How was penicillin discovered by accident?

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

1. Have you ever found something useful by accident?
2. Do you think luck plays a big part in success?
3. Which accidental discovery do you find most interesting?
4. Do you take antibiotics when a doctor suggests it?
5. Would you notice an unusual result in your work?
6. Do you think we give scientists too much or too little credit?

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about a discovery.

Choose the word that fits.

1. A medicine that kills bacteria is an .
2. Tiny living things that can cause infections are called .
3. A fuzzy fungus growing on old bread is a kind of .
4. The dish was spoiled by accidental from outside.
5. Scientists tried to the active substance from the mould.
6. Before approval, a drug is tested in a clinical .
7. The patient was given a small of the new drug.
8. A lucky accident that leads to a useful discovery is an example of .

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

1. mould is a kind of
   metalfishfungus
2. an antibiotic kills
   musicbacteriatime
3. serendipity = finding something good by
   lawchanceforce
4. to isolate = to
   hideseparatejoin
5. a dose is a measured
   kind of foodamount of medicinepiece of paper
6. resistance = the ability of germs to
   start a drugsell a drugsurvive a drug

Use these phrases to retell a story and report what people said.

• He admitted making...Він визнав, що зробив...He admitted making a careless mistake.
• She insisted that...Вона наполягала, що...She insisted that the test be repeated.
• He is said to have...Кажуть, що він...He is said to have noticed the mould by chance.
• They agreed to...Вони погодилися...They agreed to share the prize.
• He warned people not to...Він застерігав людей не...He warned people not to misuse the drug.
• According to the usual story,...За поширеною версією,...According to the usual story, he left a dish open.
• He denied having...Він заперечував, що...He denied having planned the discovery.
• Credit is usually given to...Заслугу зазвичай приписують...Credit is usually given to Fleming.

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

1. Fleming noticed that bacteria around the mould had been killed.
   TrueFalse
2. Fleming alone turned penicillin into a mass-produced drug.
   TrueFalse
3. Florey and Chain insisted on testing the substance seriously.
   TrueFalse
4. Fleming never mentioned the risk of resistance.
   TrueFalse
5. The text says that luck was the only reason for the discovery.
   TrueFalse

1. Was Fleming lucky, skilful or both?
2. Who deserves the credit for penicillin?
3. How can we prepare our minds for lucky discoveries?
4. Should antibiotics be used less often?

Common mistakes: admit / deny / suggest + -ing, promise / agree / refuse + to-infinitive, advise / warn / persuade + object + to-infinitive. ✗ He admitted to make a mistake → He admitted making a mistake. ✗ She suggested to test it → She suggested testing it. ✗ He warned us taking care → He warned us to take care. ✗ She promised helping → She promised to help.

1. Fleming admitted
   to makemaking
   a careless mistake.
2. He insisted
   the dish to havethat the dish had
   been left open.
3. Florey warned them
   to testtesting
   the drug carefully.
4. She denied
   having copiedto have copied
   anything.
5. He suggested
   testingto test
   the mould on more bacteria.
6. They agreed
   to sharesharing
   the prize.
7. Fleming is said
   to had noticedto have noticed
   the mould first.
8. The doctor
   advised him restingadvised him to rest
   for a week.

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

1. He admitted to make a mistake. →
2. She suggested to test the drug. →
3. He warned us taking care. →
4. He denied to take the dish. →
5. She promised helping them. →
6. He advised me waiting. →

Answer in detail. Use reporting verbs and advanced passives.

1. What did Fleming admit and what did he suggest?
2. Whom would you credit for penicillin?
3. Have you ever denied something that was true?
4. What would you advise a young scientist to do?
5. What do you think the doctor warned patients about?
6. Is it true that luck plays a part in most discoveries?

Three people discuss luck and skill in discovery. Compare them. Who gives luck the biggest role? Who gives skill the biggest role? Whose view is closest to yours?

Your teacher will time you.

1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
2. Part 1: tell the story of a discovery made by accident.
3. Part 2: use at least three different reporting verbs (admit, suggest, insist, warn, agree).
4. Part 3: say who deserves the credit and why.

1. Have you ever found something by accident?
2. Do you take medicine only when you really need it?
3. What do you do when a plan goes wrong?
4. Do you notice small details?
5. Would you admit a mistake in public?
6. Do you finish a course of antibiotics?
7. Have you been lucky in your life?
8. Do you think you are a curious person?

1. Who do you know who is very lucky?
2. Who in your family suggests a remedy when you are ill?
3. Who warned you about something that turned out to be true?
4. Who advised you to study or work in your field?
5. Who deserves credit for your success?
6. Who in your life never admits a mistake?

1. Is luck more important than skill?
2. Does the person who finds something deserve all the credit?
3. Should antibiotics be available without a prescription?
4. Are great discoveries usually made by teams?
5. Is science too slow to produce results?