Why US teens are driving less (P3)

I. Pre-reading

Young drivers are common in Western countries such as the US and Canada. There, the driving age is 16. However, in China, the driving age is 18. When you reach 18, will you consider getting a driving license and driving by yourself? Why?

II. Reading

1. Read the article and choose the best answer for each of the following questions:

1) What is the author’s main purpose in writing the article?

A. To introduce American driving culture.

B. To explain how US teenagers socialize with their friends.

C. To explore why driving is now less popular with US teenagers than it used to be. 

D. To discuss the impact of social media on US teenagers.

2) The underlined phrase “holding off” in Paragraph 5 probably means ____.

A. expecting to have something

B. trying to adapt to certain changes

C. making preparations for something

D. waiting to do something at a later time

3) Which is a main reason why US teenagers are driving less according to the article?

A. The widespread use of the Internet.

B. Economic factors, such as the price of fuel.

C. The increasing difficulty of getting a driver’s license.

D. Teenagers’ growing awareness of how to use green means of transport.

4) What can we conclude from the article?

A. In the past two decades, the number of US teen drivers has decreased by 12%.

B. American teenagers are less connected with each other than they used to be.

C. For an increasing number of US teenagers, a smartphone is more appealing than a car.

D. The decrease of the overall population in the US is one of the reasons the number of teenage drivers has dropped.

Key:

1) C。本文主要报道的是美国青少年开车越来越少的原因，故选C。

2) D。本文主旨是美国青少年开车的人数减少，结合“For Hudson, postponing his driving test was worth the wait.” “Paying for their own cars, gas and insurance (保险) is hard if they can’t find a job.”等文字可以推知，等他们成人有足够的支付力后他们仍然可能会开车的，所以holding off在文中指的是“推迟干某事”，故选D。

3) B。由“High gas prices and a slow recovery are likely two key reasons more teens are holding off now.”以及“It looks like teens just can’t afford to drive”可以推知开车的经济负担是导致青少年开车人数减少的主要原因，故选B。

4) C。由倒数第四段的“Young folks would rather spend their money on an iPhone than a car”可以推知C为正确答案。

2. Read the article again and list all the reasons mentioned in the article why US teenagers are driving less.

Key:

1) Because of high gas prices, and a slow recovery, they think that a driver’s license is more of a financial burden than a ticket to freedom;

2) Some teenagers would rather spend their limited funds on an iPhone than a car;

3) Stephenson thinks the push for walkable communities, green transportation and the growing desire for urban living could have teens tapping the brakes on getting a license.

4) Nowadays a car may matter less to young people because teens can communicate easily with peers via social media instead of driving to meet them.

III. After reading

According to the article, US teenagers are driving less partly because of the impact of social media. Does social media have that kind of impact on your life? If so, in what ways?

Measure rumors’ truth (P5)

I. Warming up

Discussion：

A baby mermaid was just born in Finland; Justin Bieber is getting married; iPhone 6 is going to be released this year…

What do you think of these three pieces of information? Are they reliable?

What is a rumor?

Why do rumors spread even faster nowadays than they did in the past?

II. Reading

Read the article and choose the best answer for each of the following questions:

Choose the best answer:

1. What is the article mainly about?

A. Tips on how to deal with rumors online.

B. Factors that make rumors so easy to spread.

C. A new device that can check whether online rumors are true or not.

D. An introduction to some types of lie detectors.

2. What makes Pheme different from a traditional lie detector?

A. It works by attaching a machine to a potential liar.

B. It examines a statement’s truthfulness directly.

C. It can identify a rumor and prevent it from spreading.

D. It is controlled by what is called an “Internet bot”.

3. How does the Pheme system determine the reliability of a piece of information?

A. Based on how the majority of people react to it.

B. Based on the reliability of its sources and the history of its authors.

C. By collecting and examining relevant information to further confirm it.

D. By making use of an "Internet bot" to track and verify the information.

4. Which of the following statements might the author agree with?

A. The Pheme system is not very helpful because all rumors eventually die down.

B. The Pheme system will be ready to help social networks become more accurate by the end of 2014.

C. The Pheme system can identify almost all kinds of rumors on social networking sites.

D. The Pheme system aims to respond to rumors quickly so as to reduce the impact of false ones.

Key:

