evolutionary biology(noun)
— The branch of biology that studies how species change over time. She is doing a PhD in evolutionary biology.
compound(noun)
— a chemical that combines two or more elements Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.
sulfur(noun)
— a yellow chemical element used in industry and found in rocks The rocks also contain sulfur.
clathrate(noun)
— a chemical structure where gas is trapped inside a solid, such as ice The crystals, called clathrates, melt in the summer.
carbon-based(adjective)
— made mainly of carbon, especially used about living things The planet once contained carbon-based compounds.
organic molecule(noun)
— a molecule that contains carbon and is found in living things The rocks contained organic molecules.
discover(verb)
— to find something for the first time, or find out something new We may discover the answer very soon.
revelation(noun)
— a surprising fact that has been made known This discovery could lead to future revelations about life on Mars.
clone(verb)
— to create an exact copy of a plant or animal United Fruit cloned shoots from the stems of plants instead of growing them from seeds.
resistant(adjective)
— not affected or harmed by something The TR-1 strain was resistant to crop sprays.
monoculture(noun)
— the practice of growing only one type of crop in an area United Fruit copied the same monoculture growing conditions.
genetically modify(verb phrase)
— to change the genes of a plant or animal using scientific methods Scientists are genetically modifying the Cavendish with genes from resistant species.
gene(noun)
— a unit of heredity that determines characteristics of living things Researchers modified the Cavendish with genes from TR-4-resistant banana species.
Reading
Luis Ortega, a Spanish R&D engineer at Volta Drive in Gliwice, Poland, was huddled over a notebook in his flat in Zabrze, scrawling notes in both Spanish and Polish. His current project was testing a new battery pack designed to perform efficiently in the harsh winters of Upper Silesia, where temperatures often drop below -10°C. The battery’s core was a sulfur-based compound, a material that had shown promise in recent studies due to its potential for high energy density and resistance to extreme conditions. Luis was particularly interested in how the compound interacted with clathrate structures within the battery’s casing, which could trap gases and affect long-term stability. His elderly neighbour, Henryk, had just corrected him for the third time that day on the correct preposition for 'battery pack' in Polish, prompting Luis to mutter, 'Wait, wait, explain me that.'
Across town in Gliwice, Zofia Nowicka was deep in her master's thesis, analysing the carbon footprint of e-bike batteries and their eventual recycling. Her research had led to a surprising revelation: she had discovered that a small but significant portion of the organic molecules in lithium-ion batteries were resistant to standard recycling methods. This finding could challenge the way the whole industry recycles batteries. Zofia had scheduled a meeting with Luis at Volta Drive to discuss potential collaborations, though she was hesitant to mention her traineeship offer in Katowice. She preferred to focus on the data first. 'Let's look at the numbers first,' she told herself as she typed, knowing that her father’s company, Volta Drive, was a major player in the e-bike motor market and that their German partner in Stuttgart had a vested interest in sustainable technologies. She had no doubt that Luis would be interested in the implications of her findings, and she hoped that working together might help him feel less like 'the foreigner' at Volta Drive.
Gap-fill
The rocks also contain .
She is doing a PhD in .
Scientists are the Cavendish with genes from resistant species.
We may the answer very soon.
United Fruit copied the same growing conditions.
This discovery could lead to future about life on Mars.
The planet once contained compounds.
The crystals, called , melt in the summer.
Researchers modified the Cavendish with from TR-4-resistant banana species.
The rocks contained .
The TR-1 strain was to crop sprays.
United Fruit shoots from the stems of plants instead of growing them from seeds.
Water is a of hydrogen and oxygen.
Matching
A. evolutionary biology
B. compound
C. sulfur
D. clathrate
E. carbon-based
F. organic molecule
G. discover
H. revelation
I. clone
J. resistant
K. monoculture
L. genetically modify
M. gene
a. The branch of biology that studies how species change over time.
b. a yellow chemical element used in industry and found in rocks
c. made mainly of carbon, especially used about living things
d. the practice of growing only one type of crop in an area
e. to change the genes of a plant or animal using scientific methods
f. a surprising fact that has been made known
g. a unit of heredity that determines characteristics of living things
h. not affected or harmed by something
i. to find something for the first time, or find out something new
j. a chemical structure where gas is trapped inside a solid, such as ice
k. a molecule that contains carbon and is found in living things