experiments and the common cold cankaya university - office of basic and elective courses- english...

EXPERIMENTS and

THE COMMON COLD

CANKAYA UNIVERSITY - OFFICE OF BASIC AND ELECTIVE COURSES- ENGLISH UNIT

Previewing the Academic ContentThere is one thing common to all people around the

world: we will all get many colds during our lives.The common cold is perhaps the most common illness in

the world. Why is not there any good medicine for it? How can scientists look for a way to help people with a

cold? This unit will look at how experiments are used to learn

about illnesses. The common cold will be our example in this unit. CANKAYA UNIVERSITY - OFFICE

OF BASIC AND ELECTIVE COURSES- ENGLISH UNIT

1. Look at the ad on page 2. What do you think is wrong with the people in the picture?

2. Find the key words in the ad and guess their meaning from context. Then write each key word next to its definition.

1. Symptom 2 . Relieve 3. Remedy 4. Effective 5. Suffering from


Effect ( n ): a change that is caused by an event,action etc.

Word Formation : Effective (adj)Definition : working very well Synonyms : influence Collocations : long-term/short term effect have an effect on sth

Ex: One of the long-term effects of smoking is cancer.Ex: Exercising regularly has major effects on a healthy

life. Ex: This is an effective medicine for headache.


Relieve( v): to reduce someone’s painsWord Formation : Relief (n)

Definition : a feeling of comfort Collocations : relieve pain

relieve stress

Ex: Drugs help patients to relieve their pains.Ex: Jack is drinking alcohol to relieve his stress.


Remedy (n): a medicine that makes people better

Synonyms : medicineCollocations : remedy for something

take remedy

Ex: Vitamin C is the best remedy for cold and the flu.Ex: Have you taken other remedies for your illness?


Suffer( v): to experience physical or mental painWord Formation : Sufferer (n)

Definition : someone who suffers Collocations : Suffer from an illness

Ex: She has been suffering from this illness for ten years.

Ex: Today there is a meeting of cancer sufferers.


Symptom (n): a problem in your body that shows you are ill

Synonyms : SignCollocations : Symptom of something

Ex: Headaches may be a symptom of stress.


Cure (v): to make someone healthy again Word Formation : Cure (n)

Definition : a medicine that makes someone healthyCollocations : cure an illness

cure somebody of something

Ex: The scientists find a new way to cure cancer Ex: The doctor tried everything to cure her of AIDS but

they could not cure.


Explain( v): to say how or why something happensWord Formation : Explanation (n)

Definition : the details or reasons of something Collocations : explain something to somebody

have an explanation

Ex: The teacher explained the procedure to the students.

Ex: She did not have an explanation for what happened.


Predict (v): to say or think that something will happen

Word Formation : Prediction (n)

Definition : a guess about what will happenSynonyms : Guess (v)Collocations : fail to predict

Ex: In the future, it will be possible to predict the earthquakes.

Ex: The government failed to predict the increase in unemployment.


Prevent (v): to stop something from happening

Word Formation : Prevention (n)

Definition : the act of preventing Synonyms : stopCollocations : prevent from

Ex: We have rules to prevent accidentsEx: Eating healthy food prevents us from getting ill.


Research (v): to try to discover new thingsWord Formation : 1.Research (n)

Definition : serious study of a subject to discover new things

Collocations : carry out a research do research

Ex: She is researching for material for her new book. Ex: The researchers are carrying out a research to find a

solution to the problem. CANKAYA UNIVERSITY - OFFICE OF BASIC AND ELECTIVE COURSES- ENGLISH UNIT

Reject (v): to decide not to use or agree with something Word Formation : Rejection (n)

Definition : the action of not accepting or agreeing with something

Synonyms : Refuse Antonym : Accept

Ex: They rejected spending 1.000 $ on the research.

Ex: The rejection of the school project made the students very sad.


Support (v): to show that something is correct or might be correct

Word Formation : Support (n)

Definition : showing something is correct or might be correct

Ex: The tests failed to support our hypothesis.Ex: We have to find stronger supports for the

experiment. Ex: Hypotheses should be well supported by scientists.


Previewing the Academic Content

3. Work with a partner and list as many symptoms and remedies of a cold as you can on the chart on page 3.

4. Work in small groups and discuss a time when you suffered from cold. Answer the questions.

1. What were your symptoms? 2. What remedies did you try ? 3. Did the remedies relieve your symptoms?


Previewing the Academic Skills FocusMain Ideas and Supporting Details

The main idea is the writer’s or speaker’s most important idea or point.

