π¬ Science and Technology
π Ways with Words
A. Match the words with their correct definitions.
| Word | Correct Definition |
|---|---|
| a. Freshman | a first-year student at a university, college, or high school |
| b. Naive | having a lack of experience or knowledge |
| c. Obliviously | without conscious awareness |
| d. Brag | says something in a boastful manner |
| e. Disposal | action of throwing away something |
| f. Dorm | dormitory, student residence hall or building |
| g. Suitemate | someone who shares your bathroom/living room/kitchen |
| h. Incalculable | not able to be calculated or estimated |
B. Replace the bold words in (a-h) selecting synonyms from the box.
a. Her story is incredible in the literal sense of the word.
b. We often read the novels of the potential writers in the world.
c. The Facebook users are fragmented but connected to each other through the Internet.
d. Sometimes unanticipated events happen in our life.
e. He paused, scrutinizing the faces of Anjana and Manju with his glittering eyes.
f. I am sorry to say your handwriting is indecipherable.
g. He is matured. He can navigated his own journey to make his career better.
h. Gita's heart swelled with delight, translating her confidence into power.
C. Complete the sentences by choosing the correct word given in brackets.
a. Does television affect children? (affect/effect)
b. Does television have an effect on children? (affect/effect)
c. Could you lend me your book, please? (borrow/lend)
d. Can I borrow your pen? (borrow/lend)
e. Prices seem to rise every year. (raise/rise)
f. You can raise your hand if you want to ask a question. (raise/rise)
g. What did he say to you? (say/tell)
h. I can't speak Hindi. (speak/talk)
i. I will talk to you on the phone. (speak/talk)
j. I think that's a very sensible idea. (sensible/sensitive)
k. My teeth are very sensitive to cold. (sensible/sensitive)
l. Our principal is a popular person. (principal/principle)
m. I couldn't understand the principle of gravity. (principal/principle)
n. All friends, expect Nabina, came to the party. (accept/except)
o. Will you accept my request? (accept/except)
p. They were making too much noise. (noise/sound)
q. All she could hear was the sound of the waves. (noise/sound)
r. Did you give him any advice for his career? (advice/advise)
s. My parents advise me to be a teacher. (advice/advise)
π Comprehension
Answer these questions.
a. Why did the author feel that she was lucky to be so naΓ―ve of her freshman year at college?
=> Answer: The author eventually understood that her innocence during the first year of college had worked to her advantage. At that stage, she lacked sufficient knowledge and experience, but this very condition allowed her to approach unfamiliar situations freely and encounter opportunities without being restricted by expectations. The experiences she gained later helped lead her toward wealth and status. Therefore, she considers her earlier naivety fortunate because it unexpectedly contributed to her development and success.
b. Why did she say that she went to college in the Stone Age?
=> Answer: The author refers to her college period as the βStone Ageβ to emphasize how primitive it appears in comparison with the technologically advanced life of her son. During her student days, modern smartphones, social-media networks, specialized applications, and other digital conveniences were not available. Hayden, however, can use electronic technology in almost every part of his college routine. The contrast between their two generations is so great that her earlier college life seems extremely ancient, which explains her humorous comparison with the Stone Age.
c. What kinds of technological tools can Hayden use at his college life unlike at his motherβs time?
=> Answer: Hayden can take advantage of a wide range of digital facilities that his mother could not use during her college years. He has a mobile phone with Yale-specific apps and can use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Through these technological tools, he can communicate with others, access information, and perform different college-related activities with considerable ease.
d. How has the internet and social sites affected the lifestyle of the youths?
=> Answer: The Internet has changed the everyday habits of young people by making information and many forms of assistance available almost instantly. Instead of spending a great deal of time searching for solutions, youths can depend on search engines and software to find what they need. Although this saves time and effort, excessive reliance on such facilities may discourage them from struggling with problems and finding solutions independently. As a result, their creativity, imagination, and ability to think for themselves may not develop as strongly as they otherwise could.
Social networking sites have transformed the way young people establish and maintain relationships. They can communicate with numerous people through digital platforms and remain connected regardless of physical distance. However, these relationships are often virtual and may not involve genuine personal interaction. Thus, youths can have many online connections while becoming less involved in direct communication. The Internet and social media have consequently made life more convenient and communication wider, but they may also reduce meaningful real-world experiences.
e. What things about college life will Hayden really miss unlike his mother?
=> Answer: Hayden may miss some of the personal experiences that his mother gained naturally during her college years. These include face-to-face communication, independent use of imagination, solving difficulties through personal effort, physically exploring unfamiliar things, and experiencing unexpected discoveries. Since Hayden can obtain information and assistance quickly through technology, he may not experience the same degree of struggle and spontaneous discovery that his mother experienced. Therefore, some memorable aspects of traditional college life may be less noticeable in his generation.
f. The writer says, "I worry that students today are more connected and more fragmented". Isn't this paradoxical? How?
=> Answer: The statement is paradoxical because βconnectedβ and βfragmentedβ normally convey opposite meanings. A connected person is generally considered close to others, while a fragmented person is separated or divided.
The writer uses these contrasting terms to describe the difference between virtual relationships and genuine human relationships. Modern students can communicate with many people through social media, online platforms, and digital devices. They are therefore highly connected through technology. However, these connections may not produce the same closeness as direct, face-to-face relationships.
Consequently, students can have a large number of online contacts while lacking deep personal interaction. Technology has brought them together through screens but can also make them more distant in actual social life. This simultaneous increase in digital connection and personal separation creates the paradox in the writer's statement.
π§ Critical Thinking
a. Do you think that advancements of technology can hinder the exposure students receive in school, and block them from gaining some of lifeβs most memorable moments? Give reasons in support of your answer.
