I, Robot
Isaac Asimov
Word / Chapter/Page / Phonetic Spelling / Part Of Speech / Med Star Rating / Definition / Sample Sentence / Translation / Exercises
absorb / 3/25 / /əbˈzɔːb/ / verb / to take in heat, light or liquid / Plants absorb moisture from the soil. / 1–10) Choose the correct word and fill the gaps in the sentences below.
absorb / advanced / affected / air lock / asteroid / astronaut / attacking / banged / banned / biochemistry
1) How have the recent changes at work ______you?
2) She fell on the ice and ______her head on the pavement.
3) Three ______travelled to the moon in a rocket.
4) It can be hard to tell the difference between an ______and a planet.
5) The leaves of green plants ______energy from the sun to produce food.
6) He is a well-known scientist with a degree in ______.
7) The gang threw stones at the man before ______him.
8) Before opening the door, the air pressure in the ______must be equal to the pressure in the outside environment.
9) He got into a fight at the stadium and was ______from attending further matches.
10) Aircraft pilots are now able to communicate with each other, using ______communication systems.
advanced / 3/24 / /ədˈvɑːnst/ / adjective / 1 / based on the most recent methods or ideas / Advanced technology allows us to communicate more quickly than ever before.
affected
to affect something or someone / 5/46 / /əˈfektɪd/ / verb / 3 / to change or influence something often in a negative way / Stress at work has affected her badly.
Air lock / 3/32 / /ˈeə ˌlɒk/ / noun [count] / a small room with controlled air pressure that you use to move between two places with different air pressure / An airlock allows astronauts to leave or enter a spacecraft safely.
asteroid / 3/32 / /ˈæstəˌrɔɪd/ / noun [count] / a mass of rock that moves around in space / Asteroids made of rock or metallic substances orbit the Sun.
astronaut / A Note About These Stories p5 / /ˈæstrəˌnɔːt/ / noun [count] / 1 / someone who travels in space / What was the name of the first astronaut to walk on the moon?
attacking
to attack someone or something / 6/69 / /əˈtækɪŋ/ / verb / 3 / to use violence against a person or place / Suddenly, the crowd started attacking the police.
banged
to bang / 2/11 / /bæŋd/ / verb / to move with a lot of force, making a loud noise / She dropped the saucepan and it banged on the floor.
banned
to ban something / 2/20 / /bænd/ / verb / 1 / to say officially that something is illegal or not allowed / The government banned smoking in public places.
biochemistry / A Note About the Author p4 / /ˌbaɪəʊˈkemɪstri/ / noun [uncount] / the study of chemical processes in living things / She’s studying for a degree in biochemistry.
blast / 4/38 / /blɑːst/ / verb / to damage or destroy something using a bomb or gun / A bomb blasted the building, causing widespread destruction. / 11–20) Choose the correct word and fill the gaps in the sentences below.
blast / calculation / cargo ship / the case of / cave-in / complex / conflicts / cubicle / data / demonstrate
1) The cabin crew will ______to passengers what to do in an emergency.
2) Do a ______to find the cost of the shopping bill,
3) Goods were packed into boxes and loaded on a ______.
4) Recent research ______with the findings of previous experiments.
5) She’s trying on some new clothes in the ______.
6) They used explosives to ______a hole in the wall.
7) The walls of the tunnel collapsed, creating a ______.
8) Did you hear about ______the runaway train!?
9) Enter the ______into the top three rows of the table.
10) ______mathematical formulas are used to calculate the likely results.
calculation / 5/50 / /ˌkælkjʊˈleɪʃn/ / noun [count] / 2 / numbers or symbols that you write when you are calculating something / You can work out the total by doing a quick calculation.
cargo ship / 6/58 / /ˈkɑːgəʊ ˌʃɪp/ / noun [count] / a very large boat that is used for carrying goods long distances / Cargo ships carry goods from one port to another.
the case of / 1/11 / /ðə ˈkeɪs əv/ / 3 / a situation that involves a particular person or thing / The police never solved the case of the missing painting.
cave-in / 4/38 / /ˈkeɪvˌɪn/ / noun [count] / if a roof or a wall falls down or inward, it is a cave-in / The walls of the mine collapsed, causing a cave-in.
complex / 5/46 / /ˈkɒmpleks/ / adjective / 2 / containing many details or small parts and therefore difficult to understand or deal with / She’s a very complex character and not easy to understand.
