Showing and proving

1. To show that smth is true:

To show – to provide the facts and information which make it clear that smth is true: The engineer wanted to show to students how well the system worked.

To prove – to show that smth is definitely true by providing facts and information, especially when other people have doubted it:. He was able to prove his theory to his fellow scientists.

To demonstrate – to do smth or to provide information that makes it very clear to people that smth is true: The aim of the experiment was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the treatment.

Smth can be seen – used when smth shows that what you are saying is true: This can be seen in the following examples.

To be evidence of – used when information shows that smth is true or smth exists: Some people think that this research is evidence of a much larger problem.

To reveal – to show that smth is true, especially smth surprising that many people didn’t realize: A recent survey revealed that 61% of those interviewed believe that tobacco advertising should be banned.

To confirm – if smth confirms an idea or opinion that peple already have, it shows that it is true: The recent research confirms the view that global warming is happening at an increasing rate.

To support / back up – to show that an idea, opinion or claim is true: Our research supports this view. They produced no evidence to back up their claims.

To corroborate - a formal word to provide additional information that shows that what someone has said is true, is used about findings and results: Further research is needed to corroborate the results of this study before we publish the article.

To validate – a formal word meaning to prove that smth is correct using scientific tests or very careful checking; is used about claims, theories and data: Our data is collected and validated by a team of researchers, using multiple sources to ensure reliability.

1. To show that smth is likely:

To suggest – to show that smth is probably true, even though there is no definite proof: This suggests that humans existed on earth thousands of years earlier than was previously thought.

To indicate – if scientific facts, tests, figures etc indicate smth, they show that smth is probably true: Research indicates that over 81% of teachers are not satisfied with their salary.

To give the impression – to make you think that a situation exists, even though this may not actually be true: The report gives the impression of having been rather hastily put together.

To lead to the conclusion that – to make you decide that smth is likely to be true after examining all the facts, arguments etc: All these arguments lead to the conclusion that there should be greater control over the quality of our products.

1. To show that smth is untrue:

To disprove – to show that smth is untrue: The results of the experiment disproved our theory.

To contradict – if one statement, study, piece of evidence etc contradicts another, it make the other one seem completely untrue or impossible: Recent evidence appears to contradict his hypothesis.

To invalidate – a formal word meaning to prove that someone’s ideas or arguments contain mistakes, with the result that it is unlikely that they are true: Problems with the way the original data was collected invalidated their findings.

V1. Translate into Russian:

1. There is some evidence that food rich in vitamin A and vitamin C may give protection against cancer. 2. A study conducted at PetrSU contradicts the results of the Canadian study. 3. These laboratory tests provethat the scientists were right. 4. A recent survey by Sheffield University showed that 95% of patients were satisfied with the service they received. 5. It has been demonstrated that even low levels of lead can damage the central nervous system. 6. Ascan be seenin Table I, wages have risen at a lower rate than the rate of the inflation. 7. Recent archeological discoveries seem to support the idea that there was a settlement here in Roman times. 8. Her results were corroborated by two other experiments. 9. We know that some scientists have altered the findings of their research in order to validate their claims. 10. Recent research strongly suggests that high protein diets are actually bad for you. 11. These figures disproved Smith’s argument. 12. An international inspection will easily confirm or invalidate such reports. 13. Test results will indicate whether the device works efficiently. 14. The headline gave a false impression of what the article was about. 15. There is little evidence to support this explanation.

V2. Translate the words in brackets. Then translate the sentences into Russian:

1. Our investigation (предполагаeт) that two sets of the results seem to correlate. 2. The results of two experiments (противоречили) each other and the group couldn’t obtain (доказательство) of the hypothesis they had put forward. 3. The survey results seem (указывать) a connection between poor water quality and people’s health. 4. We cannot come to any conclusion until we (подтвердим) all the data obtained. 5. At the presentation the scientist tried (продемонстрировать) the effectiveness of the proposed technique. 6. Our suggestion can be (доказано) by the following examples. 7. These results (приводят к выводу о том, что) there should be greater carefulness in conducting the experiments. 8. The latest survey of higher education reform in Russia (обнаружило) that about 35% of universities are not ready to reform their curricula. 9. Recent data obtained by our team (делают недействительными, опровергают) the results of the previous experiments. 10. We need two or more sets of experiments (подтвердить, обосновать) our hypothesis before we present our results at the conference.

V3. Translate into English:

1. Результаты эксперимента подтверждают нашу первоначальную теорию. 2. Данное исследование делает недействительными результаты, опубликованные в последнем номере журнала. 3.Наши выводы были подтверждены обстоятельными исследованиями. 4. Мы можем доказать, что Вы не правы. 5. Новые результаты подтвердили то, что мы предполагали ранее. 6. По-видимому, последние результаты противоречат более ранним исследованиям. 7. Статья создает впечатление, что ее написали довольно поспешно, не собрав достаточного количества данные в поддержку предложенной гипотезы. 8. Новые данные, опубликованные в последних статьях этого автора, подкрепляют выдвинутую ранее теорию. 9. Недостаточное количество данных может привести к неправильным выводам 10. Некоторые ученые, как было показано в статье, просто придумывают (make up) результаты своих экспериментов.