Class

By Pamela Linwood

in
The Scientific American [C1-advanced]
GETTING STARTED
TASK 1 - Speaking
Discuss these questions with your partner(s).
a) How much do you read and what kinds of
things do you read? Why?
b) Do you think it is important to read a lot? Why
(not)?
c) How much do you feel you know about
scientific progress? Why?
d) Would you like to know more about scientific
progress? Why (not)?
e) Do you think scientific progress is essentially
positive or negative? Why?

LISTENING

TASK 2 - Prediction
You are going to listen to a recorded interview
with Mariette Di Cristina, editor of Scientific
American. Before you listen, discuss these
questions with your partner, and make some TASK 3 - Listening for Specific Information
notes. If you don’t know/aren’t sure, guess. Listen to all of the recording, without reading. How
1) Mariette says that scientists and average many of your ideas were mentioned?
people use the word ‘theory’
a) in very different ways. b) in similar ways. READING

c) in the same way. TASK 4 - Prediction 2

2) What does Mariette think about the theory of
evolution?
a) she is not 100% convinced. a) 1845.
b) she is in two minds about it.
c) she is convinced by it.
3) Mariette thinks one day humans will become
extinct and that
a) everything in our cities will eventually
disappear. b) most things in our cities will
eventually disappear.
c) some things in our cities will probably never
disappear.
Before you read all of the article, work with your
partner and try to write a question to which these
words or numbers are the answer.
b) The growth of creationism.
c) Some vague idea.
d) The World Without Us.
e) About 100 to 200 years.
f) Old stone buildings.
g) Plastic bottles and tyres.
TASK 5 - Reading for Specific Information
Read all of the text as quickly as you can and
check your answers to TASK 4.

Answers on page 5 one 1

 CAE EXAM PRACTICE
(Paper 3: Use of English. Part 5)
TASK 6
Here are some pairs of sentences related to
the topic of the article. Complete the second
sentence in each pair so that it has a similar
meaning to the first sentence, using the word
given (IN CAPITALS AND BOLD). Do NOT
change the word given. You must use between
three and six words.
1) I think Andrew must have subscribed to
Scientific American because there are 6 back
7) We would never have guessed that one day
our daughter would edit a magazine.
LITTLE
. . . . . . . . . . . one day our daughter would edit
a magazine.
8) When you decide whether you believe in
creationism or evolution, do let me know.
MIND
Let me know when ........................... whether
you believe in creationism or evolution.
AFTER YOU READ

copies on his desk. TASK 8 - Speaking

HAS
It looks as. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .out
a subscription to Scientific American.
2) There is no reason for you to try and tell me
about creationism: I believe in evolution.
POINT
There is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to tell me about
creationism: I believe in evolution.
3) Nobody could quite believe Thomas when he
informed us that he believes in creationism.
TAKEN
Thomas’s revelation that he believes in
creationism . . . . . . . . . . . . . surprise.
Discuss these questions with your partners.
a) How accurate do you think Scientific
American’s predictions are?
b) Is the pursuit of scientific knowledge good for
humanity? Why (not)?
c) Can science explain everything? Why(not)?
d) Do you read magazines like Scientific
American? Why (not)?
e) Should people in general read magazines like
that more often? Why (not)?
f) “Ignorance is bliss.” Do you agree? Why (not)?
g) “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” Do
you agree? Why (not)?

4) I think we should discuss the date for our

debate on creationism and evolution.
HAVE
I think we should . . . . . . . . . . . . . . we are
going to meet to debate creationism and
evolution.

5) Do you think you could help me understand

the exact meaning of the word ‘theory’?
WONDERING
I. . . . . . . . . . . . me a hand in understanding the
exact meaning of the word ‘theory’?

6) You led me to believe that you knew the

difference between a ‘missing link’ and a
transitional fossil.
UNDER
I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . that you knew
the difference between a ‘missing link’ and a
transitional fossil.

2 two
Scan Artists [C1-advanced]
Class
in

GETTING STARTED

TASK 1 - Speaking
Discuss these questions with your partner(s).
a) Do you like shopping? Why (not)?
b) Where do you like to do your shopping? TASK 4 - Reading for Specific Information
Why? Read all of the text as quickly as possible. How
c) Do you feel you know everything you many of your answers are correct?
need to know about the products and services
you normally buy? Why (not)? READING

d) What factors do you take into account TASK 5 - Prediction 2

when buying things like books, clothes,
technological items, holidays? Why?
e) How important are these factors: price,
brand, packaging? Why?
TASK 2 - Vocabulary
Look through the Glossary, study some of the
words, then choose 5 or 6 words or expressions
and test your partner(s). They will test you too!
Before you read all of the article, work with your
partner and try to write a question to which these
words or numbers are the answer.
a) For more than 20 years.
b) Because black and white stripes are big this
spring.
c) The morse code.
d) In 1952.
e) Because they contain the numbers 666.

