TOPIC 5 - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VOCAB
technology – the application of scientific discoveries for practical purposes, especially in
industry.
- Technology is advancing at such a rate that it’s difficult to imagine what our lives will be like in
20 years time.
technological – relating to or involving technology.
- Recent technological advances in computing and telecommunications mean that some of our
staff work mainly from home and don’t need to travel into the office every day.
technophile – a person who is enthusiastic about new technology.
- My brother is a true technophile and can tell you about every new gadget on the market.
a techie – a person who knows a lot about technology, especially computers or other electronic
equipment.
- I’m not surprised Sue Lin is working for a top computer agency as she was always a real techie
at school.
tech-savvy – well informed about or proficient in the use of modern technology, especially
computers.
- My kids are far more tech-savvy than I am, having grown up with computer technology.
technophobe – a person who fears or dislikes new technology, especially computers, and does
not want to use it.
- I keep telling him how easy it is to send an email but he’s an ardent technophobe and refuses
to even have a go.
progress – to develop towards an improved or more advanced state.
The pace of technological progress over the past 20 years has been astonishing.
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TOPIC 5 - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VOCAB
innovation – the development and use of a new idea or method.
Further innovation is needed in the farming industry if we are to be able to feed ourselves in
the future.
innovative – the adjective form of innovation.
Guti was a much-valued member of the team as he often came up with innovative solutions to a
problem.
an advance – a development or improvement.
Scientists have made major advances in recent years in their search for a cure for Alzheimer’s.
develop – to change into a stronger or more advanced form.
- I can confidently predict that computers will continue to develop at a rapid rate.
development – the process of developing something.
- Future developments in space travel may mean that our ancestors live on other planets.
revolutionary – involving or causing a complete or dramatic change and improvement.
- The development of personal computers has proved revolutionary for business owners.
revolutionise – to radically change something so it is much better.
- There’s no doubt that computers have revolutionised our lives.
breakthrough – important development or discovery.
Some people argue that the invention of the internal combustion engine was the most
important technological breakthrough of all time.
modern – of the present time; using recent ideas and methods.
- Modern science is transforming the way we understand our world.
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TOPIC 5 - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VOCAB
modify – to change something in order to make it better.
- Being disabled, I need a car that can be modified to meet my specific needs.
cutting-edge – very modern.
- Our new mobile phone is still in development but it is at the cutting-edge of technology.
state-of-the-art – the latest stage of development of a product, using the most recent ideas
and method and including the latest features.
- The new aircraft design was state-of-the-art and was expected to revolutionise passenger’s
experience of flying.
advanced – modern and well developed.
- In the developing world, simple technologies such the mechanical water pump are often more
practical solutions to everyday problems than the advanced computer technologies of the
western world.
high tech – using or involving advanced technology.
- Some high tech solutions are less reliable than the basic technology they replace.
indispensable – something you could not manage without; absolutely necessary.
For many people, their mobile phone is indispensable.
outdated – out of date; old-fashioned.
Jared didn’t want to buy a new iPhone but his mobile looked so outdated compared to those of
his friends that he felt pressured into updating it.
obsolete – not in use any more, having been replaced by something better.
Jerry had to close down his small printing business as his old printer had become obsolete and
he couldn’t afford to replace it with the latest state-of-the-art equipment.
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TOPIC 5 - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VOCAB
impact – the effect of something.
- Modern technology has had a massive impact on the way we communicate with each other.
to transform – to markedly or dramatically change.
- There can be no denying that computers have transformed the way we work and study.
game changer – a new idea or factor that significantly changes an existing situation or way of
doing something.
- The professor’s new theory was a game changer and if proved correct, brought the possibility
of time travel one step closer.
affect – to influence or cause a change in something.
- Social media has radically affected both how we communicate and who we communicate with.
influence – the power to have an effect on the character, development or behaviour of
someone or something.
- The influence of modern technology is evident in almost every aspect of our daily lives from
how we shop to how we spend our leisure time.
computer literate – to have sufficient knowledge and understanding to be able to use a
computer effectively.
- The application form specified that candidates must be computer literate to be considered
for the job.
computer buff – someone who knows a lot about computers and might be considered an
expert.
- Although I have a good understanding of the software I use at work, I certainly wouldn’t call
myself a computer buff.
laptop – portable computer.
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TOPIC 5 - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VOCAB
- With a laptop, I can work almost anywhere as long as I have an internet connection.
PC – personal computer; not usually portable like a laptop.
- I have a PC in my office at work but prefer a laptop for home so that I can use it in different
locations around the house.
to boot up – to start a computer.
- Of course I’ll show you how to send an email. You boot up the computer and I’ll be with you in a
minute.
word processing – the process of producing, editing and storing text on a computer.
- I have to write a lot of reports for my job so word processing is what I use my computer for
more than anything else.
to upgrade – to obtain a more powerful or feature-rich computer, electronic device or piece of
software.