A Supporting detail is a piece of information that gives more information about the main idea.

In reading and writing main idea and supporting detail can help you to understand more easily.

You can also make your writing clear by following the rules of main ideas and supporting details.


1. Work with a partner. Where do you expect the main ideas to be? Check all answers that you think may apply. __ in the title

__ at the beginning of the paragraph __ in the middle of the paragraph __ at the end of the paragraph __ repeated throughout the paragraph

Answer: All options are possible answers


2. Read the paragraph from a biology textbook on page 4 and answer the questions.

1. What is the main idea of the paragraph ? People use scientific processes in every day life.

2. Which of the strategies did you use to find the main idea? __ I read the title __ I focused on the beginning and end of the paragraph. __ I looked for repeated words and ideas __ I tried other strategies


3. Discuss your answers with a partner.

1. Which of the strategies was most helpful for finding the main idea here?

2. Which strategies have you used before?

3. Which strategy would you use first with any text ?


Hypothesis (n): an idea that is suggested but not proven to be true.

Word Formation : Hypotheses(plr.)

Word Formation : Hypothetical(adj)

Definition : based on something not real,but might happenSynonyms : theory Collocations : develop hypothesis

test a hypothesis Ex: The doctors developed a new hypothesis for the

experimentEx: You need to use this data to test your hypothesis Ex: We need hypothetical examples to see what will happen


Avoid( v): to prevent sth bad from happeningWord Formation : Avoidable (adj)

Definition : something that can be avoided Synonyms : stopCollocations: avoid doing something

Ex: Although they tried very hard, they could not avoid having an accident in the factory.

Ex: Many illnesses are now avoidable with the help of new medicine.


Observe (v): to watch someone or something carefully

Word Formation : Observation (n)

Definition : the process of observing Synonyms : watch

Ex: The doctors have observed that %40 of the patients gets ill in winter.

Ex: The observation period will be two weeks. CANKAYA UNIVERSITY - OFFICE OF BASIC AND ELECTIVE COURSES- ENGLISH UNIT

Prove (v): to show that something is trueWord Formation : Proof (n)Definition : a fact or information that shows something is true

Collocations : Prove a hypothesis Prove something to somebody

Ex: Tests have proved that the system works. Ex: He proved his theory to his friends.


Measure (v): to find the size,amount or speed of something

Word Formation : Measurement (n)Definition : the size/speed /amount of something

Ex: Seismologists in Japan measured the earthquake at 7.7 on the Richter scale.

Ex: We should measure the wall before we buy new shelves.


Lower (v): to reduce something in amount,size or to become less

Synonyms : reduceAntonym : increase

Ex: Taking vitamins lowers the chance of getting ill.


Before You Read Work with a partner and look at the flow chart on page 5.Then read the statements below and decide if they are true(T) or false (F). If false explain why. 1.T2.F : There would be no reason to do the experiment if the

scientists were sure3. T4.F : Following the right-hand side of the flowchart, this

situation will lead to rejecting the hypothesis.5. F : the options after the “Do not reject the hypothesis” are

“Do more tests” and “Try some other hypotheses.” Both indicate that tests will continue


Global Reading Finding Main Ideas: Skimming Skimming means reading quickly to understand the generalmeaning of a whole text. It can help you find the main ideasof paragraphs. Strategies to use when skimming:Do

Read the title, heading and subheadings of the text.Look out for bold, italicized, or underlined words. Read the first and last parts of each paragraph

Don’tDon’t use a dictionary Don’t think about the meaning of difficult wordsDo not read every word.


1. Work with a partner and look at the strategies for skimming. Compare them with the strategies for finding the main idea you checked on page 4. Tell you partner which strategies are the same.

1. Suggested Answer: reading the title, the first and last parts of each paragraph

2. Skim the excerpts from a biology textbook. What is the main idea?

Suggested Answer: : What hypotheses are.


3. Skim the text again and write the main idea of each paragraph in your own words.

Paragraph 1: What hypotheses are. Paragraph 2: Hypotheses must be falsifiable.

Paragraph 3: Hypotheses must be testable.Paragraph 4: gives an example of a common hypothesis.Paragraph 5: Some hypotheses get accepted first and then rejected later.


