SCI-LANGUAGE SURVIVAL KIT
Find the scientifically acceptable reformulation:
Original: “The algorithm eats too much memory.”
a) “The algorithm consumes considerable memory resources.”
b) “The algorithm is hungry.”
c) “The algorithm is obese.”
d) “The memory went missing.”
a) “The algorithm consumes considerable memory resources.”
Which connector fits academic causality?
“The memory overflowed ___ the program crashed.”
a) because
b) despite
c) unless
d) however
a) because
Best opening line?
a) “Can anyone lend me confidence?”
b) “Good afternoon, let me start by outlining our objectives.”
c) “Let’s pray this works.”
d) “Welcome to my TED Talk—just kidding.”
b) “Good afternoon, let me start by outlining our objectives.”
I increase when you remove me. What am I?
a) a queue
b) a hole
c) your free time
d) entropy
b) a hole
“Not rocket science” means:
a) Something easy
b) Something involving rockets
c) A job at NASA
d) Something students complain about
“Not rocket science” means:
a) Something easy
Pick the correct word order for emphasis (inversion):
a) “Rarely the model converged did.”
b) “Rarely did the model converge.”
c) “Did converge rarely the model.”
d) “Converged the model rarely did.”
b) “Rarely did the model converge.”
Which is the real scientific acronym?
a) LASER: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
b) LASER: Light Acceleration via Super Electric Rays
c) LASER: Legitimate And Serious Energy Ray
d) LASER: Look At Something, Everyone Run
a) LASER: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
Best transition between slides?
a) “Anyway…”
b) “Let’s describe this slide.”
c) “Moving on to the next point…”
d) “Where was I again?”
c) “Moving on to the next point…”
I have many keys but no locks, I have space but no room, you can enter but not go inside.
a) a keyboard
b) a matrix
c) a data center
d) a hypercube
a) a keyboard
“To have a light-bulb moment” refers to:
a) understanding something suddenly
b) electricity malfunction
c) a broken lamp
d) a failed physics experiment
a) understanding something suddenly
Choose the BEST academic synonym for “show”:
a) demonstrate
b) show off
c) flaunt
d) expose brutally
a) demonstrate
Choose the accurate description:
“The curve oscillates”
a) It is confused and moves randomly
b) It moves down periodically
c) It tries to escape the graph
d) It has a continuous fluctuation
d) It has a continuous fluctuation
Best way to say “I don’t know” academically?
a) “This matter remains an open area of investigation.”
b) “I have no idea.”
c) “Your guess is as good as mine.”
d) “According to Google....”
a) “This matter remains an open area of investigation.”
I can be positive or negative, but I am never angry. What am I?
a) voltage
b) an electron
c) a math professor
d) a derivative
a) voltage
“To push the envelope” means:
a) challenge limits
b) mail a letter aggressively
c) seal lab samples
d) use a bigger envelope
a) challenge limits
Which sentence sounds “scientific” but is actually nonsense?
a) “The data exhibit a non-linear pattern.”
b) “The results appear consistent across trials.”
c) “The electrons became rebel and refused to interact.”
d) “The sample size was adjusted for variability.”
c) “The electrons became rebel and refused to interact.”
Which unit is WRONG?
a) Voltage – Volt
b) Frequency – Hertz
c) Resistance – Ohm
d) Electric current – Gigawatt
d) Electric current – Gigawatt
Which is the MOST polite disagreement?
a) “Your argument is invalid.”
b) “I respectfully suggest an alternative interpretation.”
c) “Absolutely not.”
d) “No. Just no.”
b) “I respectfully suggest an alternative interpretation.”
I am a function that always gives you what you don’t want. What am I?
a) error function
b) loss function
c) random number generator
d) exam score calculator
b) loss function
“To reinvent the wheel” means:
a) waste time doing something already done
b) create a new bicycle
c) work in automotive engineering
d) debug a difficult exercise
a) waste time doing something already done
Which sentence demonstrates both correct hedging and correct noun-phrase structure?
a) “It is known the results are probably true.”
b) “The results seem suggesting a potential improvement.”
c) “These findings may indicate a slightly increased accuracy.”
d) “The accuracy increased maybe possibly probably.”
c) “These findings may indicate a slightly increased accuracy.”
Which description is the MOST accurate and academically valid?
The graph shows a curve that rises sharply, then levels off, then slightly decreases.
a) “The curve skyrockets, chills for a bit, then regrets its life decisions.”
b) “The curve exhibits exponential growth followed by thermal death.”
c) “The curve increases steeply, stabilizes, and subsequently declines marginally.”
d) “The curve yo-yos before giving up.”
c) “The curve increases steeply, stabilizes, and subsequently declines marginally.”
Which closing sentence is the MOST academically sophisticated and coherent?
a) “Finally, this research changes everything forever.”
b) “In conclusion, our findings contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon, while acknowledging the limitations that warrant further investigation.”
c) “To conclude, we did our best to come up with such a invaluable result. Please applaud.”
d) “In summary, science happened.
b) “In conclusion, our findings contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon, while acknowledging the limitations that warrant further investigation.”
I am invisible, I can travel through anything, I affect everything, but you only notice me when I stop. What am I?
a) electricity
b) air pressure
c) time
d) light
c) time
What does the idiom “to move the goalposts” mean in a scientific context?
a) Adjust experimental conditions midway to make success easier
b) Change evaluation criteria after results are obtained
c) Improve the precision of measurement tools
d) Carry physical goalposts in a biomechanics experiment
b) Change evaluation criteria after results are obtained