Unit 6, TED

MELISSA MARSHALL works at the Department of Communication Arts & Sciences at Penn State University. She specializes in teaching speaking skills to engineering students. Melissa Marshall’s idea worth spreading is that even complex and technical topics can be easy to understand and exciting if they are communicated in the right ways.

Talk nerdy to me

Multiple Choice

Melissa Marshall believes that we desperately need great communication from our scientists and engineers. What is the meaning of "desperately"?

•  to deal with (a problem)

• seriously; urgently

• to form a connection with

•  to make something too simple

Multiple Choice

She believes this is because scientists tackle some of the world's biggest problems—like climate change. What is the meaning of "tackle"?

• making something weaker

•  to deal with (a problem)

• to form a connection with

•  to make something too simple

Multiple Choice

While it is important for scientists to make everyone understand their work, Marshall points out that they must not dumb down their ideas. What is the meaning of "dumb down"?

• making something weaker

• seriously; urgently

• to form a connection with

•  to make something too simple

Multiple Choice

Scientists need to communicate their ideas without compromising them. What happens when you "compromise" something?

•  you deal with (a problem)

• you form a connection with

• you make something weaker

• it is serious; urgent

Multiple Choice

Marshall also recommends that scientists use stories to engage us and get us excited. When you "engage" an audience, you...

• form a connection with

• make something weaker

• make something too simple

•  deal with (a problem)

Multiple Choice

"And when you're describing your science, beware of jargon."

What does beware of mean?

• use carefully

• never use

• be very careful of

Multiple Choice

Jargon is a barrier to our understanding of your ideas."

If there is a barrier between two things, the two things are_________.

• connected

• related

• separated

Multiple Choice

"Keep your presentation slides simple to allow the audience to key into

 the main point on each slide. The audience can key into if they get a bit lost …" 

If you key into something, you __________.

• get the meaning of it

• type it out

• look it up

Multiple Choice

... when you've solved this equation, by all means, talk nerdy to me."  What does by all means mean?

• any way possible

• anytime

• without hesitation

Now you are ready to watch the TED from your books and complete the activities A,B, and C.

That's it!