Chapter 20 Science and Technology

Chapter 20 Science and Technology

Class 11 English 

Exercise 

Christina Baker Kline 

Ways With Words 

A. Match the words with their correct definitions. 

a. Freshman: a first-year student at a university, college, or high school 

b. Naive: having a lack of experience or knowledge 

c. Obliviously: without conscious awareness 

d. Brag: says something in a boastful manner 

e. Disposal: action of throwing away something 

f. Dorm: dormitory, student residence hall or building 

g. Suitemate: someone who shares your bathroom/living room/kitchen 

h. Incalculable: not able to be calculated or estimated 

B. Replace the bold words in (a-h) selecting synonyms from the box. 

a. Her story is incredible in the literal sense of the word. 

b. We often read the novels of the potential writers in the world. 

c. The Facebook users are fragmented but connected to each other through the
Internet. 

d. Sometimes unanticipated events happen in our life. 

e. He paused, scrutinizing the faces of Anjana and Manju with his glittering
eyes. 

f. I am sorry to say your handwriting is indecipherable. 

g. He is matured. He can navigate his own journey to make his career better. 

h. Gita’s heart swelled with delight, translating her confidence into power. 

C. Complete the sentences by choosing the correct word given in brackets. 

a. Does television affect children? (affect/effect) 

b. Does television have an effect on children? (affect/effect) 

c. Could you lend me your book, please? (borrow/lend) 

d. Can I borrow your pen? (borrow/lend) 

e. Prices seem to rise every year. (raise/rise) 

f. You can raise your hand if you want to ask a question. (raise/rise) 

g. What did he say to you? (say/tell)
h. I can’t speak Hindi. (speak/talk)

i. I will talk to you on the phone. (speak/talk)

j. I think that’s a very sensible idea. (sensible/sensitive) 

k. My teeth are very sensitive to cold. (sensible/sensitive) 

l. Our principal is a popular person. (principal/principle) 

m. I couldn’t understand the principle of gravity. (principal/principle) 

n. All friends, expect Nabina, came to the party. (accept/except) 

o. Will you accept my request? (accept/except) 

p. They were making too much noise. (noise/sound) 

q. All she could hear was the sound of the waves. (noise/sound) 

r. Did you give him any advice for his career? (advice/advise) 

s. My parents advise me to be a teacher. (advice/advise)

Comprehension 

Answer these questions. 

a. Why did the author feel that she was lucky to be so naïve of her freshman
year at college? 

Answer: The author felt that she was lucky to be so naïve of her freshman year
at college because the very ignorance navigated her to the path of wealth and
status. Despite of being foolish, she got an opportunity to explore new things.
So she felt lucky. 

b. Why did she say that she went to college in the Stone Age? 

Answer: She said that she went to college in the Stone Age because she
compares her college year with her son’s college year she found a vast
difference. Technology was not such a use at her time. Compared to the
present time, she was not so lucky to use cell phones, electronic gadgets to the
fullest like his son is doing now. Seeing her son, using electronic devices and
technology almost everywhere, she says that her time was so primitive, hence
she said she went to college in the stone age. 

c. What kinds of technological tools can Hayden use at his college life unlike at
his mother’s time? 

Answer: Hayden uses every technological shortcut to make his living easier. He
uses a mobile phone with Yale specific apps, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and
Youtube. 

d. How has the internet and social sites affected the lifestyle of the youths? 

Answer: The Internet has made the youths rely on nearly everything either little
or big. It has made the life of youths easier forgetting to experience struggle
and hard labour. With no exertion, they’ll plan undertaking work depending
upon search engines and software hampering the extension of the skyline of
pondering and innovativeness. Social sites have given them opportunities to be connected to different people but they are fragmented because they know each
other virtually. Due to the internet and social sites, the youths have missed the
actual pleasure of discovering the real world.

e. What things about college life will Hayden really miss unlike his mother?

Answer: Hayden will miss real life interactions, usage of thinking capability and
imagination, exploration and discoveries of various things in life dissimilar to
his mom. 

f. The writer says, “I worry that students today are more connected and more
fragmented”. Isn’t this paradoxical? How? 

