10 words
- hypothesisnoun/hy-POTH-uh-sis/
an idea that is suggested but has not yet been proved
The team designed an experiment to test their hypothesis.
Collocation: test a hypothesis · Similar: theory, proposition
- empiricaladjective/em-PIR-ih-kul/
based on observation or experiment rather than theory
Her conclusions rest on empirical evidence from field experiments, not theory.
Collocation: empirical evidence · Similar: observed, experimental, evidence-based
- breakthroughnoun/BRAYK-throo/
an important new discovery that solves a problem
The vaccine was hailed as a major medical breakthrough.
Collocation: a major breakthrough · Similar: advance, discovery
- replicateverb/REP-lih-kayt/
to repeat a study and get the same results
Other laboratories have so far failed to replicate the results.
Collocation: replicate the findings · Similar: reproduce, repeat
- rigorousadjective/RIG-uh-rus/
extremely careful, thorough and strict
All new medicines must pass rigorous safety testing before approval.
Collocation: rigorous testing · Similar: thorough, meticulous, strict
- cutting-edgeadjective/kut-ing-EJ/
the most modern and advanced available
The university has invested in cutting-edge equipment for its labs.
Collocation: cutting-edge technology · Similar: state-of-the-art, advanced
- peer reviewphrase/PEER rih-vyoo/
checking of research by other experts before it is published
Every article in the journal goes through strict peer review.
Collocation: undergo peer review · Similar: expert evaluation, refereeing
- inconclusiveadjective/in-kun-KLOO-siv/
not giving a clear answer or result
The results of the study were inconclusive, so more research is needed.
Collocation: inconclusive results · Similar: unclear, indefinite
- clinical trialphrase/KLIN-ih-kul TRY-ul/
a test of a new medicine or treatment on patients
The new drug was tested on 3,000 patients in a clinical trial.
Collocation: conduct a clinical trial · Similar: drug trial, medical study
- ethicallyadverb/ETH-ik-lee/
in a way that is morally right
Is it ethically acceptable to test cosmetics on animals?
Collocation: ethically acceptable · Similar: morally, responsibly
Grammar check
Choose the right option, then open the answer.
1. The ancient manuscript ___ to have been written around 300 BC.
is believing · believes · believed · is believed
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is believed: Passive reporting with a perfect infinitive: 'is believed to have been' refers to a past event.
2. The results were strange; the sample ___ contaminated before testing.
must have been · must be · should be · can have been
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must have been: 'Must have been' is a confident deduction about the past.
3. Never before ___ scientists been able to edit genes as precisely as they can today.
did · had · have · were
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have: After 'Never before' we invert. 'Today' needs the present perfect, so 'have scientists been'.
4. ___ the data carefully, the researchers published their findings.
Analysed · Having analysed · Being analysed · To analyse
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Having analysed: 'Having analysed' shows the researchers finished one action before the next.
5. If Fleming hadn't noticed the mould, penicillin ___ discovered so early.
wouldn't be · won't be · hadn't been · might not have been
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might not have been: Third conditional about the past: 'might not have been' shows a possible different result.
Use the words: speaking questions
- Should governments spend more money on space exploration or on solving problems on Earth?
- How can scientists make their research easier for the public to understand?
- Do you think there should be limits on what scientists are allowed to research?
Answer them out loud with Dodo in the app for a band and better versions of your answers.