1

The author of Mathematics and Physics section: I v a n k a F e r č e c : A

C o u r s e i n Scientific English, Odjel za matematiku, Sveučilište u Osijeku,
Osijek, 2001.
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PART ONE

MATHEMATICS
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Mathematics

UNIT 1
Introduction to Mathematics and numbers
Tuning-in
Task 1
Try to answer the following questions:

1) What are numbers?

2) What are integers?
3) What are digits?
Note: the word digit comes from a Latin word meaning finger.
4) What types of numbers are you familiar with?

5) What is the difference between 3.142 and 3,142?

Task 2
Explain the difference between the following pairs of words:
1) cardinal - ordinal numbers

2) odd - even numbers

3) common fractions - decimal fractions

Task 3
Define the following terms in mathematics and give examples:
a prime number, a three-digit number, a number line.
Note: a two-, three-, four-, etc. digit number, but numbers from 0-9 are known as
one- or single-digit numbers.
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Mathematics

Reading 1
Task 4
Read the following text to check some of your answers to Tasks 1-3.

Mathematics and numbers

It is said that mathematics is the basis of all other sciences, and that arithmetic
is the basis of mathematics. Numbers consist of whole numbers (integers) which
are formed by digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and by combinations of them.
E.g. 247 - two hundred and forty seven - is a number formed by three digits. Parts
of numbers smaller than 1 are sometimes expressed in terms of fractions, but in
scientific usage they are given as decimals. This is because it is easier to perform
the various mathematical operations if decimals are used instead of fractions.
The decimal is always represented by point, and not by comma which is reserved
for thousands. The main operations are: addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division, taking a root and raising to the power. The decimal, or ten-scale system,
is used for scientific purposes throughout the world. The other scale in general use
nowadays is the binary, or two-scale, in which numbers are expressed by
combinations of only two digits, 0 and 1. Thus, in the binary scale, 2 is expressed
as 010, 3 is given as 011, 4 is represented as 100, etc. This scale is perfectly
adapted to the “ on-off” pulses of electricity, so it is widely used in electronic
computers.
Other branches of mathematics such as algebra and geometry are also
extensively used in many sciences and even in some areas of philosophy.
Finally, a knowledge of statistics is required by every type of scientist for the
analysis of data.

Language study 1

Mathematical symbols
Scientific texts can easily be recognised by the use of diagrams, symbols, formulae
and equations. They are the same in all written languages but are pronounced
differently.
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Mathematics

Task 5
How would you pronounce the following?
√
1) 32 = 9 6) 53 − 3 27 = 122
2) (a + b)4 7) (a + b) − (c + d)
√ √
3) 81 » 3 8 8) log[2]a
4) bn 9) 12x : 4 = 3x
5) b ≤ 8 10) a4 · a3 = a7
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Mathematics

Language study 2

Irregular plurals
Many scientific and technical terms which have come into English from other
languages like Latin and Greek form their plurals in a completely different way.
There- fore, they are often referred to as irregular plurals. Some of them are given
below.

radius, radii
nucleus, nuclei
locus, loci
axis, axes
analysis, analyses
basis, bases
ellipsis, ellipses
hypothesis, hypotheses
parenthesis, parentheses
matrix, matrices or matrixes
index, indices or indexes
appendix, appendices or appendixes
vertex, vertices
apex, apices or apexes
criterion, criteria
phenomenon, phenomena
formula, formulae or formulas
abscissa, abscissae or abscissas
maximum, maxima
minimum, minima

Task 6
Give the Croatian equivalents of the above nouns.

Word study

Task 7
Arithmetical operations on numbers include addition, subtraction, division and
multiplication.
One number may be added to another. The result is called the sum. The sum of 9
and 14 is 23, i.e. 9 plus 14 equals 23, or 9 plus 14 is equal to 23.
Make similar statements using these words:

1) subtracted/difference
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Mathematics

2) multiplied/product
3) divided/quotient
Pay attention to the necessary preposition.

Task 8
An integer is even if it is divisible by 2.
An integer is odd if it is not divisible by 2.
An integer is divisible by 3 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3.
Now make similar statements about the divisibility of integers by:
1) 10
2) 9
3) 4
4) 8
5) 5
6) 6
7) 11

Reading 2
Task 9
Read the texts and identify the types of numbers listed in the two texts. Give their
definitions.

The number system

The set of positive and negative integers consists of all the natural numbers 1,
2, 3, 4..., plus the same numbers preceded by the minus sign, -1, -2, -3, .... We can
represent any of these numbers on the number line. We can also represent frac-
tions of numbers, e.g. 1.5, 23, −3.4 etc., on the number line. The rational numbers
are composed of both the integers (or whole numbers) and the non-integers (or
fractions). All rational numbers may be represented as a fraction where both the
denominator and the numerator are integers, whereas irrational numbers cannot √
be expressed in this way. Irrational numbers include numbers like π (3.14159), 2 2
√
(1.41421), 3 5 (1.70997) and so on. All these numbers, both rational and irrational,
make up the set of real numbers, and may be represented as points on a number
line. Imaginary numbers, on the other hand, √ cannot be represented as points on
a number line. They include numbers such as 2 −1, which is usually expressed by
the symbol i. Finally, a complex number is a number which contains both a real
√
number and an imaginary number, for example 6 + 2 −4.
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Mathematics

Task 10
a) Say whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false
statements.
1) If m and n are integers, mn is a rational member.
2) The set of irrational numbers includes negative integers.
3) Neither irrational numbers nor complex numbers may be represented as
points on a number line.
4) The symbol i represents a complex number.
5) A complex number consists of at least two parts.

b) Describe the following numbers:

3 √ √
3
2, 1.41, 27
−4, ,
5
Example: 2.5 positive rational non-integer.

Task 11
a) Label this diagram as you read the passage:

This diagram consists of two lines. The horizontal line is called the x-axis; the
vertical is called the y-axis. They intersect at the origin O. Together, these
two axes are called the co-ordinate axes. The axes separate the diagram into
four quadrants. The top right-hand quadrant is known as the first quadrant,
the top left the second, the bottom left the third, the bottom right the fourth.
Starting from the origin, label the points to the right on the x-axis 1, 2, 3, 4,
etc... and to the left -1, -2, -3, and so on. On the y-axis, starting from the
origin, label the points above the origin 1, 2, 3, 4 ... and the points below
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Mathematics

the origin -1, -2, -3, etc. Now any point in the plane may be represented
in the relation to the two axes by two numbers. For example, the point P is
represented by two numbers, (4, 2). These numbers are called the co-ordinates
of point P. The x-co-ordinate, 4 is called the abscissa of P. The y-co-ordinate,
2 is called the ordinate of P. The system is known as the Cartesian co-ordinate
system.
b) Say whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false
statements.
1) The abscissa of the point Q is 3.
2) The co-ordinates of the point R are (-1, 2).
3) The co-ordinates of the point P are (2, 4).
4) The two axes divide the plane into four quadrants.
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Mathematics

UNIT 2 Fractions
Tuning-in

Task 1
Answer the following questions:

1) How can you define fractions?

2) How many types of fractions are you familiar with?

3) How often do you use fractions in everyday life? On which occasions?

Reading 1

Section 1 Vulgar or common (proper) fractions

Section 2 Decimal fractions

To write a decimal fraction we use a decimal point.
For example, if we convert 2 14 into a decimal fraction, the result is 2.25 (two point
two five).
If we c onvert 32 into a de cimal fraction, t he result is 0 .6˙ (nought point six recurring).
Note that 17 : 3 = 5.6 or 5.67 correct to two decimal places.
Note also that π is equal to 3.142 correct to four significant figures.

Task 1 Vocabulary practice

Using single words, fill in the blank spaces in the following sentences :

1) In the vulgar fraction seven ninths is the numerator and is

the .
2) To a vulgar fraction to a decimal fraction, we simply the
numerator by the denominator.

3) The of two thirds and a half is six.

4) An integer plus a fraction makes a .

5) An improper fraction exists when the is greater than the .

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Mathematics

6) To multiply a decimal fraction by ten, we simply move the

one place to the right.

7) 57.074 correct to is 57.1.

8) To add or subtract vulgar fractions, we must them

their lowest common denominator.

9) To divide a decimal fraction by we simply move the decimal point one

to the .

10) 5/2 x 2/9 becomes 5/9 if we _____________- the two`s.

Task 2 Vocabulary practice

Using single words, fill in the blank spaces in the following sentences:

1) The of three and four is twelve.

2) The operation which uses the symbol : is called .

3) Forty-eight thirty-six equals twelve.

4) The result of a division problem is called the .

5) A whole number is also known as an .

6) Any number consists of combinations of .

7) Eighteen subtracted twenty equals .

8) Three multiplied five equals .

9) When we two quantities, for example seven plus twelve, the answer
(nineteen) is called the .

10) The product is the result when one quantity is another.

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Mathematics

Task 3
Fill in the blank spaces in the following sentences and answer the respective
questions:

A number such as 35 is called a . A fraction comprises two parts, a

and a . The denominator is the number the line.
1) What is the numerator?
2) What are the numerator and denominator separated by?
If the numerator is than the denominator, the fraction is known as a proper
. If the denominator is less than the , the fraction is known as an
fraction. In the fraction 102
153
both the denominator and the numerator
may be by the same number ( ) to give 23. This is called or
reducing the fraction.
3) Can the following fractions be reduced?
28 40 41
70 64 105

Reading 2

Ratio, proportion and percentage

Section 1 Ratio and proportion
The ratio of two quantities is the magnitude of one quantity relative to the other.
Division of quantity a by quantity b gives the ratio ab , which can also be written as
a : b and is read as ’the ratio of a to b’. For example, the ratio of boys to girls in
a particular school is 3:2. If the school has 250 pupils, then we can see that 35 of
these are boys and 23 girls, i.e. there are 150 boys and 100 girls.
When we build a model ship, we make it to scale. For example, if a model is
built to a scale 1:30 (one to thirty), this means that 10 centimeters on the model
represents 300 centimeters on the ship itself. The scale of a map shows the ratio
of the distance on the map to the distance on the area covered by the map. On a
map this ratio is called the representative fraction.
Relative sizes of more than two quantities may be expressed by ratio. For
example, the ratio of AB:BC:AC in a certain triangle ABC is 3:4:6. Hence we
can see that AC is twice as long as AB. Any triangle which is similar to triangle
ABC has sides in exactly the same ratio.
When the ratio of one pair of quantities is equal to the ratio of another pair of
quantities, the two pairs are said to be in proportion. If we say that a, b, c are
in proportion, we mean that ab = dc . A A property of this proportion is that the
reciprocals are also in proportion. Moreover, the ratio of the numerators is equal
to the ratio of the denominators.
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Mathematics

Section 2 Percentage
36% (thirty six percent) is really a fraction with a numerator of thirty- s i x and a
denominator of one hundred.
The fraction 40
8
expressed as a percentage is 20%.
If a number is decreased by 10% the ratio of the new number to the old number is
90:100.
If a number is increased by 10% the ratio of the new number to the old number is
110:100.
If we borrow a sum of money at a rate of interest of 10% we must pay back the
money in the same proportion.
If a student scores 81% in one exam and 87% in the next, his average (or mean)
percentage is 84%.
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Mathematics
UNIT 3 Powers and roots
Reading

Section 1 Powers
When we write 42 (four squared), or x2 (x squared), the 2 is called the power or
index.
a × a2 (a times a squared) is equal to a3 (a cubed).
a3 × a2 (a cubed times a squared) is equal to a5 (a to the power of five or a to the
fifth (power)).
In this example we simply add the indices or powers.
(x2)3(x squared all cubed) is equal to x6 (x to the power of six).
This example shows that to raise a power to a power, we multiply the indices.

Section 2 Roots
√
64 means the square root of 64.
√
3
27 means the cube root of 27.
√
5
x means the fifth root of x.
For example, if we wish to find the root in, for example,
√
n

am

we must divide the index by the root

= am:n = am/n

Section 3 Fractional and negative indices

√3 2
x is equal to x 32. Here the index ( 2 ) is a fraction and is therefore called a
3
fractional index.
x2 : x4 = x−2 (x to the [power of] minus 2) which is called a negative index.

Task 1 Vocabulary practice

Fill in the blank spaces in the following sentences:

1) Any number to the of 0 (nought) is equal to .

2) To divide powers we the .

3) To a to a power, we the indices.

4) a to the of five divided a equals a cubed.

5) The of forty-nine is seven.

