1
quick quiz
Answer the questions and then compare your answers in class.
1. Science is for …
a) ... girls.
b) ... boys.
c) ... geeks.
2
2. Science is …
3. I use science …
a) ... interesting.
b) ... boring.
c) ... okay, but not for me.
a) ... all the time.
b) ... quite often.
c) ... very occasionally.
What does it mean?
gone off
exhibition
wireless device
infections
geeks
properties
cheering
work
colds
invention
discover
existed 1. Match the words from the article with the definitions. The paragraph number will also
help you find the correct word.
Level 2 Intermediate
No geeks allowed
a) People that other people think are boring or strange because they are only interested in computers.
__________________ (paragraph 1)
b) A public show where interesting things are displayed. __________________ (paragraph 1)
c) A machine, tool or system that someone has made, designed or thought of for the first time. _________________
(paragraph 3)
d) When something has done this, it is no longer good to consume. __________________ (paragraph 3)
e) Giving loud shouts of happiness or approval. __________________ (paragraph 5)
f)
Something which was real or appeared in the real world. __________________ (paragraph 7)
g) To find out something that you did not know before. __________________ (paragraph 7)
h) To operate or function. __________________ (paragraph 8)
i)
A machine or piece of equipment that communicates using electronic signals. ________________ (paragraph 10)
j)
Qualities or features. __________________ (paragraph 13)
k) Minor illnesses that block your nose and make you cough. __________________ (paragraph 14)
l)
Diseases or other medical conditions that are caused by bacteria or by a virus. _________________ (paragraph 14)
2. Translate these science-related words from the article into your language and look up
their meanings.
special words
in my language
acid
biology
black hole
chemist
gravity
pH balance
physicist
physics
research
science
scientist
SPOT ON NEWS LESSON / No geeks allowed / Intermediate
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space
© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2009
SPOT ON NEWS LESSON / No geeks allowed / Intermediate
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10
The future is bright
were
tists
scien
ght
thou
I
ce.
scien
d
“When I was younger, I hate
building with
As a kid, 19-year-old Andrew Nowell loved
1
5,000 euros
computer
geeks,” says Aisling Judge, now 16, who won
nting
inve
Lego. Now Andrew, from England, is
ntist & Technology
rew
And
,
when she was 14 at Ireland’s BTYoung Scie
2006
In
e!
systems that could change the futur
ce that
devi
Exhibition (YSTE).
less
wire
won $18,000 for his project, a handheld
was
ce
e
scien
mak
ing
help
d
think
up
coul
ct
grew
But like many kids, Aisling
can control a computer. Andrew’s proje
of
2
part
rtant
the
ge
impo
an
chan
is
ce
and
scien
erful
boring. Now she knows that
handheld computers much more pow
have computers,
everyone’s life. Without science, we wouldn’t
way people use them.
that saves lives
phones, the Internet or any of the medicine
at Cambridge
11
Andrew, who’s now studying engineering
ge
chan
will
s
every day.
ntion
inve
e
University, tells us how he thinks futur
ly. “I was listening
e and better
Aisling got her invention idea from her fami
the world. “In our lifetime, there will be mor
our homes and
of
3 to my mum say that the milk had gone off. I started thinking
part
robots. Computers will become a bigger
it’s
but
bad,
lls
sme
n we walk
it
use
whe
on
beca
turn
off
that we know when milk is
lives. We’ll have things like lights that
ing
clean
like
s
off.”
thing
is
harder to know when meat
into a room. And we won’t have to do
will
le
peop
y
man
t the pH balance,
any more. There’ll be flying cars, but not
In her science lessons, Aisling learned abou
ic
publ
er
bett
and
cars
4
She decided to use
use them. The future is small electric
which measures how much acid is in food.
net
Inter
and
er
ur to show when
transport. We’ll have more wireless pow
this to make something that changes colo
have phones that
everywhere. Instead of mobile phones, we’ll
food is off.
other for free.”
each
call
connect to the Internet so people can
prize at the
12
Aisling couldn’t believe it when she won first
was
I
5
use
beca
e
nam
my
out
g
Science superstars
YSTE. “I didn’t hear them callin
looking at me and
Every teen we spoke to said their favourite
talking,” says Aisling. “Then everyone was
”
star!
ie
mov
a
like
scientists included Albert Einstein (1879–
cheering. It was really cool. I felt
1955) and Isaac Newton (1643–1727).
an organization
Since then, Aisling has been working with
6
ce. “I try to
Isaac was a physicist and mathematician
which helps kids to become interested in scien
real world. Every kid
who first described gravity. Because of
teach kids that science is about real life in the
t know it.”
