Internet chatrooms can help those in distress, says study

Internet forums and chatrooms can have positive effects that should be more widely acknowledged, experts say.

The call comes after Oxford University researchers carried out an analysis of 14 different studies looking at how young people use the internet. The review said a number of studies had found a link between internet use and self-harm and suicide. But it said others had found the internet could be a positive influence.

The dangers of internet use have received widespread coverage this year. In one case, in August, 14-year-old Hannah Smith from Leicestershire was found hanged after she had been sent abusive messages on a social networking site.

Since then research by the NSPCC has suggested a fifth of 11 to 16-year-olds have had negative experiences using the internet.

'Socially isolated'

The Oxford University research highlighted a number of dangers from internet use, including the normalising of self-harm and the risk of bullying. It also said there was a "strong link" between internet forums and an increased risk of suicide in particular. But the researchers said some studies had shown that internet forums could support and connect socially isolated people.

There were also examples where forum users encouraged positive behaviour, advised others to seek help and congratulated each other for not harming themselves.

Report author Prof Keith Hawton said: "Communication via the internet and other electronic means has potential roles in both contributing to and preventing suicidal behaviour in young people. The next step is going to be development of therapeutic interventions using these channels of communication, especially to access those who do not seek help from clinical services."

Joe Ferns of the Samaritans added: "We should acknowledge that many people are using suicide forums and chatrooms to anonymously discuss their feelings of distress and despair, including suicidal thoughts, which may have a positive impact on the individual. They may be expressing feelings that they have never disclosed to anyone in their offline lives.Rather than concentrating primarily on ways of blocking and censoring such sites, we should think about online opportunities to reach out to people in emotional distress."

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. It is believed that Hannah Smith committed suicide.

b. Most teenagers suffer because of the inadequate use of the internet.

c. Studies usually emphasize the problems that using the internet can carry out.

d. People chatting in the forums are used to talking about their problems and emotions in their ordinary life.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. What negative effects can the use of the internet have?

b. What positive effects can the use of the internet have?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. to perform (par. 2)                                         b. extensive (par. 3)                               c. risk (par. 4)

d. to reveal (par. 8)                                            e. grief (par. 8)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. Hannah Smith had been sent abusive messages on a social networking site.

    Somebody...

b. The review said a number of studies had found a link between internet use and self-harm and suicide.

     A number of studies...

c. The researchers said some studies had shown that internet forums could support and connect socially isolated people.

    The researchers said: “...

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

“Nowadays people could not live without internet”. Do you agree with this statement? 

Police to send warning letters to parents of Facebook bullies

The parents of Facebook bullies will receive letters from police in the first crackdown on social networking taunting which has led youngsters to commit suicide.Detectives will start sending messages to cyber bullies using the social networking site, warning them they are breaking the law and could face prosecution.Their parents will also be sent a letter alerting them to the fact that their child is an online bully and what the consequences of their actions could be.

It is hoped that informing the internet tormentors of the seriousness of their actions at an early stage will stop them from using the web to harass others and keep them from entering the criminal justice system.

"By sending a police warning notice on Facebook, students will be made aware they could be prosecuted," he said."By alerting their parents to the problem, we are aiming to nip the problem in the bud and prevent it becoming something more serious."Social networkers, whatever their age, often don't think about what they are writing in the same way they would think about what they write in a letter or an email.

"If we have to investigate Facebook messages as harassment or public order offences and the young person gets charged, it could seriously affect their future."While we want them to realise how serious the matter is, we also want to avoid that and keep young people out of the criminal justice system if possible."

Under the scheme, Pc Thomas will work with young volunteers to investigate and deal with reports of bullying or harassment on Facebook.

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether these sentences are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. Cyber bullies will receive letters from the police.
b. Some of the victims of Facebook bullying have killed themselves.
c. Only teen social networkers don´t realise how offensive their messages on social networks are.
d. Only professional policemen will investigate online bullying.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. How are the police going to try to stop online bullying?
b. What could happen to these bullies if they don´t stop their actions?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given.

a. campaign against (par.1) b. continually annoy (par.2) c. accused (par.4)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. The parents of Facebook bullies will receive letters from the police.
Letters .........................................
b. "We want them to realise how serious the matter is.“ he said.
He said that ..................................................
c. The police will investigate social networkers who send disturbing messages.
If social networkers didn´t .............................................

Question 5 (3 points)
Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) on the following topic:

What do you think about social networks like Facebook, Twitter?