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Mathematics

Task 2
How would you pronounce the following:

1) a2 + b3

2) x4

3) zn = (x + y)2

4) 6y2 : 3y2
√
5) x2
√3
6) b3
√
7) 16b2
J
8) 3 8x6 y 9
1
9) 9 2

10) 2−3
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Mathematics

UNIT 4 Factors
Reading

Section 1 Arithmetical factors

If one number divides exactly into a second number, the first is a factor of the
second, and the second is a multiple of the first.
The fraction 248
is normally written as 31 . It is normal to express fractions in
their lowest terms. Here 2, 4 and 8 are all factors of both the numerator and the
denominator, but 8 is the highest common factor (H.C.F.). A factor which is also
a prime number (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11 etc) is called a prime factor.
The smallest number which is exactly divisible by two or more numbers is called
their lowest common multiple (L.C.M.). The L.C.M. of 24 and 36 is 72. The L.C.M.
is also known as the least common multiple.

Task 1
Write down the answers to the following:

1) What are the prime factors of thirty-eight?

2) What is the highest common factor of eighteen and twenty-six?

3) What is the lowest common multiple of six and eight?

4) Express the fraction fourteen over twenty-one in its lowest terms.

Section 2 Algebraic factors

If the expression 3x(3x − 5) is expanded, we obtain the result 9x2 − 15x.
If the expression 9x2 − 15x is factorised, we reverse the process and obtain the result
3x(3x − 5).

If an algebraic expression is made up of two terms, e.g. (x + 3) or (2y − 4), it is called

a binomial.
An algebraic expression that is made up of three terms e.g. 12x2 + 13x − 4 is called
a trinomial.
A trinomial is the product of two binomials;
e.g. (a + 5)(a − 2) = a2 + 3a − 10
and so the factors of a trinomial can be expressed as two binomials.

Task 2 Vocabulary practice

Fill in the blank spaces in the following sentences:

1) Twenty-three has only two , itself and , and is therefore a

number.
2) To express a fraction or algebraic expression in its ,
we must divide its terms by the .
3) The factors of a can be expressed as the of two
binomials.
4) Twenty-four is the of twelve and eight.
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Mathematics

Word study

Verbs and related nouns

Task 3
Each of the verbs in column A has a related noun in column B. Complete the blanks.
For some counterparts more than one word is possible. Explain the difference. For
example: express - expression

A Verbs B Nouns

1 factorise
2 definition
3 multiply
4 convert
5 abbreviation
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Mathematics

UNIT 5 Equations and formulae

Reading

Section 1 Equations
If we wish to solve an equation, we must find the value of the letter (usually x)
which satisfies the equation. When the equation is solved, the answer must be
checked, by substituting it for x in the original equation.

example
x + 9 = 23
Here we subtract 9 from each side;

x + 9 − 9 = 23 − 9

Therefore x = 14
We can check by substituting 14 for x.

Equations which we solve at the same time in order to find two unknown values
are called simultaneous equations.
An expression which contains a square as the highest power of any letter (x2,y2,
etc) is called a quadratic. If we say that such an expression is equal to some value,
the resulting equation is known as a quadratic equation.

example
Solve x2 − 5x + 6 = 0.
By factorising we get (x − 2)(x − 3) = 0.
Therefore, either x − 2 = 0,
so x = 2,
or x − 3 = 3.
Therefore, x = 2 or 3.
These values for x are the roots of the equation.
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Mathematics

Section 2 Formulae
When we have solved a particular problem, we can often reduce the method of
solving it to a fixed pattern and write down this pattern as a formula which can be
used for similar problems.
For example, the statement “average speed is equal to the distance covered divided
by the total time taken” can be written as the formula:
D
S=
T
Often, we will need to change the subject of a formula.
For example, from Boyle’s law, we have the formula
k
P =
V
We can change the subject of the formula to V, and the result is
k
V =
P

Task 1
Read out the following formulae:
1) C = πd 5) V = πr2 h
2
MV
2) 2S = U + V 6) F =
R
3) x = an − b2 7) E = mc2
4) V = u + at 8) A = πr2
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Mathematics

Task 2
Write the following:

1) b plus eight equals eleven.

2) seven b equals forty-two.
3) two x equals one.
4) three y plus nine equals twenty-seven.

5) four y minus eleven equals y plus one.

6) seven b equals sixteen minus three b.

7) five c plus six equals two c plus twenty-four.
8) twelve plus four a equals seven a minus twenty-one.
9) twelve minus two b equals four b plus thirty-six.

10) three x plus five equals two x.

Task 3 Vocabulary practice

Fill in the blank spaces in the following sentences:

1) When we have an equation, we should our answer.

2) The answer is checked by it for the letter in the original equation.

3) If our answer the equation, it is correct.

4) We can use one equation to help us solve another equation. These are called
equations.

5) are fixed equations which can be applied in certain regular

situations.
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Mathematics

UNIT 6 Lines and angles

Section 1 Lines

1) This line is horizontal. 2) This line is vertical.

3) This line is oblique. 4) These lines are curved.

5) These two lines are parallel. 6) A straight line drawn across a

They are equidistant at all set of two or more parallel
points. lines is called a transversal.
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Mathematics

7) The broken line marks the

locus of a point
equidistant from AB and
CD. The locus of a point is
the path traced by that
point when it moves in
accordance with a given
law.

Task 1
Look at the figure and say
which lines are:

1) vertical
2) transversal

3) parallel
4) oblique

5) horizontal
6) curved

Task 2
Using the words you have learned, describe the following mathematical symbols.

1) the plus symbol

2) the minus symbol

3) the multiplication symbol

4) the equals symbol

5) the pi symbol
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Mathematics

Section 2 Angles

1) These two lines meet at an 2) This is an obtuse angle.

angle. This angle is less than
90◦ (ninety degrees). It is an
acute angle.

3) This is a reflex angle. 4) These two lines meet at an

angle of 90◦. They form a
right angle. The two lines are
perpendicular to each other.

5) Lines FK and AB intersect at 6) Angles ABY and YBC are

point X. The angles FXB and equal.
BXK are next to each other, Line BY bisects angle ABC.
or adjacent. BY is the bisector of angle
The sum of these angles is ABC.
180◦. They are supplementary The sum of angles ABY and
angles. YBC is 90◦. They are
complementary angles.
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Mathematics

7) This figure shows a transversal

line drawn across two parallel
lines.
Angles r and q are equal
(opposite angles).
Angles b and q are equal
(corresponding angles).
Angles b and r are equal
(alternate angles).

Task 3
Describe the lines and angles in the following figures.
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Mathematics

UNIT 7 Two-dimensional figures

Reading 1

Section 1 The triangle

A triangle is a three-sided figure. The three sides of a triangle meet at points called
vertices (singular vertex). The vertex at the top of a triangle may be called the
apex, and the line at the bottom may be called the base.

1) In triangle ABC, line BC is continued to point X. ACB is an interior angle,

and ACX is an exterior angle.

2) This is an isosceles triangle. 3) This is an equilateral triangle.

4) This is a right angled triangle.

In a right angled triangle the
side opposite the right angle
is called the hypotenuse.
The theorem of Pythagoras
states :
”In a right angled triangle the
square on the hypotenuse is
equal to the sum of the
squares on the other two
sides”.
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Mathematics

Section 2 The triangle - congruence, similarity and symme-

try

1) If the following parts of two

triangles are equal,
a) two sides and the included
angle; or
b) a right angle, hypotenuse
and side; or
c) two angles and a
corresponding side;
then the two triangles are congruent.

2) If two triangles have their

corresponding
angles equal,
they are similar.

3) These two triangles are on

either side of an axis of
symmetry (or centre line).
They are symmetrical
triangles.
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Mathematics

Task 1
Describe each triangle, and use your ruler to discover any relationships between the
triangles (i.e. symmetry, similarity or congruence).

Task 2 Vocabulary practice

1) If each of the angles in a triangle is equal to 60◦, the triangle is called
.
2) A line which meets another at 90◦ is called a
line.
3) If two angles of a triangle are equal to 45◦, the triangle is called a
triangle.
4) If we a right angle, we have two angles of 45◦.
5) Each triangle has three points, or .
 29

Mathematics

Reading 2

The circle

1) This is a circle. 2) A half circle is called a

The centre of a circle is called semi-circle.
its point of origin.
The distance around a circle
is called its circumference.

3) The line drawn from the point 4) The line drawn from one side
of origin to the circumference of the circle to the other,
is called the radius (plural : passing through the point of
radii). origin, is called the diameter.

5) A part of the circumference 6) A part of a circle enclosed

of a circle is called an arc. by an arc and a chord is called
A straight line joining the a segment.
ends of an arc is called
a chord.
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Mathematics

7) A part of a circle enclosed by 8) A line meeting the

two radii and an arc is called circumference but which
a sector. (when produced) does not
intersect it is called a tangent.

9) A line which intersects the 10) A circle which passes

circumference in two places through the vertices of a
is called a secant. triangle is called the
circumference of the triangle,
and its centre is called its
circumcentre. The circle is
circumscribed around the
triangle.

11) The angle subtended at the 12) These circles have the same
centre by an arc of a circle point of origin. They are
is equal to twice the angle concentric.
subtended by that arc at the
circumference.
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Mathematics

Task 3
Use the words you have learned to give information about the figures below.
 32

Mathematics

Task 4 Vocabulary practice

1) If we draw the of a circle, the line divides the circle into two equal
.

2) circles are circles which have the same of .

3) A semi-circle an angle of 90◦ at the .
4) A triangle has been if a circle passes through its .

5) A is the area enclosed by an arc and two , while a

is the area enclosed by an arc and a .
6) If a line passes through a circle and intersects the circumference, it is called a
, but a meets the circumference without intersecting
it.
 33

Mathematics

Reading

More 2-dimensional figures

A line is 1-dimensional. Triangles and circles are 2-dimensional. Here are some
more 2-dimensional figures.

a square, square a rectangle, rectangular

The line drawn from one corner to the
opposite corner is called the diagonal.

a rhombus (Pl. rhombuses, rhombi) a parallelogram or a rhomboid

rhombic, rhomboid rhomboidal

a quadrilateral or a quadrangle a pentagon, pentagonal

quadrilateral
 34

Mathematics

a hexagon, hexagonal an ellipse, elliptical

a trapezium, trapezoidal a spiral, spiral

note 1 : A figure with many or an unspecified number of sides is called a polygon.

note 2 : The sum of the sides of a two-dimensional figure is called a perimeter.
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Mathematics

UNIT 8 Three-dimensional figures

Tuning-in
Task 1
What is the difference between a line, a triangle, and a pyramid in terms of their
dimensional characteristics?

The following figures are 3-dimensional.

a sphere, spherical an ellipsoid, ellipsoid

a cube, cubic a helix (Pl. helices, helixes), helical

a prism, prismatic
a) a triangular prism
b) a hexagonal prism
c) a rectangular prism
 36

Mathematics

a pyramid, pyramidal

a) a right square pyramid b) an oblique triangular pyramid

a cone, conical a cylinder, cylindrical

These figures show cross-sections

of a cylinder.

a) is a transverse section (cir-

cular).

b) is a longitudinal section
(rectangular).

Task 2 Vocabulary practice

1) A is a with six sides.

2) A four-sided figure is called a .

3) A shape with five sides is a shape.

4) A four-sided figure with two sides parallel is called a .

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Mathematics

5) A rhomboid has two and two angles.

6) The of the angles of a polygon is equal to 360◦.

7) A may be called an equilateral rectangle.

8) If two of a parallelogram are vertical, the other two are .

9) A which has length and width is - .

10) A figure with four equal but no right angles is called a .

Task 3
Name the following shapes and describe their lines and angles.

Task 4
Identify the following shapes and their sections.
 38

PART TWO
COMPUTER SCIENCE
 39

What is a computer?
Computers are electronic machines which can accept data in a certain form,
process the data and give results of the processing in a specified format as informa-
tion.
Three basic steps are involved in the process: First, data is fed into the com-
puter’s memory. Then, when the programme is run, the computer performs a set
of instructions and processes the data. Finally, we can see the results (the output)
on the screen or in a printed form.
Information in the form of data and programmes is known as software, and
the electronic and mechanical parts that make up a computer system are called
hardware. A standard computer system consists of three main sections: the Central
Processing Unit (CPU), the main memory and the peripherals.
Perhaps the most influential component is the Central Processing Unit. Its
function is to execute programme instructions and co-ordinate the activities of all
the other units. In a way, it is the ’brain’ of the computer. The main memory holds
the instructions and data which are currently being processed by the CPU. The
peripherals are the physical units attached to the computer. They include storage
devices and input/output devices.
Storage devices (floppy or hard disks) provide a permanent storage of both data
and programmes. Disk drives are used to handle one or more floppy disks. Input
devices enable data to go into the computer’s memory. The most common input
devices are the mouse and the keyboard. Output devices enable us to extract the
finished product from the system. For example, the computer shows the output on
the monitor or prints the results onto paper by means of a printer.
On the rear panel of the computer there are several ports into which we can plug
a wide range of peripherals - modems, fax machines, optical drives and scanners.
These are the main physical units of a computer system, generally known as the
configuration.