4. Read the questions and using your responses in Exercise 3, write the number of the paragraph where you can find answers to the questions without looking back at the reading.

__ a. What is the definition of hypothesis? __ b. What does testable mean?

__ c. What is one kind of hypothesis that cannot be tested? __ d. What does falsifiable mean ? __ e. What is one kind of statement that can not be falsified?

__ f. Why is it often necessary to test a hypothesis more than once ?


1

3

3

2

2

5

5. Answer the question in exercise 4 by reading in detail only the paragrahs you chose.

a. Hypotheses are ideas about how things work.b. Testable means it’s possible to check by seeing or

measuring things.c. Hypotheses that need a supernatural force cannot be

tested.d. Falsifiable means it’s possible to imagine a way to show the

hypothesis is false.e. Personal opinions cannot be falsified.f. A later test may show that an original hypothesis is wrong,

or people may find other explanations for the result.


Focused Reading 1. Read paragraphs 2 and 3 on pages 6-7. Find examples of

the three elements listed. Underline them. Two definitions Three examplesAn explanation (not just a description)

Two definitions 1.falsifiable: That is, you must be able to imagine a way to show that it is false. (paragraph 2)2. testable: This means it must be possible to check them byseeing or measuring things. (paragraph 3)


Three examples

1. For instance, think about the hypothesis that you get more colds in cold weather. (paragraph 2)

2. . . . personal opinions, such as “It is wrong to cheat on exams, . . . (paragraph 2)

3. For example, we cannot test hypotheses that need a supernatural force. (paragraph 3)

An explanation (not just a description) 1. This is why personal opinions, such as “It is wrong to cheat

on exams,” are not scientific. . . (paragraph 2)


2. Which expressions in the reading introduce a definition, an example, or an explanation?


Type of supporting idea Phrases introducing supporting ideas

Definition This means

Example

Explanation

2. Which expressions in the reading introduce a definition, an example, or an explanation?


Type of supporting idea Phrases introducing supporting ideas

Description This meansThat is

Example For instancesuch asFor example

Explanation That is why

Finding Specific Information: Scanning

Scanning can also help you find ideas quickly. It is different from skimming because you are looking for details, not a main idea.

Scanning means reading quickly to find specific information such as words, ideas, numbers, names, places, and dates.

Specific information is often found in the supporting details. These could be definitions, examples, or explanations.


Like skimming, when scanning, do not read every word. Here are some strategies to help you scan:

Look for capital letters if you are looking for a place or a name

Look for numbers if you are looking for answers to questions about dates

Find a key word in the question, or a word with the same meaning, and search for it.


3. Look at each question in the chart. What will you scan for to find the answers? Capital letter, number, or key word. Check all that apply. If you check key word also underline the key word in the question.


What will you scan for ?

Capital letter Number Key Word

1. What is a hypothesis that a mother might use?

2. What kinds of food have a lot of vitamin C?

3. Who wrote a book about vitamin C and colds?

4. When did he write it ?

5. What famous prize did he win?

6. Do scientists agree with the book?

3. Look at each question in the chart. What will you scan for to find the answers? Capital letter, number, or key word. Check all that apply. If you check key word also underline the key word in the question.


What will you scan for ?

Capital letter Number Key Word

1. What is a hypothesis that a mother might use?

✓

2. What kinds of food have a lot of vitamin C? ✓

3. Who wrote a book about vitamin C and colds? ✓

4. When did he write it ? ✓

5. What famous prize did he win? ✓

6. Do scientists agree with the book? ✓

4. Scan the reading on pages 6-7 and write answers to the questions in the chart.

1. Getting cold makes it easier to catch a cold.2. Fruit and vegetables3. Linus Pauling4. 19705. The Nobel Prize6. No, they don’t.


5. Work in small groups. Look at the example hypotheses in the chart. Discuss whether they are good or not. Check one column for each.


Example Hypothesis Rejected because not falsifiable

Rejected because not testable

Not Rejected

1. People cannot think as clearly when they have a col

2. You should not go to work or school when you have a cold

3. Getting a cold is a sign that ghosts or spirits are unhappy with you

4. Thousand of years ago, people experienced the same cold symptoms as they do now .

5. Work in small groups. Look at the example hypotheses in the chart. Discuss whether they are good or not. Check one column for each.