Police to send warning letters to parents of Facebook bullies

KEY

Question 1.

a. False. “ Detectives will start sending messages to cyber bullies.“
b. True. “ the first crackdown on social networking taunting which has led youngsters to commit suicide.“
c. False. “Social networkers, whatever their age, often don't think about what they are writing in the same way they would think about what they write in a letter or an email.“
d. False. “ Pc Thomas will work with young volunteers to investigate and deal with reports of bullying or harassment on Facebook.“

Question 2.

a. The police are going to inform facebook parents’ bullies by mail and they are also going to inform the bullies themeselves by sending them messages through the social network site. They want to make them aware of the seriousness of their online actions and the possible consequences these actions may have.

b. Cyber bullies might be considered criminals, get charged and taken to court, which would have bad effects on their life in the future.

Question 3

a. crackdown on b. to harass c. charged

Question 4.

a. Letters from the police will be received by the parents of Facebook bullies.
b. He said that they wanted them to realise how serious the matter was.
c. If social networkers didn´t send disturbing messages, the police wouldn´t investigate them.

Every citizen to have personal webpage

Everyone in the country is to be given a personalised webpage for accessing Government services within a year as part of a plan to save billions of pounds, Gordon Brown is to announce.

The Prime Minister has previously hailed the potential for the internet to slash costs by reducing paper forms, face-to-face contact with officials, postage, phone calls and building costs. He is now set to use a speech on Monday to unveil plans to give every voter a unique identifier allowing them to apply for school places, book GP appointments, claim benefits, get a new passport, pay council tax or register a car.

Within another three years, the secure site would include an interactive service allowing people to ask medical advice of their doctor or consult their children's teachers.

The move could see the closure of job centres and offices dealing with tax, vehicle licensing, passports and housing benefit within 10 years as services are offered through a single digital ''gateway''.

But the proposals came under fire from union leaders who complained that thousands of public sector workers would be made jobless and pointed to the Government's poor record of handling personal data. Questions have also been raised about the impact on some older people unable to use the internet.

Among the Prime Minister's advisers on the drive to put services online is World Wide Web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee. ''I don't want to go to a government office. It should all be online. That saves time for people and it saves money for the Government - the processing of a piece of paper and mailing it back costs many times more than it costs to process something electronically,'' he told the newspaper.

Question 1 (2 points)

Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a) People will need a different username and password for each online service.
b) This is the first time that the Prime Minister has talked about the benefits of
online bureaucracy.
c) With the new service, it will be possible to arrange to see a doctor.
d) Some senior citizens might have problems using this service.

Question 2 (2 points)

Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) What will users of the online government service be able to do in 3 years’
time?
b) What complaints have trade union leaders made?

Question 3 (1.5 points)

Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.
a) to announce, reveal (Paragraph 2)
b unemployed (Paragraph 5)
c) history (Paragraph 5)

Question 4 (1.5 points)

Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) Processing paper documents is much more expensive than processing documents electronically.
Processing documents electronically is far …………
b) The changes in the way official documents are handled could see the closure of job centres and offices.
Job centres and offices may close ….
c) The plan could save the government billions of pounds.
If the plan goes ahead, billions ………..

Question 5(3 points)
Write a short essay (120 to 150 words) on the following topic:
• Does the Internet make everybody’s life easier?

Lady Gaga most ‘liked’ on Facebook

Social network Facebook has revealed who its most popular people were in 2010, and said that over the past year the 500 million people who use it uploaded more than 2.7 million photographs, shared 1 million links and 'Liked' 7.6 million pages in one ramdomly chosen 20 minute period.

More than 61 million people also indicated in 2010 that they were in new relationships, married or engaged: 28.4 million people changed their statuses to 'in a relationship', 36.7 million people changed their status to 'married' and 6 million people declared themselves to be 'engaged'.

Lady Gaga was the most ‘liked’, closing 2010 with 24.7 million indications of approval from her Facebook fans. She also has more than 7 million followers on Twitter. Over the summer, Lady Gaga became the first living person to reach 10 million. US rapper Eminem’s 23.7 million ‘Likes' beat Barack Obama’s 17.2 million.

The identity of the most liked celebrity on Facebook will have come as little surprise to people who have followed Lady Gaga's meteoric rise to superstardom, as she has arguably harnessed the power of social networking sites as a promotional tool more effectively than any other star.

At the beginning of December, several stars including Lady Gaga stopped updating their Facebook page or using Twitter until $1m had been raised for US charity Keep a Child Alive. The charity works in Africa and India to provide treatment and support to families of people with HIV and Aids. The campaign, called Digital Life Sacrifice, was launched on 1st December to mark World Aids Day. Lady Gaga added a photo of herself in a coffin to her Facebook page, writing: 'No more updates little monsters until we buy life.'