conflicts
to conflict with something / 1/9 / /kənˈflɪkts/ / verb / 2 / if different statements or suggestions conflict, they cannot all be right or they cannot all happen / Your statement conflicts with that of the other witnesses.
cubicle / 6/62 / /ˈkjuːbɪkl/ / noun [count] / a small enclosed area in a room / A small shower cubicle stood in one corner of the bathroom.
data / 3/31 / /ˈdeɪtə/ / noun [uncount] / 3 / information that is used for making calculations or decisions / Computers can sort and arrange data at very high speeds.
demonstrate / 1/9 / /ˈdemənˌstreɪt/ / verb / 2 / to show someone how to do something or how something works / Let me demonstrate how the machine works.
detect / 6/66 / /dɪˈtekt/ / verb / to notice or prove that something is present by using scientific methods / The device detects even the smallest changes in temperature. / 21–30) Choose the correct word and fill the gaps in the sentences below.
detect / development / divorced / dominated / dots / efficiently / elected / emergency / energy / exist
1) Do you believe that ghosts really ______?
2) A team of IT specialists are working on the ______of new software.
3) The machine can ______changes in a person’s heart rate and pulse.
4) The group ______a new leader yesterday.
5) In case of an ______pull the safety cord.
6) Seen from a distance, the people on top of the hill appeared no more than tiny ______.
7) They married in 2007 and ______two years later.
8) We need to develop cleaner forms of ______for future generations.
9) Their boss congratulated them for having worked so ______.
10) She was shy and nervous, and her husband ______her completely.
development / 1/9 / /dɪˈveləpmənt/ / noun [uncount] / 3 / the process of creating a new product or method / Manufacturers are working on the development of electric cars.
divorced
to divorce / A Note About the Author p4 / /dɪˈvɔːst/ / verb / to take legal action to end your marriage to someone / We divorced after only a year of marriage.
dominated
to dominate someone or something / 6/60 / /ˈdɒmɪˌneɪtəd/ / verb / 2 / to control someone or something by having more power or influence / She was dominated by her father all her life.
dot / 3/22 / /dɒt/ / noun [count] / something that looks very small because it is far away / The dot on the horizon turned out to be a small sailing boat.
efficiently / 3/25 / /ɪˈfɪʃəntli/ / adverb / 2 / working well and producing good results by using the available resources in an effective way / We’re pleased with our new washing machine – it works very efficiently.
elected
to elect someone / 7/71 / /ɪˈlektɪd/ / verb / 2 / to choose someone to represent you by voting for them / She was elected President in 2008.
emergency / 4/39 / /ɪˈmɜːʤənsi/ / noun [count] / 2 / an unexpected situation in which immediate action is necessary, often because there is danger / Phone me immediately if there’s an emergency,
energy / A Note About These Stories p7 / /ˈenəʤi/ / noun [uncount] / 3 / electricity and other forms of power used for making things work / The wind can be used to produce energy.
exist / A Note About These Stories p5 / /ɪgˈzɪst/ / verb / 3 / to be present in a particular place, time or situation / Only small numbers of tigers still exist in the world.
expedition / 2/14 / /ˌekspəˈdɪʃn/ / noun [count] / a long trip to a dangerous or distant place / They’re going on an expedition to the North Pole. / 31–40) Choose the correct word and fill the gaps in the sentences below.
expedition / experimental / experts / explored / fell into the same trap / fix / gained / genius / get lost / get rid of
1) Shut up and ______!
2) ______are advising us on how to proceed with the project.
3) They ______the coast of Ireland by car.
4) She’s an absolute ______! She got a place at university at the age of 14!
5) How old were you when you ______your first degree?
6) We ______as you and forgot to ask the workmen the price for the job before they started the work.
7) Researchers often do ______tests on animals when trying to find cures for diseases.
8) They’ve gone to the Himalayas on a mountaineering ______.
9) Let’s ______our old computer and buy a new one.
