CHANGES IN THE WORLD
Lesson
3
Have you noticed how our world has changed in the past few years? It's not as if it hadn't been changing before, but the changes we see today seem to be more drastic. Many of those changes have had a negative impact on our lives and things appear to be spinning out of control.
The Internet
5 The Internet plays such an important ________ in today’s
culture that many, particularly teenagers, cannot even imagine what the world was like before it existed. The Internet is fun, informative and a great means of communication. Furthermore, it’s an educational 10 tool. Sharing information ____________ the Internet is fast, easy and cheap. Today, people have access to massive amounts of information via texts, pictures and videos that they didn’t have 15 before. The Internet, like other new technologies, has both positive and negative effects on teenagers. They can become totally addicted to the Internet, to the point of having little 20 or no face-to-face contact with others, which can often lead to depression. Further issues involve teenagers hacking into school databases, banks, government websites, or even 25 their _____________ computers.
Cellphones and Texting
Cellphone technology has increased dramatically. We can take pictures, record videos, send emails, use social networking sites, download various apps 30 as well as communicate with our friends by text messaging, regardless of where we are. There are many advantages of having a cellphone, such as being able to call for help in an emergency or being __________ to your friends, family members 35 or co-workers. Most cellphones allow access to the Internet, as well as send and receive text messages. Unfortunately, the rush to send messages leads to the use of bad grammar, poor punctuation, and abbreviations, which affect academic writing. What’s worse, some 40 people text while driving, putting themselves, as well as others, at risk.
Book II - Lesson 3
Side Effects Of Technology
We all benefit from the advancement of technology as it makes our lives easier and provides us with entertainment, yet there’s also a downside. These 45 days, children prefer spending time at home in front of the computer to playing outside with friends. For this reason, the physical condition of youngsters is ___________ deteriorating; exercise and physical activity are becoming 50 nonexistent in their daily lives. And it is not so different with adults. They also spend too much time in front of the TV watching movies or programs 55 they just can’t miss. Their lives have become more static and sedentary than ever. Cars are no longer just a __________ means of transportation 60 but now one of the reasons why severe laziness is so pervasive in society. People have even stopped walking to nearby places such as the bakery; it is too far to walk anywhere. We don’t seem to realize that by bringing 65 more comfort into our lives, we have also unintentionally brought harm.
Consumerism
It seems as though the world has gone mad about shopping. Everyone wants to possess consumer goods, 70 and possess a lot. Looking at the younger generation, we get the impression that without regular trips to the mall, they wouldn’t know what to do with themselves in their free time. Why is it so important to obsessively buy new clothes, ________________, shoes, the latest electronic 75 devices, and even unneeded products? Spending has become one of the main forms of entertainment for people today. Even the day after Christmas is now ultimately consumed by shopping mania. As a matter of fact, for some people, shopping has become an addiction. 80
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