6
1.
SCIENCE
Since the beginning, humans have asked questions about our surroundings which
have allowed us to widen our knowledge about the world we live in.
For example, through the scientific study of volcanic eruptions or earthquakes
scientists have discovered the cause of these events. They have also learned where
they are more likely to occur.
Scientific knowledge is objective. This means it allows us to answer questions about
all volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, not just one event. As a result we can
predict when they are going to happen and take steps to minimize the damage.
1.1.
Pseudoscience
Not all answers and explanations can be considered scientific. Some people take
advantage of other people’s ignorance and give opinions or answers that have
nothing to do with science.
For example, it wouldn’t be scientific to say that volcanoes and earthquakes are
a punishment of nature or that they are related to celestial bodies. A scientific
answer has
to be verified by other scientists, has to be based on existing
scientific laws and theories and to be proven through experiments
.
Many of our scientific answers are modified over time due to new discoveries in
science and technological advances. In this way, over the years we have been able
to find the answers to questions that remained unexplained for many centuries.
As science progresses, it can answer more and more questions about natural
phenomena and processes.
The origin of science lies in
the continuous search for reasoned, objective
answers
to questions about natural phenomena. This search for answers
follows a process of investigation, the scientific method. The
scientific method
allows us to deduce the laws that govern nature.
Pseudoscience
involves all the disciplines that try to answer questions about
natural phenomena or processes, using scientific language, but not based on
objective experiments.
Remember
1.
Look at the image. Tell your partner
which of the following explanations
is easier to demonstrate scientifically
and explain why.
a)
The zebra drank all the water.
b)
The zebra can’t find any water to drink.
Understand
2.
Listen to these reasonings. Discuss which are scientific and which
are not.
Key concept
❚
Science is based on the
continuous search for
reasoned, objective answers
to questions about natural
phenomena.
Key structure
passive tense:
to be + past participle
can be considered
are modified
to be proven
