Chapitre 9 · Semestre 2 · Unité 2
Advances in science and technology
Units 6 – 10
Theme: Advances in science and technology
Science and technology have changed our lives: medicine (vaccines, organ transplants), communication (internet, smartphones), transport, space exploration and artificial intelligence (AI). These advances bring many benefits but also raise ethical questions and risks (privacy, cybercrime, job losses, addiction to screens).
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| invention / discovery | creating something new / finding something that existed |
| breakthrough | an important discovery |
| artificial intelligence (AI) | machines that can "think" and learn |
| device / gadget | a small machine |
| to invent / to develop / to launch | to create / to improve / to start |
| cloning / genetic engineering | copying / modifying living organisms |
| cybercrime / hacker | crime using computers / person who breaks into systems |
| cutting-edge / state-of-the-art | the most modern |
| drawback / advantage | disadvantage / benefit |
Grammar: expressing purpose and result
| Expression | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to / in order to / so as to | + base verb | Scientists work hard in order to find cures. |
| so that | + clause (can/could/will/would) | He saved money so that he could buy a laptop. |
| so… that / such… that (result) | so + adjective ; such + (a) noun | The robot was so expensive that few people bought it. It was such a useful invention that everybody used it. |
Function: expressing certainty and possibility
- Certainty: I'm sure / certain that… / There's no doubt that… / will definitely…
- Possibility: It may / might / could… / Perhaps… / It's possible that…
- Impossibility: It can't be… / It's impossible that…
Writing: an advantages-and-disadvantages essay
Introduction → advantages (on the one hand, first, moreover) → disadvantages (on the other hand, however) → conclusion with your opinion.
Exercise 1 — Purpose
Join the sentences using the word in brackets.
- She uses the internet. She wants to learn languages. (in order to)
- They invented the vaccine. People could be protected. (so that)
- He went to the lab early. He wanted to finish the experiment. (so as to)
Voir le corrigé
- She uses the internet in order to learn languages.
- They invented the vaccine so that people could be protected.
- He went to the lab early so as to finish the experiment.
Exercise 2 — So / such… that
- The phone was ________ light ________ he forgot it was in his pocket.
- It was ________ an interesting documentary ________ we watched it twice.
Voir le corrigé
- so light that (so + adjective)
- such an interesting documentary that (such + a/an + noun)
Summary — Science and technology
- Vocabulary: invention, discovery, breakthrough, AI, device, cloning, cybercrime, cutting-edge, drawback.
- Purpose: to / in order to / so as to + verb ; so that + clause (can/could).
- Result: so + adjective + that ; such + (a) noun + that.
- Certainty: I'm sure, there's no doubt ; possibility: may, might, could, perhaps.
- Writing: advantages (on the one hand) / disadvantages (on the other hand) / opinion.