Question 1 (2 points)

Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a) Over 2.7 million photos were posted on Facebook during the course of last year.
b) More people follow Lady Gaga on Twitter than on Facebook.
c) Lady Gaga’s Facebook popularity is unexpected.
d) Keep a Child Alive is an American organisation.

Question 2 (2 points)Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) How did 61 milllion people’s relationships change in 2010?
b) What happened in ‘Digital Life Sacrifice’?

Question 3 (1.5 points)Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.
a) make public (Paragraph 1)
b) take control of (Paragraph 4)
c) commemorate (Paragraph 5)

Question 4 (1.5 points)
Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) 500 million people who use Facebook uploaded more than 2.7 million photographs. More than 2.7 million photographs .………………….………………………….
b) Lady Gaga said “I will not update my Facebook page until $1m has been raised.
Lady Gaga said that …...…………………………………………………...………………
c) Everyone thought that the campaign would raise $1m immediately but in fact it took nearly a week.
Although .......................................................................................................

Question 5 (3 points)Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) on the following topic:
‘Nowadays people are in danger of becoming isolated individuals’. Do you agree?

Online shoppers splash out

Online shoppers are set to spend a total of £537m today in what is predicted to be the busiest internet shopping day of the year. Total spending on the day called Manic Monday is forecast to hit £22.4m an hour, according to shopping comparison website Kelkoo. The cold weather and a strike by London Underground workers are also expected to boost the number of shoppers choosing to buy online.
Visa Europe said the busiest online shopping day in the previous two years had been on the last Monday in November. It predicted transactions would peak in the lunch hour between 1pm and 2pm and again at around 7pm as shoppers go online after returning home from work.
A study found 74% of consumers planned to buy presents online this Christmas, with 30% looking to do more shopping on the internet than last year. Visa Europe commercial director Steve Perry said: "Shopping online is now a natural part of the gift-buying process for consumers and a key part of Christmas sales strategy for retailers.
The combination of monthly salaries being paid and people taking delivery times into consideration should combine to deliver a record day for internet shopping."
Retailer Argos also said it was predicting today to be the busiest for online delivery orders, falling after the last pay day before Christmas but still allowing time for delivery and wrapping before December 25. The busiest day on the high street is expected to be December 18.

Vocabulary exerciseAll the words below are in the text. Match the words and expressions on the left to the words with the same meaning on the right.
1 splash out a shoppers choosing to buy online
2 buy online b forecast
3 predict c an order
4 a transaction d spend money
5 online shoppers e a gift
6 a present f shop on the internet

Question 1 (2 points)

Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a) More money is usually spent on buying items online on the last Monday in November.
b) The number of people shopping for Christmas presents online will grow by 30% this year..
c) If you buy something online today, it will arrive before Christmas.
d) The day when city shops will be busiest will probably be December 18th.

Question 2 (2 points)

Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) Why will there be even more people shopping online this year?
b) What times of the day will most people buy things online today?

Question 3 (1.5 points)

Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.
a) to increase (Paragraph 1)
b) reach the highest point (Paragraph 2)
c) important, crucial (Paragraph 3)

Question 4 (1.5 points)

Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) Shopping comparison website Kelkoo predicts that the cold weather and the London Underground strike will boost total spending.
Shopping comparison website Kelkoo predicts that total spending …………………. ……….............

b) ‘People have just been paid and they will want their gifts to be delivered in time for Christmas.’, said Steve Perry.
Steve Perry said that people …………...…………………………………………………....................
c) Shopping on the internet is convenient, but there are many risks involved and you should be very careful.
Although ....................................................., you should .................................................. because ............................................................................................................................

Question 5 (3 points)Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
‘Nowadays, it is possible to buy absolutely anything’. Do you agree?

Internet Access is a Human Right

Most of the world’s Internet users believe Internet access is a basic human right. This is according to a new poll conducted for the BBC. A survey of more than 27,000 adults in 26 different countries found four out of five people believed access to the World Wide Web was a right everyone in the world needs and should have. The chief of the International Telecommunication Union, Dr. Hamadoun Toure, told the BBC World Service: "The right to communicate cannot be ignored. The Internet is the most powerful potential source of enlightenment ever created." Dr. Toure believes online access should be available everywhere, just like roads and water. In some countries, this has already happened. Finland and Estonia have laws saying access is a human right.

