At the Science Club
1. Listen and read.
Dr. Nelson: Well, as you know, developments in science and technology are greatly changing the way we live, communicate, travel, everything...
Duong: You mean science and technology are changing our lives in every field?
Dr. Nelson: Right.
Duong: For the better?
Dr. Nelson: Mostly for the better. Science and technology also have enormous effects on economic development.
Nick: Well, my dad told me that only robots would work in factories and clean our homes in the future. Is it right, Dr. Nelson?
Dr. Nelson: Sure. And we'll have flying cars and spaceships so that we can travel faster and further than before.
Chau: So we won't have traffic jams any more?
Dr. Nelson: No, we won't. Science and technology are the keys to development in other fields too. They will certainly bring a lot more benefits to people.
Chau: And what about education? Our science teacher said that there would be no more schools: we'd just stay at home and learn on the Internet.
Dr. Nelson: That's right. Students won't go to school like now...
Duong: Wow! I hope that happens soon.
a. Find the words in A in the conversation. Then match them to the words in B with similar meanings.
| A | B |
| 1. developments 2. field 3. enormous 4. economic 5. the keys 6. benefits | a. the answers b. area c. progress (n) d. big e. money-making f. help |
b. Answer the questions.
1. Where are Nick, Duong, and Chau?
2. What is the subject of Dr. Nelson's talk?
3. What fields are science and technology greatly changing?
4. What did Nick's dad tell him?
5. What did Chau's science teacher say?
c. Work with a partner. What fields are mentioned in the conversation which are affected by science and technology?
d. Put a word/ phrase from the box in each blank.
flying cars economic development field space the key
1. Technology in the __________ of telecommunications has developed greatly over the last decade.
2. In the future, ordinary people may travel into __________ on spaceships.
3. He said he worked very hard and that was __________ to his success.
4. An international meeting on __________ took place in Singapore last week.
5. If we had __________ now, we could solve the problem of traffic jams.
Look out!
Can you explain the difference between science and technology?
2. Put one of the words/ phrases from the box in each gap. There is one extra.
science subjects technology technique
machines scientific progress researchers
1. Her teacher said she was really good at __________ but she was not very good at English.
2. Advances in __________ have improved crop yields by over 30%.
3. Cancer __________ have made great progress, but many aspects of this disease need further study.
4. Scientists will be trying to invent __________to teach children at home.
5. Thanks to __________, our world will be transformed greatly.
3. Give the opposite of the words in brackets, using the prefix un- or im-.
Example: necessary → unnecessary
1. This is a species of insect previously (known) __________ to biologists.
2. I don't like science fiction novels much. I think they are (realistic) __________.
3. It is almost (possible) __________ to keep up with the latest developments in computing.
4. The teacher said that accurate measurement was (important) __________ in this experiment.
5. Fortunately, the river flowing through our town is (polluted) __________.
4. GAME: FIND SOMEONE WHO...
Ask your classmates Yes/ No questions, using do and will. If they say 'Yes' to a question, write their name in the box. A names can be written down only once. The first person to get a name in each box is the winner.