Task 1
Use the information in the text to help you match the following terms with
appropriate explanations of these definitions: SOFTWARE, PERIPHERAL
DEVICES, MONITOR, FLOPPY DISK, HARDWARE, INPUT, PORT,
OUTPUT, CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT.
a) The brain of the computer.
b) Physical parts that make up a computer system.
c) Programmes which can be used on a particular computer system.
d) The information which is presented to the computer.
e) Results produced by a computer.
f) Hardware equipment attached to the CPU.
g) Visual display unit.
h) Small device used to store information. Same as ’diskette’.
i) Any socket or channel on a computer system into which an input/output device may
be connected.
 40

Language study The passive voice

We use an active verb to say what the subject does. On the other hand, a passive
verb is used to say what happens to the subject. If we want to say who does or what
causes the action, we use by . . . The passive is be + past participle.

Task 4
Fill in the blanks with the passive form of the verbs in brackets. Pay attention to
the given time expressions.
a) Houses (design, currently) with the help of computers.
b) Several terminals (connect, just) to this workstation.

c) Microcomputers (know, usually) as ’PCs’.

d) Hard disks (use, always) for the permanent storage of information.

e) Last year a lot of information (save) on optical disks.

Language study 2 Word building - prefixes

Prefixes are often used in computer science. Knowing the meaning of the most
common prefixes can help you understand new words. Look at the prefixes given
below.
Prefix Meaning Examples

deci- ten decimal, decimalise, decibel

hexadeci- sixteen hexadecimal
kilo- one thousand (1,000) kilocycle, kilogram(me), kilowatt
mega- large megahertz, megalith
one million
giga- very large gigantic, gigabyte
one thousand million
mini- small minibus, minimize, minimum
micro- very small microfilm, microphone, microwave
bi- two binary, bi-directional, bi-dimensional
tri- three trilingual, tricycle
multi- many multi-racial, multi-user, multi-tasking
mono- one monolingual, monologue
 41

1.2 Some useful verbs

A. Match the verbs with the nouns.

1. recharge a. digital photos
2. click on b. faxes
3. dial c. a number on your mobile phone
4. give d. a presentation
5. move e. something with the mouse
6. print out f. the battery
7. send and receive g. the mouse
8. take some h. twenty pages

B. Choose the best verb.

9. To turn on the computer, __________ the "Start" button.
a. touch b. press c. switch

10. The printer has __________ of ink.

a. finished b. ended c. run out

11. Unfortunately, my scanner isn't __________ at the moment.

a. working b. going c. doing

12. Please __________ the CD ROM.

a. insert b. introduce c. inject

13. The projector isn't working because it isn't __________.

a. plugged b. plugged in c. plugged into

14. The batteries in my digital camera are nearly dead. They need __________.
a. to change b. exchanging c. changing

15. I have to __________ a computer screen for eight hours a day.

a. see b. look at c. watch

16. Switch off your computer, and __________ it from the wall socket.
a. de-plug b. unplug c. non-plug

17. I turned off the photocopier and ___________ the plug.

a. pulled out b. extracted c. took away

18. __________ any key to continue.

a. Kick b. Smash c. Hit

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 42

Rearrange the letters to make things which can be part of a workstation.

tucmepor ___computer____
13. trirpen _______________
14. nasecnr _______________
15. kesd _______________
16. hacir _______________
17. nopelethe _______________

Choose the best word.

18. The mouse moves on a __________.
a. mouse mat b. mouse carpet c. mouse table

19. TV and computer screens are usually measured in __________.

a. feet b. miles c. inches

20. Before you start work, __________ the height of your chair
a. adjust b. change c. rearrange

21. To get sound from your computer, plug in a pair of __________.

a. loudhailers b. loudspeakers c. loud voices

22. The computer is connected to the telephone line via a __________.

a. module b. modem c. mod

23. You can increase the functions or performance of a computer with an __________.
a. extension card b. exploding card c. expansion card

24. Mobile phones and PDAs can communicate with computers via __________.
a. Bluebeard ® b. Blueberry ® c. Bluetooth ®

25. There's a spare __________ in the workstation…

a. electric hole b. power point c. electrical opening

26. …so you can plug in your mobile phone __________.

a. charger b. power c. electrification

27. SD cards can be read in a computer's __________.

a. storage reader b. memory reader c. card reader

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 43

1.4 The keyboard

space bar alphabet keys calculator keys

function keys return key (or enter key) indicator lights

shift key alt key control key escape key

delete key tab key caps lock key backspace key

1. To go back one space, hit the _______________.

2. To change to capital letters, press the _______________.
3. To change the capital letters permanently, hit the _______________.
You can
4. To insert a tabulation, press the _______________. say "key" or
5. To activate the "Ctrl" functions, press the _______________. "button"
6. To activate the "alt" functions, hit the _______________.
7. To stop the computer doing something, you can press the
_______________.
8. Select the text you want to remove, and hit the _______________.

standard keyboard ergonomic keyboard

key in (or type in) enter data input

9. Please _______________ your password.

10. It took me two hours to _______________ all
that text.
11. A keyboard is a _______________ device.
12. Do you have a _______________?
No. I have a special _______________. It's
better for my arms and back.

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 44

1.5 The mouse

pointer on optical roll

scroll up scroll down touchpad left button
right button joystick single double
scroll wheel hold down repetitive strain injury

1. ______________ to see pages above.

2. ______________ to see pages below.
3. To select text, ______________ the left button, and move the mouse pointer.
4. If you use a mouse for many hours every day, you can get ______________ in your fingers.
5. With a laptop computer, plug in a mouse, or use the ______________ in front of the
keyboard.
6. To play some games, you need to use a ______________ instead of a mouse.
7. To move up and down a page, you can ______________ the mouse wheel.
8. This mouse doesn't have a ball. It's an ______________ mouse.
9. One click of a mouse button is called a ______________ click.
10. Two clicks of a mouse button are called a ______________ click.
11. Click ______________ the folder to open it.

12. ___________________

13. ___________________

14. ___________________

15. ___________________

A wheel mouse

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 45

1.7 Some useful adjectives

Choose the best adjective.

1. Oh dear. I pressed the __________ button.
a. incorrect b. wrong c. false

2. I can't use my mobile phone. The battery's __________.

a. over b. flat c. exhausted

3. The battery isn't completely flat, but its very __________.

a. down b. short c. low

4. My video camera is very __________.

a. easy to use b. uncomplicated c. obvious

5. My new computer has a very __________ processor.

a. quick b. high speed c. fast

6. The X19 notebook computer features a very __________ design.

a. compact b. little c. small

7. Keeping files on paper is __________ solution.

a. an old-tech b. a past-tech c. a low-tech

8. Keeping files on a computer database is a __________ solution.

a. new-tech b. now-tech c. high-tech

9. My new PDA is the __________ model.

a. latest b. newest c. most modern

10. In our office, we've set up a __________ network.

a. wire-free b. no wires c. wireless

11. A call from New York to Toyko is __________ distance.

a. far b. long c. faraway

12. I don't think this printer is __________ with my computer.

a. compatible b. connectable c. suitable

13. My laptop is only 3 centimetres ___________.

a. thick b. tall c. wide

14. The screen on my laptop isn't very __________.

a. light b. white c. bright

15. In three or four years, my new computer will probably be __________.

a. old fashioned b. behind the times c. obsolete

16. When you connect this to your computer, it will work immediately. It's __________.
a. plug and go b. plug and play c. plug and use

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 46

1.9 Mobile Phones

earpiece

hash key

keypad

microphone

(or mouthpiece)

screen

star key

Mobile Phone networks

contract installed networks operators

pay-as-you-go SIM card roaming tariffs

top up users

In Britain there are several mobile phone 1_______________ including Vodaphone, O2, T-mobile and

Orange. There are also 2_______________ like Virgin Mobile who use the network of another company.

When you buy a cell phone, you have a choice of 3_______________. The most popular is

"4_______________", with customers paying for their calls in advance. They can 5_______________ their

accounts in shops, over the internet, and at cash machines. Heavy 6_______________ may prefer a
7_______________. They pay a fixed amount every month, but the calls are much cheaper than they are

for pay-as-you-go customers.

Mobile phones usually come with a 8_______________ already 9_______________. If you take the

phone abroad, you may be able to use it on a local network. This is called "10_______________". It can

be expensive, and it may be cheaper to buy a foreign SIM card.

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 47

Choose the best word.

1. After 6pm, calls cost 20p __________ minute
a. for one b. per c. each

2. You can't use a mobile in a cave because there's no __________.

a. network b. connection c. power

3. I need to charge up my mobile phone battery. Have you seen my __________?

a. charger b. recharger c. charging machine

4. When you send a text message, the __________ function can help your write it more quickly.
a. predicting text b. predictive text c. text predictor

5. In the car, it's safer to use a __________ phone.

a. handless b. no hands c. hands-free

6. If you don't want to dial a number by mistake, turn on the __________.

a. keypad locker b. keypad lock c. locker of keypad

7. Which network has the lowest __________?

a. call charges b. call costs c. call expenses

8. My pay-as-you-go account __________ is about £7.

a. balance b. level c. amount

9. My average call __________ is about two minutes.

a. time b. length c. duration

10. We're a long way from the nearest __________ …

a. broadcaster b. antenna c. transmitter

11. …so the __________ is very weak.

a. sign b. signal c. transmission

Which is not possible?

12. I'll call her on my…
a. mobile phone b. cell phone c. moving phone d. cellular phone

13. A mobile phone can't work without a…

a. SIM card b. sim card c. sim chip d. similar card

14. Don't forget to send me…

a. a text message b. a text c. an SMS d. a phone message

15. When I arrive, I'll…

a. text you b. textualise you c. send you an SMS d. send you a text

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 48

1.12 Data storage

burn capacity card drawer

eject free space hard drive stick

1. The data and applications on your computer are stored on the _______________.

2. To run this application you need at least 50MB of _______________ on your hard drive.

3. My computer's hard drive has a _______________ of 120GB.

4. Do you like this CD? I can _______________ you a copy if you want.

5. The opposite of "Insert the DVD" is "_______________ the DVD".

6. I can't eject the CD. I think the _______________'s stuck.

7. Digital cameras usually store pictures on a memory _______________ or a memory

_______________.

Which do you think is the best solution for each problem? (More than one solution
is possible for some of
1. I want to make a copy of
problems.)
a. You need an
a music CD. external hard drive.

2. I want to store some b. Use a CD-R.

files. I may need to update
them in the future.
c. Try a USB flash drive.
3. I want to back up data
from my computer. I want to
update it every day. d. Perhaps you need a new
internal CD drive.

4. My computer's having
problems with reading and
writing CDs. e. Put them on a CD-RW.

5. I want to add 100MB of

extra storage to my computer. f. Perhaps you need
to defragment the hard
drive.
6. I want to send a copy of
a small file to a friend. He has
an old computer.
g. You could put it on a
7. My computer's floppy disk.
running slowly.

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 49

1.13 Connectivity

1. Scanners, printers and webcams are __________.

a. extras b. peripherals c. externals

2. Add extra USB __________ to your computer….

a. ports b. doors c. windows

3. … with a USB __________.

a. centre b. point c. hub

4. ADSL is also known as __________.

a. wideband b. broadband c. longband

5. I want to get a __________ ADSL modem.

a. quick-speed b. fast-speed c. high-speed

6. The internet is much faster with a broadband connection than with __________.
a. dial-up b. phone-up c. call-up

7. With a wireless router, you can __________ your broadband connection with other users.
a. divide b. combine c. share

8. This wire's too short. I need an __________ cable.

a. extended b. extension c. extender

9. You can connect a USB plug to a PS/2 port by using __________.

a. an adaptor b. a bridge c. a connector

Bluetooth®
data developed devices enabled
signals wireless telecommunications

Bluetooth® technology enables 1______________ communication between

2______________ such as laptop computers, mobile phones and PDAs. Bluetooth®
3______________ devices use short-range radio 4______________ to exchange
5______________ quickly and easily. The technology was 6______________ by a group of
computer and 7______________ companies including IBM, Intel, Nokia and Ericsson.

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 50

2.3 The control panel

Write the words into the spaces.

adding background customising

default digital displayed
format image performance
properties screen saver setting up
tasks wallpaper wireless

The control panel provides options for 1 customising the appearance of your computer

screen, 2____________ or removing programs and 3____________ network connections.

When you get a new computer, perhaps the first thing you will want to do is set the date

and time. You can also choose the 4____________ for dates and times. For example,

November 4th 2007 can be 5____________ as 04-11-2007, 2007-11-04 or in various

other formats.