Example Hypothesis Rejected because not falsifiable

Rejected because not testable

Not Rejected

1. People cannot think as clearly when they have a cold

✓

2. You should not go to work or school when you have a cold

✓

3. Getting a cold is a sign that ghosts or spirits are unhappy with you

✓

4. Thousand of years ago, people experienced the same cold symptoms as they do now .

✓

Explanations1. This statement is falsifiable (the counter example, where

people can think just as clearly whether or not they have a cold, is possible even if it might sound unlikely) and testable (give the same tasks to randomly selected people who do and do not have a cold, and compare the results. Or give similar tasks to the same people when they have a cold and when they do not).

2. This is an opinion, and as stated in the text, opinions are not falsifiable.


Explanations

3. This statement relates to the supernatural, and as stated in the text, supernatural phenomena cannot be subject to testing or measuring.

4. This statement is not testable as it is not possible to go back in time ( there might be documentary evidence, the counter argument is that we cannot be sure that all symptoms were recorded).


6. Discuss your reactions to the reading. 1. What new information did you learn from this text ? 2. Which piece of information was most interesting to

you ? Why ? 3. Where else might you read or hear about hypotheses,

outside of biology lessons? Suggested answers: newspaper articles about

scientific research, research in other fields, TV shows, and films & novels about crimes


KEY WORDS


Conduct (v): to do something in an organized way to get information

Synonyms : Do/ perform

Collocations : Conduct a research/survey

Ex:Scientists conducted an experiment to see whether echinacea helped with colds

Ex: They are conducting a research to see the effects of the medicine


Treat( v): to try to cure an illness by using drugs etc.

Word Formation : Treatment (n)

Definition : something that is done to cure an illnessSynonyms : cure Collocations : treat for

receive treatment

Ex: She was treated for the pains she was suffering. Ex: My mother will receive a special treatment in this

hospital. CANKAYA UNIVERSITY - OFFICE OF BASIC AND ELECTIVE COURSES- ENGLISH UNIT

Overview ( n): a short description of a subject that gives only main ideas of the subject

Synonyms : Summary Collocations : Give/provide overview

Ex: The instructor gave us an overview of the course.

Ex: The book is an overview of the events in 1990s in the country


Gain(v): to get or have something

Collocations : Gain knowledge

Ex: After we gained enough knowledge from the research, we will start experiments.


Cover (v): to include or deal with a subject

Synonyms : Include

Ex: Today, we will cover the hypotheses and research methods.

Ex: The course covers the business and business ethics.


Illustrate(v): to make something clearer by giving examples

Word Formation : Illustration (n)

Definition : An example that explains something

Ex: Let me illustrate the topic with one more example. Ex: This event is another illustration of the power of

the media.


Investigation (n): trying to find the truth or cause behind something

Word Formation : Investigate (v) Definition : to try to find the truth or cause behind

something Collocations : carry out investigation

Ex: Before making decisions, scientists carry out many investigations.


Before You Listen

Work with a partner. Look at the picture of a cold medicine and discuss the questions.

1.How might this product be useful ?2.Have you seen any similar products? How well do they

work?3.Do you think the product in the picture is effective?


Global Listening

Getting the Gist: Understanding a Speaker’s Main Ideas

Getting the gist means listening for the main ideas and general

information.

Listening for the gist is similar to skimming in reading.

When listening for the gist, do not pay attention to details.


Strategies for getting the gist in a lecture: before a lecture, read any information you have about the

course

listen carefully to the beginning of a lecture. Lecturers often give the main ideas in the introduction

Listen for signals, such as: I am going to talk about… Now, let’s move on to…

Listen carefully to the end of the lecture.


1. To prepare for the lecture, read part of the course outline posted by the professor online and answer the question.

What do you already know about this topic ?2. Listen to the first part of the lecture. Check the ideas that you hear 1. controlled experiments 2. placebos 3. deaf experiments 4. blind experiments, 5. double-blind experiments 6. Testable hypotheses


✓

✓

✓

✓

3. Listen to the whole lecture. Which main idea from Exercise 2 is introduced after these expression? Write the number of the idea on the line.

1.First of all…2.…. And it is an important answer…. 3.…. Our next idea…..4.…. This brings us to the next point….