10) “There’s something wrong with the washing machine.” “I’ll see if I can ______it for you.”
experimental / 3/21 / /ɪkˌsperɪˈmentl/ / adjective / using new ideas or methods that you have not tried before / Scientists are using experimental methods to develop a new type of plastic.
expert / 5/45 / /ˈekspɜːt/ / noun [count] / 2 / someone who has a particular skill or who knows a lot about a particular subject / A computer expert helped us solve the problem.
explored
to explore something / A Note About These Stories p5 / /ɪkˈsplɔːd/ / verb / 2 / to travel around an area in order to learn about it, or in order to search for something valuable such as oil / At the weekend, we explored the surrounding area.
fell into the same trap
to fall into a trap / 5/53 / /ˌfel ɪntə ðə ˌseɪm ˈtræp/ / to make a mistake because someone has tricked you / She got married very young and ended up divorcing. Her sister fell into the same trap.
fix / 3/27 / /fɪks/ / verb / 2 / to repair something / The television’s not working properly. Can you fix it?
gained
to gain something / A Note About the Author p4 / /geɪnd/ / verb / 3 / to get or achieve something, usually as a result of a lot of effort / He gained an award for Best Writer.
genius / 5/49 / /ˈʤiːniəs/ / noun [count] / someone who is much more intelligent or skilful than other people / Einstein was a scientific genius.
get lost / 6/61 / /ˌget ˈlɒst/ / used for telling someone rudely to go away / I’m fed up of listening to you complaining. Get lost!
get rid of / 2/15 / /ˌget ˈrɪd əv/ / 2 / to throw/give away or sell something that you don’t want / Have you any old clothes you want to get rid of?
gravity / 6/62 / /ˈgrævəti/ / noun [uncount] / the force that makes things fall to the ground / The force of gravity is less strong in space than on Earth. / 41–50) Choose the correct word and fill the gaps in the sentences below.
gravity / harm / humming / illogical / impatient / invented / launched / ledge /
man-made satellite / marching
1) Good teachers do not get ______when students are slow to understand.
2) That’s a ridiculous thing to say. It’s totally ______.
3) The rocket will be ______at 23.00 hours local time.
4) Alexander Graham Bell was the man who ______the telephone.
5) A machine that is specially designed to travel in space in order to find out information is called a ______.
6) The microphone was switched on and was ______loudly.
7) He loves his children and would never do anything to ______them.
8) A group of teachers came ______down the corridor, looking angry.
9) Due to ______objects always fall towards the ground.
10) She put her foot on a rocky ______in order to climb higher.
harm / 1/9 / /hɑːm/ / verb / to injure, damage or have a bad effect on someone or something / I hate people who harm animals.
humming
to hum / 3/26 / /ˈhʌmɪŋ/ / verb / to make a low continuous sound / We could hear the refrigerator humming in the kitchen.
illogical / 3/22 / /ɪˈlɒʤɪkl/ / adjective / not sensible, or not based on clear facts or reasons / Their argument seemed totally illogical to me.
impatient / 2/13 / /ɪmˈpeɪʃnt/ / adjective / 1 / annoyed because something is not happening in the way that you want / Don’t be so impatient – you’ll just have to wait!
invented
to invent something / A Note About These Stories p5 / /ɪnˈventɪd/ / verb / 2 / to design or create something that did not exist before / Who invented the first computer?
launched
to launch something / A Note About These Stories p5 / /lɔːnʧt/ / verb / 2 / to send a space vehicle, missile or other object into space or into the air / A crowd of spectators watched as the rocket was launched.
ledge / 4/37 / /leʤ/ / noun [count] / a narrow surface that sticks out from the side of a cliff or wall / Be careful! Don’t hit your head on the ledge.
man-made satellite / A Note About These
Stories p5 / /ˌmænˈmeɪd ˈsætəˌlaɪt/ / noun [count] / an object that is sent into space to travel around the Earth in
order to receive and send information / What was the name of the first man-made satellite that explored space?
marching
to march / 4/36 / /ˈmɑːʧɪŋ/ / verb / to walk in a group, with each person matching the speed and movements as the others / I could see a group of people marching up the hill.
mind-reading / 4/44 / /ˈmaɪndˌriːdɪŋ/ / adjective / a mind-reading robot is able to know what someone is thinking / Do you believe in the possibility of mind-reading computers? / 51–60) Choose the correct word and fill the gaps in the sentences below.
mind-reading / mine / model / modified / nervous / obey / out-of-date / planet / procedure / prophet
1) Typewriters are ______and have been replaced by computers.
2) We’ve ______the design of our mobile phones to make them slimmer and more compact.
3) I hate going to the dentist – it makes me really ______.