You may wish to change the desktop 6____________ to a picture, for example a personal

photo taken on a 7____________ camera. A picture on the desktop background is also

known as 8____________.

If a computer screen shows the same 9____________ for a very long time, it can leave a

permanent impression. To avoid this, you can choose a 10____________. This is usually a

simple moving pattern which activates if the computer is not used for a set amount of

time (for example, five minutes).

You can also use the control panel to set up or change internet and other network

connections, including 11____________ network connections.

In fact, you can change most aspects of your computer's 12____________ through the

control panel, such as the system 13____________, modem settings, scheduled

14____________ , although most users prefer to leave on the 15____________ settings

rather than changing them.

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 51

2.5 Some useful adjectives

A. Choose the best words.

1. Software which is easy to use is…
a. user-easy b. user-friendly c. usable

2. Software which is obvious to use is…

a. intuitive b. guessable c. comprehensible

3. Software which is not obvious to use is…

a. counter-intuitive b. unintuitive c. non-intuitive

4. Software for use by children and schools is…

a. learning b. teaching c. educational

5. Software for use by businesses is…

a. commercial b. businesslike c. busy

6. Software made specially for one company is…

a. one-off b. unique c. tailor-made

7. Software for use at home is…

a. for home use b. for house use… c. for household use

8. Software which has been illegally copied is…

a. unreal b. pirated c. fake

9. Software which has been bought from the company that produced it is…
a. real b. justified c. licensed

Types of software

B. Match the type of software with the definition.

1. trial version a. A simplified version which is cheaper to buy.

2. shareware b. Software which is in the public domain. Anybody can use it

without paying.
3. freeware
c. The full version with all the features.

4. home-use version
d. You can try it for a while for free. Then if you want to keep using
it, you are expected to pay a small fee to the writer.
5. professional version

e. You can use it for free for a while (often a month). When the trial
period finishes, you have to pay, or the program will de-activate.

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 52

2.13 Problems with software

Choose the correct preposition. Then match the problem with the solution.

1. The operating system in / on a. You can download one for

my computer doesn't support the free to / from the internet.
latest version of / from this
application.

b. Perhaps you could get an

older version – or buy a new
2. These files are too big. computer!

3. My computer says it c. What about uninstalling the

hasn't got enough memory for / driver for your old printer?
to run this program.

d. Have you checked to see if there

are any updates available in / on the
4. I can't understand this
internet?
program. It's too complicated.

e. Why don't you close off / down

5. I think there's a bug in / all those other applications you've got
inside this software. open?

6. There doesn't seem to be an f. You can get a manual. I've seen one
icon for the program in / on the in the local bookshop.
desktop.

g. How about
7. I can't use this program. It's all compressing them with /
in / with French! by WinZip?

8. I can't get the driver for my h. Go to / on the "start" menu, and

new printer to / at work. click at / on "All Programs".

9. I haven't got a media player in

i. Change the language
/ on my computer.
setting.

1. ____ 2. ____ 3. ____ 4. ____ 5. ____ 6. ____ 7. ____ 8. ____ 9. ____

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 53

C. Choose the best words.

1. ADSL* is more commonly known as __________.
a. longband b. broadband c. wideband

2. Broadband internet connection is much faster than _________.

a. dial-in b. dial-through c. dial-up

3. Before you can connect to the internet for the first time, you have to __________ an account with
an ISP.
a. set b. set up c. set in

4. Each time you want to connect to your ISP's system, you have to enter a log-in name and a
__________.
a. security word b. safe word c. password

5. You can set your computer to __________ your log-in details, so you don't have to type them in
each time.
a. store b. remember c. recall

6. With a broadband connection, you usually have to pay a _________.

a. fixed monthly price b. fixed monthly fee c. fixed monthly cost

7. With dial-up, you can usually choose a ________ tariff.

a. pay-as-you-go b. pay-what-you-want c. pay-if-you-like

8. Some broadband contracts limit the amount of _________ you can have each month.
a. pages b. traffic c. use

9. Looking at web pages can be called "navigating the Web" but is more commonly called ________.
a. "surfing the net" b. "skiing the net" c. "swimming the net"

10. You can often find the answer to a question by ________ on the internet.
a. looking at it b. looking for it c. looking it up

11. When your computer is not connected to the internet, it is ________.

a. out of line b. offline c. off the line

12. Internet banking is also called ________.

a. online banking b. on the line banking c. inline banking

13. An unexpected disconnection from the internet is called a __________.

a. lost connection b. missed connection c. dropped connection

14. A file which is copied from the internet onto your computer is called _________
a. an upload b. a download c. a load

15. Downloading files from the internet can ________ your computer with a virus.
a. infect b. contaminate c. dirty

*ADSL stands for asymmetric digital subscriber line, but the full term is almost never used.

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 54

3.5 Internet terms

Choose the best words to complete the sentences.

1. "The website gets a thousand hits a week" means the website has a thousand _________ a week.
a. sales b. visits c. search engine matches

2. The words, images and other material that make up a website are called __________.
a. the contents b. the content c. the filling

3. Designs and drawings in websites are usually called __________.

a. web pictures b. web graphics c. web illustrations

4. Moving pictures in websites are usually called __________.

a. cartoons b. movies c. animations

5. Websites with sounds and/or video clips and/or animations have __________ content.
a. multimedia b. many-media c. mixed-media

6. A space in a website where you enter information (address, password etc.) is called a __________.
a. box b. strip c. field

7. A hyperlink (see 3.3) is often called just __________.

a. a link b. a hyper c. an HL

8. In real time (see 3.4) means __________.

a. during working hours b. instantly c. in British Standard Time

9. A place with computers for public internet use is usually called an internet café or __________.
even if they don't serve coffee.
a. web café b. computer café c. cyber café

10. Internet cafés offer internet __________.

a. connection b. availability c. access

11. A program that adds functions to a browser (eg Shockwave) is called a __________.
a. plug b. plugged-in c. plug-in

12. Temporary internet files are stored in the __________.

a. cash b. cache c. cashe

13. Colours which all browsers can display without problems are called __________ colours.
a. browser safe b. browser acceptable c. browser easy

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 55

3. 7 internet security

A. Choose the best words to go into each of the spaces.

1. A person who illegally accesses somebody else's computer over the internet is called a
__________.
a. pirate b. hack c. hacker

2. A website which (in theory) cannot be accessed by a hacker is __________.

a. strong b. secure c. clean

3. A website which can only be viewed by authorised people has __________ access.
a. reduced b. small c. restricted

4. Unwanted advertising emails are popularly known as __________.

a. meatloaf b. spam c. sausages

5. Software which blocks attempts by others to access your computer over the internet is called a
__________.
a. firewall b. fire blanket c. fire engine

6. It's essential to __________ your anti-virus protection regularly.

a. up-to-date b. date c. update

7. Anti-virus software can __________ your computer for viruses.

a. detect b. review c. scan

8. Anti-virus software can also ____________ viruses on removable media, such as floppy disks.
a. detect b. control c. see

9. When your anti-virus software subscription __________…

a. ends b. stops c. expires

10. … it's a good idea to __________ it immediately.

a. renew b. renovate c. replace

B. Match the malware with the damage. (It's not easy, and the terms are
sometimes confused with each other.)
1. virus a. collects and sends private information from the infected
computer to a third party

2. spyware b. an undesirable program which can replicate itself across a

network

3. trojan horse c. allows a hacker to access private information when he/she

wishes

4. keystroke logger or keylogger d. a program which adds itself to an executable file, and can
cause considerable damage to the data on the infected computer

5. worm e. records characters that are typed into a computer

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 56

3.9 Email comprehension 1

Hi Tony

Thanks for sending through that a/w so quickly. Just one problem – I couldn't open the
attachment. I'm not sure why. My inbox is virtually empty, so there's plenty of room, and the
attachment limit is 20MB, so there's no problem there. Perhaps there was a glitch somewhere.
Anyway, rather than trying to figure out what went wrong, could you just send it again?

Did we discuss file format? I don't know much about TIFFs, JPEGs etc, but I meant to tell you that if
you have any queries on this, you could get in touch with Steve, our designer. His email address is
[email protected].

One other thing. When you resend me the a/w, could you cc it to Angela? I've asked her to have a
quick look at it before we put it in the brochure.

I'm looking forward very much to seeing those pics – fingers crossed that they'll come through OK
this time. However, if I still can't download them, I'll ask you to put them on a disk and mail them.

All the best

Jenny

A. Are these statements true or false?

1. Jenny didn't receive the a/w because her inbox is too small.
2. The attached files came to less than 20MB in total.
3. Jenny has resolved a technical problem, and the attachment will come through without any
problems next time.
4. Tony will have to resend the a/w.
5. Jenny is a graphic design expert
6. Tony is also going to put the files onto a disk and mail them.
7. Angela has already seen the a/w.
8. The style is too informal – business emails should always be more formal than this.

B. Find words or expressions in the email which mean the same as the phrases
below.
1. artwork _____________________________________

2. a small technical problem _____________________________________

3. type of file _____________________________________

4. questions about this _____________________________________

5. send again _____________________________________

6. email a copy to _____________________________________

7. communicate with _____________________________________

8. with luck… _____________________________________

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 57

3.10 Email comprehension 2

Dear Jenny

As requested, I'm attaching the a/w files again.

The technical problems you've been experiencing may be due to your email provider. I have to say,
I've never heard of Whoopydudu.com. You might be better off switching to one of the big names,
such as Gmail or Yahoo.

Regarding file formats, TIFFs should be OK. If necessary, your designer will be able to reformat
them very easily, but in my experience most designers have no problem working with TIFFs.

As the file sizes are quite large, and I understand that Angela only has a dial-up connection, I've
sent her low-res versions to look at. I hope that will be OK. They should be clear enough.

I'm just about to go on holiday, so if you need me to send these files on disk, please let me know
by Friday afternoon. I probably won't get the opportunity to check my email while I'm away, but if
anything arises that won't keep, my assistant Trevor may be able to deal with it.

Best regards

Tony

A. Are these statements true or false?

1. Tony thinks Jenny should change her email provider.
2. The designer will need to reformat the files.
3. Angela doesn't have broadband.
4. Tony is sending resized versions of the a/w files to Angela.
5. These versions will look the same as the original versions.
6. Tony is going on holiday on Friday morning.
7. Trevor may be able to help with any problems that come up while Tony is away.
8. The style is neutral – neither formal nor informal.

B. Find words or expressions in the email which mean the same as the phrases
below.
1. as you asked _____________________________________

2. famous companies _____________________________________

3. change the type of file _____________________________________

4. I think, but I may be wrong… _____________________________________

5. Low image resolution (see 1.6) _____________________________________

6. on Friday afternoon or before _____________________________________

7. comes up _____________________________________

8. that's urgent _____________________________________

For reference see A & C Black Dictionary of Computing (978 07475 6622 9).
 58

PART THREE
PHYSICS
 59

Physics

UNIT 1 Physics
Tuning-in

Task 1
Before you read the text, try to answer the following questions:

1) What is physics?

2) What does it deal with?

3) What are the main branches of physics?

Reading
Physics, major science dealing with the fundamental constituents of the uni-
verse, the forces they exert on one another, and the effects of these forces. Some-
times in modern physics a more sophisticated approach is taken that incorporates
elements of the three areas listed above; it relates to the laws of symmetry and
conservation, such as those pertaining to energy, momentum, charge, and parity.
See Atom; Energy. See also separate articles on the different aspects of physics and
the various sciences mentioned in this article.

Scope of Physics
Physics is closely related to the other natural sciences and, in a sense, encompasses
them. Chemistry, for example, deals with the interaction of atoms to form
molecules; much of modern geology is largely a study of the physics of the earth
and is known as geophysics; and astronomy deals with the physics of the stars
and outer space. Even living systems are made up of fundamental particles and,
as studied in biophysics and biochemistry, they follow the same types of laws as
the simpler particles traditionally studied by a physicist.
The emphasis on the interaction between particles in modern physics, known as
the microscopic approach, must often be supplemented by a macroscopic approach
that deals with larger elements or systems of particles. This macroscopic approach
is indispensable to the application of physics to much of modern technology.
Thermodynamics, for example, a branch of physics developed during the 19th
century, deals with the elucidation and measurement of properties of a system as a
whole and is useful in other fields of physics; it also forms the basis of much of
chemical and mechanical engineering. Properties such as the temperature,
pressure, and volume of a gas have no meaning for an individual atom or molecule;
these thermodynamic concepts can only be applied directly to a very large
system of such particles. A bridge exists, however, between the microscopic and
macroscopic approach; another
 60

Physics

branch of physics, known as statistical mechanics, indicates how pressure and

temperature can be related to the motion of atoms and molecules on a statistical
basis.
Even as late as the 19th century a physicist was often also a mathematician,
philosopher, chemist, biologist, or an engineer. Today the field has grown to such an
extent that with few exceptions modern physicists have to limit their attention to
one or two branches of the science. Once the fundamental aspects of a new field are
discovered and understood, they become of interest to engineers and other applied
scientists. The 19th-century discoveries in electricity and magnetism, for example,
are now the area of electrical and communication engineers; the properties of matter
discovered at the beginning of the 20th century have been applied in electronics;
and the discoveries of nuclear physics, most of them not yet 40 years old, have
passed into the hands of nuclear engineers for applications for peaceful or military
uses.

