#03-008: The Branches of Science

The branches of science as their subjects evolved through time
(Wikipedia)

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Note: We live in the age of science. Let's listen in as Sunny and Antonio discuss the many branches of this important field of study.

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Get Ready: Are you "good at" science? Do you like it? Why or why not?

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Antonio, from Spain, is chatting with his classmate Indian Sunny in the Common Room of their dorm.

Sunny: Hey, Antonio. What's up?

Antonio: Sunny! Just the guy I was looking for.

Sunny: Uh-oh! What did I do this time?

Antonio: Guilty conscience, huh?

Sunny: Not really; just joshin'. So what can I do you for?

Antonio: Well, I have to take a science class for my G.E., and I don't know which one to take.

Sunny: OK, so what are you interested in?

Antonio: I don't know.

Sunny: So, what about biology?

Antonio: You mean, life sciences, like botany and zoology?

Sunny: Yeah, or you could concentrate on something like microbiology.

Antonio: Sounds tough. What else have we got?

Sunny: There's chemistry.

Antonio: Yikes! That would really be tough.

Sunny: Physics?

Antonio: You're killing me!

Sunny: Then I guess you're looking for an "easy A," huh?

Antonio: Now you're talkin'!

Sunny: OK, non-science majors usually like astronomy.

Antonio: That does sound interesting.

Sunny: And there are earth sciences, maybe oceanography. 

Antonio: Surf's up! That's a great idea! Thanks for the tips.

Sunny: My pleasure.

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Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branches_of_science

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Practice: Match the term to its definition below:

1. astronomy
2. biology
3. chemistry
4. earth sciences
5. easy A
6. G.E.
7. joshin'
8. Just the guy I was looking for
9. Now you're talkin'!
10. physics
11. Surf's up!
12. tips
13. what can I do you for?
14. What did I do this time?
15. You're killing me

1. geology; oceanography (study of the ocean); and atmospheric science (study of the air around the earth)
2. the study of atoms and molecules; includes biochemistry (study of the chemistry of life) and inorganic "chem" (study of the chemistry of non-living things).
3. I like what you are saying.
4. life science; includes botany (study of plants), zoology (study of animals), and microbiology (study of microscopic life forms).
5. study of matter and energy, and the relationships between them; includes mechanics, optics, electricity, heat, and more
6. kidding
7. This is all too difficult for me.
8. advice; suggestions
9. general education courses, taken besides the major courses
10. the speaker is joking that he is in trouble
11. a jokey question because two words are switched; it implies that the speaker is going to take advantage of the listener
12. said when we were thinking about someone, then meet him or her by accident
13. the study of stars, planets, and space
14. a class where you can get a high mark without working too hard
15. an expression used when people are going surfing

Answers are in the first comment below.

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Submitted to the Shenzhen Daily for January 26, 2012

This lesson received 179 visits on my old site between January, 2012, and July, 2021.