雅思口语范例:a science lesson

Describe a science lesson that you had in school or university (such as biology, chemistry or physics). *
            You should say:
                          when you attended this lesson
                          where you attended this lesson
                          what you learned (and what branch of science it was)
             and explain how you learned it (= how it was taught). *
Sample from Wang Dong: Boiling Frog  温水煮青蛙
how you learned it
    * The boiling frog story states that a frog can be boiled alive if the water is heated slowly enough — it is said that if a frog is placed in boiling water, it will jump out, but if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will never jump out.
    * If you put the frog in cold water and slowly increase the temperature--slowly boil the water, the frog will be cooked without trying to jump out.
    * They say that if you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will leap out right away to escape the danger. But, if you put a frog in a kettle that is filled with water that is cool and pleasant, and then you gradually heat the kettle until it starts boiling, the frog will not become aware of the threat until it is too late. The frog's survival instincts are geared towards detecting sudden changes.
explain what you learned
    * The story is often used as a metaphor for the inability of people to react to important changes that occur gradually.
    * Life happens gradually. Like the frog, we can be fooled, and suddenly it’s too late. We need to be aware of what is happening.
    * This is a story that is used to illustrate how people might get themselves into terrible trouble. This parable is often used to illustrate how humans have to be careful to watch slowly changing trends in the environment, not just the sudden changes. Its a warning to keep us paying attention not just to obvious threats but to more slowly developing ones.
    * An example: Let's say that every year, the local well had an inch less of water in it. A person might realize there's a problem if there's suddenly NO water, but a slowly dropping level might not be an obvious crisis until it's too late!
其他素材：
Domino Effect  多米诺效应
how you learned it
    * Setting up a chain of dominoes stood on end, and toppling the first domino. That domino topples the one next to it, and so on. In the experiment, however long the chain the dominoes will still fall.
explain what you learned
    * This is because the energy required to topple each domino is less than the energy transferred by each impact, so the chain is self-sustaining. Energy is stored by setting each domino in the metastable upright position, and that energy is what keeps the chain toppling.
    * The domino effect is a chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then will cause another similar change, and so on in linear sequence.
Coins Turned Green  硬币氧化变绿
Materials you will need:
• Saucer
• Vinegar
• A Penny
• Kitchen/Paper Towel
Steps:
1.  Fold the kitchen/paper towel a few times to get a bit of thickness.
2.  Lay the kitchen/paper towel on top of the saucer and pour out some vinegar until it is soaked up by the kitchen/paper towel.
3.  Place the penny on the kitchen/paper towel and leave it there.
4. Keep a check on the penny and observe the chemical reaction.
5. Leave it for a full day to get the best results.
This is very exciting to observe!  What happened to the penny? It turned green.
Coloured Flower  变色的花
Materials you will need:
• Water
• Scissors
• Food Colouring
• Jar, Plastic Cup or Test Tube
• A Flower (light coloured-white carnation) or Celery Stalk (with leaves)
This is a colour changing experiment.
Steps:
1.  Fill the cup with water.
2.  Add a few drops of food colouring
3.  Cut the end off the stem (stalk)
4.  Put the flower in the water
Watch and in time the food colouring will be sucked up the stem along tiny tubes (called vessels) and the petals of the flower will start to change in colour.
Another way to try this experiment is to get a flower with a long, thick stem (or a celery stalk with leaves) and slit it carefully from the bottom and put one end in separate test tubes (with different food colourings).  Your flower (or celery) should have petals (or leaves) in two different colours.
Did you know that plants need water to live?  As well as absorbing water from the atmosphere (air) through their leaves, they suck water up through their stems.  If you used the celery stalk for the above experiment you could cut the stalk and see that the little holes inside are coloured.
My sample:
I remember this one particular science lesson in my chemistry class in high school, because I had a terrible accident and almost burnt myself.
