Scan passage 2 and speak of the way how scientists utilize the existing knowledge in new scientific investigations. Give examples from the text and your own experience.
Skim passage 3. In pairs discuss the situation how important scientific advances can be made by proving some current ideas to be wrong. Give examples.
While discussing use the following words and word combinations:
important advances; current ideas; theory; discovery; scientific knowledge; a detailed insight.
Look through passage 4. Using the information of the passage and your own experience develop the idea that science today has a profound effect on the way we live. Give as many examples as possible. Discuss them in small groups or in pairs.
Scan passage 5 and say whether you agree with the author that scientific discoveries can also have a negative effect in human affairs. Discuss the examples of the author and add those which are not mentioned.
In your discussion use the following words and word combinations:
a negative impact; to have unwanted and unexpected long-term effects; to pollute the global environment; to contaminate; toxic gases; a rising tide of waste; carbon dioxide; global warming; climate change; ethical questions; genetic engineering; destructive weapons.
13. Now compare the positive sides of the development of science and its negative impacts. Discuss the situation in small groups. Comment on the statement: ‘Science can be neither good nor evil.’