Answer: The phrase I worry that students today are more connected and more
fragmented is very contradictory and confusing. This line demonstrates that
young people are largely linked via electronic means, but are separated
physically and emotionally. In reality, they are worlds apart. It’s because they
don’t know each other well that they are separated. They are not open to
others who could help them to gather life’s important minutes, but
unfortunately, it does not exist.

Critical Thinking 

a. Do you think that advancements of technology can hinder the exposure
students receive in school, and block them from gaining some of life’s most
memorable moments? Give reasons in support of your answer. 

Answer: Technology is the machines and tools we use to convert natural or
mental resources into things we need, like energy or algorithms. Technology
can be used in so many different ways, positive and negative, that the answers
have become as convoluted and complicated as human interaction. It follows,
therefore, that some technology is right for children in a learning and social
environment, and some technology is not. 

Most of the schools and colleges are using modern devices like laptops and
tablets as a means of teaching. So the students are also using the same devices
to be on par with the teachings of the teachers. In the present day, social
media has evolved leaps and bounds, with 90% of the world’s population
using social media. So the devices which are provided to the students for
studying are instead used to be active on social media. Students are not
studying with the help of these devices, they are interested in checking the
posts and status updates of their near and dear ones and many other things.
This is how technology is becoming a huge distraction for the learners, thus
increasing the gap between students and educators. 

In the present day, due to the huge advancement of technology, teachers are
educating the students with different online tools instead of physically communicating with them, hence the students are unable to interact with the
students and also cannot share problems with them. Teachers miserably fail to
draw the attention of the student. It is recommended to use verbal
communication with the students along with using online tools. So the
students can learn the topics as well as they can share their problems with the
teacher.
Thus its true that advancements of technology can hinder the exposure
students receive in school, and block them from gaining some of life’s most
memorable moments.

b. Kline’s essay focuses on the contrast between her son’s freshman college
experience and her own, but she also establishes what they have in common.
Explain. 

Answer: The essay entitled “Taking my son to College, Where Technology has
Replaced Serendipity” written by Christina Baker Kline is about the contrast
between her college experience and her son’s experience. But the essay also
includes the common things between her and her son. She talks about the
experience of freshman college year in the same university. Although
technology has replaced the way they do everything but still the education
system was all same. 

All the old feelings and emotions were also the same.
There were much more difficulty on her time comparing to her son’s age but
still, friendships and team working has not changed. These things are all same
in some way. Exploration about the new things ware limited to physical
doings, but now at the time of his son, the exploration and research is still the
same, but it is done via technology medium, via search engines, E-books
rather than physical books. Relationship and friendship was the struggle for
freshman at her time, still search for the companion was prominent. This thing
still prevails in electronic form from facebook, instagram and social media. 

c. Has the internet aided to broadening or narrowing the critical thinking
capacity of youths or readers? How? 

Answer: Internet is a global network of interconnected networks of computers.
It makes it easier and quick for people to access information sitting at any
corner of the world. Just like any other technology, internet too has its own
share of positive and negative effects on society. If internet is used to gain and
explore knowledge, it is broadening of knowledge, but if you started relying on
interent answers with blunt creativity, it is narrowing of the critical thinking
capacity. The world of internet is so infinite that it can seem overwhelming. All
forms of media don’t work in every setting. There needs to be a balance of
modern technology in life, or you run the risk of losing out on developing
fundamental skills. Internet is an excellent boost to your critical thinking skills,
but you should be aware of some of the pitfalls that come along with it. Thus depending on how you’re using it, internet can be enhancing or damaging to
critical thinking.

Grammar 

A. Fill in the gaps with suitable articles where necessary. 

a. Is he working as a university professor? 

b. My younger sister watches _ television a lot. 

c. 

A: What did you get for your birthday? 

B: I got a lot of good presents. 

d. I’m going to the Dominican Republic for my winter vacation. 

e. I have to go to a bank today to deposit some money. 

f. Durga was injured in the accident and was taken to the nearest hospital. 

g. Every parent should visit _ school to meet the teachers. 

h. Who is the woman in this photograph? 

i. There is a piano in the corner of the room. 

j. 

A: Do you think he is lying? 

B: No, he’s the kind of a guy that always tells the truth.