TOEFL Topic: Science and technology Go Back

Exercise 1 - Complete definitions 1 – 15 with words and phrases from the box. You will not need all of them.

  1. _____________ is the practice or science of changing the genes of a living thing, especially in order to make it more suitable for a particular purpose.
  2. A _____________ is a rule, law, or plan that protects people or something from harm or problems.
  3. _____________ is the study of living things.
  4. A _____________ is someone who does not like, trust or want to use technology, especially computers.
  5. A _____________ is a discovery or achievement that comes after a lot of hard work.
  6. _____________ is the study or use of computers and electronic systems for storing and using information.
  7. If something is _____________, it is changed slightly in order to improve it.
  8. A _____________ is a scientist who studies or works in genetics.
  9. _____________ is the use of technology to make copies of natural things (for example, artificial body parts).
  10. A _____________ is a scientist or other technical expert with a high position in industry or government.
  11. _____________ is the detailed study of something in order to discover new facts.
  12. _____________ is the science that studies the effects of low temperatures, especially the use of low temperatures for preserving the bodies of dead people.
  13. An _____________ is a scientific test to find out what happens to someone or something in particular conditions.
  14. _____________ is the length of time that someone is likely to live.
  15. _____________ is the invention or use of new ideas, methods, equipment, etc.
  1. Genetic engineering is the practice or science of changing the genes of a living thing, especially in order to make it more suitable for a particular purpose.
  2. A safeguard is a rule, law, or plan that protects people or something from harm or problems.
  3. Biology is the study of living things.
  4. A technophobe is someone who does not like, trust or want to use technology, especially computers.
  5. A breakthrough is a discovery or achievement that comes after a lot of hard work.
  6. Information technology is the study or use of computers and electronic systems for storing and using information.
  7. If something is modified, it is changed slightly in order to improve it.
  8. A geneticist is a scientist who studies or works in genetics.
  9. Cybernetics is the use of technology to make copies of natural things (for example, artificial body parts).
  10. A technocrat is a scientist or other technical expert with a high position in industry or government.
  11. Research is the detailed study of something in order to discover new facts.
  12. Cryogenics is the science that studies the effects of low temperatures, especially the use of low temperatures for preserving the bodies of dead people.
  13. An experiment is a scientific test to find out what happens to someone or something in particular conditions.
  14. Life expectancy is the length of time that someone is likely to live.
  15. Innovation is the invention or use of new ideas, methods, equipment, etc.

Exercise 2 - Complete this essay with appropriate words and phrases from the box in Exercise 1. You may need to change the form of some of the words.

'Science and technology have come a long way in the last 60 years, and our lives have become better as a result.' Do you agree with this statement?

In scientific and technological terms, the twentieth century saw more changes than in the previous five hundred years. Penicillin was (1) _____________ and used to treat infections that would have once been fatal, and there were many other remarkable advances in medicine that helped to increase our average (2) _____________ way beyond that of our ancestors. Incredible (3) _____________ such as television changed the way we now spend our leisure hours. Perhaps the most important (4) _____________ , however, was the microchip. Nobody could have imagined, when it was first (5) _____________ , that within a matter of years, this tiny piece of silicon and circuitry would be found in almost every household object from the kettle to the camcorder. And nobody could have predicted the sudden proliferation of computers that would completely change our lives, allowing us to access information from the other side of the world via the (6) _____________ or send messages around the world by (7) _____________ at the touch of a button. Meanwhile, (8) _____________ into other aspects of information technology made it easier and cheaper for us to talk to friends and relations around the world. Good news for (9) _____________ who love modern technology, bad news for the (10) _____________ who would have preferred to hide from these modern miracles. But everything has a price. The development of (11) _____________ led to mass automation in factories, which in turn led to millions losing their jobs. The genius of Einstein led to the horrors of the atomic bomb and the dangerous uncertainties of (12) _____________ (we often hear of accidents and mishaps at nuclear power stations around the world, where (13) _____________ to prevent accidents were inadequate). The relatively new science of (14) _____________ has been seen as a major step forward, but putting modified foods onto the market before scientists had properly (15) _____________ them was perhaps one of the most irresponsible decisions of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies continue to (16) _____________ on animals, a move that many consider to be cruel and unnecessary. Of course we all rely on modern science and technology to improve our lives. However, we need to make sure that we (17) _____________ it rather than the other way round.

In scientific and technological terms, the twentieth century saw more changes than in the previous five hundred years. Penicillin was (1) discovered and used to treat infections that would have once been fatal, and there were many other remarkable advances in medicine that helped to increase our average (2) life expectancy way beyond that of our ancestors. Incredible (3) innovations / inventions such as television changed the way we now spend our leisure hours. Perhaps the most important (4) breakthrough , however, was the microchip. Nobody could have imagined, when it was first (5) invented , that within a matter of years, this tiny piece of silicon and circuitry would be found in almost every household object from the kettle to the camcorder. And nobody could have predicted the sudden proliferation of computers that would completely change our lives, allowing us to access information from the other side of the world via the (6) Internet or send messages around the world by (7) e-mail at the touch of a button. Meanwhile, (8) research into other aspects of information technology made it easier and cheaper for us to talk to friends and relations around the world. Good news for (9) technophiles who love modern technology, bad news for the (10) technophobes who would have preferred to hide from these modern miracles. But everything has a price. The development of (11) cybernetics led to mass automation in factories, which in turn led to millions losing their jobs. The genius of Einstein led to the horrors of the atomic bomb and the dangerous uncertainties of (12) nuclear engineering (we often hear of accidents and mishaps at nuclear power stations around the world, where (13) safeguards to prevent accidents were inadequate). The relatively new science of (14) genetic engineering has been seen as a major step forward, but putting modified foods onto the market before scientists had properly (15) analyzed them was perhaps one of the most irresponsible decisions of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies continue to (16) experiment on animals, a move that many consider to be cruel and unnecessary. Of course we all rely on modern science and technology to improve our lives. However, we need to make sure that we (17) control it rather than the other way round.