Unit 1
Marine Biology
Reading Text 1
What is Marine Biology?
Marine biology is the study of life forms
living in saltwater, and therefore, usually an ocean
environment. Studies in this field may include the
analysis of plants, fish, microscopic organisms and
marine mammals. Marine biologists may also study
the whole of an ocean ecosystem, or a specific type
of life form and how it interacts with its habitat.
People who work in marine biology may do
so in the field or analyze data gathered from ocean
sites. It can be comparative in nature and might
include an analysis of similar bacteria existing in
several different oceans. Alternately, it can be
specific to just one species or location. Other forms
of science, particularly climatology as it affects
ocean life forms, oceanography, and animal
behavior, are connected to the field. While some
marine biologists may study the biological structure
of an animal, others might study how it behaves.
Often people think of marine biology as only
the study of marine mammals, like whales, dolphins
or seals. This actually represents just a small portion
of the scientific field. There are relatively few
marine mammals as compared to vast numbers of
species of fish, plants, and single-celled organisms in
ocean environments. Understanding the mechanism
and interactions of these less glamorous species
tend to shed light on important facts about the
marine mammals that do exist. Marine biology may
also involve a certain amount of activism. Many
A. Vocabulary
Read passage above carefully. Match the vocabularies below with their meaning according
to the context given in the passage.
1. Microscopic : ______________
2. Ecosystem : ______________
3. Oceanography : ______________
4. Glamorous : ______________
5. Involve : ______________
scientists who consider themselves marine biologists
have amassed a great deal of additional scientific
education. This is because the field must be
understood in the context of other sciences.
Not everyone who studies marine biology
does so at the ocean, and there are a number of sites
of study in landlocked states or countries. This is
because oceans and their life-forms have an effect
on all areas. Prehistoric biology may also evaluate
the specimens of extinct ocean life forms that are
present in areas where no saltwater bodies still
exist.
Experts in this field may also the study how
the organisms in the ocean may benefit human life.
The oceans may different life forms may hold
potential health benefits, give keys to developing
beneficial medications, or help scientists determine
how best to protect earthbound life forms. Some
find marine biology particularly appealing because
so many of the ocean’s species remain unknown.
There are ocean areas that people still cannot access
because of temperature or depth. The ocean is a
frontier that humans have not yet breached, so
people in the field regularly have the opportunity to
be a part of earth and life science studies that lead
to brand new discoveries.
Source:
www.wisegeek.com/what-is-marine-biology.html
6. Amassed : ______________
7. Specimens : ______________
8. Earthbound : ______________
9. Frontier : ______________
10. Breached : ______________
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 Definitions:
a. The scientific study of the oceans and seas and the organisms that live in them.
b. Unable to leave the surface of the earth.
c. Attractive in an exciting and special way.
d. Extremely small.
e. A border between what is known and what is not known.
f. To break and to make an opening especially in order to attack.
g. Something shown or examined as an example; a typical example.
h. All the plants, animals, and people living in an area considered together with their environment
as a system of relationships.
i. To include someone or something in an activity.
j. To get a large amount of something, especially money or information, by collecting it over a long
period.

B. Reading Comprehension
Choose and explain the correct answer based on the text above.
1. ‘Alternately, it can be specific to just one species or location’
The word it in the third sentence of the first paragprah refers to?
a. Studying marine biology
b. Similar bacteria
c. Ocean sites
d. People who work in marine biology

2. Which of the following is NOT true about marine biology?

a. Marine biology is a study of the whole ocean ecosystem
b. Marine biology is a study of biological structure of an animal compared to
climatology and oceanography
c. Marine biology is limited only to study of marine mammals
d. Marine biology must be understood in various context of other fields

3. Which of the following that the marine biologist study about?

a. Living things and the reciprocal of human life in ocean environments
b. Climate change and human behavior in ocean environments
c. Historical changes and preservation of ocean environments
d. None of them

4. The word this in the first sentence of last paragraph refers to?
a. Marine biology
b. Marine biologist
c. Marine expert
d. Marine environment

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5. What is the closest meaning of the word discoveries in the last sentence of the last
paragraph?
a. Explorations
b. Breakthroughs
c. Advancements
d. Researches

