Facebook to let users offer food and shelter to disaster victims

Facebook has launched a new feature to help people find basics such as food, water and shelter when natural disasters strike. The addition, called Community Help, connects people near natural and accidental crises so that they can ask for help or offer support to victims.

            Users that are in an area affected by a disaster will have access to the new section, which lets them connect with people nearby for help including access to transport and supplies. "Hopefully there are far fewer crisis in 2017 than there have been in the past," said Preethi Chethan, product designer at Facebook. "But if something does happen, we hope this product can help make a difference in people’s lives.

            Community Help, only available to people over 18 and in the affected region comes as an update to the Safety Check button, which was added to the social network back in 2014 to let users tell their friends they're safe when disasters occur. When Facebook receives an alert that an incident has happened it checks local users' posts and, if it sees a spike in activity, activates Safety Check.

            Initially only available for natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis and fires, the company first activated it for human disasters during the Paris attacks in 2015. The feature is available in six countries to begin with, including the US, India and Saudi Arabia, with a plan to expand to all countries after a few weeks of testing.

            "After the flooding in Chennai, India, we heard story after story of people opening their homes to their neighbours, cooking and travelling miles, sometimes through chest deep water, to deliver food to badly affected neighbourhoods," said Chethan.

            Facebook designed Community Help in response to try and make it easier for people to assist one another in the event of such disasters. Once turned on in an area, it remains active for 60 days. The feature raises security fears as it connects people that aren't friends on Facebook. But the company said it has added a series of checks users can follow, as well as prominently displaying any mutual friends you have. It will also moderate any posts reported as suspicious. Facebook said. "If an account is extremely new or we think you're a bot then you're not going to have access to this."

Question 1: [2,5 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

      

       a) The new feature is only for victims of natural disasters.

       b) The number of emergencies is expected to decrease this year.

       c) The system was first meant to be used in case of natural disasters

       d) Facebook is now checking that the system works.

       e) Alerts will only be received among Facebook friends.

Question 2: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words     and definitions given.

      

       a) to make available (par.1)

       b) to change (par.2)

       c) increase (par.3)

       d) to help (par.6)

       e) to show (par.6)

Question 3: [2 POINTS] Choose the most suitable answer (a, b or c) according to the text.

1. Community Help...

      a) is the only security feature in Facebook.

      b) replaces old security features.

      c) brings up to date other security features.

2. Safety check is turned on...

      a) as long as a number of alarms is reached.

      b) when any two people get in touch to inform about an emergency.

      c) if an official alarm is reported.

3. The system will go on working...

      a) as long as the emergency is active.

      b) until Facebook switches it off.

      c) for two months.

4. The system might not be available...

      a) if your Facebook friends are not in the affected area.

      b) if an account is considered to have been recently opened.

      c) unless you send repeated alerts.

Question 4: [4 POINTS] Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) on the following topic:

Modern technology and devices have made our lives easier. Do you agree?

KEY

Question 1: [2,5 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

      

       a) FALSE “they can ask for help or offer support to victims“

       b) TRUE "Hopefully there are far fewer crisis in 2017 than there have been in the past"

       c) TRUE “ Initially only available for natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis and fires”

       d) TRUE “with a plan to expand to all countries after a few weeks of testing”

       e) FALSE “ it connects people that aren't friends on Facebook”

      

Question 2: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given.

      

       a) (to) launch / (have) launched

       b) (to) make a difference

       c) spike

       d) (to) assist

       e) (to) display / displaying

Question 3: [2 POINTS] Choose the most suitable answer (a, b or c) according to the text.

1. c) brings up to date other security features.

     

2. a) until a number of alarms is reached.

     

3. c) for two months.

     

4. b) if an account is considered to have been recently opened.