Task 2
Where do you think this text comes from? Why do you think so? Give reasons for
your statements.

Task 3
Underline five key words/phrases in the text. Try to write down a summary of the
text by using as many of your key words/phrases as you can.

42
 61

Physics

UNIT 2 Matter and measurement

Reading
Matter exists in three states: solid, liquid and gas. A solid, for example a
stone, has a definite shape and a definite volume; a liquid, for example oil, has a
definite volume but not definite shape; a gas, for example hydrogen (H), has neither
definite shape nor definite volume. Water can exist in all three states; below 0◦C
as a solid (ice), between 0◦C and 100◦C as a liquid (water), and above 100◦C as a
gas (vapour). All matter consists of elements such as zinc (Zn) or oxygen (O), or
of compounds such as nitric acid (HNO3) or sulphur dioxide (SO2). The smallest
particle of an element is called an atom, and the smallest particle of any other
substance is called a molecule. A molecule of sulphur dioxide is a compound of one
atom of sulphur and two atoms of oxygen.
When we measure quantities of matter, we may use the fundamental units of
time (e.g. the second), mass (e.g. the kilogram) and length (e.g. the metre). Or we
may use units such as area (e.g. m2), volume (e.g. cm3) or density (e.g. g/cm3).
These are known as derived units. The area of a rectangle is found by multiplying
the length by the width. The volume of a cylinder is equal to p × radius2× height
(V=p r2 h). The density of a substance is equal to the mass divided by the volume
(d=m/v). We use the terms specific gravity or relative density to indicate density
relative to the density of water. The table of densities below shows that mercury
(Hg) has a density of 13.6 g/cm 3 . This means that a cubic centimetre of mercury
has 13.6 times the mass of a cubic centimetre of water.

Substance Density(g/cm3)
Gold 19.3
Mercury 13.6
Aluminium 2.7
Water 1.0
Ice 0.92
Hydrogen 0.00009
Air 0.0013

Word study Opposites

Task 1
One of the best ways to increase your vocabulary quickly is to learn the opposite
of any new word (antonym). Look at the following examples and explain the way
their antonyms are given.
meaningful - meaningless
definite - indefinite
right-hand side - left-hand side
forbid - permit, allow

Note: The most convenient way of giving antonyms is to use prefixes like in-, im-,
ir-, un-, non-, dis-, anti-, counter-, or suffixes like -less, -ful.

Give antonyms for the following words.

complex impossible high
efficient relevant powerful
minor usual expensive
less than advantage output
general standard rich
 62

Physics
Task 2
Use the vocabulary you have learned to fill in the blank spaces in the following
statements.
1) A has no definite shape, but does have definite .
2) The smallest particle of a is called a molecule.

3) Speed is calculated by dividing distance by , and is therefore a

unit.

4) Substances which cannot be broken down further into other substances are
called .
5) Equal volumes of water and ice do not have the same because of
their different .
6) If we divide the mass of a substance by its density, we obtain the .
7) Time, mass and length are the most important units.
 63

Physics

UNIT 3 Liquids
Reading
A liquid takes the shape of the container in which it rests. It also pushes sideways
against the sides, as well as downwards on the bottom of the container, and upwards
against anything placed in it. The liquid exerts a force in these directions. The
existence of the force which is exerted upwards is called buoyancy. The law which
governs buoyancy was discovered by Archimedes, and states:
An object immersed in a liquid appears to lose an amount of weight which is
equal to the weight of the liquid it displaces.
For example, a stone with a mass of 3.2 kg is suspended from a spring balance
and lowered into some water. The spring balance now reads 2.2 kg. This indicates
that the stone has displaced 1 kg (=1 litre) of water. If a body floats in a liquid,
the buoyant force is equal to the weight of the body.
We obtain the pressure exerted by a liquid by dividing the force by the area
(p=F/A). In a liquid, the pressure at any point is directly proportional to the
depth below the surface. This pressure is calculated by multiplying the depth by
the density of the liquid (p=hd). If extra pressure is exerted on a liquid in a confined
space, the pressure is transmitted to all parts of the container. This is the principle
of the hydraulic press (Fig.1). Using this principle, a downward force of 100 N in
the small piston, for example, can produce an upward force of 40,000 N in the large
piston.

Fig. 1 Principle of Hydraulic Press

Task 1
Use the vocabulary you have learned to fill in the blank spaces in the following
statements.
1) We can calculate the which a liquid on the bottom of
a vessel by dividing the force by the area.
2) In a liquid, the and the pressure are in direct .

3) is the term used to describe the existence of the upward

exerted by a liquid.

4) The apparent loss of weight of a body in a liquid is equal to the

of the displaced liquid.

5) If we multiply the depth of a liquid by its , we will obtain the

at that point.
 64

Physics

UNIT 4 Gases
Reading
The Earth’s atmosphere, the air we breathe, consists of a mixture of gases. Air
has mass and exerts pressure. At sea level, this pressure is sufficient to support a
76 cm column of mercury in a vacuum tube. Changes in the weather cause small
changes in the atmospheric pressure. The instrument used to measure these changes
is called a barometer, and a common type is the aneroid barometer. A change in
the atmospheric pressure causes a small movement in the surface of the cell. The
lever transmits this movement to the pointer, which moves across the scale.

Fig. 2 Aneroid Barometer

Gases have no definite volume and are compressible. The greater the pressure
which is applied, the less space the gas will occupy. Boyles Law states:
If the temperature of a fixed mass of gas remains constant, the volume will be
inversely proportional to the pressure.
In other words, if the volume of the container increases, the pressure in the
container will decrease. This may be expressed in the formula

V1 P2
=
V2 P1
Two other laws, Charles’ Law and the Pressure Law also describe the relation-
ship between the temperature, pressure and volume of a gas. If one of the three
values is constant, the other two values are found to be in direct or inverse
proportion.

Task 1
Use the vocabulary you have learned to fill in the blank spaces in the following
statements.
1) A measures changes in the Earth’s pressure.

2) On an barometer, changes in the pressure are indicated by a

pointer moving across a .

3) The pressure at will support 76cm of .

4) Boyle’s law states that the volume and pressure of a gas are .

5) Gases are and their volume may be easily reduced.

 65

Physics

UNIT 5 Force
Reading
If a quantity has magnitude (size or amount) and direction, it is a vector quan-
tity. If it has magnitude but no direction, it is a scalar quantity. Force is a vector
quantity, and so it is expressed in terms of magnitude and direction. A number
of different forces which act on a body may be expressed as one force, called the
resultant. The resultant of two forces may be expressed using the parallelogram of
forces rule (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4 The Parallelogram of Forces Rule

The lines each show the direction of the force, and the length of the lines represents
the magnitude. Force R is the resultant of forces x and y. If the forces together
hold a body at rest, the resultant is zero, and the body is in equilibrium.
The force of attraction which exists between the Earth and the objects on the
Earth is called gravity. Newton discovered that this force exists between any two
bodies, and his law of gravitation states:
The force of attraction which exists between two bodies is directly proportional to
their masses, and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
This may be expressed in the formula

Gm1m2
F = .
s2
The Earth’s gravity pulls downwards on every particle of a body with a force equal
to the weight of that particle. The sum of these forces appears to act through the
centre of gravity of the body.

Task 1
Use the vocabulary you have learned to fill in the blank spaces in the following
statements.
1) If a body is floating in water, the forces acting on it are in . Their
is zero.
2) The resultant of two may be illustrated using the of
rule.

3) If a quantity has magnitude and , it is called a quantity.

4) is the which is exerted by the Earth, and which gives
weight to the objects on the Earth.
 66

Physics

UNIT 6 Motion
Reading
If a body is not at rest, it is in motion. The rate at which the body is moving
is called its speed. Speed is calculated by dividing the distance by the time
s
v=
t
and is therefore a derived unit. The term velocity is used to mean speed in a given
direction. It is therefore a vector quantity. If we multiply the mass of a body by
its velocity, we obtain its momentum

M = mv.

The rate at which the velocity of a body changes is called acceleration, and
acceleration is calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the time taken

v2 − v1
a=
t

For example, if a car travelling at 30 m/s (meters per second) accelerates to 70 m/s
in 10 seconds, its rate of acceleration will be
70 − 30
= 4 m/s .
2

10

The acceleration due to gravity (g) has a standard value of 9.8 m/s2.

Task 1
Use the vocabulary you have learned to fill in the blank spaces in the following
statements.
1) Dividing distance by time gives us the , or the rate of
of a body which is not at rest.
2) means speed in a given . It is a quantity,
having both magnitude and direction.

3) is the of change of velocity.

4) A simple consists of a small at the end of a length of
string.

5) This device may be used to the due to gravity.

 67

Physics

UNIT 7 Work, energy and power

Reading
Work is done when a force moves a load over a certain distance

W = F s.

The capacity to do the work is called energy. Energy, like work is measured in ergs
and joules. It is a scalar quantity, having magnitude but not direction. Mechanical
energy exists in two forms:

(i) kinetic energy, the energy a body possesses because of the motion,

(ii) potential energy, the energy a body possesses because of its position or state.

The principle of the conservation of energy states that:

In the absence of friction, the total mechanical energy of the system remains
constant.
The rate at which work is done is called power. This is expressed by the formula
W
P=
t
where W is the amount of work done or energy expended, t is the time taken, and
P is the power. One joule per second is a watt (W), and 1 000 W is one kilowatt
(kW).
In a hydro-electric power station, the potential energy of the water behind the
dam is finally converted into electrical energy. The water is led through steel pipes
and falls with a great force. This provides the kinetic energy which drives the
turbines. The turbines are connected to the generators which provide electricity.
Such a station may generate 12 mega kilowatts (MkW).

Task 1
Use the vocabulary you have learned to fill in the blank spaces in the following
statements.
1) Energy is as the capacity to do .

2) When a moves a body, has been done.

3) The energy which a has as a result of its state or is

called .
4) energy is the energy a body has as a result of its motion.

5) Energy cannot be destroyed; it can only be . This is the

of the of energy.
 68

References
[1] D. Blackie, English for Basic Maths, Nelson, Hong Kong, 1978.
[2] D. Blackie, English for Basic Physics, Thomas Nelson and Sons, Hong Kong,
1981.
[3] C. Clapham, The Concise Dictionary of Mathematics, Oxford University Press,
Oxford, 1996.
[4] P. Donovan, Basic English for Science, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1978.
[5] D. Hall, T. Bowyer, Nucleus - English for Science and Technology: Mathematics,
Longman, London, 1980.
[6] J. W. Harris, H. Stocker, Handbook of Mathematics and Computational Science,
Springer-Verlag, Inc., New York, 1998.
[7] M. Hewings, Advanced Grammar in Use, Cambridge University Press, Cam-
bridge, 1999.

[8] M. McCarthy, F. O’Dell, English Vocabulary in Use, Cambridge University

Press, Cambridge, 1995.

[9] R. Murphy, English Grammar in Use, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,

1995.

[10] O. D. Nogas, A. R. Bolitho, Start English for Science, Longman, London,1982.

[11] E. Remacha, Infotech - English for computer users, Cambridge University

Press, Cambridge, 1996.
[12] B. Rich, Schaum’s outline of review of elementary mathematics, The McGraw-
Hill Companies, Inc., Columbus, 1997.

[13] J. B. Rochester, Computers: tools for knowledge workers, Richard D. Irwin,

Inc., Boston, 1993.