During the class, the teacher asked us to conduct some experiment by mixing the acid liquid with the base liquid. The acid and the base are supposed to react with each other and the chemical result of the two would be neutral, that is, the material resulted from the mixture of the two material would have a PH value of 7.0. We were all so excited and looked forward to the experiment. But it turned out that it was not as easy as we had expected. We had to mix an equal amount of both material in order to get this neutral material. One gram less or more would result in an acid mixture or a base mixture. The one we got, I believe, must be acid, for it almost burnt a hole in my finger, as I tried to touch it.
The experiment showed me an interesting world that I had never realized before. It also taught me a lesson: in science, if you are careless, you are doomed.
Part 3
Science and Technology in Society
    * In general, what is the role of science in society today?
Science plays a vital role in the development of today’s society. It enhances productivity, improves people’s living standards by providing us with all kinds of high-tech products, and facilitates education by means of internet learning.
    * Do you think science is very important?
Yes. 同上。
    * What would you say is the most important branch of science today?
I would say computer science. Since the birth of computer technology, it has changed the way work is done and our lifestyle. I believe it will continue to exert a huge influence on us.
    * What's your impression of the speed of scientific and technological development today?
It’s developing at the speed of light so that people find it hard to keep pace with the latest technological development.
    * How have science and technology contributed to China's (recent) development?
It enhances productivity, improves people’s living standards by providing us with all kinds of high-tech products, and facilitates education by means of internet learning.
    * What effects does rapid technological change have on people in society? FQ
The rapid technological change has improved people’s life, on the one hand, by providing them with all kinds of electronic appliances and making their life much easier and more convenient. On the other hand, it has put many people under great pressure, since they have to work harder to keep up with the change.

In the Home
    * What are some examples of modern technology in the home?
Such as DVD player, the microwave oven, the air conditioner, the PSP.
    * Can you give me any examples in the home, of the practical application of biological or chemical science? See Note
The genetically engineered food (转基因食品)， the food preservatives (防腐剂)
In Schools
    * Do you think modern technology should be used in classrooms at school?
Yes, as long as the technology is used to facilitate teaching, such as the use of multimedia in teaching a foreign language.
    * What are some examples of modern technology used in classrooms today?
The computer lab, the multimedia in listening class, the Internet classroom which promotes remote teaching.
Studying Science
    * Do you think it's good for (high) schools to have (or, to offer the choice of) science classes? FQ
Yes, definitely. The students will benefit a lot from science classes in high school, because the science classes will not only teach them science knowledge which is of great importance in today’s world, but will teach them to have a scientific attitude towards everything, and have a respect for truth.
    * (Similar to above) Do you think it's important for (high) schools to have (or, to offer the choice of) science classes? FQ
同上。
    * How do people learn science in school? (What methods/activities)
In school, we would have lectures and learn the knowledge from the text book. Sometimes the teacher would ask us to conduct experiments in the lab to try out what we had learned in classes. Or we would have group discussion about some topic.
    * What do you think are the differences between studying science and studying arts subjects? ("Arts" and "art" are not the same here. "The Arts" = "The Humanities" = the non-science subjects.)
There are several differences. First, they are subjects of different nature. The learning methods are not the same. We learn science subject by taking lectures and doing experiment. But we learn arts subject mainly by taking lectures. Secondly, science subject requires more group work, while the arts subject depends more on the individual efforts.
Children Studying Science
    * What age do you think is most suitable age for school students to begin studying science?
Ten years old, I think, because by that age, they are more mature than before and can readily learn something more abstract.
    * Do you think it's suitable to start teaching science to very young children? FQ
No. I don’t think very young children are ready to learn the more abstract science until they are older and more mature.
    * (Similar to above) Do you think it's better for children to start studying science at an early age (e.g., 5 to 10) or when they are a bit older (e.g., over 12)?
同上。
    * If you were teaching science to primary school children, how would you do it?
I would try to use pictures and experiment to show them what the science was about and how it worked. I would try to make it more vivid to attract their attention.
    * Do you think that, sometimes, it might be dangerous for young children to study science? (Give examples)
Yes. For example, when the students are doing some chemical experiment, they can easily burn themselves if they are not careful. So it might be dangerous for the young to study science, unless they are under guidance.
    * Can you think of any examples of learning about science outside of the classroom? (i.e., not at school)
I remember back in high school, our biological teacher took us out to the park to study the plants and collect the sample of tree leaves. It was great fun.