The survey also showed how the Internet is quickly becoming a vital part of our life, all across the world. Over 75 per cent of Japanese, Mexican and Russian people said they could not live without it. It is easy to see why. Almost everything we do in our life today, from communication, study, work and leisure needs the Internet. Without access to the Web, many people would feel helpless and powerless. Almost 80 per cent of those who took the survey believe the Web had a positive impact, with nearly four fifths saying they have greater freedom. Other people were worried about the dangers of using the Internet. One big surprise was that the majority of Germans felt it was not safe for them to express their opinions online.

Enlightenment: learning

Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.
a) There are at least 2 countries with laws saying the Internet is a right.
b) Three-quarters of Mexicans cannot live without the Internet.
c) Nobody is concerned about the possible risks of the Internet
d) Most Germans surveyed were worried about freedom of expression..

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) Why is the Internet so necessary according to the text?
b) How would many people feel if they didn’t have access to the Internet?

Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as
a) head (par.1) b) weak (par.2) c) to talk about (par.2)

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning
a) "The right to communicate cannot be ignored. The Internet is the most powerful potential source of enlightenment ever created." Dr. Toure said
Dr. Toure said that ________________________________
b) People who have Internet access can do a lot of things.
If they ___________________________________________
c) Most people believe Internet access is a basic human right.
Internet access is _________________________________

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
Advantages and disadvantages of the Internet

Self-Access Group CEP Santander

Now for a bit of light entertainment


Do you have a Facebook page?

Be careful about what you put on it!!!!!!!

Facebook profile 'could damage job prospects'

Jobseekers have been warned that their Facebook profile could damage their employment prospects, after a study found that seven in 10 employers now research candidates online.
According to new figures released by Microsoft, the computer firm, Facebook and Twitter checks are now as important in the job selection process as a CV or interview. The survey, which questioned human resource managers at the top 100 companies in the UK, US, Germany and France, found that 70 per cent admitted to rejecting a candidate because of their online behaviour.
But HR bosses also said that a strong image online could actually help job hunters to land their dream job. Peter Cullen, of Microsoft, said: "Your online reputation is not something to be scared of, it's something to be proactively managed.” "These days, it's essential that web-users cultivate the kind of online reputation that they would want an employer to see." Facebook faux pas include drunken photographs, bad language, and messages complaining about worklife.
Farhan Yasin, of online recruitment network Careerbuilder.co.uk, said: "Social networking is a great way to make connections with job opportunities in 2010 and promote your personal brand across the internet. "People really need to make sure they are using this resource to their advantage, by conveying a professional image."
But Mr Yasin cautioned job seekers to be aware of their online image even after landing the perfect job, after their own research found that 28 per cent of employers had fired staff for content found on their social networking profile. He added: "A huge number of employers have taken action against staff for writing negative comments about the company or another employee on their social networking page."

Question 1 Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text:
a) In the study, people who were looking for jobs at 100 important American and European companies were asked questions.
b) People are always careful when they add photos or texts to their personal pages.
c) If you manage the content of your Facebook page, it can help you get a job.
d) Some people have lost their job because of things that they wrote on their personal pages.

Question 2 Find and underline all the words in the text starting with the letter ‘r’.

Question 3 Now, match each of the words staring with ‘r’ to the correct definition.
a) to make public
b) not to choose or select
c) a thing which is available
d) definitely
e) to investigate
f) the opinion that others have of you

Question 4 Use each of the words beginning with ‘r’ to complete these sentences:
a) No details of the President’s visit have been ...................... yet. It is still a secret.
b) Doctors are still ................................ the symptoms of the illness.
c) The situation is ........................ serious. We must take action.
d) For your homework, you can use any ........................... you have available: the internet, encyclopedias, textbooks. Just make sure that you include references.
e) His .......................................... as a specialist in this subject is widely accepted. He has written numerous articles and spoken at international conferences.
f) I’m not going to make any more suggestions. They have ........................ all my previous proposals.

Question 5 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning
a) 70% of human resource managers at the top 100 companies in the UK, US, Germany and France, admitted to rejecting candidates because of their online behaviour.
Candidates ………………………………………………………………… in the UK, US, Germany and France because of their online behaviour.
b) Cullen, of Microsoft, said: "Your online reputation is not something to be scared of, it's something that you can manage proactively.”
Cullen of Microsoft claimed that …………………………………………………………
c) But Mr Yasin cautioned job seekers to be aware of their online image even after landing the perfect job.
Although job seekers …………………………………………, they still need to be aware of their online image.