1

2

4

5

4. What is connection between the introduction and the body of the lecture?

Suggested answer:The introduction states the main ideas of the lecture. Thebody of the lecture gives details about the main ideas.

5. What are the four main ideas of the lecture ? controlled experiments, placebos, blind experiments,

double-blind experiments


Focused Listening Listening for Supporting Details:

Just as in reading, there are also different types of supportingideas in listening such as examples, definitions, andexplanations.

In order to notice these details listen for expressions that introduce them, such as for example, for instance, in other words, what is…?


1. Read the statements. Then listen to the lecture again. As you listen, complete each statement.

1. an example2. For instance3. in other words4. It’s something that5. for example6. we call it a


2. Look at the statements in exercise 1. Which statements are examples and which statements are definitions?

Examples: 1, 2, 5Definitions: 3, 4, 6

3. Look at the expressions you wrote in Exercise 1. Which expressions indicate and example and which indicate a definition?

Examples: an example; For instance; for exampleDefinitions: in other words; it’s something that; we call it


4. Read the summary and listen to the lecture again and complete the statements.

1. flower 2. better 3. quickly 4. same 5. experimental treatment6. nothing7. no 8. don’t know


5. Circle the best answer to complete each statement.

1. c 2. b 3. a 4. d 5. c


Before You Write Read the paragraph from a biology textbook. Then completethe tasks. Underline the main idea of the paragraph

Microorganisms are the cause of many illnesses.Writing a ParagraphWhen writing a paragaph , remember to make sure eachparagraph:

-has only one main idea -is clearly seperated from other paragraphs, either by

indenting or by leaving a blank before or after it.


2. Work with a partner and look at the two groups of sentences on pages 15&16. Discuss what you need to do to make each group into a paragraph. Write the paragraphs in correct form on a seperate piece of paper.

Answers:Group 1: Each new sentence shouldn’t start on a separate

line. The paragraph should be rewritten, indenting the first line and running all the sentences together.


Group 2: All sentences in the paragraph should keep to just one

topic;

all the ideas in the paragraph should follow the same topic as the

first sentence.

In this paragraph, there are two separate ideas, how people get

better from colds and the fact that colds are bad for the economy.

These two ideas should be divided into two separate paragraphs.


Focused Writing

Recognizing parts of a paragraphMost paragraphs have two main parts. They have a topic sentence that gives the main idea of a paragraph and it is usually ,not always, the first sentence of a paragraph.

The sentences after topic sentence give supporting details.Supporting details can be examples, definitions, or

explanations.


1. Look back at the reading on page 6-7. Underline the topicsentences in paragraphs 2,3,4 and 5.Answer: The first sentence in each of the paragraphs is the topic

sentence.

2. Read the paragraphs on pages 16&17. Underline the topic sentences.

Paragraph 1: Chicken soup has been a common North American remedy for cold for many years—but does it work?

Paragraph 2: There are many kinds of viruses that cause the cold.Paragraph 3: Does echinacea stop the common cold?Paragraph 4: The immune system is the body’s natural defense

system.


3. What type of supporting detail is used? Check the correct column or columns in the chart on page 17.

Paragraph 1: Explanation(s)Paragraph 2: Example(s)Paragraph 3: None of the supporting details in the table are

used.Paragraph 4: Definition(s)


4. To prepare for writing practice, listen to the announcer of a radio program talking about colds. As you listen, take notes in your notebook.

5. Work with a partner. Use your notes to complete the chart.


The Announcer’s….

Main Idea

Supporting Details


The Announcer’s….

Main Idea New research: vitamin C has no effect on catching a cold

Supporting Details experiment:• many volunteers: half took extra vitamin C, the other half didn’t• volunteers kept a diary about their colds• approximately same number of colds for each group• conclusion: vitamin C has no effect but if you have a cold, it’ll help you get better sooner• keeping warm doesn't work, either• washing hands is best way, because cold virus live outside bodies for several hours

6. Write a paragraph to answer this question: Which ways to prevent a cold do and do not work? Follow the steps.

Step 1: Look at the chart you completed in Exercise 5. Step 2: Write a topic sentenceStep 3: Write the supporting detailsStep 4 : Check that your paragraph has:

- a clear topic sentence giving the main idea- clear supporting ideas that help the reader know

more about the main idea- correct formatting

Step 5: Revise your paragraph if necessary.


experiments and the common cold cankaya university - office of basic and elective courses- english...

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