Z
zoo - n. a place where animals are kept for the public to look at and study
Common Prefixes
dis - not (dishonest, disobey)
pro - for, supporting (pro-labor, pro-government)
re - to do again (reorganize, reunite)
self - used to show that the person or group acting is the one affected by the action, or to show that the action is done only by its own effort or power (self-declared, self-appointed)
un - not (unusual, unhappy)
Common Expressions
carry out - to do; to put into effect ("Please carry out the plan.")
pass a bill - approve ("Congress is expected to pass a bill to cut taxes.")
take steps - to start to do something ("The government will take steps to halt inflation.")
Words Used in VOA Special English Science Programs
atom - a very small part of all things; the smallest part of an element that can join with parts of other elements
bacteria - living things that are one cell and can be seen only through a microscope; some cause disease
cell - a small mass of living material that is part of all plants and animals
chromosome - a line of genes; most human cells contain 46 chromosomes
compound - a substance containing two or more elements
dense - close together; thick
electron - a small part of an atom that has an electrical force
element - one of more than 100 substances known to science that cannot be separated into other substances
enzyme - a special kind of protein; it produces changes in other substances without being changed itself
fetus - unborn young
fission - a splitting; in atomic fission, the nucleus of an atom is split to produce nuclear energy
fusion - a joining together; in atomic fusion, atomic particles are joined together to produce nuclear energy
genes - parts of cells that control the growth and development of living things; genes from the mother and father are passed to the child; genes contain nucleic acid
genetic engineering - the science of changing the genes of a living organism
gravity - the force that pulls things toward the center of the earth
image - a reproduction of the appearance of a person or thing
laser - an instrument that makes a thin, powerful light
magnet - a piece of iron or other material that has a pulling force; this pulling force is called magnetism
molecule - the smallest amount of a chemical substance that can exist
nerve - a thin piece of tissue that sends information through the body to and from the brain
zoo - n. a place where animals are kept for the public to look at and study
Common Prefixes
dis - not (dishonest, disobey)
pro - for, supporting (pro-labor, pro-government)
re - to do again (reorganize, reunite)
self - used to show that the person or group acting is the one affected by the action, or to show that the action is done only by its own effort or power (self-declared, self-appointed)
un - not (unusual, unhappy)
Common Expressions
carry out - to do; to put into effect ("Please carry out the plan.")
pass a bill - approve ("Congress is expected to pass a bill to cut taxes.")
take steps - to start to do something ("The government will take steps to halt inflation.")
Words Used in VOA Special English Science Programs
atom - a very small part of all things; the smallest part of an element that can join with parts of other elements
bacteria - living things that are one cell and can be seen only through a microscope; some cause disease
cell - a small mass of living material that is part of all plants and animals
chromosome - a line of genes; most human cells contain 46 chromosomes
compound - a substance containing two or more elements
dense - close together; thick
electron - a small part of an atom that has an electrical force
element - one of more than 100 substances known to science that cannot be separated into other substances
enzyme - a special kind of protein; it produces changes in other substances without being changed itself
fetus - unborn young
fission - a splitting; in atomic fission, the nucleus of an atom is split to produce nuclear energy
fusion - a joining together; in atomic fusion, atomic particles are joined together to produce nuclear energy
genes - parts of cells that control the growth and development of living things; genes from the mother and father are passed to the child; genes contain nucleic acid
genetic engineering - the science of changing the genes of a living organism
gravity - the force that pulls things toward the center of the earth
image - a reproduction of the appearance of a person or thing
laser - an instrument that makes a thin, powerful light
magnet - a piece of iron or other material that has a pulling force; this pulling force is called magnetism
molecule - the smallest amount of a chemical substance that can exist
nerve - a thin piece of tissue that sends information through the body to and from the brain