Key
1
a) False The survey, which questioned human resource managers at the top 100 companies in the UK, US, Germany and France, ...
b) False ." Facebook faux pas include drunken photographs, bad language, and messages complaining about worklife.
c) True ... a strong image online could actually help job hunters to land their dream job. "Social networking is a great way to make connections with job opportunities in 2010 and promote your personal brand across the internet.”
d) True 28 per cent of employers had fired staff for content found on their social networking profile.

2
research, release, resource, reject, reputation, really

3
a) release b) reject c) resource d) really e) research f) reputation

4
a) released b) researching c) really d) resource(s) e) reputation f) rejected

5
a) Candidates h ave been rejected by 70% of the top companies in the UK, US, Germany and France because of their online behaviour.
b) Cullen, of Microsoft, said: "Your online reputation is not something to be scared of, it's something that you can manage proactively.”
Cullen of Microsoft claimed that our online reputation was not something to be scared of and that it was something that we could manage proactively.
c) Although job seekers have landed the perfect job, they still need to be aware of their online image.

Google Streetview to cover every UK road

Google Streetview to cover every UK road

Pictures of nearly every street in the country are to be made available via Google. From Thursday, Streetview will feature 360-degree images of more than 99 per cent of the United Kingdom’s roads, both rural and urban, covering a total of approximately 238,000 miles.
The company launched Streetview in 25 UK cities in March last year and since then has been working on surveying the rest of the country using specially designed cars fitted with cameras. Hard to access areas have been captured using tricycles. Spain, France, Italy and the USA are already covered.
Google uses automatic technology to blur faces and car number plates, and allows users to request that their property be removed from the service. Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has asked for his house to be taken off the site, for instance.
A survey commissioned by Google indicated that Streetview’s launch has coincided with a 30 per cent increase in people using the website’s mapping technology, available at maps.google.co.uk. Six out of ten of those users had consulted Streetview to find out what a place they were going looked like, while one-third had used it to look at locations abroad and 21 per cent had used it to help while house hunting.
Sandie Dawe, the chief executive of the official website to promote UK tourism, VisitBritain.com, welcomed the launch of the nationwide service. She said that Streetview was one of the “first places people turn to when planning a visit to one of Britain's many world-class attractions.”
Future applications for Streetview technology could include shopping; cameras have already been spotted photographing American supermarkets.

Question 1 Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text:
a) Different forms of transport were used to photograph Britain for Streetview.
b) Britain is the first country that Streetview has included on its website.
c) Paul McCartney does not want people to be able to see where he lives on Streetview.
d) Streetview is bad for tourism.

Question 2 Answer these questions in your own words:
a) How does google streetview protect individual privacy?
b) What do people use streetview for?

Question 3 Find a word or phrase in the text that means the same as:
a) include par.1
b) equipped par.2
c) discover/learn par. 4

Question 4 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning
a) Streetview allows users to request that their property be removed from the service.
If you do not want your house to be on Streetview, .......
b) There has been a 30 per cent increase in people using the website’s mapping technology
The number of people using the website’s technology………………………………….
c) Six out of ten users had consulted Streetview to find out what a place they were going looked like.
Streetview ......................................

Question 5 Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
Nowadays, there are so many ways of finding out about places we would like to travel to. Which do you use?

Self-Access Group CEP Santander

R U online?

In the past month, which of the following have you done online?

1 Used a search engine to find information.
2 Used online banking.
3 Looked up the news.
4 Paid bills.
5 Looked up the weather.
6 Researched a product before buying it.
7 Watched a video clip.
8 Listened to an audio clip.
9 Visited a social networking site.
10 Downloaded music.
11 Looked up sports scores.
12 Shared photos.
13 Viewed or contributed to a blog.
14 Sold something online.

These questions were used in a recent international survey.
Now read the results of the survey in a PAU test.

Time spent online
A recent survey has highlighted the amount of time people spend on line throughout the world. More than 27,000 internet users, aged between 18 and 55, in 16 countries were surveyed by global market information group TNS. The information was also broken down into different sections of society to gain an accurate view of worldwide internet usage.

The findings show that the Chinese spend the largest amount of their leisure time online but also threw up an interesting statistic: While one might expect students (39%) or the unemployed (32%) to spend above average time on the web, the group that spends the highest proportion of their leisure time on the internet is housewives. In this, Britain beats every other country surveyed, with housewives recording almost half (47%) of their free time on the net. The younger the user it seems the more time was spent online. On average under 25s spend 36% of their leisure time online, this rises to an incredible 50% amongst the Chinese.