1. C。本文主要介绍的是一种新型的网络谣言探测器，所以答案选C。

2. B。由第三段的“the system is far from a traditional lie detector, which works by attaching a machine to a potential liar. Instead, Pheme analyzes the rumor directly.”可知Pheme与传统测谎仪的区别在于它直接分析谣言的真实性，所以B项为正确答案。

3. B。由第四段的“Pheme can trace the source of information to see if it was released by reliable sources like experts or news agencies. If it wasn’t, Pheme then examines the history and background of the account to identify whether it was created just to spread rumors”可以推知Pheme主要是通过检测信息来源的可靠性以及核查用户过往的使用记录以及背景资料等来确定一条信息是否可靠，所以答案为B。

4. D。由倒数第三、四段可知Pheme能够对谣言迅速反应，这可以减少一些不可靠谣言对人们的影响，比如使他们惊慌失措等，所以D为正确答案。

III. Language study

Sentences:

1. Named after the Greek goddess Pheme, famed for spreading bad rumors, the system is far from a traditional lie detector, which works by attaching a machine to a potential liar.

句中形容词短语famed…用作后置定语，修饰Pheme；which引导非限制性定语从句，修饰先行词a traditional lie detector，说明传统测谎仪的工作原理。

2. If it wasn’t, it then examines the history and background of the account to identify whether it was created just to spread rumors -- whether it’s what’s called an “Internet bot”.

本句中动词不定式短语用作目的状语，第一个whether引导的从句作identify的宾语；第二个whether引导的从句用作同位语，进一步补充说明其前面whether引导的从句所说的情况。句意为：如果信息的来源不可靠，Pheme则将核查用户过往的使用记录以及背景资料以分辨该账户是否就是为了传播谣言而创建，是否是所谓的“网络机器人”。

Who needs hands? (P6)

I. Pre-reading

What do you think your life would be like if you were born without arms?

This is what happened to Jessica, who was born in 1983 in Arizona, US. Read the article about her and see how she managed to overcome her birth condition and succeed.

II. Reading

Read the article and choose the best answer for each of the following questions:

1. How did Jessica’s father react to his daughter’s birth condition?

A. He was depressed that no doctors could help her.

B. He kept her company as much as possible to make her feel safe.

C. He believed that she would be able to overcome it.

D. He was afraid that she would not be able to live a normal life.

2. What did Jessica learn from her first dancing performance according to the article?

A. It takes great effort for a dancer to succeed. 

B. Dancing made her feel happy and confident.

C. Anything is possible as long as you have passion.

D. Despite her birth condition, she can perform well on stage.

3. Which of the following was the most famous accomplishment for Jessica?

A. Working as a motivational speaker.

B. Learning to pilot a plane with her feet.

C. Earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

D. Earning her first black belt from the International Taekwondo Federation.

4. What is the main message the article intends to convey? 

A. We should devote ourselves to whatever we do.
B. Family support is essential to one’s growth.
C. Disabled people should be treated equally under the law.

D. Those who are motivated can overcome any obstacle.

Key:

1. C。由第二段可知Jessica的父亲对自己的女儿非常有信心，相信她会克服一切困难，过正常的生活，所以C为正确答案。

2. D。由第四段的“When she finished, the applause (掌声) from the audience (观众) gave her encouragement and the confidence to continue dancing for 14 more years.”可知这一次表演之后，观众们的掌声给了Jessica很大的鼓励，使得她从表演开始前的怯场变得自信，所以D为正确答案。

3. B。由倒数第二段的“Jessica’s most famous accomplishment was learning how to fly.”可推知B为正确答案。

4. D。本文主要介绍了Jessica在父亲、观众以及老师等人的鼓励下，克服自己身体的缺陷，取得卓越的成就，所以答案为D。

III. After reading

Writing:

Write a short article to share your thoughts after reading Jessica’s story.