    * Have you ever studied any of the natural sciences in school?
Yes, such as biology, chemistry, physics.
    * What did you learn in those natural science classes?
I have learned a lot about how the nature works, such as how the tree grows old, how the animals find their couples. I have also learned a respect for truth from these classes. One can never lie to the nature, because the truth will always come out in the end.
Boys and Girls Studying Science
    * On average, in the whole world, more males than females study science in high schools and at universities. Why do you think more males than females study science? FQ
I believe that it is gender bias. When I was young, everyone around me, my parents, my teachers and my classmates, all told me that girls were not supposed to study science, and that they usually did poorly in science. This kind of prejudice would change the way people think and behave. Thus, there were fewer female studying science.
    * Do you think boys are better at studying science than girls?
No, I don’t think so. There are more boys studying science because the society has a bias against girls who choose science major. But it does not mean that boys are necessarily better at science. For example, I am a science major and I did better than most of my classmates at college.
    * What subjects do girls prefer to study?
Girls usually major in literature, language, accounting, and dancing, for they can easily find a job as a teacher, or accountant upon graduation.
    * Do you think males are, by nature more suited to studying science than females or do you think it's a result of culture? *
I believe that it is the result of culture. When I was young, everyone around me, my parents, my teachers and my classmates, all told me that girls were not supposed to study science, and that they usually did poorly in science. This kind of prejudice would change the way people think and behave. Thus, there were fewer female studying science.
    * Can you suggest any ways that a school could use to encourage more girls to study science?
I don’t think there is much a school can do. The girls are not encouraged to study science, because the society does not welcome female engineers. If there is not bias against female engineers, maybe more girls will major in science.
  Scientific Research
    * Do you think progress in scientific research is important?
Yes, the speed is everything. Scientific research is conducted worldwide. If one cannot keep up with the speed, one is doomed.
    * What does research in such fields as medical science, outer space and the environment contribute to society?
They can contribute to society in many ways. For example, I heard that a company in Beijing asked the astronauts to carry vegetable seeds for them into the outer space. There in the outer space, the seeds changed genetically and became stronger. When they were brought back to the earth, they would produce more competitive vegetables.
Govt. Research versus Private Company Research
    * Who do you think should finance (= pay for) scientific research, government or private companies? FQx2
I think the government should take more responsibility, as they can monitor how the research is conducted and in what direction it will develop. The private companies might conduct some research that might do harm to human society, such as the human cloning.
    * Do you think the government should spend more money on scientific research?
Yes, sure, if the research benefits the people.
    * What kinds of scientific research do you think are more suitable for government institutes to do and what kinds do you think are more suitable for private companies to do? (Answer the general question and include some specific examples.)
The government should finance research that is more general, such as the research about fundamental science, or the research that is too costly, such as the study of the outer space. The private companies might be interested in some specific technology, for example, how to make a computer chip that is faster.
    * What area (type) of government-paid scientific research do you think is most needed in China right now?
The energy. China’s economy is based on manufacturing, which is energy-consuming. Without energy, the society would break down. With the limited amount of oil and coal, the government should support research into the use of new energy, such as the solar energy, the bio- energy.
    * What areas of scientific research do you think would contribute most to China's development right now?
同上。
The Sharing of Scientific Knowledge
    * Do you think new scientific knowledge should be freely shared (or, made available for others, including the public) or are there situations when it is suitable to not share new scientific knowledge? FQx2
No, I don’t think so. The new scientific knowledge might contain some element, such as how to make atomic bomb. If the information is available to the public, the result could be disastrous.
    * (Similar to above) Do you think that different countries should share they knowledge they gain from scientific research? FQx2
Yes, if they share what they have learned, the other countries will not have to go through the whole process by making experiments over and over.
    * (Similar to above) Do you think that different countries should explore outer space together and share the costs, their knowledge and experiences or should they do it separately?
I think they should work together, because it is very expensive to explore the outer space, and if they share the cost, it would be a less burden on its people. But the reality is that they do it separately. What a pity.