Joy English · Level C2 · Sciencejoy-english.com
A theory that forbids nothing
Name:Date:
Follow abstract reasoning built on concession and contrast.
Listen to each sentence and write what you hear.
Audio and answer checking: https://joy-english.com/listening-lessons/a-theory-that-forbids-nothing
Words to know
- forbid
- To say something must not happen.
- outcome
- The result of something.
- flexible
- Able to change easily.
- obstacle
- Something that blocks progress.
Answer key
- A good scientific theory sticks its neck out, because it forbids certain outcomes and thereby risks being proved wrong.“Sticks its neck out” means takes a risk. “Thereby” means as a result of doing that.
- Consider an explanation flexible enough to fit any result whatsoever; it may sound impressive, yet it tells us nothing.“Flexible enough to”: the adjective comes before “enough”. “Whatsoever” strengthens “any”.
- By contrast, a theory that predicts something surprising invites the very experiment that could bring it crashing down.“The very experiment” means exactly that experiment. “Bring it crashing down” means destroy it.
- Surviving such a test does not make the theory true; it merely makes it worth trusting a little longer.“Surviving such a test” is an -ing form used as the subject. “Merely” means only and stresses how modest the result is.
- That, in essence, is why scientists prize doubt: it is the engine of progress rather than an obstacle to it.“Prize” means value highly. “Rather than” is followed by a noun phrase; the last “it” refers to progress.