American English · B2 · Unit 13
Science and discovery
Science and discovery
By the end you can
- Explain a scientific idea simply
- Discuss the benefits and risks of research
- Understand a popular science article
Words and phrases
| American English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a study | a piece of research | A study says coffee is good for your heart. |
| scientists have found | researchers have discovered | Scientists have found water on Mars. |
| in simple terms | explained simply | In simple terms, the virus can't copy itself. |
| the evidence suggests | the facts show (probably) | The evidence suggests it's safe. |
| by accident | not on purpose | Penicillin was discovered by accident. |
| a breakthrough | an important discovery | It could be a breakthrough in cancer treatment. |
| the benefits outweigh the risks | the good is bigger than the bad | Most experts say the benefits outweigh the risks. |
| an experiment | a scientific test | An experiment can fail and still teach you a lot. |
| a theory | an idea that tries to explain something | It's still only a theory. |
| it's been proven | there is proof | It's been proven that exercise helps memory. |
| funding | money for research | The lab lost its funding. |
| peer-reviewed | checked by other scientists before it's published | Was the study peer-reviewed? |
Then talk it through
Telling a friend about an article you read on a new discovery. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.