Science & Technology Topic: IELTS Vocabulary & Exercises

0 Comments
Share

This page contains some of the most common science and technology-related questions on the IELTS exam, along with some sample answers and exercises for you to practice using the most essential and frequently used vocabulary. Science and technology topics can incorporate a wide range of our everyday activities and thoughts. Using specific IELTS vocabulary related to the individual scientific field will help you form relevant and coherent answers with a high degree of accuracy.

Computer, IT & Internet Vocabulary
Activity 1 – IT Vocabulary Exercise
General Science & Technology Vocabulary
Activity 2 – Science & Technology Vocabulary Exercise
Vocabulary for Science Domain & Scientists
Activity 3 –Vocabulary Exercise for Science Domain & Scientists

1. Computer, IT & Internet Vocabulary

Computer, IT, and internet vocabulary –

The internet and computers are a part of most people’s lives so it is vital that you know and can use the vocabulary correctly. The following are some of the most common words on the IELTS examination related to computers and the internet, followed by an exercise for you to practice using the words.

AI (artificial intelligence) – Computer systems that can perform tasks without human assistance
Boot-up / Start-up – To start a computer
Computer literacy – The ability to use a computer and its functions
Cyber-crime – Crime committed over the internet such as fraud and identity theft.
Personal data – The information held by websites/companies on internet users and customers
Database – A structured set of data held in a computer
Device/gadget – A small mechanical/electrical tool such as a phone
Hacker – A person who accesses data illegally
Hardware – Tools, physical devices, and machinery such as computers and monitors
Internetsecurity – Security processes aimed at deterring crime and exploitation
Laptop – A portable personal computer
Online – Connected to the internet
PC (personalcomputer) – A computer used mainly by people at home, such as a desktop PC
Privacy – A person’s right to keep their data private
Reboot – To restart a computer
Socialmedia – Websites designed for people to socialise and interact
Software – Computer programs and games
Technophobe – A person who is not very good at using technology
Tech-savvy – A person who is good at using technology
Tobrowse – Scan through a text or website
Tocrash – When the operating system or program stops functioning correctly
Tosurftheinternet – To navigate different websites on the internet
Viral – To become extremely popular online
Virus – Malicious software designed to cause damage to computer systems
Website – A set of pages on the internet typically produced by an organization or person
Wi-Fi – A system that allows connection to the internet without cables

2. Activity 1 – IT Vocabulary Exercise

Activity 1

Exercise 1 – Complete the following IELTS answers using the word(s) belowviral, software, crash, laptop, PC, surf, websites, cyber-crime, virus, database, social media, personal data

1. How often do you use a computer and what do you use it for the most?
I use a computer every day of my life for my job and in my personal life. For work, I have a company _____1_____, which I take everywhere with me. I work for a food exportation business, and I have a huge ___2________that contains all the information on my customers and clients. I also have a _____3_____at home, which I use to _____4________different _____5_________ on the internet. I try to avoid popular _____6____ sites like Facebook and Twitter because I think they are too invasive, and I am not comfortable with the way they handle my ____7___________. I do occasionally use sites like that if there is something that has become really ____8________and everyone is talking about it.

2. What types of products do you buy on the internet?
The only things I have bought online in the last year are two computer ____9________programs to make music and edit videos. In general, though, I try not to buy too many products on the internet because I am a little worried about ______10________and someone stealing my identity. I once clicked on a great looking offer on a flight, but it turned out to be a ______11______,which made my computer ____12_________ constantly until I had had it repaired.

Answers

laptop
database
pc
surf
websites
social media
personal data
viral
software
cyber-crime
virus
crash

3. General Science & Technology Vocabulary

The following are words used to describe processes and developments in science and technology. At the end of the vocabulary list, there is an exercise for you to practice using the words in context.

Affect – To cause or provoke change
Attribute – A quality or characteristic of something
Breakthrough – A new or dramatic discovery or advancement
Cloning – To reproduce genetically identical organisms
Evidence – The facts that show whether beliefs and opinions are valid
Experiment – The process of testing a theory or demonstrating known fact
Genetically modified – Something that has had its genetical structure altered
High-tech – Something that is or uses advanced new technology
Impact – The effect of something
Invention – A new process or device
Mechanism – A system of parts working together in a particular process
Obsolete – No longer produced or not useful because it is too old
Outdated – Not effective because it is too old or uses old technology
Placebo – An inactive substance used in experiments as a control to test new drugs
Plausible – Something that is reasonable or possible
Revolutionise – To change something drastically and fundamentally
State of the art – The most modern technology
Systematic – Done according to a fixed plan or system

4. Activity 2 –Science & Technology Vocabulary Exercise

Activity 2

Use the word(s) above to complete the following sentences1. The thing I enjoyed most about science class at school was conducting ______________in chemistry class to see the reactions of mixing chemicals.

2. Homeopathic medicine has been proven to perform no better than a _______________ in trials involving over 500 medical conditions.

3. The latest mobile phones are produced using ________________technology, which is why they are so light and thin.

4. Quantum computing is eventually expected to ________________the way we use computers and the internet because of the increased processing speeds.

5. There is overwhelming ______________that climate change is caused by human actions.

6. One of the main ______________of climate change is more extreme weather events around the world.

7. The speed at which new technology like computers and phones become _____________ and _______________ has continued to increase in recent years.

8. Many countries do not allow _________________crops to be sold because they are worried about the health consequences.

9. _____________has come in for serious criticism due to the ethical concerns of recreating a human life.

Answers

experiments
placebo
state of the art
revolutionise
evidence
impacts
outdated / obsolete
genetically modified
cloning

5. Vocabulary for Science Domain& Scientists

There are many different branches of science, and the people who work in these fields have different names. When answering IELTS questions, It is better if you are more specific, so instead of simply stating ‘scientists’, you can use the specific name for the scientific field you are referring to. Below are some of the most commonly discussed branches of science and the names given to people who work in those fields. Then there is an exercise for you to practice using the words.

Astronomy – The study of space and the universe – Astronomist
Biology – The study of living organisms – Biologist
Botany – The study of plants – Botanist
Chemistry – The study of the substances of which matter is composed – Chemist
Computation – The study of computers and IT – Computer scientist
Ecology – The study of the environment – Ecologist
Forensics – The use of scientific methods to investigate crime – Forensicscientist
Genetics – The study of genes and hereditary characteristics – Geneticist
Neuroscience – The study of the brain – Neuroscientist
Physics – The study of the nature and properties of matter and energy – Physician
Psychology – The study of the mind and behaviour – Psychologist
Virology – The study of viruses – Virologist
Zoology – The study of the structure and classification of animals – Zoologist

6. Activity 3 – Vocabulary Exercise for Science Domain & Scientists

Activity 3

Exercise 3 – Complete the sentences using the scientist names above1. ______________have been investigating ways in which leaves from certain tropical plants could be used to make biodegradable plastic substitutes.

2. ______________ are currently studying how brain chemistry can alter stress levels in monkeys.

3. ______________ should be given credit for the speed at which they produced a vaccine for COVID.

4. _______________ have been saying for years that if we do not reduce our consumption of fossil fuels, the environment will suffer.

5. ____________created the PH scale around 100 years ago to measure the difference between acid and alkaline

6. _________________have been responsible for solving many historical crimes that would otherwise have remained unsolved.

7. __________________are constantly looking for ways to speed up processing speeds and data storage.

8. ________________are a useful option for people who are suffering from anxiety or depression.

Answers