Another interesting finding was that, on average, internet users had 17 online friends although the Chinese, the biggest web users, were less likely to actually meet any of these friends in person while 76% of Germans topped that poll saying they had arranged to meet people they had first encountered on the net.

What the study also reveals is that a lot of activities which we traditionally did in our spare time are now being done online. Over three quarters of us (76%) have used the internet for banking in the past month and two thirds of us (66%) of us have also paid bills online. General search engine browsing (80%) is the most popular activity. Three quarters of us have used one of the many news sites (75%) in the last month whilst 62% of us have now checked the weather online, all suggesting that the internet has become our ‘one stop shop’ for multi-tasking in minimum time. Interestingly, arguably more pleasurable activities such as using a chatroom (13%) or downloading a film (12%) are far less popular.

Question 1 Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text:
a) The results of the survey confirmed our suspicions that people who are at school or university use the internet the most.
b) People in China are in contact with people via the internet that they will probably never meet.
c) People are changing their way of banking.
d) There are fewer people who chat on the web than people who access the news on the internet.

Question 2 Answer these questions in your own words:
a) How did TNS analyse its research?
b) How does the text say we can save time by using the internet?

Question 3 Find a word or phrase in the text that means the same as:

a) Result par.2
b) Reveal par. 2
c) Change in opinion par. 5

Question 4 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning
a) More than 27,000 internet users, aged between 18 and 55, in 16 countries were surveyed by global market information group TNS.
TNS, which ………………………………………………………………, surveyed more than 27,000 internet users from 16 countries who ……………………………………
b) The younger the user the more time was spent online.
Older people ………………………………………………………………………………. .
c) “A lot of activities which we traditionally did in our spare time are now being done online”, said TNS.
The survey showed that a lot of ……….

Question 5 Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
“The internet is not always a good thing. It is also dangerous.” Do you agree?

Is Wi-Fi bad for you?

No one knows. And that, say some groups, is the problem. The near-ubiquity of wireless networks has led to concerns over an "electronic smog" of radio waves that stretches from the home to Starbucks and the classroom; anywhere, in fact, that a computer can connect to the internet without wires. The rapid spread of the networks has been accompanied by negligible research into the potential risks.
Last night, the Professional Association of Teachers wrote to Alan Johnson, the education secretary, requesting a scientific inquiry into the potential health risks of Wi-Fi networks, and recommended that schools stop installing them until research declares them safe. Eight out of 10 secondary schools and half of primary schools have the equipment.
Fears over Wi-Fi networks run parallel to those over mobile phones and the masts they speak to. Sir William Stewart's report in 2000 concluded there was no firm evidence to show mobile phone radiation was a health risk, but as a precaution recommended children use them sparingly, because their brains are still developing.
There are reasons to believe Wi-Fi networks are safer than mobile phones. Because they only have to transmit a few tens of metres, Wi-Fi networks run at much lower power. The Health Protection Agency says a person sitting within a Wi-Fi hot spot for a whole year receives the same dose of radiowaves as a person using a mobile phone for 20 minutes.
Graham Philips of the pressure group Powerwatch remains concerned "We're seeing levels of behavioural problems increase in the classroom. We need research into whether these networks are causing these or other problems."
Philip Parkin at the Professional Association of Teachers said other countries are acting to reduce Wi-Fi exposure to children. "Here, these networks are being installed unchecked and unassessed."
Adapted from The Guardian.
Question 1 Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text:
a) There has been a thorough study into the dangers of Wi-fi connections.
b) Schools shouldn’t set up Wi-fi networks.
c) There is a study proving that mobile waves are a real danger.
d) The shorter the devices transmit the safer they are.
Question 2 Answer these questions in your own words:
a) a) Why shouldn’t children be exposed to radio waves? How does it affect them at school?
b) What has the Professional Association of Teachers asked for?
Question 3 Find a word or phrase in the text that means the same as:
a) Worry par.1
b) Definite par. 3
c) Contact par. 6
Question 4 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning
a) The rapid spread of the networks has been accompanied by negligible research into the potential risks.
Negligible ………………………………………………………….
b) There was no firm evidence to show mobile phone radiation was a health risk, but the report recommended children use them sparingly as a precaution.
Although ……………………………………………………..
c) Graham Philips said “We're seeing levels of behavioural problems increase in the classroom”
Graham Philips stated that …………………………………………………………………
Question 5 Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
 Governments put warnings on products like tobacco and alcohol. Do these warnings work? Should there be warnings on other things too?