[14] P. Walker, Computer science - English for academic purposes series, Cassell
Publishers Ltd., London, 1989.
 69

Advantages and Disadvantages of Future Technologies

Choose one of the inventions below and take opposite sides about whether it would be a
good or bad thing for life/ society, taking turns to speak until someone can’t think of any
new points. The last person to speak wins.
OR
Choose one of the inventions below that you think has only advantages or only
disadvantages. Your partner gets one point for each thing that you will accept is actually
an opposing point, e.g. each thing that is actually an advantage if you thought there were
only disadvantages. If they can’t think of anything at all, you get three points.
OR
Work together to brainstorm as many advantages and disadvantages as you can for one
thing, then come to a conclusion.
Inventions to speak about
 100% effective missile defence shields
 100% effective toothpaste/ Fully plaque-resistant artificial teeth
 99% of personal data in the cloud
 A beam which can immobilise people and objects
 A cure for the common cold
 A technological fix for the hole in the ozone layer
 All devices linked to the internet
 All telephone and video communication via the internet
 Androids which look exactly like people
 Being able to freeze your body and defrost when a cure for your disease is invented
 Being able to program your dreams
 Being able to read minds
 Bionic eyes with a zoom function and ability to record what you see
 Breeding of extinct animals, including pre-historic ones such as mammoths and dino-
saurs
 Bridges or tunnels between all continents and between continents and all islands
 Bullet-proof clothes
 Car-free cities or countries
 CGI character indistinguishable from real actors
 CGI-generated dead actors and famous people appearing in completely life-like films
 Colonisation of other planets
 Communication with life on other planets
 Complete genetic manipulation of foods
 Computer chips in your brain
 Computer-generated music top of the charts
 Deafness fully curable
 Driverless cars
 Drugs which cure most criminals of their desire to commit crimes
 Electricity generation from normal human motion, e.g. from your watch to your smart-
phone or from the pavement to the street lights
 Enhanced hearing
 Enhanced intelligence
 Eradication of mosquitoes from entire cities
 Eternal life

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2013

 70

 Floating cities
 Flying cars/ Cheap helicopters
 Free manipulation of your future baby’s DNA
 Fully insect-resistant crops
 GPS tracking of all people by governments
 Growing of human organs
 Human cloning
 ID implanted in your skin
 Individually targeted television commercials
 Indoor farming, e.g. in high-rise farm buildings in cities, becomes ubiquitous
 Invisibility/ A personal cloaking device
 Laser guns with the possibility of stun settings
 Limitless cheap electrical energy, e.g. from fusion reactors
 Lunar and interplanetary tourism
 Male birth control pills
 Memory sticks in your body
 Mind-operated electronics
 One world currency
 Pacemakers inserted in all middle aged people
 Perfect computer-based matching with compatible marriage partners
 Perfect virtual reality
 Personal DNA sequencing for $100
 Personal force field shields
 Recording dreams
 Robot shop assistants
 Satellite hotel
 Satellite launches for $1000
 Shopping only online
 Space exploration which is affordable for all countries
 Teleportation
 The ability to dig down to the earth’s core
 The ability to drain and then refill huge areas of the sea
 The ability to freeze time
 The complete automation of all work
 The elimination of absolute poverty
 The end of cash
 The first computer generated film stars/ television personalities
 The internet completely replaces television
 Time travel
 Two hour flights to the other side of the world
 Underwater cities
 Underwater cruises
 Underwater hotels
 Vegetarian substitutes that taste exactly the same as meat
 Vertical cities in 3000 metre high skyscrapers
 Very cheap and safe cosmetic surgery
 Wars without humans on the battlefield

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2013

71
72
 73

general vocabulary
Emphasis & misunderstanding
A. (Emphasis) Match the sentences on the left with an appropriate sentence on the right.

1. The minister’s emphasis on the word A. The government will have to sit up and
‘peace’ was noticeable. take note of what these important people
have to say.
2. Our guide accentuated the importance of
remaining calm if there was trouble. B. She emphasised the fact that panicking
would only make matters worse.
3. Our teacher explained that it was crucially
important to pace ourselves while revising C. The leader gave prominence to the need to
for the exam. create better job opportunities.
4. At the People’s Party conference, the accent D. We consider progress in this field to be
was on youth unemployment. extremely important.
5. Prominent trade unionists have called for a E. He put great stress on the maxim that ‘All
boycott of imported goods. work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’.
6. It is of crucial importance that we make F. He stressed again and again the importance
more use of technology if we are to make of an established détente.
progress.

B. (Emphasis) Now complete these sentences with an expression in bold from the above
exercise. In some cases, more than one answer may be possible.

1. Some medical treatments do very little to help the patient. In fact, in some cases, they only
__________________________ the pain.
2. The revolution began when a __________________________ member of the ruling party was
assassinated.
3. At the meeting of the Students’ Council, the __________________________ was on better standards of
accommodation.
4. She __________________________ the need to be fully prepared for all eventualities while travelling.
5. The Minister of Transport __________________________ on the need for an integrated transport policy.
6. It is __________________________ that we try to improve relations between our countries.
7. She banged the table for __________________________ as she spoke.

C. (Misunderstanding) Complete sentences 1 - 9 with an appropriate word or expression from

the box. In some cases, more than one answer is possible.

mix-up • obscure • impression • distorted

misapprehension • mistaken • confusion • assumed • confused

1. She was __________________________ by the journalist’s questions.

2. There were scenes of ____________________ at the airport when the snowstorm stopped all the flights.
3. We nearly didn’t catch our flight because of a __________________________ over the tickets.
4. There are several __________________________ points in his letter. It’s not very clear.
5. He _____________________ the meaning of my speech, creating the false impression that I was a racist.
6. He was under the __________________________ that socialism and communism were the same thing.
7. The jury __________________________ , wrongly, that he was innocent.
8. They were __________________________ in the belief that the refugees were in the country for
economic rather than political reasons.
9. The press were under the __________________________ that the Prime Minister was about to resign.

33
For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 0 7475 6624 3)
10112121,9:40 AM Task A, Replacing informal Words with Academic Vocabulary: Matching Exercise 74

Task A, Replacing informal Words with Academic Vocabulary: Matching

Exercise

Many words and phrases that are used in daily English conversation are inappropriate for academic writing. Drag
and drop the appropriate academic word or phrase on the right to the informal, inappropriate vocabulary items with
the same meaning on the left. When you have successfully matched them, study the academic words and phrases
on the right to prepare for the next activity'

Check j

a hot topic as few as (countable); as little

as (uncountable)

get (e.9. high exam scores) people

get (e.g money)

getting a controversial issue; a

contentious problem

got undesireable; not preferable;

poor; ineffective

As we all know Additionally; What's more;

Furthermore; lt is also true
that....

big becoming; growing

more and more acquired; attained; received

10112121 .9:40 AM Task A, Replacing informal Words with Academic Vocabulary: Matching Exercise 75

Nowadays, major; large; important;

significant

Besides, It is well known that; lt is

generally agreed that; lt is
widely accepted i understood
/ believed that / lt is generally
believed that

good highly; notably; greatly;

abundantly

bad an increasing number / a

growing / rising number (for
countable nouns) / an
increasing amount; a growing
amount (for uncountable
nouns); increasingly

alotof/alot attain; receive; earn; make;

receive

you; we (e.9. You / We In recent years; In recent

should stop polluting the times; Recently; Currently;
environment.) Today

really many; a considerable number

of (for countable nouns); a
great deal/ amount of / a
considerabe amount of (for
uncountable nouns) /
considerably; signifi cantly
 76

Miškulin Saletović / Vojković Esta ev / Beljo - English Academic Vocabulary for Social Sciences and Humani es

3. FORMAL AND INFORMAL VOCABULARY

Task 1

a) Take a look at the following pairs of sentences9 and for each pair decide which sentence
is more formal. Underline the words or expressions that helped you decide. If possible,
provide an explana on for your choice.

1. His health was deteriora ng and he died in 1881.

His health was ge ng worse and worse and he died in 1881.
___________________________________________________________________________
2. We hope our work will con nue to provide some ideas and concepts for the study of
visual communica on.
We hope our work will go on to provide some ideas and concepts for the study of visual
communica on.
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Popula on density grew and stra fied socie es showed up.
Popula on density increased and stra fied socie es emerged.
___________________________________________________________________________
4. This has numerous advantages: firstly, it …
This has many pros: firstly, it …
___________________________________________________________________________
5. In a le er to his wife he provided the first known discussion of the isola on of persons
with contagious diseases.
In a le er to his be er half he gave the first known discussion of the isola on of persons
with contagious diseases.
___________________________________________________________________________

9
The example sentences have been taken or slightly modified from the following sources: 1. Turner (2006: 363), 2.
Kress and van Leeuwen (2006: 4), 3. Olson (2010: 17), 4. Kress and van Leeuwen (2006: 4), 5. Olson (2010: 129)
and 6. Kress and van Leeuwen (2006: viii).

22
 77

Miškulin Saletović / Vojković Esta ev / Beljo - English Academic Vocabulary for Social Sciences and Humani es

6. Linguis cs cannot furnish a ready-made model for the descrip on of all semio c modes.
Linguis cs can’t give a ready-made model for the descrip ons of all semio c modes.
___________________________________________________________________________

b) Take a look at the following statements and decide whether they are true, false or partly
true. Provide an explana on for your choice.

1. The English language has a very rich vocabulary derived from many languages. As a result,
there are various ways to express an idea.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. In academic wri ng, there is a tendency to use words and expressions that are less
formal.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Phrasal verbs and expressions containing the verb get are usually less formal than single
verbs with the same meaning.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4. In one piece of wri ng formal and informal vocabulary should not be mixed. Uniformity
and consistency are needed.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
5. A dic onary entry can help us decide whether a word or expression is formal or
informal.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

23
 78

Miškulin Saletović / Vojković Esta ev / Beljo - English Academic Vocabulary for Social Sciences and Humani es

6. The level of formality is not a ma er of right or wrong, it is rather a ma er of appropriate,

less appropriate or inappropriate for certain situa ons.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

7. Words of La n, Greek or French origin are usually more formal than words of Anglo-Saxon
origin with the same meaning.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

8. Idioms are usually formal.

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Task 2

Fill in the table with the words with the same or similar meaning, but different level of formality.

NONETHELESS DROP VACANT CEASE ENCOUNTER

COMMON LEAVE OUT CONDUCT BEHAVIOUR THEREFORE
COMPREHENSION

INFORMAL /LESS FORMAL FORMAL

VERBS

STOP

OMIT

DECLINE

CARRY OUT

COME ACROSS

24
 79

Miškulin Saletović / Vojković Esta ev / Beljo - English Academic Vocabulary for Social Sciences and Humani es

INFORMAL /LESS FORMAL FORMAL

NOUNS

CONDUCT

UNDERSTANDING

ADJECTIVES

EMPTY

PREVALENT

CONJUNCTIONS

HOWEVER

THUS

Task 3

Choose a verb from the list to reduce the informality of the sentences10. Make sure to use the
correct form of the verb.

COMMENCE CONCEDE EXAMINE OBTAIN

RETURN RESEMBLE

1. On the one hand the European Parliament has got more power; on the other hand there
is a democra c deficit.

___________________________________________________________________________

2. Developments in reproduc ve technologies raise the ques on when a new life begins.

___________________________________________________________________________

3. Poli cal sociology looks into inequali es in the distribu on of power.

___________________________________________________________________________

10
The example sentences have been taken or slightly modified from the following sources: 1. Turner (2006: 68),
2. Turner (2006: 267), 3. Turner (2006: 286), 4. Turner (2006: 506), 5. Wilkinson (1999: 323) and 6. Wilkinson
(1999: 9).

25
 80

Miškulin Saletović / Vojković Esta ev / Beljo - English Academic Vocabulary for Social Sciences and Humani es

4. Marx and Engels admi ed that religion has inspired some rebellions against injus ce.

___________________________________________________________________________

5. It is a symbol found on royal monuments looking like a flower with six or seven petals.

___________________________________________________________________________

6. He reviewed his project when he came back to England.

___________________________________________________________________________

Task 4

Reduce the formality of the sentences11 by adding a suitable preposi on. If necessary, consult a
dic onary.

1. Marriage might be postponed or it may happen when children are born.

Marriage might be put ____________or it may happen when children are born.

2. He sought a scien fic basis for understanding human history.

He looked ____________ a scien fic basis for understanding human history.

3. The theory could not explain the rise of fascism.

The theory could not account ____________ the rise of fascism.

4. People have different abili es and are raised in different circumstances.

People have different abili es and are brought ____________ in different circumstances.

5. It was a way of providing educa onal opportunity to overcome cultural disadvantage.

It was a way of providing educa onal opportunity to get ____________ cultural

disadvantage.

6. It has exceeded expecta ons we had at the beginning.

It has gone ____________ expecta ons we had at the beginning.

11
The example sentences have been taken or slightly modified from the following sources: 1. Turner (2006: 357),
2. Turner (2006: 372), 3. Turner (2006: 478), 4. Turner (2006: 86), 5. Turner (2006: 160) and 6. Csikszentmihalyi
(2009: 203).

26
 81

You should use precise words rather than basic words such as good and bad in your writing. You should
also use cautious language when expressing negative ideas.

