ICPNA Intermediate 12 - UNIT 11 TECHNOLOGY

Question 1

breakthrough

Answer 1

n. an important discovery or event that helps to improve a situation or provide an answer to a problem
Syn. Advance
Scientists are hoping for a breakthrough in the search for a cure for cancer.
A major breakthrough in negotiations has been achieved.

Question 2

Commercial success

Answer 2

n. Something that sells a lot and makes a lot of money.
The commercial success of these shows is rather more difficult to explain. (Times, Sunday Times, 2012)
It has learnt to strike a balance between artistic sensibility and commercial success.(Times, Sunday Times, 2015)

Question 3

drawback

Answer 3

n. a disadvantage or the negative part of a situation
Syn. disadvantage, disbenefit.
One of the drawbacks of working for a big company is that you have to follow a lot of rules.
Every strategic choice has its benefits and drawbacks.

Question 4

Early adopters

Answer 4

n. someone who is one of the first people to start using a new product, especially a new piece of technology.

Lucic was an early adopter, buying one of the first iPods in 2001.
Because the technology was in an early stage (innovation/early adopter phase), the decision was made to start with a clinical pilot study.

Question 5

Flash of inspiration

Answer 5

n. a sudden very good idea.
Larry said that the original idea for the bike’s frame came to him in a flash of inspiration.
He is still having occasional flashes of inspiration.

Question 6

gadget

Answer 6

n. an often small mechanical or electronic device with a practical use but often thought of as a novelty
Syn. appliance, contraption, contrivance
The kitchen is equipped with all the latest gadgets.
cell phones, pagers, and other gadgets

Question 7

gimmick

Answer 7

n. something that is not serious or of real value that is used to attract people’s attention or interest temporarily, especially to make them buy something.
verb. gimmick
Syn. artifice, device, dodge, fetch, flimflam, gambit,
The proposal to cut taxes was just an election gimmick to win votes.
that free magazine subscription they offer is just a sales gimmick to get you to buy their product

Question 8

Touch-sensitive

Answer 8

adj. equipment is operated by the user touching it.

In recent years, additional methods of input have emerged such as camera-based player observation for video game consoles and touch-sensitive screens on mobile devices.
For even simpler and more convenient operation, the control unit is also available with a touch-sensitive screen.

Question 9

average

Answer 9

n. the result you get by adding two or more amounts together and dividing the total by the number of amounts.
The average of the three numbers 7, 12, and 20 is 13, because the total of 7, 12, and 20 is 39, and 39 divided by 3 is 13.
In western Europe, a seven to eight-hour working day is about the average.

Question 10

lightweight

Answer 10

adj. weighing only a little or less than average.
verb. lightweight
Syn. featherlight, feathery, light, underweight, weightless
I need a lightweight jacket for the summer evenings.

Question 11

rounded

Answer 11

adj. round or curved.
n. roundedness
Syn. curved, domed, vaulted, embowed
The image of the small rounded mountains known as the Bubbles at the pond’s north end has been made iconic by thousands of photographers.
Its Meta-Rocker design feature combines a low heel drop and a rounded sole to complement the natural stride of runners and promote forward motion.

Question 12

Slim

Answer 12

adj. very small
Syn. slender, slight, trim, thin, narrow, lean, skinny, svelte, willowy, rangy, sylphlike.
She looked slim and fit for her age.
He has a slim build.

Question 13

handheld

Answer 13

adj. A handheld object has been designed so that it can be held and used easily with one or two hands.
Syn portable, pocket, mini, miniature, palm-top.
Chronographs that pair with iPhones and Android handheld devices, and whose batteries can be replaced without the use of extra tools, also get high marks.
As a handheld device, the Theragun Elite is highly portable.

Question 14

cutting-edge

Answer 14

adj. very modern and with all the newest features.
n. cutting-edge
Syn. modern
This is an ambitious book, which aims to pull together cutting-edge research in formal semantics, lexical aspect, and event structure.
These women sought cutting-edge information based on ‘ scientific’ evidence, and also consulted specialists such as aestheticians, medical doctors and personal trainers.

Question 15

high-tech

Answer 15

adj. using the most advanced and developed machines and methods.
n. High Tech.
Syn. modern, up to date, latest, cutting-edge, high-tech
Only a few teaching hospitals have those new, high-tech devices.
This weapons system is an affordable, hi-tech solution.