Albert’s theory of relativity, he has been
with a Nintendo is using science.They just don’
called the greatest physicist ever. In 1999, the US
ld Patrick
ear-o
18-y
was
E
YST
BT
ry”.
2005
the
of
er
winn
The
magazine Time called him the “Person of the Centu
7 Collison, from south-western Ireland. Patrick’s winning
13
language called
It’s our world too!
invention was a new computer-programming
y, many women
Toda
.
men
were
e
tists
mak
to
scien
us
t
mos
allow
cts
ago,
proje
long
Not
Croma. Patrick told us, “Computer
18, from the
sands of years.
thou
for
ed
and girls work in science. Amanda Kortum,
exist
has
ics
Phys
s.
thing
new
y
man
her
years. There’s still so US state of Montana, won first prize for antibacterialThe Internet has existed for fewer than 50
gy at the
properties project. Now Amanda studies biolo
much to discover.”
University of Montana.
Everything is physics
14
s. But nobody
8
hole? The science
“People use the echinacea flower against cold
How does the universe work? What’s a black
I
so
s,
ertie
prop
ear-old Lin Fei,
had tried to find out if it has antibacterial
that answers these questions is physics. 18-y
use it. I also looked
nal
natio
Inter
wondered if there’s really a good reason to
from Canada, won a gold medal at the 2006
s and put the
plate
, Lin studies physics
at eucalyptus. I grew bacteria on special
Physics Olympiads (IPhO) in Singapore. Now
see if the oils
to
s
echinacea and eucalyptus oils on the plate
at the Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology.
both oils stop
that
d
stopped the bacteria from growing. I foun
g.
natin
r infections.
fasci
othe
so
is
and
ics
Tell us why phys
some bacteria – so both can help stop colds
9
was
I
n
whe
s
hole
black
t
many other girls
“I couldn’t stop thinking abou
When I go to science competitions, I meet
space
girls think about
and
boys
younger. A black hole is a place in time and
think
I
who are working on projects.
out – not even
quite sure it
I’m
if
nt
rime
where gravity is so strong that nothing gets
expe
I only do an
helps us understand science differently.
g things is
doin
of
way
My
light. Physics is the only subject that really
first.
will work. I do more research
use everything
the universe. Physics is so interesting beca
just different.”
oton.de
is physics!”
© Spot on, November 2007, www.sp
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no geeks allowed
by Talitha Linehan
Level 21 Intermediate
Elementary
No geeks allowed
3 Find the information
Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)? Choose the correct answer according to the information
in the article. Correct any sentences that are false.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Aisling thinks scientists are geeks.
Aisling’s invention checks whether food is still good to eat.
It’s easy to know when meat has gone off.
It’s easy to know when milk has gone off.
Patrick’s invention allows computers to talk.
Lin Fei is interested in black holes.
Andrew thinks that in the future we will all drive flying cars.
Andrew has invented a robot that does his housework.
Amanda’s project showed that bacteria can grow on plates.
Amanda thinks that girls are better scientists than boys.
Level 2 Intermediate
No geeks allowed
4 teen talk
Geek. A geek is someone who other people think is boring or strange because they are only
interested in computers. Geeky can also be used to describe something.
Do you know anyone who is a bit of a geek?
What things could you describe as geeky? ________________________________________________________
5 discussion: A new invention
Andrew talks about computers and robots in the home (paragraph 11).
If you could invent a robot for your home, what would it do? Write notes and, if possible, draw a
diagram. Then present your ideas to the class. Which is the most popular idea?
SPOT ON NEWS LESSON / No geeks allowed / Intermediate
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My robot ...
6
Webquest: science superstars “Wall of Fame”
Choose one of the scientists from paragraph 12. Find information about your scientist on
the Internet. Work with other students who researched the same scientist and make posters or
PowerPoint presentations which include pictures and bullet points about the scientist’s work
and life.
7
Debate: Our favourite science superstar
Use the information from your posters or presentations and hold a class debate to decide who your
favourite scientist is.
Divide the class into two groups – one science superstar per group. Each group has five minutes to say why their
scientist is the best. A Chairperson should make sure each group has had the chance to speak before allowing any
questions or further debate.
Level 2 Intermediate
No geeks allowed
Use debating sentences such as:
I think ... because ...
SPOT ON NEWS LESSON / No geeks allowed / Intermediate
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I agree / disagree because ... but ...
Key
2
1.
a) geeks
b) exhibition
c) invention
d) gone off
e) cheering
f)
existed
g) discover
h) work
i)
wireless device
j)
properties
Level 2 Intermediate
No geeks allowed
k) colds
l)
infections
3
1. F
2. T
3. F
4. T
5. F
6. T
7. F
8. F
9. F
SPOT ON NEWS LESSON / No geeks allowed / Intermediate
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10. F