Unit 15: Microchips

Word List

adj. When something is aggregate, it is made up of smaller amounts added together.

The company totaled its aggregate sales for the entire year.
n. An antibiotic is a medical drug used to kill bacteria and treat infections.

The doctor gave me a shot of an antibiotic when I got the flu.
n. A circuit is a piece of an electronic device that allows electricity to flow.

Be very careful not to shock yourself when fixing an electrical circuit.
v. To complement something or someone is to make them better.

The wool scarf complemented her lovely eyes.
v. To compress something means to press or squeeze it so that it takes up less space.

I compressed my clothes to fit into a single suitcase.
n. A database is a collection of data that is stored in a computer.

The company has a database of all the names and accounts of their customers.
n. An equivalent is an amount or value that is the same as another amount or value.

I worked the equivalent of sixty hours this week.
adj. When someone is immune to a disease, they cannot be affected by it.

Children usually get shots to make them immune to certain diseases.
n. Input is information that is put into a computer.

Type the input into the computer program.
adj. When a relationship is intimate, the two things are very closely connected.

I only tell my secrets to my most intimate friends.
n. A magnet is a piece of iron or other material which attracts iron toward it.

I used a magnet to pick up the nails that were scattered on the floor.
n. A person's metabolism is the way chemical processes in their body use energy.

If you exercise every day, your metabolism speeds up.
n. A microchip is a small device in a computer that holds information.

I can put more data on my computer if I buy a more powerful microchip.
n. A phase is a stage in a process or the gradual development of something.

The first phase in the recycling project involves finding volunteers to help out.
v. To pinch means to take a piece of skin between one's fingers and squeeze.

I pinched my nose so I couldn't smell the odor from the garbage.
adj. When something is prevalent, it is common.

Growing a beard is more prevalent in some countries than in others.
n. When something is quantum, it relates to the behavior of atomic particles.

The physics student studied quantum mechanics.
n. A ratio is a relationship between two things expressed in numbers or amounts.

The boy-to-girl ratio is one to three.
n. A spiral is a shape which winds round and round as if around a cylinder.

A strand of DNA looks like two interlocking spirals.
adj. When something is viral, it is a disease or infection that is caused by a virus.

The girl was in bed for a week when she had a viral infection.

Exercise

A ‣ Circle the answer that best fits the question.

Where would you find a microchip?
- a. In a salad
- b. In a laptop
- c. In a chair
- d. In your dog
What is found at the quantum level?
- a. A comet
- b. Atomic particles
- c. A scale
- d. Biological theories
What does a magnet attract?
- a. Metal
- b. Trees
- c. Water
- d. Plastic
What is an example of a ratio?
- a. Rough to smooth
- b. Cat to dog
- c. Two to one
- d. Black and white
What is the equivalent of 60 minutes?
- a. One hour
- b. 30 minutes
- c. One day
- d. One century

B ‣ Write the word from the word bank that best fits each sentence.

WORD BANK

spiral
database
input
ratio
prevalent
viral
antibiotic
phase
immune
magnet

The doctors just found out that the infection is ¹_____ .

Since a virus is not a bacteria, it cannot be treated with a(n) ²_____ .

He looked at the information that was stored in the ³_____.

After comparing the data, he expressed the results in a(n) ⁴_____.

The process of building the house is in the final ⁵_____.

The last step is putting in a staircase in the shape of a(n) ⁶_____.

We learned what metals are attracted to a(n) ⁷_____.

We entered our results into the computer as ⁸_____.

In this country, polio is not ⁹_____.

It is so uncommon because most people are ¹⁰_____, thanks to vaccines.

C ‣ Write the word that best fits each sentence.

magnet / microchip
In the future, humans might get a _____ implant to learn things. She used a _____ on the refrigerator to attach her picture to it.
metabolism / antibiotic
Due to his quick _____, he is able to eat a lot without gaining weight. The doctor prescribed a(n) _____ to treat the infection.
prevalent / equivalent
This kind of tree is _____ in this area. A degree from this university is _____ to a degree in another country.
quantum / complements
The lecture goes over one of the _____ theories. I bought this dress because it really _____ my eyes.
ratio / phase
The _____ of men to women in the club is even. The next _____ of construction won't begin until next year.
viral / spiral
The _____ staircase was made of wood and marble. The video went _____ reaching one million viewers.
input / aggregate
I'd like your _____ on the design of this logo. Once we _____ our earnings, we get a better idea of our income.
immune / intimate
The _____ friendship between Deborah and me no longer exists. The man is _____ to many modern diseases.
database / circuit
The lightning strike blew the _____ and caused all the lights to go out. We'll enter your information into our _____.
compresses / pinch
This machine _____ the food to make it fit into the can. She asked the woman to _____ her after hearing her name announced as the winner.

Microchips

The bond between humans and computers is becoming more intimate than ever before. Scientists are now even putting microchips inside people's bodies. They are made up of compressed electrical circuits that can detect and record data about the body. They are tiny, but they hold the equivalent amount of data as some computers.

A microchip is put to use inside a person with a simple procedure. First, a doctor must put data about the patient onto a chip. Input about the person's age, race, gender, and medical history is stored on the chip. The second phase of the process involves putting it under the person's skin. The doctor pinches a piece of skin and cuts a tiny hole with a tool shaped like a spiral. The chip is inserted, and the skin is allowed to heal. Lastly, it begins sending data to the database.

Microchips scan the patient's body to record what is happening on the quantum level. They can find problems with the person's metabolism and organs. They can also detect viral infections. They can find the aggregate number of immune and infected cells and present the results in a ratio. They can even tell doctors what type of antibiotic to give to the patient!

To recover the chip's data, the doctor uses a special magnet that copies it. This way, the doctor can put the information from the chip onto a computer. Then, they can find out exactly what is wrong with the person.

The idea of putting chips in people is still very new. However, it is now becoming more prevalent. Scientists and doctors are hopeful about the future uses of microchips. Someday, all new babies might get a microchip soon after they are born. Doctors will be able to know about any problems from the very beginning. It is obvious that medicine and computers complement each other well.

Reading Comprehension

Part A: Mark each statement T for true or F for false. Rewrite the false statements to make them true.

_____ Microchips are made up of compressed electrical circuits.
__________
_____ Chips express the aggregate number of immune and intimate cells in a ratio.
__________
_____ Chips detect viral infections and problems with people's metabolism.
__________
_____ A doctor pinches the skin and cuts a hole with a tool shaped like a spiral.
__________
_____ Putting antibiotics in people is becoming more prevalent.
__________

Part B: Answer the questions.

What is the passage about?
- a. Microchips in healthcare
- b. Tracking medical histories
- c. Microchip development
- d. Recovering data
What does the doctor's special magnet do?
_____
After the input is stored on the chip, what is the next phase of the process?
_____

Answer Key

Name

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