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 came to regard her lack of experience as something fortunate. During her freshman year, she was unfamiliar with many aspects of college life and did not fully understand the opportunities around her. Nevertheless, this innocence encouraged her to experience unfamiliar situations and discover possibilities that she might otherwise have overlooked. Those experiences later contributed to her achievement of wealth and status. Hence, she sees her youthful naivety not as a weakness but as an unexpected advantage.
b. Why did she say that she went to college in the Stone Age?
=> Answer: The author describes her college period as the βStone Ageβ because the technological environment of her youth was vastly different from the one her son experiences. She attended college before smartphones, social media, specialized applications, and modern digital facilities became common. Hayden can now use electronic devices for communication, information, and various college activities. In comparison, his mother's student life appears extremely old-fashioned. Therefore, she humorously refers to her college days as though they belonged to the Stone Age.
c. What kinds of technological tools can Hayden use at his college life unlike at his motherβs time?
=> Answer: Hayden has access to several technological resources that his mother did not have during her college years. He can use a mobile phone containing Yale-specific apps and take advantage of social-media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. These digital tools help him communicate, obtain information, and manage different parts of his college life with much greater convenience.
d. How has the internet and social sites affected the lifestyle of the youths?
=> Answer: The Internet has made many activities of young people faster and easier. They can obtain information, communicate with others, search for solutions, and perform different tasks almost immediately. However, this convenience may encourage excessive dependence on technology. Instead of working through difficulties, experimenting, or finding answers independently, young people may simply rely on search engines and software. As a result, their opportunities to develop creativity, imagination, independent thought, and problem-solving abilities can be reduced.
Social networking sites have also reshaped relationships among youths. Through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and similar platforms, they can remain connected with a large number of people. Yet, many of these connections are virtual rather than personal. Thus, young people may have a broad digital network while experiencing less direct interaction with others. The Internet and social media have therefore increased communication while potentially reducing meaningful face-to-face relationships and direct experiences of the real world.
e. What things about college life will Hayden really miss unlike his mother?
=> Answer: Hayden may miss some of the experiences that his mother gained naturally because she lived in a less technologically dependent environment. These experiences include direct conversations, independent thinking, imaginative activities, physical exploration, and unexpected discoveries. His mother often had to find things out through personal effort, whereas Hayden can obtain information almost instantly through digital resources. Consequently, he may have fewer opportunities to experience the spontaneous and memorable moments that characterized his mother's college life.
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 normally suggests closeness, whereas βfragmentedβ means separated or divided. The writer uses these apparently opposite ideas to describe the unusual nature of modern relationships.
Today's students are connected to many people through social media, messaging applications, and other digital platforms. They can communicate with friends and acquaintances instantly, even when they are physically far apart. However, online communication does not always provide the same emotional closeness as direct personal interaction.
Therefore, students may possess numerous virtual relationships while becoming less engaged in meaningful face-to-face communication. Technology connects them through digital networks but can simultaneously separate them from genuine real-world interaction. This is why the writer's statement contains a paradox.
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:
Technology has greatly improved the educational environment by providing students with quick access to information and modern learning resources. Laptops, tablets, smartphones, online libraries, and educational applications can make studying more convenient and efficient. However, technological advancement can also become a barrier to valuable educational and social experiences when students use it excessively.
One major problem is distraction. Devices used for academic purposes also provide access to social media, entertainment, videos, games, and online communication. A learner may begin using a laptop or phone for an assignment but soon become occupied with social-media posts, messages, or videos. In such circumstances, technology stops functioning as a learning aid and becomes an obstacle to concentration.
Another concern is the decline of direct communication. Students learn not only from books and digital resources but also from conversations with teachers and classmates. Face-to-face interaction enables learners to ask questions, discuss their difficulties, exchange ideas, and develop social confidence. If communication becomes almost entirely digital, students may lose some of these important interpersonal experiences.
Excessive technological dependence may also affect the way students discover things. Earlier generations often had to investigate unfamiliar subjects by reading physical books, asking people, visiting places, experimenting, and solving problems through their own efforts. Such activities sometimes resulted in unexpected discoveries and unforgettable experiences. Modern technology provides immediate answers, which is convenient but can reduce the sense of adventure and personal discovery.
Nevertheless, technology should not be considered harmful in itself. It has immense educational value when used appropriately. The important issue is balance. Students should be allowed to benefit from digital resources while continuing to participate in discussions, group activities, practical tasks, direct communication, and real-world exploration.
Thus, technological advancement can hinder students' exposure when it is used excessively or without proper control. Technology should complement traditional learning and human interaction instead of replacing the experiences through which students develop creativity, independence, relationships, and lasting memories.
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 examines the differences between her own freshman experience and that of her son. The technological conditions surrounding them are dramatically different, yet the writer makes it clear that the basic experiences of entering college remain similar.
Kline belonged to a generation that experienced college without the sophisticated digital devices available today. Students depended on physical books, direct communication, personal research, and firsthand experience. Hayden's college life is much more technologically advanced. He can use a smartphone, Yale-specific applications, search engines, e-books, and social-media platforms to perform many academic and social activities.
Despite these differences, both mother and son face the challenge of adjusting to college as freshmen. They must become familiar with a new environment, meet new people, develop friendships, and learn how to manage a new stage of life. These fundamental experiences remain common even though the tools they use have changed.
Friendship is particularly important in both generations. Kline developed friendships through personal meetings and direct communication, while Hayden can maintain relationships through Facebook, Instagram, and other online networks. Although the medium is different, both generations share the same human desire for companionship and connection.
The two generations also share an interest in learning and discovery. The mother explored through direct experience, while Hayden can conduct research through electronic resources. Thus, the process is different, but the curiosity behind the process remains similar.
In conclusion, Kline contrasts the technological lifestyles of two generations while emphasizing their common human experiences. Technology has changed the way students communicate, research, study, and explore, but it has not removed the basic needs for friendship, learning, adjustment, companionship, and discovery.
c. Has the internet aided to broadening or narrowing the critical thinking capacity of youths or readers? How?
Ans:
The Internet can have either a positive or negative influence on the critical thinking ability of youths and readers. Its greatest advantage is the enormous amount of information it makes available. Students can investigate subjects, examine different viewpoints, read about unfamiliar ideas, and access information from many parts of the world.
When learners use these resources actively, the Internet can broaden their thinking. They can compare different sources, examine evidence, question claims, and reach conclusions based on their own understanding. This process encourages curiosity and analytical skills.
On the other hand, the Internet may narrow critical thinking when users depend too heavily on ready-made answers. A student who simply searches for an answer, copies it, and submits it without understanding or evaluating it does not develop independent reasoning. If every difficult question is solved through an immediate online search, there may be less motivation to struggle with problems and create original solutions.
The reliability of online information is another important concern. Since the Internet contains both useful and misleading material, readers must judge the quality of their sources. They need to compare information and determine whether a particular claim is trustworthy.
Therefore, the influence of the Internet depends on how it is used. It broadens critical thinking when it encourages investigation, comparison, questioning, and analysis. It narrows thinking when it replaces independent judgment with automatic dependence on digital answers.
In this sense, the Internet should be regarded as a resource for developing thought rather than a substitute for thought. Proper use can expand intellectual ability, while careless dependence can weaken it.
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.