YES
The web gives too many teens too many distractions. If you sit back and try to think about the last day you went without the internet, a cell phone or TV, chances are you would have a hard time coming up with an answer. With all the time wasted on computers and electronics, teens have become increasingly inactive.
However, the internet’s not all bad. It’s usually the N.o 1 thing teens use because of all its possibilities – checking grades, researching, chatting and making plans. I couldn’t imagine not being able to rely on such ways of communicating.
The internet has also made it much easier to stay in touch with friends and make new ones. Teachers have moved away from some of their pen-and-paper assignments to take advantage of all the technology.
In addition, computer companies are providing the Web everywhere. The latest products from iPod and Sony come with Wi-Fi accessibility. This means the internet has become more accessible than ever before – if that’s possible!
Research from the American Heart Association shows that teens spend an average of 20 hours a week in front of a computer or TV. With so many distractions around us, when are teens supposed to make time to hang out with friends or relax with their families? Because they are spending so much time online, many teens miss out on what’s truly important. Downloading music and commenting on pictures is fun, but it’s not necessary to do this on a daily basis.
The internet is great for most things, but nothing will replace a hug from your best friend… not even an application on Facebook.
NO
The Net is just one tool needed for high school. Those who consider “kids these days” to be overly-dependent on the internet like to point out how we’re always using it to keep in touch with friends or do homework or stay up-to-date on current events or find new writers to read and bands to listen to and movies to watch.
But these critics seem to be forgetting something. It’s not like we are the first generation of teens that wants to communicate with those outside our world of home and school. Even before the internet, we could have done all this – with good old books and telephones, or telegraphs, or scrolls and stone tablets.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-02-05/news/0902060228_1_teens-internet-distractions (abridged and adapted, accessed January 2013)
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b. Many teenagers are quite inactive due to the internet. ________________
c. Teachers don’t use technology in school. ________________
d. Communication has always been possible through books, letters, telephones, telegraphs,… _____
e. The internet prevents people from spending time together with friends and family. ___________
f. Many families are totally dysfunctional due to the internet. ________________
g. The internet is an indispensable tool for school work. ________________
h. Access to information should be parentally blocked. ________________
i. Wi-Fi accessibility on gadgets increases the possibility of instant internet connection. _________
j. Teenagers have always wanted to relate to people outside their world of home and school. ______
2. Complete the following sentences using information from the text.
a. In school, technology is ____________________________________________________________________. b. Even before the internet teenagers wanted _________________________________________________.
3. Find words/expressions in the YES part of the text that have the opposite meaning of the words/expressions below. There is only one opposite for each.
a. well used ____________________________ b. busy ______________________________
c. more difficult ________________________
4. Identify what the following refer to.
a. its (l. 6) _____________________________ b. ones (l. 9) V ______________________
c. we (l. 29) ___________________________
5. Briefly explain what the author means in the sentence “The internet is great for most things, but nothing will replace a hug from your best friend... not even an application on Facebook.”
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Global Tests
ACTIVITY C
A teenager magazine is promoting a contest to find a teenage writer. It has invited students to submit a news item reporting the story of a teenager addicted to the internet and the consequences of this addiction on his/her life.
Among other aspects, don’t forget your news article must:
• have a suitable headline;
• provide the reader with the answers to the five Ws questions (who? what? when? where?
why?).
Write between 130 and 180 words.
You may use the input provided by Activities A and B.
Do not sign your text.
COTAÇÕES
Atividade A
1. ... 5 pontos 2. ... 10 pontos 3. ... 10 pontos 4. ... 15 pontos 40 pontos
Atividade B
1. ... 20 pontos 2. ... 15 pontos 3. ... 15 pontos 4. ... 15 pontos 5. ... 15 pontos 80 pontos Atividade C ... 80 pontos TOTAL ………..………... 200 pontos
FIM
-TEST 2
Name _________________________________________ No. ____________ Class ____________
Date ____ /____ /____ Mark _________________________ Teacher ______________________
Your final task is to write an opinion text on the way young people are addicted to shopping and fashion.
Activities A and B will provide you with input for Activity C.
ACTIVITY A
1. Match the definitions with the appropriate words. Not all the definitions are used.
1. a person who loves chocolate and eats a lot of it.
2. a person who is unable to give up the habit of drinking very often and in large amounts.
a. workaholic 3. a person who enjoys buying shoes very much and does it frequently.
b. shopaholic 4. a person who enjoys shopping very much and does it a lot.
c. alcoholic 5. a person who is unable to give up the habit of buying alcohol.
6. a person who works all the time and finds it difficult not to.
7. a person who loves working and drinking at the same time.
2. Choose the five statements that best apply to an opinion text.
a. Decide your opinion on the topic discussed.
b. Don’t state your opinion.
c. Make a list of viewpoints and reasons supporting your point of view.
d. Use informal language and slang.
e. Avoid giving reasons to support your opinion.
f. Write well-developed paragraphs.
g. Use linking words to join the sentences and the paragraphs.
h. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence.
Global Tests
3. Complete the following text about an opinion text with words or expressions from the box.
Use each word or expression only once. Five of them do not apply.
An a.________________ text is a formal piece of text which presents the author’s b. ________________
on a particular subject supported by c. _____________________ and d. ___________________. It should contain an e. ______________________ where the topic and the author’s opinion are stated clearly; a f. ___________________ where viewpoints supported by reasons are presented in several paragraphs (this section has also the opposing viewpoint which is proved to be unconvincing) and a g.
________________ where the main points of the text are summarized and the author’s opinion is restated in other words.
Virginia Evans, Successful Writing Proficiency (adapted and abridged), Express Publishing
4. Connect the items on column A and C, using the appropriate expression/linking word from column B. Use each one only once. Three of them do not apply.
COLUMN A COLUMN B COLUMN C
1. Rebecca is a writer with a closet full of clothes.
2. Rebecca goes to a support group for shopaholics.
3. Shopping addiction can be a disease.
4. Rebecca finally learns her lesson.
a. firstly b. when c. therefore d. because
e. on the other hand f. however
g. besides h. as a result
A. She is a compulsive buyer.
B. She stops buying what she doesn’t really need.
C. She can’t afford the clothes, she buys and has a huge credit card debt.
D. It should be treated properly.
conclusion developing reading introduction main body author opinion point of view speaking examples paragraph reasons