Science and innovation · B2. Distinguish “empirical” (based on observation or experiment) from “feasibility” (practical possibility of carrying out a plan). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “breakthrough” means major discovery that overcomes a difficulty; “trial” means planned test of a treatment or method. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
Complete 24 original tasks. Use the situation to choose the intended meaning, practise the form, then apply it in a fresh context.
The review separates empirical findings from predictions based on theory.
The review separates empirical findings from predictions based on theory.
These match this sense. Word families can change meaning; near meanings are not always interchangeable.
Practise “empirical evidence” as a whole phrase. Here “empirical” has the sense based on observation or experiment.
Distinguish “empirical” (based on observation or experiment) from “feasibility” (practical possibility of carrying out a plan). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “breakthrough” means major discovery that overcomes a difficulty; “trial” means planned test of a treatment or method. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
The claim needs empirical support.
Distinguish “prototype” (early model used to test a design) from “replicate” (repeat a study to check its findings). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “variable” means factor that can change in a study; “hypothesis” means testable proposed explanation. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
The prototype revealed a design flaw.
Distinguish “innovation” (introduction of a new useful method or product) from “constraint” (limitation restricting possible choices). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “precision” means degree of exactness or consistency of measurement; “peer review” means evaluation of research by other specialists. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
The grant encourages technological innovation.
The writer is asking for findings obtained directly through systematic observation or controlled experiments, rather than a theoretical argument.
Distinguish “prototype” (early model used to test a design) from “replicate” (repeat a study to check its findings). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “variable” means factor that can change in a study; “hypothesis” means testable proposed explanation. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
The prototype revealed a design flaw.Distinguish “innovation” (introduction of a new useful method or product) from “constraint” (limitation restricting possible choices). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “precision” means degree of exactness or consistency of measurement; “peer review” means evaluation of research by other specialists. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
The grant encourages technological innovation.Distinguish “empirical” (based on observation or experiment) from “feasibility” (practical possibility of carrying out a plan). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “breakthrough” means major discovery that overcomes a difficulty; “trial” means planned test of a treatment or method. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
The claim needs empirical support.Keep the first try. Understand the change. Check it in a fresh situation.
No practice notes yet. Try a short warm-up.
based on observation or experiment
practical possibility of carrying out a plan
early model used to test a design
repeat a study to check its findings
introduction of a new useful method or product
limitation restricting possible choices
major discovery that overcomes a difficulty
planned test of a treatment or method
factor that can change in a study
testable proposed explanation
degree of exactness or consistency of measurement
evaluation of research by other specialists
Opening an answer records help for that question.
The writer is asking for findings obtained directly through systematic observation or controlled experiments, rather than a theoretical argument.
The deciding cue is “systematic observation or controlled experiments”: it identifies the meaning “based on observation or experiment”. Check actual observed evidence versus theory, imagined cases or unsupported conjecture; “empirical” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The claim needs empirical support.”.
The pilot asks whether the plan can actually be delivered with the available budget, equipment and staff, before full construction is authorised. It is a decision about whether proceeding is possible.
The deciding cue is “whether the plan can actually be delivered”: it identifies the meaning “practical possibility of carrying out a plan”. Check practical possibility, as distinct from dependable operation, economical use of resources or earning more than expenditure; “feasibility” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The pilot will test the project’s feasibility.”.
Engineers built a first physical working model to test the design before mass production. The fault appeared when they used that model.
The deciding cue is “first physical working model”: it identifies the meaning “early model used to test a design”. Check whether a plan is workable, the early model used to test a design, or the explanation being tested; “prototype” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The prototype revealed a design flaw.”.
Other laboratories followed the original procedure with new samples to see whether they could reproduce the same finding. They were not generating a computer model or improving the method.
The deciding cue is “reproduce the same finding”: it identifies the meaning “repeat a study to check its findings”. Check reproducing an actual study versus modelling it, extending a pattern or improving a method; “replicate” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Other laboratories could not replicate the result.”.
The funding is intended to turn new ideas into useful methods or products, not simply copy an existing approach or make its measurements more exact.
The deciding cue is “turn new ideas into useful methods or products”: it identifies the meaning “introduction of a new useful method or product”. Check the scientific function, not merely a word associated with research; “innovation” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The grant encourages technological innovation.”.
Designers need a light portable battery. Its existing weight restricts which designs they can use; it is not a new discovery or a proposed explanation.
