Science: _____

33.2 ‣ What item do you think each person needs from B?

  1. 'I keep losing my way and I'm not good at reading maps.' Needs:
  2. 'My phone is so old I can't take any videos with it.' Needs: _____
  3. 'I'd love to be able to look at my photos any time I want to.' Needs: _____
  4. 'My old camcorder doesn't produce really sharp movies.' Needs: _____
  5. 'It was a fantastic film. I didn't mind wearing the special glasses. It was so realistic. I'd love to be able to do that at home.' Needs: _____
  6. 'I want something like a laptop with a touch screen that I can watch films on or read e-books.' Needs: _____

33.3 ‣ Match the sentence beginnings on the left with the endings on the right.

  1. These chemicals
  2. If you pull _____
  3. The zoologist extracted _____
  4. When you press _____
  5. They experimented _____
  6. I believe there is a flaw _____
  7. They had to dissect _____
  8. A red light started _____
  1. a) that button, it turns the printer on.
  2. b) to flash after a few seconds.
  3. c) react with each other.
  4. d) in the theory.
  5. e) that lever, it starts the machine.
  6. f) the animal to see why it died.
  7. g) the organs from the animal.
  8. h) with different liquids.

33.4 ‣ Use technical/scientific words from C instead of the words in bold.

  1. The wheel began to turn very quickly.
  2. Put in _____ the disk to get the software ready to work _____.
  3. We can put these chemicals together _____.
  4. You should use _____ the strongest material.
  5. We looked into _____ the problem and decided _____ that it was a computer virus.
Answer Key
A ‣ New sciences

You are probably familiar with the traditional branches of science, e.g. chemistry, physics, botany and zoology. But what about these more recently established fields?

fielddefinition / applications
genetic engineeringWorks with genetic material (DNA) of living things to alter1 features2. GM foods (genetically modified foods) are grown in some parts of the world.
ergonomicsStudies the design of physical working spaces and how people interact3 with them.
molecular biologyThe study of the structure4 and function5 of the molecules6 associated7 with living things.
voice technologyTechnology which enables8 machines to interpret9 speech, e.g. voice-to-text software.
stem cell researchThe study of the use of human cells10 to treat diseases and injury and to repair the body.
cloningThe creation11 of exact copies of plants or animals with the same genes as the original plants or animals.
hydroponicsThe science of growing plants without using soil12

1 change, usually slightly
2 typical qualities or important parts
3 communicate with or react to
4 the way that parts of a system are organised
5 purpose
6 the basic chemical units / groups of atoms
7 connected in our mind
8 makes possible
9 decide the intended meaning of
10 smallest basic part
11 making something new that did not exist before
12 the top layer of the earth’s of a plant or animal surface, in which plants grow

B ‣ Everyday technology


  1. smartphone

  2. tablet

  3. 3D TV

  4. high-definition (HD) camcorder

  5. Satnav/GPS [satellite navigation / Global Positioning System]

  6. digital photo frame

C ‣ Verbs used in science and technology

Note the collocations in bold.

He experimented with different materials before utilising1 the most suitable one.

The technician pressed a button and lights started flashing.

When she pulled the large lever2, the wheel began to rotate3.

The zoologist dissected4 the animal and extracted5 its organs.

When they were combined, the two chemicals reacted violently with each other.

After analysing the problem, she concluded that there was a flaw6 in the theory. Insert7 the disk into the DVD drive to install8 the software or visit the website to download it.

1 use (fml technical/scientific)
2 bar or handle that moves in order to control something (e.g. a machine)
3 turn (fml technical/scientific)
4 cut open (usually a dead body or plant) to study its parts
5 took out (fml technical/scientific)
6 fault, mistake or weakness
7 put in (fml technical/ scientific)
8 make it ready to use

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