Tag Archive: science & technology – intermediate

Storm reveals 18th-century warship on remote Scottish island

ship wreck

©(Wessex Archaeology via AP) Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What do you imagine a ship from 200 years ago looked like? If you could find an old object from the past, what would you want to find? Why? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. shipwreck /SHIP-rek/ [noun] – the remains of a ship that has been destroyed or sunk at sea A famous shipwreck was discovered near the coast of Italy during a diving expedition. warship /WAWR-ship/ [noun] – a ship that is built and used for fighting in wars, usually by a navy The country…
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New reproductive technique helps eight babies avoid genetic diseases

DNA

©(Newcastle Fertility Centre, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust via AP) Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. If you could create a new invention to help sick people, what would it be? What do you think doctors and scientists can do to help prevent diseases in the future? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. weakness /WEEK-nis/ [noun] – a state of not being strong After staying up all night, she felt a sudden weakness in her legs. failure /FEYL-yer/ [noun] – the act of not working properly or not succeeding The medicine was created to prevent kidney failure…
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Australian dolphins use sponges as hunting tools, study finds

dolphinsponge

©(Meredith MacQueeney / Shark Bay Dolphin Research Project via AP) Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Imagine you are in the ocean. What tools or objects would help you live there? If you could watch any animal in nature, what would you like to see it do? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. seafloor /SEE-flawr/ [noun] – the bottom part of the sea or ocean; the ground under the water Scientists found a new type of coral on the seafloor during a deep-sea mission. form /fawrm/ [noun] – a type or kind of something; a way that…
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India accelerates shift to renewable energy amid growing power demand and climate concerns

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©AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Have you learned about renewable energy before? If so, which kind did you learn about? If not, where can you learn about it? Do you know what kind of energy India used most in the past? If so, when did you learn about it? If not, what do you think it was? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. preserve /pri-ZURV/ [verb] – to keep something as it is, especially in order to prevent it from decaying or being damaged or destroyed We plant trees to preserve clean…
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Mobile phone inventor predicts health-tracking features in future devices

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Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Have mobile phones been used by people in your family for a long time? If so, who was the first to use one? If not, when did they start using one? Have mobile phones ever been used by you to do more than just call? If so, what was it for? If not, what else do you think phones can do? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. symbol /SIM-buhl/ [noun] – a sign, shape, or object that is used to represent something else The heart is a symbol of love. advanced…
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Carbon capture projects face criticism over costs and effectiveness

carbon capture

©(AP Photo/LM Otero) Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. If you could invent a machine to help the Earth, what would it do? Have you seen pollution in your city or town? How did it make you feel? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. compress /kuhm-PRES/ [verb] – to press something into a smaller space or make it more compact The factory compresses leftover food waste into small blocks for disposal. underground /UHN-der-GROUND/ [adverb] – beneath the surface of the Earth The subway runs underground to avoid city traffic. seam /seem/ [noun] – a layer of material…
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Robotaxi competition grows as Waymo launches service in Atlanta

Waymo

©(AP Photo/Terry Chea, File) Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. What do you usually use to get around your city? What do you think is important for a car to be safe? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. partnership /PAHRT-ner-ship/ [noun] – a relationship between people or groups who work together to reach a goal The company formed a partnership with a software firm to improve its online service. driverless /DRAHY-ver-lis/ [adjective] – able to move or work without a human driver The airport is testing driverless buses to move people between terminals. expansion /ik-SPAN-shuhn/ [noun] –…
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GPS pet trackers gain popularity in urban areas amid rising concerns over lost animals

GPS

©(AP Photo/Kelvin Chan) Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Have you ever lost something important? What did you do to find it? What do you think would be the hardest part about losing a pet? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. signal /SIG-nl/ [noun] – a message or information sent using sound, light, radio waves, or other methods The TV stopped working because the satellite signal was too weak. widely /WAHYD-lee/ [adverb] – to a large degree or in many places The internet is widely used for education and work. function /FUHNGK-shuhn/ [verb] – to work or…
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Scientists confirm 4.16-billion-year-old rocks in Quebec

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©Jonathan O’Neil via AP Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Have you ever read or watched something about very old rocks? If so, what did you learn? If not, would you like to know more? Do you know any places in the world where scientists study old rocks? If so, which places? If not, where do you think they study them? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. influence /IN-floo-uhns/ [verb] – to affect or change how someone or something develops, behaves, or thinks A teacher can influence students by being kind and helpful. respect /ri-SPEKT/ [noun] –…
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Vera C. Rubin Observatory unveils first space images with record-breaking camera in Chile

Brix-News (30)

©NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory via AP Pre-reading questions: I will read each question. Then, please answer them. Have you ever seen pictures of space objects, like stars or planets? If so, which one surprised you the most? If not, where do you think you could find them? Do you know anything about telescopes or space cameras? If so, what do you know? If not, what do you think they are used for? Vocabulary: I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me. distinct /dih-STINGKT/ [adjective] – clearly different or separate The two birds have distinct colors. identify /ahy-DEN-tuh-fahy/ [verb] – to recognize someone or something…
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