The deciding cue is “restricts which designs they can use”: it identifies the meaning “limitation restricting possible choices”. Check the scientific function, not merely a word associated with research; “constraint” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Battery weight remains a major constraint.”.
The observations are actual, systematically recorded measurements. The evidence comes from those records, not imagined cases or a theory alone.
The deciding cue is “actual, systematically recorded measurements”: it identifies the meaning “based on observation or experiment”. Check actual observed evidence versus theory, imagined cases or unsupported conjecture; “empirical” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Data collected through repeated observations provide empirical evidence.”.
The decision concerns whether construction can be carried out within real technical and financial limits, rather than how profitable or economical its later operation might be.
The deciding cue is “whether construction can be carried out”: it identifies the meaning “practical possibility of carrying out a plan”. Check practical possibility, as distinct from dependable operation, economical use of resources or earning more than expenditure; “feasibility” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Before funding full construction, assess the technical and financial feasibility.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
The deciding cue is “first working model”: it identifies the meaning “early model used to test a design”. Check whether a plan is workable, the early model used to test a design, or the explanation being tested; “prototype” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “This first working model is a prototype, not the finished product.”.
Their aim is to obtain the same findings again in an actual repetition, not to predict beyond the data, create a simulation or improve the procedure.
The deciding cue is “obtain the same findings again”: it identifies the meaning “repeat a study to check its findings”. Check reproducing an actual study versus modelling it, extending a pattern or improving a method; “replicate” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Independent teams will repeat the procedure to try to replicate the findings.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
The deciding cue is “new idea into a useful process”: it identifies the meaning “introduction of a new useful method or product”. Check the scientific function, not merely a word associated with research; “innovation” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Turning a new idea into a useful process is an example of innovation.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
The deciding cue is “Limited computing power”: it identifies the meaning “limitation restricting possible choices”. Check the scientific function, not merely a word associated with research; “constraint” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Limited computing power is a technical constraint on the design.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “finally solved”: it identifies the meaning “major discovery that overcomes a difficulty”. Check the scientific function, not merely a word associated with research; “breakthrough” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “A discovery that finally solved the long-standing technical problem was hailed as a major breakthrough.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “comparing it with an existing treatment”: it identifies the meaning “planned test of a treatment or method”. Check the scientific function, not merely a word associated with research; “trial” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The new medicine will undergo a clinical trial comparing it with an existing treatment.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “whose value the researchers can change”: it identifies the meaning “factor that can change in a study”. Check the scientific function, not merely a word associated with research; “variable” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “In this experiment, light intensity is a variable whose value the researchers can change.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “testable”: it identifies the meaning “testable proposed explanation”. Check whether a plan is workable, the early model used to test a design, or the explanation being tested; “hypothesis” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The scientist proposed a testable hypothesis explaining why the plants grew faster in the shade.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “measurements agreed”: it identifies the meaning “degree of exactness or consistency of measurement”. Check the scientific function, not merely a word associated with research; “precision” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Repeated measurements agreed to several decimal places, indicating a high level of precision.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “other specialists evaluated”: it identifies the meaning “evaluation of research by other specialists”. Check the scientific function, not merely a word associated with research; “peer review” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Before publication, the paper went through peer review, in which other specialists evaluated its methods and conclusions.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “overcame a barrier”: it identifies the meaning “major discovery that overcomes a difficulty”. Check the scientific function, not merely a word associated with research; “breakthrough” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The new method overcame a barrier that had blocked research for decades, marking a scientific breakthrough.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “randomly assigned”: it identifies the meaning “planned test of a treatment or method”. Check the scientific function, not merely a word associated with research; “trial” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “In the controlled trial, volunteers were randomly assigned to receive either the treatment or a placebo.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “kept every other condition constant”: it identifies the meaning “factor that can change in a study”. Check the scientific function, not merely a word associated with research; “variable” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The researchers kept every other condition constant while adjusting one variable: the amount of water.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “Before collecting data”: it identifies the meaning “testable proposed explanation”. Check whether a plan is workable, the early model used to test a design, or the explanation being tested; “hypothesis” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Before collecting data, the team stated its hypothesis: sleep loss would reduce performance.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “millimetre-level”: it identifies the meaning “degree of exactness or consistency of measurement”. Check the scientific function, not merely a word associated with research; “precision” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The robot can position each tiny component with millimetre-level precision.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “independent researchers to assess”: it identifies the meaning “evaluation of research by other specialists”. Check the scientific function, not merely a word associated with research; “peer review” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The journal asks independent researchers to assess submitted studies through peer review.”.