6. What marine biologists do?

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

7. Is that possible that marine biologists study the other sites out of ocean? Why?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

8. What is the obstacle that marine biologists face to study the undiscovered
ocean’s species?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

9. The word this in the second sentence of the last two paragraph refers to?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

10. Why are experts interested in marine biology?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Language Focus 2

Present Perfect vs Past Simple

Example:

1. The World War II years has affected the development of technology significantly, especially in
computing.
2. Thus, machines like Colossus, the ENIAC, and the Harvard Mark I have become important for
the development of modern computers.
3. Just before the outbreak of the war, in 1938, German engineer Konrad Zuse constructed his
Z1, the world's first programmable binary computer, in his parents' living room.
4. The first large-scale digital computer of this kind appeared in 1944 at Harvard University that
was built by mathematician Howard Aiken

The sentences above are taken from the previous text. In all of the sentences above, it
shows that they all describe past activities. However, as you can see, it uses two different kinds
of tenses; simple past and present perfect. So, how do we differentiate them? Read the
following explanation to help you understand the differences between the two tenses.
Recognizing the two tenses (Form):

Simple past Present perfect

Subject + V2 Subject + has/have + V3

Basic uses and functions:

Simple past Present perfect

1. Use the simple past for actions in the
past that have no connection to the
present and when the time of the past
action is important or shown.
1. Use the present perfect for an action
or situation that started in the past
and continues in the present.
2. An action performed during a period
that has not yet finished.
3. A repeated action in an unspecified
period between the past and now.
4. An action that was completed in the
very recent past, expressed by 'just'.
5. An action when the time is not
important.

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 Signal words (definite): Signal words (indefinite):
last week, when I was a child, yesterday, six just, never, ever, yet, already, recently,
weeks ago, in 2001. since, for, so far, up to now.
Sentence example: Sentence examples:
1. She found her computer yesterday. 1. I have lived in Bristol since 1984. (I
still do)
2. She has been to the cinema twice this
week (and the week isn't over yet.)
3. We have visited Portugal several
times.
4. I have just finished my work.
5. She has found her computer.

Practice!
A. Direction: Fill in the blanks with the simple past or the present perfect of the verb in
parentheses ().
A: Do you like to surf the internet?

B: Of course, I do. I’ve had (have) my internet connection since 1999, and I love it. A couple of months
ago, I ___________ (buy) a new computer with lots of memory and speed. And last month I
_________ (change) to a better service provider. Now I can surf much faster.

A: What kind of things do you search for?

B: Lots of things. I ________ (always/want) to learn about the stock market, and with the Web, I can
start to learn. Last week, I __________ (make) my first investment in the stock market.

A: Do you ever buy products online?

B: Sometimes I do. Last month, I __________ (find) a great Website where I can download music for
one dollar. So far, I ____________ (download) about a hundred songs, and I _________ (make)
several CDs. My old computer _________ (not/have) burner, so I’m very happy with my new one.

A: __________ (you/sell) your old computer?

B: No. It was about eight years old. I just ________ (remove) the hard drive and __________ (leave)
the computer on top of the garbage dumpster. When I _________ (pass) by a few hours later, it
was gone. Someone _______ (take) it.

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B. Direction: Change the verb in the parentheses into the correct form of simple past or
present perfect verb.

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980’s, technology (change)
__________ a great deal. The first computers (be) _________ simple machines designed for basic tasks.
They (have/not) ___________ much memory and they (be/not) __________ very powerful. Early
computers were often quite expensive and customers often (pay) ___________thousands of dollars for
machines which actually (do) __________ very little. Most computers (be) __________ separate,
individual machines used mostly as expensive typewriters or for playing games.

However, times (change) _________. Computers (become) __________ powerful machines with very
practical applications. Programmers (create) _________ a large selection of useful programs which do
everything from teaching foreign languages to bookkeeping. We are still playing video games, but today’s
games (become) __________ faster, more exciting interactive adventures. Many computer users
(get/also) ____________ on the internet and (begin) ________________ communicating with other
computer users around the world. We (start) ________________ to create international communities
online. In short, the simple, individual machines of the past (evolve) ___________ into an international
World Wide Web of knowledge.

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