Self-Access Group. CEP Santander

Google Street View

Google's Street View service taken to court

Google’s quest to map and photograph the entire world has been stopped in its tracks by a country not usually associated with confrontation. Google Street View Car, the search engine's Big Brother days are over in Switzerland. Switzerland's federal data protection and information commission is taking Google to court over its Street View mapping service.
Switzerland’s privacy watchdog is preparing to battle the internet giant over its Street View service, which shows panoramic street-level pictures of 100 cities globally, with people, cars and businesses clearly visible in many shots.
According to The Daily Mail the Swiss data protection commissioner, Hanspeter Thuer, has demanded that Google ensures all faces and car plates are blurred to protect people’s privacy, and that enclosed areas such as walled gardens and private roads are removed from the images. He also wants the California firm to declare at least one week in advance which Swiss towns and cities it plans to send its teams to, so residents are informed before they are unwittingly photographed and their pictures posted online.
Mr Thuer said he decided to take the case to Switzerland's federal administrative tribunal because Google had failed to comply with his request that it take “various measures to protect personal privacy in its Street View online service”.
The service has also proved controversial in Britain, Germany, Japan and elsewhere for allowing individuals to be identified without their knowledge or consent.
A spokesman for Google said: “We believe that Google Street View is absolutely legal, also in Switzerland.” He said the service was extremely popular in the country and that new software which can obscure details such as car plates would deal with Mr Thuer's concerns.

Question 1 (2 Points)
Indicate whether the following questions are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a) Google’s goal is to have pictures of 100 cities.
b) Switzerland has already taken Google to court.
c) Mr Thuer had been in touch with Google before taken them to court.
d) Google thinks that the situation is easy to manage.

Question 2 (2 Points)
Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) What are the commissioner biggest demands?
b) How has Google reacted to this situation?

Question 3 (1.5 points)
Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions below.
a) Guarantee: paragraph 3
b) Without knowing: paragraph 3
c) fulfil, obey: paragraph 4

Question 4 (1.5 points)
Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) A spokesman for Google said: “We believe that Google Street View is absolutely legal, also in Switzerland.”
A spokesman for Google said that……………………………………………….
b) The service has proved controversial for allowing individuals to be identified.
If the service hadn’t...…………………………………………………
c) Switzerland's federal data protection and information commission is taking Google to court.
Google………………………………………

Question 5 (3 points)
Write a short essay (120-150 words) about the following topic.
People’s privacy is unprotected nowadays.

Self-Access Group. CEP Santander

Google tracks flu

The internet search engine company Google has launched a new online tool to help track the spread of influenza in the United States. The company found that Americans falling ill searched for advice about flu online using its web facilities before they sought help from a doctor. Now the internet search engine Google has come up with a tool designed to register search requests for common phrases such as "flu symptoms" or "muscles aches".
"Our team found that certain search queries tend to be very common during the flu season each year," Google said in their official blog on the topic. "We compared these queries to data provided by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and we found that there's a very close relationship between the frequency of these search queries and the number of people who are experiencing flu-like symptoms each week."
Traditional survey techniques employed by the CDC take about two weeks to precisely identify outbreaks, and Google hopes that its data will serve as an early warning system that the CDC can then act upon.
There are also plans to roll out the system in other countries around the world. The new web tracker known as "Google Flu Trends" could act as an early warning system for internet users: if there are a lot of flu cases in your area, then you could take preventative measures such as have a flu jab. Early tests of the new web tool show it can detect regional outbreaks up to ten days earlier than the US health authorities.
A senior health expert from the United Nations told the BBC, Google Flu Trends would have to prove its reliability over time. But he added it could be very useful in nations where health authorities don't have a reliable database of infectious diseases.

Question 1 (2 Points)
Indicate whether the following questions are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a) Some people look on the internet before they make an appointment to see a doctor.
b) The methods used until now mean that the authorities know about increases in the number of diseases in a week.
c) The Google system has not yet demonstrated that it can be trusted.
d) Every country in the world has precise information on illnesses.

Question 2 (2 Points)
Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) How does Google Flu Trends identify areas where there are a lot of cases of flu?
b) How does the text suggest you can avoid catching flu?

Question 3 (1.5 points)
Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions below.
a) to create: paragraph 1
b) make available: paragraph 4
c) steps: paragraph 4

Question 4 (1.5 points)
Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) Google has launched a new online tool to help track the spread of influenza.
A new online tool ……………………………………………….
b) Google said: "We found that there's a very close relationship between the frequency of search queries and the number of people who are experiencing flu symptoms each week."
Google said that …………………………………………………
c) Early tests of the new web tool show it can detect regional outbreaks up to ten days earlier.
When the web tool was tested, it………………………………………

Question 5 (3 points)
Write a short essay (120-150 words) about the following topic.
Many people say that the internet is the most important invention ever. Do you agree?

