full transcript

From the Ted Talk by Jennifer Vail: The science of friction -- and its surprising impact on our lives

Unscramble the Blue Letters


(Laughter)

But you were also a junior tribologist. When you used crayons or ceolord pencils, you knew that the harder you pesresd, the darker the color. You also knew this meant you were going to have to sharpen that crayon or colored pencil more fqelretnuy, because it was wearing down faster.

Now let's talk about those enticing shiny waxed floors that you just had to slide across. You knew if you put on a pair of socks, you were going to get a really good slide across that floor. Good luck trying to do that barefoot. mtsaer manipulators of foiritcn.

All kids are tgobliitsors. What about us as adults? At some point today, you beushrd your teeth. I hope.

Open Cloze


(Laughter)

But you were also a junior tribologist. When you used crayons or _______ pencils, you knew that the harder you _______, the darker the color. You also knew this meant you were going to have to sharpen that crayon or colored pencil more __________, because it was wearing down faster.

Now let's talk about those enticing shiny waxed floors that you just had to slide across. You knew if you put on a pair of socks, you were going to get a really good slide across that floor. Good luck trying to do that barefoot. ______ manipulators of ________.

All kids are ____________. What about us as adults? At some point today, you _______ your teeth. I hope.

Solution


  1. master
  2. brushed
  3. colored
  4. frequently
  5. tribologists
  6. friction
  7. pressed

Original Text


(Laughter)

But you were also a junior tribologist. When you used crayons or colored pencils, you knew that the harder you pressed, the darker the color. You also knew this meant you were going to have to sharpen that crayon or colored pencil more frequently, because it was wearing down faster.

Now let's talk about those enticing shiny waxed floors that you just had to slide across. You knew if you put on a pair of socks, you were going to get a really good slide across that floor. Good luck trying to do that barefoot. Master manipulators of friction.

All kids are tribologists. What about us as adults? At some point today, you brushed your teeth. I hope.

Frequently Occurring Word Combinations


ngrams of length 2

collocation frequency
interacting surfaces 3
energy consumption 3
dog food 2
reduce friction 2
good luck 2
plaque removal 2
fat content 2
fuel efficiency 2
tribology research 2


Important Words


  1. adults
  2. barefoot
  3. brushed
  4. color
  5. colored
  6. crayon
  7. crayons
  8. darker
  9. enticing
  10. faster
  11. floor
  12. floors
  13. frequently
  14. friction
  15. good
  16. harder
  17. hope
  18. junior
  19. kids
  20. knew
  21. laughter
  22. luck
  23. manipulators
  24. master
  25. meant
  26. pair
  27. pencil
  28. pencils
  29. point
  30. pressed
  31. put
  32. sharpen
  33. shiny
  34. slide
  35. socks
  36. talk
  37. teeth
  38. today
  39. tribologist
  40. tribologists
  41. waxed
  42. wearing