Ans:
Technological advancement has completely transformed the educational environment. Students today can use computers, tablets, smartphones, online learning platforms, electronic books, and countless digital resources to obtain knowledge. These developments have made education more convenient and have opened access to information that was previously difficult to obtain. However, excessive use of technology can also prevent students from receiving certain valuable experiences.
One of the clearest problems is distraction. Devices introduced into classrooms for educational purposes also provide access to social networking sites, entertainment, videos, games, and other activities. Students may begin using a device for their studies but quickly become interested in checking messages, reading posts, or watching online content. Consequently, the technology that should assist learning may instead interfere with concentration and academic progress.
Technology can also affect the relationship between students and teachers. Direct classroom interaction gives students opportunities to ask questions, discuss their difficulties, exchange opinions, and communicate naturally with their teachers. Teachers can similarly observe students' reactions and understand their needs more effectively through personal interaction. When digital communication replaces too much of this direct contact, students may lose important opportunities to develop communication and interpersonal skills.
Another disadvantage is the possible disappearance of spontaneous discovery. Students in earlier generations often had to search for information themselves, consult physical books, visit places, communicate with other people, and overcome difficulties before reaching a solution. These processes sometimes created surprising experiences and memorable moments. Modern technology can provide answers immediately, making life easier but reducing the need for personal exploration and experimentation.
However, technology itself should not be blamed for every problem. It is an extremely useful instrument when students use it responsibly. Educational institutions should encourage learners to combine digital resources with classroom discussion, practical activities, teamwork, personal investigation, and direct communication.
Therefore, technological progress can hinder students' exposure when it becomes excessive or replaces real-life experiences. The best educational approach is to maintain a balance in which technology supports learning without taking away the opportunities for students to communicate, explore, imagine, struggle, discover, and create memorable experiences.
b. Klineβs essay focuses on the contrast between her sonβs freshman college experience and her own, but she also establishes what they have in common. Explain.
Ans:
Christina Baker Kline's essay βTaking my son to College, Where Technology has Replaced Serendipityβ brings together the college experiences of two generations. The author's own freshman life belongs to an era when technology had a very limited role, whereas her son's college experience is surrounded by sophisticated digital tools. Despite this obvious difference, the essay reveals that the essential experiences of becoming a college student are still shared by both.
The most significant contrast lies in the methods they use for learning and discovering information. Kline's generation relied heavily on physical books, personal investigation, direct communication, and firsthand experiences. Hayden, in contrast, can use smartphones, Yale-specific apps, search engines, e-books, and social-media platforms. Technology allows him to complete many tasks much more quickly than his mother could.
Yet both mother and son experience the transition into college. Each has to adjust to a new environment, meet unfamiliar people, learn new things, develop friendships, and become more independent. These experiences are based on basic human needs and therefore remain relevant despite changes in technology.
Friendship provides another important similarity. Kline's generation generally built relationships through personal meetings and direct conversation. Hayden can use Facebook, Instagram, and other social platforms to meet and communicate with people. The method of interaction is different, but both generations seek friendship, companionship, and a sense of belonging.
Their experiences of exploration also have the same underlying purpose. The author had to discover things through physical activity and personal effort, whereas Hayden can explore subjects using electronic resources. Although technology has changed the method, the curiosity that motivates students to learn and discover has not disappeared.
Thus, Kline's essay demonstrates both change and continuity. Technology has transformed the practical methods of studying, communicating, researching, and socializing, but the basic experiences of friendship, adjustment, learning, curiosity, and companionship continue to connect the two generations.
c. Has the internet aided to broadening or narrowing the critical thinking capacity of youths or readers? How?
Ans:
The Internet can influence critical thinking in either a constructive or harmful direction. It provides an extraordinary quantity of information and allows students and readers to investigate subjects that may previously have required considerable time and effort. Through online resources, learners can encounter different opinions, examine multiple sources, and learn about events and ideas from around the world.
When used actively, the Internet can broaden intellectual ability. A student can research a topic from several sources, compare different arguments, examine evidence, and decide which explanation is most convincing. Such activities encourage questioning and analysis rather than passive acceptance of information.
However, the Internet may weaken critical thinking if users become dependent on immediate answers. A student who simply searches for a solution and copies it without understanding the reasoning behind it does not develop independent thought. If technology is repeatedly used as a shortcut instead of a research tool, learners may become less willing to struggle with difficult questions or produce their own ideas.
Another important issue is the reliability of online information. The Internet contains both accurate and inaccurate material. Therefore, readers must examine the credibility of sources, compare information, and question unsupported claims. Simply finding information is not enough; users must know how to evaluate it.
For these reasons, the Internet can have two opposite effects. It broadens critical thinking when users investigate, compare, question, and analyze information. It narrows thinking when users depend on ready-made answers and stop exercising their own judgment.
In conclusion, the Internet should be used as a means of stimulating thought rather than replacing thought. Responsible and analytical use can strengthen critical thinking, while careless dependence can weaken creativity, reasoning, and independent judgment.
βοΈ Grammar
A. Fill in the gaps with suitable articles where necessary.
a. Is he working as a university professor?
b. My younger sister watches the television a lot.
c.
A: What did you get for your birthday?
B: I got a lot of good presents.
d. I'm going to the Dominican Republic for my winter vacation.
e. I have to go to a bank today to deposit some money.
f. Durga was injured in the accident and was taken to the nearest hospital.
g. Every parent should visit school to meet the teachers.
h. Who is the woman in this photograph?
i. There is a piano in the corner of the room.
j.
A: Do you think he is lying?
B: No, he's the kind of a guy that always tells the truth.