Self-Access Group. CEP Santander

E-mail and texts 'boost office romances'

Electronic mail, voicemail and text messages have broken boundaries in the office and made it easier for people to flirt, a survey has found.
Researchers questioned 221 workers and found that 31 per cent had experienced "physical and emotional" intimacy with someone in the office. A further eight per cent said they had conducted a purely physical relationship with a colleague, while 21 per cent said they had enjoyed only an emotional one. Many said their relationship started via e-mail, a device that enabled them to conduct their affair in private.
The findings, based on interviews with workers aged between 21 and 40, are in “Intimacy”, a book by Andrew and Nada Kakabadse. "Typing messages which appear on screen is easier than making a direct comment face to face," they say. "A number of respondents view e-mail as a seductive tool, as messages can be more easily sent while ensuring for perceived higher levels of confidentiality. "But others in the study consider IT as a negative mode of communication and highlight the increased possibility of sexual harassment. "Being 'bombarded' with e-mails and voicemails, no face to face interaction, is reported as an equally harassing experience as personal confrontation."
Judi James, a workplace psychologist and author of the book Sex at Work, said she was not surprised by the findings. "We work very long hours which means that many of us are tied to the office," she said.
"This means that many of us end up finding our partners at work. This can be a good thing. It definitely makes work more fun." But she warned people to think long and hard before committing themselves to a colleague. "You have to think about what would happen if you broke up," she said.

Question 1 Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text
a. Some workers hadn’t managed a physical relationship.
b. People find it difficult to communicate personally.
c. There are no risks in e-relating.
d. The psychologist suggests that splitting up with a workmate could be hard to cope with.

Question 2 Answer these questions in your own words:
a. What advantages do workers see in e-relating?
b. Why wasn’t Judi James surprised about the results of the research?

Question 3 Find a word or phrase in the text that means the same as:
a. To make it possible for somebody (par 2)
b. Annoying or unpleasant behaviour towards someone that tales place regularly (par 3)
c. To make someone agree or promise to do something (par 5)

Question 4 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning:
a. 31 per cent had experienced "physical and emotional" intimacy.
Physical and ………………………………………………………………………………………..
b. We work very long hours which means that many of us are tied to the office.
If we didn’t …………………………………………………………………………………………
c. This means that many of us end up finding our partners at work.
She claimed …………………………………………………………………………………………

Question 5 Write a short essay (120 to 150 words) on the following topic:
• What do you think about love relationships between classmates?


Self-Access Group CEP. Santander

Blog and Wiki

The Internet and Education


Until quite recently Silicon Valley and its innovations had little effect on teaching and learning. But with the rise of the Internet, information technology is now beginning to have much more influence on education. Two areas which are becoming more and more significant are ‘blogs’ and ‘wikis’.

The word ‘blog’ is short for ‘weblog’. A blog is an online diary or ‘blog’ of someone’s life, thoughts, or opinions. Anybody can create their own ‘blog’ and blogging is becoming extremely popular – type ‘blog’ into Google and you’ll get over 500 million results. For educational purposes, academics, teachers, and students create blogs as personal online study sites: places to work together and share information and ideas. Some universities even give their students and staff free space on a server to start their own blogs.

‘Wikis’ are websites where anyone can add content and make changes, so that the site becomes a group creation – ‘wiki’ stands for ‘What I Know Is’. These sites can be a valuable source of information and opinion for students, though the information may not be totally accurate – some academics refuse to use them. Perhaps the best-known wiki is the online encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, which has more than one million entries in over 100 languages. Wikipedia is working hard to make sure that its information is completely accurate, so students will be able to use it with confidence and there’s no doubt that it is an incredible resource.



Read the artic1e and find the answers to these questions.
1 Is information technology more or less important in education than before?

2 Where does the word 'blog' come from?

3 What is a 'blog'?

4 What are blogs used for at universities?

5 What does 'WIKI' mean?

6 Who puts the information on this wiki websites?

7 Why do students need to be careful if they use 'Wikis' when they study?

8 What is Wikipedia?







KEY





1. More
2. blog is short for weblog
3. A blog is an online diary
4. For educational purposes
5. What I Know Is’
6. Anybody
7. the information may not be totally accurate
8. An online encyclopaedia.