- My mobile phone company is always trying to persuade me to upgrade to the latest model.
software – the programmes and other operating information used by a computer and related
devices.
- Bella was able to create some amazing photographic effects after installing the new software
on her computer.
hardware – the physical parts of a computer and related devices.
- Computer hardware includes the monitor, keyboard, disk drive, mouse and wiring.
to crash – to suddenly stop working.
- Guti was in the middle of his online English lesson when his computer crashed.
privacy – the right to keep personal information secret.
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TOPIC 5 - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VOCAB
Many internet users are very concerned about the privacy of their personal information.
censorship – suppressing or stopping certain information being available to the public.
- The Chinese have their own social media channels as government censorship means they can’t
access Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
internet security – computer systems implemented or actions taken by computer users to
protect their data while using the internet.
- Internet security is a real concern for people making credit card purchases online.
internet safety – computer systems implemented or actions taken by computer users to stay
safe while using the internet.
- I want to learn more about internet safety as I’ve heard many stories about children being
befriended by paedophiles online and I want to protect my own kids
hacker – a person who illegally gains access to a computer system to steal information or
tamper with the system.
- Computer hackers cause huge disruption within the organisations they target and could even
pose a threat to our country’s security.
computer virus – a piece of code which is capable of copying itself and typically has a
detrimental effect, such as corrupting the system or destroying data.
- Timor's computer was infected with a computer virus and many of his files were damaged.
cyber – involving, using, or relating to computers, especially the internet.
- Many business owners live in fear of a cyber attack, especially infection of their computer
network with a virus.
cybersecurity – the measures taken to protect against the criminal or unauthorised access of
electronic data.
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TOPIC 5 - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VOCAB
- Cybersecurity has become a major industry as computer hackers have become more and
more skilled at breaking into supposedly secures computer systems.
cybercrime – criminal activities carried out by means of computers or the internet.
- Identity theft, where someone steals and misuses your personal information, is one of the
most common types of cybercrime.
Science Vocabulary
Placebo A drug which has no physical effects, used in
pharmaceutical tests to compare the physical effects of
taking a real drug from its psychological effects.
She was given a placebo, not the real drug, but she said
she felt much better.
Placebo
The placebo effect is when someone's condition
Effect improves because they think they are taking medicine.
She was given a placebo, not the real drug, but she said
she felt much better- that's the placebo effect.
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TOPIC 5 - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VOCAB
A side
effect An extra, usually bad, occurrence caused by taking a
drug.
Drugs should not be tested on animals because there
are many possible side effects.
Much of today's modern medicine has side effects. I
prefer alternative therapies.
Proof To show a particular result after a period of time.
The amount of evidence that scientists now have
proves that climate change is being caused by humans.
We now have proof that climate change is caused by
human activity.
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TOPIC 5 - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VOCAB
Experiment
A test done in order to learn something or to find out
whether something works or is true
Experimenting on animals is necessary in order to
discover if new drugs are dangerous or not.
Scientists are conducting experiments to test the
effectiveness of the new drug.
A part of the DNA in a cell which contains information in
a special pattern received by each animal or plant from
its parents, and which controls its physical development,
Gene behaviour, etc
Genes are an important factor in personaility
development.
The doctors think his illness was genetic. It came from
his mother because she had the same illness when she
was young.
The Language Hub - IELTS Advance
TOPIC 5 - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VOCAB
Genetic
Changing the structure of the genes of a living thing in
Engineering / order to make it healthier or stronger or more useful to
humans.
Modification
There is evidence that genetically modified food is
harmful to humans.
Some plants have been genetically engineered to be
resistant to herbicides.
Genetically
Plants, animals or micro organisms that have changed
Modified through genetic engineering.
Organisms
(GMOs)
Most commercialised GMO crop plants are insect
resistant and/or herbicide tolerant.
Clone
A plant or animal which has the same genes as the
original from which it was produced
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TOPIC 5 - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VOCAB
The first animal to be cloned was Dolly the sheep.
I believe that cloning humans is unethical.
Geoengineering
The deliberate large-scale intervention in the Earth’s
climate system, in order to try to control global warming
Some scientists believe geoengineering is the only way
to reduce the warming of the climate.
Controlling the weather by geoengineering is a possible
solution to climate change, but it is controversial.
Cyber
A prefix for things related to computers, especially the
internet.
Cyberbulling via social media such as Facebook has
become a major problem.
A cybercafe is a place where you can buy drinks and use
computers at the same time.
The Language Hub - IELTS Advance
TOPIC 5 - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - VOCAB
High-Tech /
Using the most advanced and developed machines and
Hi-Tech methods.
Japan is a very high-tech country. Everyone has all the
latest electronic gadgets.
Theory
A formal statement of the rules on which a subject of
study is based or of ideas which are suggested to
explain a fact or event or, more generally, an opinion or
explanation
There are two opposing theories on the causes of
climate change - one says it is caused by humans, the
other believe it is a natural cycle.
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