Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.

📋 How to use this lesson

For Teachers

Guide students through the table and practice tasks within 20 minutes.

Use the built-in grading to check answers and review speaking clarity in pairs.

For Learners

First, read the word table and study the simple memory tips.

Next, complete the 16 practice questions and record your voice in the shadowing section.

Word table

Study the 10 words below, divided into three themes about evidence, testing, and trust.

1. Weighing a claim

Word	Meaning	Common collocations	Word forms	Example sentence	Memory tip
debunk	To show that a belief or claim is false.	debunk a myth, debunk a claim	–	Scientists quickly debunked the rumor about the new cure.	Think of taking the "bunk" (nonsense) out of a story.
anecdote	A short personal story, not scientific proof.	personal anecdote, rely on anecdotes	anecdotal (adj)	One friend's experience is just an anecdote, not data.	Sounds like "a note" you share about a single event.
correlation	A link where two things change together.	strong correlation, observe a correlation	correlate (v)	There is a correlation between heavy rain and traffic delays.	"Co-" means together: two things relate together.
sample	A small group chosen to represent a whole group.	large sample, random sample	–	The study used a sample of one thousand voters.	Picture a free food sample: a small bite of the whole dish.

2. How science checks itself

Word	Meaning	Common collocations	Word forms	Example sentence	Memory tip
consensus	General agreement among a group of experts.	scientific consensus, reach a consensus	–	The medical consensus is that regular exercise improves health.	"Con" (together) + "sense": everyone feels the same sense.
replicate	To repeat a study to see if the same result happens.	replicate results, replicate a study	replication (n)	Other labs could not replicate the original experiment.	Sounds like "duplicate" or make an exact copy.
bias	An unfair preference that leans toward one side.	personal bias, avoid bias	biased (adj)	Good tests use blind trials to remove human bias.	Imagine a tilted scale leaning unfairly to one corner.

3. Trust and doubt

Word	Meaning	Common collocations	Word forms	Example sentence	Memory tip
sceptic	A person who doubts claims until solid proof is shown.	healthy sceptic, convince a sceptic	sceptical (adj), scepticism (n)	A true sceptic looks for clear evidence before agreeing.	Think of someone raising an eyebrow with suspicion.
conspiracy	A secret plan by a group to do something harmful.	conspiracy theory, uncover a conspiracy	conspire (v)	Wild conspiracy theories often spread fast on social media.	Picture people whispering in a dark circle.
hype	Intense excitement created by ads and media.	media hype, live up to the hype	–	Do not believe the hype before the real data arrives.	Short and loud, like a megaphone shouting for attention.

Practice

Part 1: Match verbs with their natural noun partners

Choose the best noun phrase for each verb based on the common collocations you studied.

Verb

a study

a common myth

a correlation

a consensus

1. debunk

____a study ____a common myth ____a correlation ____a consensus

2. replicate

____a study ____a common myth ____a correlation ____a consensus

3. reach

____a study ____a common myth ____a correlation ____a consensus

4. observe

____a study ____a common myth ____a correlation ____a consensus

Part 2: Fill the gaps in short dialogues

Use the words from the bank below to complete each dialogue.

hype • sample • anecdote • sceptic • conspiracy • debunk

Speaker A: "Did you buy that new brain booster online?"

Speaker B: "No, it is just media ____ with no real evidence behind it."

Speaker A: "This survey says everyone loves the new policy!"

Speaker B: "They only asked five friends. That is far too small a ____ to prove anything."

Speaker A: "My neighbor drank onion juice and her headache vanished immediately."

Speaker B: "That is just a personal ____, not clinical proof."

Speaker A: "Why do so many people think the moon landing was staged?"

Speaker B: "They love a wild ____ theory even when experts debunk it."

Part 3: Choose the word that fits the meaning

All three choices fit the grammar of the sentence, but only one fits the real meaning.

1. Before drawing a firm conclusion, researchers must test a large ___ from the general population.

____ a. sample ____ b. hype ____ c. consensus

2. Ice cream sales and swimming pool accidents both rise in July, but this ___ does not mean one causes the other.

____ a. bias ____ b. correlation ____ c. anecdote

3. A healthy ___ will hold back judgment on sensational news until reliable facts are published.

____ a. conspiracy ____ b. sample ____ c. sceptic

4. Despite the loud online ___, the new battery lasted no longer than traditional models.

____ a. hype ____ b. consensus ____ c. bias

Part 4: Use the correct word form

Complete each sentence with the right form of the word in brackets. Use only the forms from the table.

1. The first laboratory findings were exciting, but exact ____ proved impossible when independent teams tested it. (replicate)

2. To keep clinical trials fair, researchers ensure that observers are not ____ in favor of one outcome. (bias)

3. A healthy dose of ____ helps people question unbelievable promises on the internet. (sceptic)

4. Critics often claim that major companies ____ in secret to suppress cheaper alternatives. (conspiracy)

Shadowing

Listen to the model pronunciation, then tap the record button to practice speaking each item clearly.

Key collocations

Collocation 1 debunk a myth

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Collocation 2 reach a consensus

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Collocation 3 confirm a correlation

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Collocation 4 replicate the results

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Everyday sentences

Sentence 1 (12 words) We need a large sample before we can trust this new claim.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Sentence 2 (12 words) Do not let internet hype fool you about the real scientific facts.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Sentence 3 (13 words) A healthy sceptic always asks to see the proof behind every wild story.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Sentence 4 (12 words) Some people try to conspire and spread false rumors to make money.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

More sentences

Sentence 5 (13 words) The team worked hard to keep any personal bias out of their research.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Sentence 6 (13 words) Good researchers try to replicate old tests to see if they hold up.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Focus on difficult sounds

Word focus: 3 syllables (/ˈæn.ɪk.dəʊt/) anecdote

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Word focus: 4 syllables (/ˌkɒr.əˈleɪ.ʃən/) correlation

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Vocabulary: Misinformation and Trust in Science

📋 How to use this lesson

Word table

1. Weighing a claim

2. How science checks itself

3. Trust and doubt

Practice

Part 1: Match verbs with their natural noun partners

Part 2: Fill the gaps in short dialogues

Part 3: Choose the word that fits the meaning

Part 4: Use the correct word form

Shadowing

Key collocations

Everyday sentences

More sentences

Focus on difficult sounds

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