Instructions:
Each sentence contains an inappropriate word or phrase. Replace it with a more suitable word from the
list below.
sizeable stimulating minor significant questionable
senior unacceptable controversial disappointing affordable

1. Pollution is a (big) problem in Hong Kong.

2. Living conditions in some housing developments are (horrible).

3. The influence of computer games on young people is a (hot) topic.

4. Mark’s performance in the examination was (bad).

5. She received a (big) sum of money from the insurance company.

6. Chan’s (2001) method of investigation is (wrong).

7. The company’s (cheap) products have proved to be very popular.

8. A number of (old) members of staff have left in recent years.

9. Professor Yau’s new book is very (good).

10. This is a (small) detail, which I think we can discuss another time.
 82
general vocabulary
Location
A. Look at this diagram and complete the sentences opposite using the expressions listed
below. In some cases, more than one answer is possible.

* a
^
^
^
^ ✘ 7
^ ____

✩ ✩ ✩
✩ : ✩ 
& ✩ ✩ ✩  
 
 
 
Q R  
 
>
Φ  Ε

...directly opposite... ...stands outside...

...on the right-hand side of... ...halfway between...

...in close proximity to...

...in the bottom left-hand corner of...
...to the left of...
...at right angles to/perpendicular to...
...to the right of...
...roughly in the middle of...
...at the bottom of...
...on the left-hand side of...
...in the bottom right-hand corner of...
...parallel to...
...surrounded by...

...in the top left-hand corner of... ...at the top of...

...exactly in the middle of... ...in the top right-hand corner of...

10
For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 0 7475 6624 3)
 83

general vocabulary
Location
1. The  is ____________________ the  10. The
is __________________ the diagram

2. The : is ____________________ the ✩ 11. The Q is ____________________ the R

12. The ^^^ are ________________ the ___

3. The & is ____________________ the diagram

13. The ✘ is ____________________ the 7

4. The is ____________________ the diagram

14. The a is __________________ the diagram

5. The Φ is ____________________ the Ε

15. The 6 is ____________________ the diagram

6. The > is ______________________ the  and
the 6
16. The  is ____________________ the 

7. The  is ____________________ the diagram

17. The  is ____________________ the diagram

8. The  is __________________ the diagram 18. The

is ____________________ the diagram

9. The * is ____________________ the diagram 19. The  ______________________ the diagram

B. How well do you know your country? Write the name of a city, town, village or
island which...

1. ____________________________ is situated in the middle of your country.

2. ____________________________ is built on the slopes of a mountain.

3. ____________________________ is located on the coast.

4. ____________________________ stands on a cape or peninsula.

5. ____________________________ is built on the edge of a river or lake.

6. ____________________________ is a two-hour journey by car or bus from the capital.

7. ____________________________ is a short distance off the coast.

8. ____________________________ is about 10 miles (approximately 16 kilometres) from your home town.

Don’t forget to keep a record of the words and expressions that you have learnt, review
your notes from time to time and try to use new vocabulary items whenever possible.

11
For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 0 7475 6624 3)
-

84

Nationalstereotypes
"Heavenis where the police
are British,the cooks are French,the mechanics
are German,the lovers are ltalianand it's all organisedby the Swiss. Hell is
where the police are German, the cooks are English, the mechanics are
French,the lovers are Swiss, and it's all organisedby the ltalians."

Discussion
Discuss in pairs or small groups:
1.Did you find the joke above amusing?If you did, is it becauseof what you know about these
nationalitiespersonally,or what you know of their reputations?
2. Would you like to charnge the joke in someway? Can you improve it by changingsomc of rhe
nationalitiesor some of the jobs?
3. Do you hirvetourists from other countrieswhere you live?\7hich nationalities?What are they like?

Reading
Readthis articleand underlineanythingthat surprisesyou or that you think is not fair.

BRAZILIANS VOTED BEST TOURISTS,GERMANSWORST

In a recent survey conductedby the American Board The best tippers are the Japanese,according to the
of Tourism, professionals in various areas of the survey. A travel agent representativeexplains: "The
tourism industry have rated Brazilians as the world's Japaneseare afraid of 'losing face'. They'll do what
best tourists. The survey gave points for things like they think is expectedof them in the country they're
'politeness,''willingness
to understandand speak visiting, so they're usually extremely polite. They
English' and'cultural sensitivity.'Peopleworking in rate very high in the cultural sensitivity category."
jobs ranging from taxi-drivers to hotel receptionists
The French scoredextremely low in the 'willingness
and airline flight attendants almost unanimously to understand and speak English' category. "It's
rated the Braziliansas being 'friendly'and 'polite.' amazing. They can be so rude and snobby," said a
The opposite seemed true of the Germans. "The ticket agent at Chicago O'Hare International
Germans just don't seem to get it," said one "You
Airyort. try to explain things to them and they
manager of a hotel chain, based in New Orleans. answer you back in French. Not only that, they
"They're
rude and impatient yet they expect service smoke too much - even where it's not allowed -
with a smile. They travel outside Germany yet want and they're generally messy, leaving cigarettes and
to have things just like at home. Plus, they never other rubbish on the floor. It's unbelievable." A
tip." summary of the Board's survey is given below:

Friendliestnationalities: Most polite: Willingnessto understand Most culturally-

and speakEnglish: sensitive:

l. Brazilians 1. Japanese l. Brazilians l. Brazilians

2. Japanese 2. Brazllians 2. Dutch 2. Japanese
3. Koreans 3. British 3. Swiss 3. Romanians
4. Canadians 4. Spanish 4. Hungarians 4. Egyptians
5. Portuguese 5. Koreans 5. Poles 5. Koreans

Discusswith your partnerwhat you underlinedin the text.

22 Nationalstereotypes Taboosand /ssues

 85

True or false?
Read the text again and mark the statements below true (T) or false (F):
l. Peopleall over the world think Braziliansare the besttourists.
2. The Jirpaneseare often afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing when travelling.
3. The Frenchilre generallynot very happy to speakEnglish.
4. The Gcrmans wanr to get a real feel for the local lifestylewhen they travel.
-5.Thc Germans are happy to show their appreciationfor good service.
6. The French don't seemto be very tidy when they travel.
lf your nationalityis not mentionedin the four categoriesin the survey,do you think it should be?

Language Discussion
The article describesthe Braziliansas 'polite'and Work in pairs or small groups. Which nationalities
the Germans as 'rude.' Below are some more do you think are being describedbelow?
words from the article and some other ones to
describe character. Match the words on the left 1. They're always in big groups.
with their oppositeson the right: 2. They talk too loud.
L politc e.quiet 3. The men xre womanisers.
2. friendly b. mean 4. They're good dancers.
3. loud c. rude 5. They smoke too much.
4. generous d. unfriendly 6. They're all fat.
5. open-minded e. messy 7. They think they're the best.
6. ticly f. intolerant 8. They're violent peoplc,I think.
9. They're so mean. They cor.rntevery penny.
Do the same with these:
10. They talk with their hands.
7. honest g. impatient
I l . T h e y ' r eb a d d r i v e r s .
8. gentle h. warm
12. They're all rich.
9. patient i. boring
13. They always want things done their way.
10. fun j. dishonest
14. The women are beautiful.
1l . e x c i t a b l e k. aggressive
15. They're all blonde-hairedand blue-eyed.
12. distant l. calm
Do you think your discussionwould have offended
How do you think people from other countries see people from any of the countries you have been
people from your country? Would they use any of talking about? Do you mind if your country is
the adjectives above? talked about in the same way?

Taboosand /ssues Nationalstereotypes 22

86
 87
general vocabulary
Opposites
Replace the words in bold in these sentences with a word from the box which has an opposite
meaning.

VERBS

withdrew • fell • rewarded • loosened • refused (to let) • set

denied • deteriorated • abandoned • forbade • lowered
demolished • retreated • refused • simplified • defended • rejected

1. They accepted the offer of a ceasefire.

2. He admitted telling lies in his original statement.

3. The army slowly advanced, leaving a trail of devastation in its path.

4. They agreed to meet to discuss the future of the organisation.

5. The minister attacked his party’s policies in a speech in Parliament.

6. The apartments blocks they built were the ugliest in the city.

7. He complicated matters by rewriting the original proposal.

8. They continued with their plans to assassinate the king when he opened the parliament.

9. He deposited £7,000 - half his college fees for the forthcoming year.

10. Relations between the two countries have improved considerably in the last year.

11. He permitted us to present our petition directly to the President.

12. The members of the commune were punished for their part in the revolution.

13. He raised the overall standards of the company within two months of his appointment.

14. As soon as the sun rose, the demonstrators began to appear on the streets.

15. Prices rose sharply in the first three months of the financial year.

16. As soon as he had tightened the knots, he pushed the boat out.

36
For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 0 7475 6624 3)
 88

general vocabulary
Opposites
ADJECTIVES

scarce • easy • approximate • dim • compulsory

delicate • innocent • detrimental • reluctant • crude
even • marked • graceful • clear • flexible

1. The meaning of his words was very ambiguous.

2. According to his colleagues, he’s a very awkward person to deal with.

3. When she first started dancing, she was very awkward.

4. His policies were beneficial to the economy as a whole.

5. We need exact figures before we embark on a new venture.

6. The jury decided he was guilty of the crime.

7. Add up all the odd numbers between 1 and 20 to get a result.

8. Despite the weather, supplies of food after the harvest were plentiful.

9. The laws protecting the green belt around the city are very rigid.

10. There is a slight difference in the way the company is run these days compared with a few years ago.

11. The device is very sophisticated and should only be operated by someone who is familiar with it.

12. The spices used in the production of some international dishes have a very strong flavour.

13. The strong light from the torch picked out details on the walls of the cave.

14. Attendance at afternoon classes should be voluntary.

15. A lot of students are willing to attend classes on Saturday morning.

Don’t forget to keep a record of the words and expressions that you have learnt, review
your notes from time to time and try to use new vocabulary items whenever possible.

37
For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 0 7475 6624 3)
 89

general vocabulary
Reason & result
A. Join the first part of a sentence in the left-hand column with a second part from the
right-hand column, using an appropriate expression showing reason or result from the
central column. In some cases, more than one of the expressions from the middle is possible.

1. The police asked him his... ...ensued... ...pass his exams

2. He failed his exam... ...wake anyone

...effects of...
3. A persistent cough...
...was unable to enroll for
...prompted him to... the course.
4.. She started haranguing
the crowd...
...on account of... ...upsetting me like that?
5. He spent the whole
weekend revising... ...his lack of revision
...as a consequence...
6. They came in quietly... ...starting a riot
...affect...
7. He refused to lend ...its low turnover and poor
anyone money... sales history
...owing to...
8. The bank manager refused
...its action
to lend the company ...on the grounds that...
more money...
...when the police officers on
9. The school was forced ...so as not to... trial were acquitted.
to close...
...with the aim of... ...a large earthquake?
10. What were your...
...people rarely repay a loan
11. What are the... ...in order to...
...seek professional medical
12. Stress and overwork can... ...consequences of... help
13. The army attacked without
...motives in... ...different people in
considering the...
different ways
14. He failed to send off his
...due to... ...poor student attendance
application form and...

15. Riots and street fighting... ...reason for... ...speeding through the town

B. Now complete these sentences with an appropriate expression from the central column of
the table above.

1. Panic buying __________________________ when the stock market crashed.

2. People often do things without considering the __________________________ their actions.
3. The government raised the income tax rate __________________________ curb inflation.
4. The government raised the income tax rate __________________________ curbing inflation.
5. The government raised the income tax rate __________________________ the rapidly rising rate of inflation.
6. When questioned, many racists cannot give a logical __________________________ their attitudes
towards other racial groups.
7. The soaring crime rate alarmed the police superintendent and __________________________ adopt a
zero-tolerance policing policy.
8. He was arrested __________________________ he was a danger to others and himself.
9. The family was forced to economise __________________________ go heavily into debt.
10. The fumes from motor traffic __________________________ people in many different ways.
13
For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 0 7475 6624 3)
general vocabulary 90

Shape & features

A. (Shape) Match the words below with the picture that best represents each word.

1. pyramid 2. cube 3. crescent 4. spiral 5. cone 6. sphere

7. rectangle 8. triangle 9. square 10. circle 11. cylinder 12. oval

A B C D E F

G H I J K L

B. (Shape) Look at the following list of words and decide what the correct adjective form is,
A, B or C.

1. sphere ______________ A. spherous B. spherical C. spherocous

2. cube ______________ A. cubed B. cubous C. cubal

3. cone ______________ A. conacular B. conous C. conical

4. rectangle ______________ A. rectanglous B. rectanglis C. rectangular

5. triangle ______________ A. triangular B. trianglous C. triangled

6. circle ______________ A. circled B. circulous C. circular

7. square ______________ A. square B. squaret C. squarous

8. cylinder ______________ A. cylindrous B. cylindal C. cylindrical

C. (Features) Match the descriptions on the left with the objects, geographical features, etc.,
on the right.

1. a sharp edge with jagged teeth ________ A. a country road in very poor condition

2. steep, with a pointed peak ________ B. somebody’s hair

3. rolling, with undulating wheat fields ________ C. a very old tree

4. curved, with a smooth surface ________ D. a knife

5. flat, with words and dotted lines ________ E. a slow-moving river

6. wavy, with blonde highlights ________ F. a mountain

7. meandering, with a calm surface ________ G. a banana

8. winding and bumpy, with deep potholes ________ H. agricultural countryside

9. hollow, with rough bark ________ I. an application form

32
For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 0 7475 6624 3)
 91

general vocabulary
Time
A. Use the time clauses in the boxes to complete the sentences. Pay particular attention to
the words that come before or after the time clause.