READING TASK 6 - Reading for Specific Information

TASK 3 - Prediction Read all of the text as quickly as you can and
You are going to read an article about bar codes. check your answers to TASK 4.
Before you read, do this quiz with a partner. If you
don’t know the answers, guess! CAE EXAM PRACTICE

1) When were bar codes invented? (Paper 3: Use of English. Part 5)

a) More than fifty years ago.
b) More than a hundred years ago. TASK 7
c) Less than 20 years ago. Here are some pairs of sentences related to the
topic of the article. Complete the second sentence
2) When did the very first product appear on in each pair so that it has a similar meaning to the
the market with a bar code on it? first sentence, using the word given (IN CAPITALS
a) mid 60s. AND BOLD). Do NOT change the word given. You
b) mid 70s. must use between three and six words.
c) mid 80s. 1) Bar codes cost a lot more to buy than I’d
thought!
3) When did the bar code start being used CONSIDERABLY
widely? Bar codes are …………………………….than I’d
a) early 80s. thought!
b) mid 80s.
c) late 80s. 2) Before the 1940s, inventors had been struggling
to think of a good way to read information on
4) According to the article, the general reaction products at the checkout counter.
to bar codes by consumers and retailers is COME
a) mostly positive. No matter how hard they’d tried, inventors . . . . .
b) very positive. . . . . . . . . . . .. a good way to read information on
c) mixed. products at the checkout counter.

three 3
3) Chewing gum became the first product to be
sold with a bar code on it.
BOUGHT
The first product that . . . . . . . . . . . . . with a bar
code on it was chewing gum.
4) Everyone was full of anticipation about seeing
the new bar code design.
FORWARD
Everyone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . seeing the new bar
code design.
5) It’s possible that retailers got the wrong idea
and thought bar codes were principally a good
way to save money.
REACHED
Retailers might . . . . . . . . . . . . conclusion and
thought bar codes were principally a good way to
save money.
6) It was a mistake not to write down the name of
that brilliant bar code design.
POINT
I should . . . . . . . . . . . . . writing down the name
of that brilliant bar code design.
7) It’s one thing to use bar codes for reading the
price of products, and another to use them for
marketing purposes.
WORLD
There’s . . . . . . . . . . . using bar codes for
4 four
reading the price of products, and using them for
marketing purposes.
8) It’s unlikely, but if you don’t like the new design,
we will give you a full refund.
EVENT
........................... that you don’t like the new
design, we will give you a full refund.
AFTER YOU READ
TASK 8 - Webquest
Before your next lesson, visit
www.barcoderevolution.com and
a) find out more about designer bar codes.
For example:
• What designs are available?
• What is involved in getting a barcode designed?
• How much does it cost?
Make some notes.
b) Look at the Gallery. Which designs do you like?
Why?
c) Think about these questions, and be ready to justify
your ideas in class:
1) Are designer bar codes ‘cool’? Why (not)?
2) Would you prefer a product with a designer bar
code over a product without one? Why?
3) Do you think designer bar codes will become more
and more popular?
4) Do you think the price is justified? Why (not)?
Answers
SCAN ARTISTS
Answers to TASK 4
1a, 2b, 3b, 4c
Answers to TASK 6
a) How long has the bar code been
ubiquitous? b) Why is the bar code
particularly significant at the mo-
ment? c) What did Bernard Silver
and Norman Joseph Woodland
base their concentric circles sys-
tem of encoding data on? d) When
scientific american
Answers to TASK 3
1a, 2c, 3b
Answers to TASK 5
a) When was Scientific American
founded? b) What, according to
Mariette, is one of the great issues
in American society? c) What is
the average person talking about
when they use the word ‘theory’,
in Mariette’s opinion? d) What was
the title of the article published
in Scientific American eighteen
months ago? e) How long will it
take, according to that article, for
was their idea patented? e) Why
do some people believe bar codes
are evil?
Answers to TASK 7
1) considerably more expensive
2) had/could not come up with 3)
could be (or: was) bought 4) was
looking forward to 5) have reached
the wrong 6) have made a point of
7) a world of difference between 8)
In the unlikely event
Class
in
most buildings to crumble after
the extinction of humanity? f) What
would still survive after about 500
years? g) What things will remain
after about 1000 years?
Answers to TASK 6
1) if/though Andrew has taken 2)
no point in you (or: your) trying 3)
has taken everyone by 4) have a
discussion on/about when 5) was
wondering if/whether you could give
6) was under the impression 7) Little
did we know that 8) you make (or:
have made) your mind up (or you
have made up your mind)
five 5