English Learning: Biology Basics for Beginners
Dialogue
Alice: Hey Bob, what are you reading? You look very serious.
Bob: Oh, hi Alice! Just a book about… cells. Did you know everything is made of cells?
Alice: Cells? Like batteries? So I’m full of tiny batteries?
Bob: Haha, not exactly! Not the power-your-remote kind. These are living cells. The building blocks of life!
Alice: Building blocks… So like tiny LEGOs that make up me? That sounds fragile!
Bob: Exactly! But super strong LEGOs. And you have billions of them. Like a giant LEGO city!
Alice: Billions? Wow. So, plants have cells too, right?
Bob: Yes! And plant cells are special. They do something called photosynthesis.
Alice: Photosynthesis? Sounds like a really long word for ‘eating sunlight’.
Bob: Pretty much! They use sunlight, water, and CO2 to make food. And they give us oxygen!
Alice: Oh, so plants are like our air-making factories? Thank you, plants!
Bob: Exactly! And we, animals, breathe that oxygen.
Alice: So, animals are… things that move and eat other things?
Bob: Broadly, yes! From a tiny ant to a giant whale, they’re all animals. And humans? Biologically, we’re also part of the animal kingdom.
Alice: My mom told me I was a princess, not an animal! This biology stuff is confusing.
Bob: Well, you can be a biological mammal and a princess! No conflict there. And inside every cell, there’s DNA, like an instruction manual.
Alice: DNA? Like the secret code of life?
Bob: You got it! It tells your cells what to do and how to build you. And all these living things, like plants and animals, they live together, part of an ecosystem.
Alice: So my cat, the tree in the garden, and even the tiny bugs are all part of an ecosystem?
Bob: Absolutely! Even you and me. We’re all part of the big biological picture.
Alice: Wow. Biology is more interesting than I thought. So, you’re saying I’m a walking, talking, princess-mammal ecosystem?
Bob: Pretty much! And you’re made of billions of LEGO-like cells. Welcome to biology!
Current Situation
Biology is the study of life, and understanding its basics helps us comprehend the world around us. Even for beginners, learning terms like cells, plants, animals, and ecosystems helps us appreciate how our bodies work, where our food comes from, and why taking care of the environment is crucial. It’s not just for scientists; it’s about being aware of how everything is connected, from the smallest living unit to the vast planet.
Key Phrases
- made of cells: All living things are made of cells. Example: Our bodies are made of cells.
- building blocks of life: Cells are often called the building blocks of life. Example: These tiny components are the building blocks of life.
- photosynthesis: The process plants use to make food from sunlight. Example: Plants use photosynthesis to make their own food.
- give us oxygen: Plants release oxygen into the air. Example: Trees and plants give us oxygen to breathe.
- animal kingdom: The group of all animals on Earth. Example: Humans are part of the animal kingdom.
- instruction manual: A guide that tells you how something works. Example: DNA is like the instruction manual for our bodies.
- part of an ecosystem: Belonging to a community of living things and their environment. Example: Every living thing is part of an ecosystem.
- biological picture: The complete understanding of living things and their relationships. Example: Understanding biology helps us see the whole biological picture.
Grammar Points
1. The Present Simple Tense
- Facts/General Truths:
Subject + Verb (base form) / Verb + -s/-es (for he/she/it)
Example: Everything is made of cells. (Fact)
Example: Plants give us oxygen. (General truth)
Example: A plant cell has a cell wall. (Fact)
- Remember the -s/-es for he/she/it:
- I / You / We / They read.
- He / She / It reads.
- I / You / We / They eat.
- He / She / It eats.
2. The Verb “To Be”
- Forms: am, is, are
- Used for Identity:
Example: I am Alice. (Identity)
Example: Cells are the building blocks. (Identity)
- Used for Description:
Example: Biology is interesting. (Description)
Example: You are serious. (Description)
3. Countable and Uncountable Nouns
- Countable Nouns:
These have singular and plural forms. You can use numbers with them.
Example: one cell, two cells, many animals, a few plants.
- Uncountable Nouns:
These usually do not have a plural form. You cannot use numbers directly with them. We use words like “some” or “much”.
Example: oxygen (not “three oxygens”), water, information, food.
Example: Plants give us oxygen.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Use words from the dialogue or grammar points)
-
All living things are _______ _______ cells.
Answer: made of
-
Plants use _______ to make food.
Answer: photosynthesis
-
We breathe _______, which plants give us.
Answer: oxygen
-
A lion _______ an animal.
Answer: is
-
The tree in my garden _______ part of an ecosystem.
Answer: is
Exercise 2: True or False
-
Cells are like batteries for your TV remote.
Answer: False
-
Plants make oxygen.
Answer: True
-
Humans are not animals.
Answer: False (Biologically, we are.)
-
DNA is the secret code inside cells.
Answer: True
Exercise 3: Match the Word to its Definition
Match the word on the left with its correct definition on the right.
- 1. Cell
- 2. Photosynthesis
- 3. Oxygen
- 4. Ecosystem
- a) The process plants use to make food from sunlight.
- b) A tiny living unit that makes up all living things.
- c) A gas that animals breathe.
- d) A community of living things and their environment.
Answers:
-
1. Cell: b) A tiny living unit that makes up all living things.
-
2. Photosynthesis: a) The process plants use to make food from sunlight.
-
3. Oxygen: c) A gas that animals breathe.
-
4. Ecosystem: d) A community of living things and their environment.
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