Discovering new material - Test 2

C1 Advanced · Open Cloze · Cambridge English Advanced 3, Cambridge University Press

For questions 9–16, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap.

Vulcanised rubber, celluloid and plastic – these materials were, (0) ___ a certain degree, invented by accident. In fact, the history of materials can be described (9) ___ a history of accidents, but this is not as catastrophic as it sounds. (10) ___ the beginning of scientific investigation, scientists have stumbled across new and wonderful materials in (11) ___ course of exploring something completely different. But this chance discovery of useful materials (12) ___ undergoing a change. Scientists sitting at their desks, now turn to computers to design materials and to work out their properties long (13) ___ they need to go anywhere near a laboratory. But the element of chance is still present as the ultimate application of these new materials remains tentative. (14) ___ scientists are confident about is that each has the potential to be revolutionary. The race is now on to make these materials reality. (15) ___ the history of materials is any guide, how we eventually use them will, (16) ___ part, be discovered accidentally.

Discovering new material

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