Part 1: One action or situation occurring before another action or situation

prior to • previously • earlier • formerly • precede • by the time

1. _____________________the advent of the Industrial Revolution, pollution was virtually unheard of.
2. _____________________the army had restored order, the city had been almost completely devastated.
3. _____________________known as Burma, the republic of Myanmar is undergoing a slow and painful
political transformation.
4. A sudden drop in temperature will usually _____________________a blizzard.
5. It was my first trip on an aeroplane. _____________________I’d always gone by train.
6. The Prime Minister made a speech praising charity organisations working in Mozambique.
_____________________that day he had promised massive economic aid to stricken areas.

Part 2: One action or situation occurring at the same time as another action or situation

while/as/just as • during/throughout • at that very moment • in the meantime/meanwhile

1. _____________________the minister was making his speech, thousands of demonstrators took to

the streets.
2. _____________________ the speech they jeered and shouted slogans.
3. The minister continued speaking. _____________________ the police were ordered onto the streets.
4. He finished the speech with a word of praise for the police. _____________________ people began
throwing bottles and bricks, and the riot began.

Part 3: One action or situation occurring after another action or situation

afterwards • as soon as / once / the minute that • following

1. _____________________ the earthquake, emergency organisations around the world swung into action.
2. _____________________ the stock market collapsed, there was panic buying on an unprecedented scale.
3. The Klondike gold rush lasted from 1896 to 1910. _____________________ the area became
practically deserted overnight.

B. Look at these words and expressions and decide if we usually use them to talk about (1)
the past, (2) the past leading to the present, (3) the present or (4) the future. Try to write a
sentence for each one.

for the next few weeks • as things stand • ever since • in medieval times
nowadays • from now on • back in the 1990s • over the past six weeks
over the coming weeks and months • in another five years’ time • one day
in those days • a few decades ago • lately • at this moment in time
at the turn of the century • in my childhood / youth • at this point in history
by the end of this year • for the foreseeable future • for the past few months
last century • these days • from 1996 to 1998 • sooner or later
19
For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 0 7475 6624 3)
 92

Generalisations & specifics

1 Match the sentences in the first list below with an appropriate sentence
in the second list on the next page. The underlined words and phrases in
the first list should have a similar meaning to the words and phrases in bold
in the second list. Write the sentence letter (A, B, C, etc.) from the second
list after the relevant sentence in the first list.

FIRST LIST
1. Small items of information are very important in a curriculum vitae D

2. I need to have precise information about your new proposals. …

3. The plan was unable to go ahead because of a small important detail

which is important in order to make something happen. ….

4. He demanded to know the small, precise and sometimes unimportant

details. ….

5. When you read a piece of text in the exam, you should read it quickly first
to get the general idea. ….

6. Before you write an essay, you should plan it first and give a broad
description without giving much detail. …

7. Odd features or details which make something different make the

world a more interesting place. ….

8. Saying that all young people spend too much time on the Internet is a bit of
a general statement. ….

9. Many cars have very similar typical features. ….

10. The huge rise in computer sales is a good example of the direction in
 93

which technology is heading. ….

11. Normally, most students sitting the exam manage to pass with a good
grade. ….

12. The new library shows a good example of British architecture at its best.
….

13. Before you travel somewhere, it is important to make a detailed list of

things that you need to take. ….

14. French fries with mayonnaise is a dish which is an odd feature or detail
of Belgian cuisine. ….

15. The article shows as an example his views on the way the company
should develop. ….
 94

Generalisations & specifics

SECOND LIST
A. Please let me have the specifics as soon as possible.

B. It’s very frustrating when a minor technicality puts a stop to your plans.

C. In the same way, kimchii is a concoction of cabbage, chilli and garlic

which is peculiar to Korea.

D. You should include full details of your past experience.

E. Once you have an outline, you will discover that your work is easier to
organise.

F. We must be careful not to make this kind of generalisation.

G. Itemise everything in order of importance, beginning with your passport

and visa.

H. As far as he was concerned, the minutiae could not be overlooked.

I. Most manufacturers are aware that these characteristics are what help sell
their product.

J. It also provides us with an accurate illustration of the advances we have

made in the last 20 years.

K. It illustrates his preference for increased automation.

L. Once you have the gist, it should be easier to understand it.

M. It exemplifies the style that is becoming increasingly popular with town

planners.
 95

N. In general, the average result is a B or C.

O. For example, it is one of the peculiarities of the British system that judges
and lawyers wear wigs in court.

2 Put the words and phrases above into the table below, based on whether
they are talking about specific things or general things. Then try to use
the words in sentences of your own.
 96
general vocabulary
Useful interview expressions
Below you will see some common expressions that you might find useful in the IELTS speaking
test. Put each expression into the correct box according to the function of that expression.
1. May I think about that for a 14. What are your feelings 25. To put it another way...
moment? about...? 26. That’s just what I was
2. In short,... 15. So in conclusion,... thinking
3. What I’m trying to say is... 16. I see things rather 27. In brief,...
4. To sum up,... differently myself 28. Could I just say that...
5. What are your views on...? 17. True enough 29. Well, my own opinion is
18. That’s right that...
6. Would you mind repeating
that? 30. That’s my view exactly
19. I don’t entirely agree with
7. How can I put this? you 31. To summarise,...
8. In other words... 20. Perhaps I should make that 32. What was that?
9. Sorry to butt in... clearer by saying... 33. I must take issue with you
21. How can I best say this? on that
10. Well, as a matter of fact...
22. Could you repeat what you 34. Let me get this right
11. I’m not so sure about that
said? 35. Sorry to interrupt, but....
12. Pardon?
23. I couldn’t agree more 36. I’m afraid I didn’t catch that
13. I can’t help thinking the
same 24. Actually... 37. What’s your opinion?

Agreeing with somebody Disagreeing with somebody

Example: Yes, I agree. Example: I’m afraid I disagree.

Interrupting Asking for clarification or repetition

Example: Excuse me for interrupting. Example: I’m sorry?

Asking somebody for their opinion Saying something in another way

Example: What do you think about...? Example: What I mean is.....

Giving yourself time to think Summing up

Example: (in response to a question) Example: So basically.....
Let me see.

44
For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 0 7475 6624 3)
 97

general vocabulary
Phrasal verbs 1
Complete the following phrasal verbs with a preposition(s) or particle(s) from the box. The
meaning of the phrasal verb is given in brackets at the end of each sentence.

over • back • into • forward • of

on • down • to • up • behind
out • in • off • with

1. Some parents are criticized for the way they bring __________ their children. (raise)
2. The committee members fell __________ over plans for the new health centre. (argued)
3. They refused to face __________ __________ their responsibilities, with disastrous consequences.
(accept an unpleasant state of affairs, and try to deal with it)
4. The President decided to call __________ his visit to Europe. (not to go ahead with something)
5. It is only at election time that Members of Parliament count __________ support from their
constituents. (rely / depend)
6. Many developing countries are failing to catch __________ __________ their more developed
neighbours. (get to the same level)
7. It can take months or even years for political scandals to die __________. (become less strong)
8. An alarming number of students drop __________ __________ school early every year. (leave)
9. Major international companies can't figure __________ the popularity of the anti-capitalist movement.
(find it hard to understand)
10. If they examined the issues more closely, they would find __________ the reasons for the changes.
(discover)
11. As we grow __________ our priorities change. (change from being children to being adults),
12. Students can be quite creative with the reasons they give for not handing __________ their homework.
(giving their teachers)
13. Salaries very rarely keep __________ __________ the cost of living. (rise at the same speed as)
14. The latest Avicenna report leaves __________ the reasons for demographic shifts. (does not include)
15. It does point __________ the mistakes made by the agency over the last few years. (show)
16. Before you write your essay, you should look __________ the Party's history. (research)
17. Many employees carried __________ working despite pressure from the unions. (continued)
18. Once people fall __________ with their mortgage payments, they come under extreme financial
pressure from their bank. (become late)
19. The first step to a healthier lifestyle is to cut __________ __________ the number of cigarettes you
smoke each day. (reduce)
20. It is becoming more common for people to cut __________ meat from their diet. (stop eating)
21. During the 1990's, a lot of hospitals were taken __________ by private trusts. (become controlled by
another organisation)
22. When computer technology fails us, we have to make do __________ more primitive methods. They're
called 'pen and paper'. (use something because there is nothing else available)
23. In this essay, I'd like to put __________ the arguments in favour of global capitalism. (suggest or state
the case for something)
24. When I look __________ __________ my childhood, I remember the many sacrifices my parents made
for me. (think about something that happened in the past)

45
For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 0 7475 6624 3)
 98

topic-specific vocabulary
Science & technology
A. Replace the words and expressions in bold in sentences 1 - 18 with a word or expression
from the box.

analysed • genetic engineering • breakthrough • molecular biology

a technophobe • safeguards • development • cybernetics • invented
nuclear engineering • combined • life expectancy • discovered
a technophile • innovations • react • an experiment • research

1. The company is carrying out scientific study to find a cure for Aids.

2. The planning and production of the new computer system will take some time.

3. Modern home entertainment systems and other modern inventions are changing everyone’s lives.

4. Some elements change their chemical composition when mixed with water.

5. The scientists have created a new machine to automate the process.

6. Who was the person who found penicillin?

7. When the food was examined closely and scientifically, it was found to contain bacteria.

8. Rain joined together with CO2 gases produces acid rain.

9. Ron is terrified of modern technology.

10. Geoff is very interested in modern technology.

11. Protection against accidents in this laboratory are minimal.

12. Scientists conducted a scientific test to see how people react to different smells.

13. Brian is studying the techniques used to change the genetic composition of a cell so as to change
certain characteristics which can be inherited.

14. Sarah is studying the things which form the structure of living matter.

15. Christine is studying how information is communicated in machines and electronic devices in
comparison with how it is communicated in the brain and nervous system.

16. Neil is studying the different ways of extracting and controlling energy from atomic particles.

17. There has been a sudden success in the search for a cure for cancer.

18. The number of years a person is likely to live has increased a great deal thanks to modern medicine
and technology.

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For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 0 7475 6624 3)
 99
topic-specific vocabulary
Science & technology
B. Read this description of a computer. Unfortunately, the person who is describing it is not
very familiar with computer terminology and cannot remember all the words. Help them by
using the appropriate word or expression in the box to give a more scientific definition of
their words in bold.

log on • keyboard • load / install • virus • e-mail • download

hardware • crashed • software • Internet • scanner • mouse
base unit / disk drive • website • printer • monitor

OK, here's my new computer. As you can see, there are five main parts. Now, the large box with the
slots and sliding disk carrier (1) ________________ is the most important part. It carries all the stuff
that makes the computer work (2)_______________. You can also put in (3)_______________ your own
games and other things (4)_______________. Next to it there is the thing that looks like a small
television (5)_______________ so that you can see what the computer is doing. To the right of that,
there is the machine that lets you make black and white or colour copies of the documents that you
create on the computer (6)_______________. You can control the computer by using the rectangular
flat thing with all the letters and numbers on (7)_______________ or the funny little object with the
long lead which you can move across your desk (8)_______________. The large flat thing to the left
of the computer is the machine you can use to make copies of your photographs onto the
computer, a bit like a photocopier (9)_______________.

It's a very useful machine, of course. Once you get it up and running (10)__________ you can do lots
of things on it. You can create documents, play games or get information from the fantastic thing
that links computers from around the world (11)_______________. A lot of companies and
organizations have their own special computer page (12)_______________ which you can look at,
and you can transfer (13)_______________ the information to your own computer files. Or, if you
like, you can send messages to other people by using a special electronic letter-sending facility
(14)_______________.

Unfortunately, I can't let you use it as it stopped working (15)_______________ last night. It's
probably got a technical fault, usually created on purpose, that affects computer files and folders
(16)_______________.

Don’t forget to keep a record of the words and expressions that you have learnt, review
your notes from time to time and try to use new vocabulary items whenever possible.

76
For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 0 7475 6624 3)