Culture B1+ Unit

The world of science

1 Work with a partner. Read the news Afossil of the largest dinosaur with
wings was recently discovered
in north-east China by a team of
story and look at the picture. Then
answer the questions. scientists from the University of
Edinburgh in Scotland and the
1 Why is the discovery of this creature Chinese Academy of Geological
velociraptor
significant? Sciences. It’s about 125 million
2 How do you think scientists know this years old and two metres tall, and is similar to the velociraptor
information from a fossil? dinosaurs of the time. Its large body means it was unlikely that
it could fly. The discovery shows that this was a land
3 Why is it important that scientists
creature experimenting with flight, and so it was very
continue their research to make likely the time when birds were beginning to evolve.
discoveries like this?

2a Read about some of the latest discoveries and achievements in the world of science. Which is the most
interesting or significant for you? Why?

New scientific discoveries and achievements

Technology Space the solar system
and Scientists at the California Institute
transport of Technology in the US have found
In Japan, evidence of a ninth planet in our solar
the Maglev system. It is a planet larger than Earth
train recently and is located far beyond the dwarf
broke the world speed record by travelling planet of Pluto, which means it is very far away. In fact, Planet Nine
at 603 km an hour. That’s nearly double is so distant that it would probably take between 10,000 and 20,000
the speed of the Shinkansen, the country’s years to orbit the sun. Earth takes just one year by comparison.
bullet train! Maglev means ‘magnetic There is now more proof than ever that water exists in liquid form
levitation’ and it refers to vehicles that on Mars. NASA, America’s space agency, has a spacecraft orbiting
move without touching the ground. The the planet and it has identified marks in canyons and craters that
Maglev train hovers 10 cm above its rail are believed to be formed by water in the warmer months. This
tracks using electrically-charged magnets important discovery could mean that there is life on Mars after all!
to create lift, and this allows the train to
travel at very high speeds. But passengers
can’t experience the fastest train in the Medical
world just yet. It won’t start operating In Canada, scientists have developed a vaccine to protect against
commercially until 2027 when it will the Ebola virus disease. The biggest ever Ebola epidemic began in
connect Tokyo and Nagoya in 40 minutes, 2014 in Guinea, West Africa. It quickly spread around the world
at a speed of 500 km per hour for the 286 and more than 11,000 deaths have been reported. But tests of the
km distance. new vaccine on 4,000 people in Guinea show results to be 100%
successful, which is a significant scientific breakthrough.
Solar Impulse
2 is a solar- Environment and the natural world
powered
Good news for the giant panda, an animal
aircraft
classified as an endangered species. China
that is
reports that numbers in the wild have
designed to
increased by 17% in the last decade from
circumnavigate the globe using solar
fewer than 268 to 1,864. This is thanks to
power only. The project was born in
several successful conservation actions by
Switzerland and is operated by a Swiss
the Chinese government, such as protecting the panda’s habitat.
engineer and pilot, and their latest
around-the-world attempt has been their According to a new study in Germany, global warming is delaying
greatest achievement to date. They set the next ice age. The natural cycle of our planet means that
a new world record for the longest solo another ice age is due in about 50,000 years, but this is now more
flight between Japan and Hawaii without likely to be in 100,000 years because of the carbon emissions that
stopping – 117 hours and 52 minutes, humans are putting into the atmosphere by burning coal, oil and
covering a distance of 7,212 km over five gas. Ice ages have shaped our global environment over time and
days and nights. polluting our planet is leading to a change in its evolution.

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Culture B1+ Unit

2b Read the texts again. Then read and match the sentence halves.
1 In the next decade, a is thought to take thousands of years to complete an
2 The new planet discovered by scientists orbit of the sun.
in the US b prove a significant breakthrough for medical science.
c there has been a rise in numbers for this particular
3 A German research institute believes that
endangered species.
4 Tests on 4,000 people in a West African
d the fastest train in the world should be ready for
country passenger use in Japan.
5 A Swiss project is soon set to orbit e we are changing the evolution of our planet.
6 In the last decade, f the entire globe without the use of fuel.

2c Write the correct numbers to answer the questions.   Gateway to culture

1 How many giant pandas were thought 3a Work with a partner and discuss the questions.
to be in the wild in China ten years ago? 1 Do you know of any recent scientific discoveries or
2 How long did it take Solar Impulse 2 achievements in your country? If so, what are they?
to achieve its new world record? 2 Do you know of any scientific discoveries or
3 What is the distance between achievements that your country has made in the
Tokyo and Nagoya? past? If so, what are they?
4 How successful is the new Ebola
PROJECT
vaccine?
5 When do scientists predict
3b You are going to make a poster to show
a selection of scientific discoveries and
the next ice age is due? achievements in your country and a country
6 How far above the tracks does the of your choice. You should find out about
Maglev train travel? discoveries and achievements in different areas
of science, e.g. medicine, technology, etc. Read
2d Read the statements and write D (discovery) or A the questions and prepare your project research.
(achievement). 1 Work in small groups. Decide on which country
1 Solar Impulse 2 set a new world record when it flew you are going to research, as well as your own.
7,212 km non-stop between Japan and Hawaii. Do some research on the Internet to find out the
2 NASA scientists have found evidence of water following information:
■ what some of the major scientific discoveries and
on the planet Mars.
achievements are (either recent or in the past)
3 The new Ebola vaccine is a major success in the
■ who discovered or achieved these things,
medical world, thanks to the work of scientists
in Canada. and why
■ how the discovery or achievement helps or has
4 Research in Germany shows that the human
helped science
impact of burning fossil fuels will probably delay
■ categorise the discovery or achievement into an
the next ice age.
area of science, e.g. medicine, technology, etc.
5 The Chinese government has taken several
■ any other information you think is valuable.
measures in recent years to ensure the
conservation of the giant panda. 2 In your groups, prepare your poster using the
information you have gathered. Categorise the
6 The Japanese Maglev train is considered the
scientific discoveries and achievements and write
fastest in the world after it recently broke the
a description of each using your notes. Illustrate
world speed record. 
them or provide photos where necessary.
3c Display your poster in the classroom. Move
around and read the information from the other
groups. Discuss the interesting discoveries and
achievements.

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