Vocab
A __________ is a change from one stage or situation to another.
transition
If a school decides that students cannot use their phones during class, what word describes this official prohibition?
ban
In the first experiment, what two languages did the babies see people speaking in silent videos?
English and French.
What two types of energy does Bill McKibben say the world needs to move away from?
Oil and coal (the passage also mentions gas).
If something is hardwired, is it something learned through practice or something naturally built in?
Something naturally built in rather than learned through practice.
What word means a clever ability to solve problems or create things?
ingenuity
If a language difference makes it difficult for two people to communicate, what is that difficulty called?
barrier
How did researchers know that babies noticed when a speaker changed languages?
The babies looked at the speaker for longer when the language changed, suggesting they noticed the difference through lip movements.
What is one advantage fossil fuels have over renewable energy sources, according to the passage?
Fossil fuels are easy to find and transport, and they contain a lot of energy.
If a scientist says “Sure enough” before describing a result that matched a prediction, what does the phrase mean?
As expected — the result matched what someone thought would happen.
What word means to give a reason or explanation to show that something is reasonable or acceptable?
justify
If the number of people attending an event becomes smaller over time, which vocabulary word describes what is happening?
diminishing
Why could babies from bilingual homes still distinguish between English and French speakers at eight months old?
They continued to be exposed to more than one language.
Why can renewable energy from the sun and wind be more difficult to use than fossil fuels?
Renewable energy is spread out rather than concentrated, and sources like sunlight are not always available, such as at night.
If someone is at a disadvantage when applying for a job, what does that mean about their situation compared with other applicants?
They are in a situation that makes it harder for them to succeed than other applicants.
_____________ means something that is equal in value, meaning, or amount to something else.
equivalent
If a new student feels nervous at first but becomes comfortable after a few weeks, which vocabulary word describes how the student felt at the beginning?
initially
What did Katherine Kinzler’s experiment reveal about the people babies prefer, and how did the researchers identify that preference?
Babies preferred people who spoke their own language. They showed this preference by looking longer at the woman who had spoken English.
According to the passage, how do people in Belgium save energy, and what can people learn from their behavior?
People in Belgium travel by train instead of driving. This shows that changing everyday habits and using public transportation can reduce energy use.
In the sentence about fossil fuels “running short,” what does the phrase suggest is happening to these energy sources?
The supply of fossil fuels is decreasing or being used up.
What word describes a natural reaction that happens without thinking or planning?
instinctive
What word means to completely remove something, such as a problem, a barrier, or a harmful practice?
eliminate
The author explains that language preferences may be instinctive. Why does this not justify linguistic prejudice, and what is one way society can work to overcome it?
An instinctive preference does not make prejudice fair or acceptable. Society can work to overcome linguistic prejudice through early education and exposure to multiple languages.
Why does McKibben argue that individual choices alone will not solve the energy problem, and what change does he suggest is needed in the economic system?
Individual choices alone will not reduce carbon emissions or fossil fuel use quickly enough. The author suggests changing the economic system so that carbon emissions have a cost, such as through an international treaty that puts a price on carbon.
The author says that reducing energy use involves “trade-offs.” What does this mean, and give one example from the passage.
Trade-offs are compromises in which gaining one thing may mean giving up something else. For example, eating less meat or choosing food grown closer to home to reduce energy use.