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Suitable for advanced students studying for TOEFL or TOEIC level exams.

Here is some vocabulary that is commonly used when talking about science. Do you recognise these words? Study their meanings and then see them in use in the sentences below!

Magnetic field of a bar magnet.

Vocabulary

• astronomy - (n) the scientific study of outer space, including stars, planets and galaxies.
• ecosystem - (n) the system of a biological community of organisms and their environment.
• evolution - (n) the development or progressive growth of something (in biology - a species or population).
• experiment - (n) a test or procedure that is carried out in order to discover something. (v) to test in order to discover something.
• gravity - (n) the force with which physical bodies attract each other.
• laboratory - (n) a room or building that is equipped  for scientific experimentation or research.
• magnet - (n) an object that attracts certain objects (iron or steel) because it has a magnetic field.
• measurement - (n) the size, length or amount of something.
• organism - (n) any animal, plant or single celled from of life.
• theory - (n) a system of ideas that attempt to explain something.

Example sentences

• () People who are interested in astronomy should watch the skies tonight as they may be able to witness shooting stars.
• () Plans are being developed to teach fishermen to help protect the fragile coastal ecosystem.
• () Charles Darwin was an English scientist who is most famous for his work on the theory of evolution.
• () The teacher asked the students to develop an experiment to find out the boiling point of water.
• () The moon only has about one sixth of the gravity that Earth has.
• () The enthusiastic scientist spent many hours every day doing experiments in his laboratory.
• () The man used a magnet to pick up nails and screws that he had dropped in the long grass.
• () My doctor needed to take a measurement of my height before he could work out if I was overweight.
• () The amoeba is a tiny organism that only has a single cell.
• () Scientists have proposed the theory that all modern humans come from one place in Africa. 

Are you confident you have learnt this vocabulary? Then it's time to try the quiz! Click here for the quiz.

Science Vocabulary Lesson 1