Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Is a smartphone a necessity? Why or why not?
- Why do kids like using smartphones?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- universal /yoo-nuh-VUR-suhl/
- potential /puh-TEN-shuhl /
- consequence /KON-si-kwens/
- comparison /kuhm-PAR-uh-suhn /
- miss out /mis-out/
[adjective] – existing everywhere or involving everyone
Education should be a universal right and not a privilege.
[noun] – someone’s or something’s ability to develop, achieve, or succeed
She has great potential as an artist.
[noun] – a result of a particular action or situation, often one that is bad or not convenient
The disease was an inevitable consequence of poor living conditions.
[noun] – the act of comparing two or more people or things
There is no comparison between them.
[phrasal verb] – to fail to use an opportunity to enjoy or get an advantage from something
Don’t miss out on this very special opportunity.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
It is a problem of our time. Should you let your child have a smartphone or do your best to keep them away from technology?
A smartphone is now owned by up to 91% of 11-year-olds, making them all but universal among children. But do young people without phones lose out or experience unanticipated benefits? You may comprehend if, as a parent, you view a smartphone as akin to Pandora’s box that holds the potential to unleash all of the world’s sins on your child’s good existence. After reading the bewildering array of headlines concerning the possible consequences of children’s phone and social media use, anyone would want to opt-out. It appears that even well-known individuals are impacted by this modern parenting challenge. Madonna has acknowledged that after her older children turned 13, she would never again give them phones. In comparison, you probably have a phone of your own and consider it a necessity for daily tasks like video calls, family photo albums, and online shopping. If all of their peers and classmates are getting phones, will your child miss out if they don’t have one?
Even though there are still many questions about how social media and cell phones will ultimately affect children and teenagers, the research that has already been conducted highlights some of the main disadvantages and benefits.
A smartphone is now owned by up to 91% of 11-year-olds, making them all but universal among children. But do young people without phones lose out or experience unanticipated benefits? You may comprehend if, as a parent, you view a smartphone as akin to Pandora’s box that holds the potential to unleash all of the world’s sins on your child’s good existence. After reading the bewildering array of headlines concerning the possible consequences of children’s phone and social media use, anyone would want to opt-out. It appears that even well-known individuals are impacted by this modern parenting challenge. Madonna has acknowledged that after her older children turned 13, she would never again give them phones. In comparison, you probably have a phone of your own and consider it a necessity for daily tasks like video calls, family photo albums, and online shopping. If all of their peers and classmates are getting phones, will your child miss out if they don’t have one?
Even though there are still many questions about how social media and cell phones will ultimately affect children and teenagers, the research that has already been conducted highlights some of the main disadvantages and benefits.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- According to the article, why is a smartphone universal?
- Who has acknowledged that after her older children turned 13, she would never again give them phones?
- According to the article, why is a smartphone a necessity?
- Is there concrete evidence that having a phone or using social media negatively impacts children’s wellbeing?
- What does recent research suggest?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- How old were you when you first had a cellphone? Could you tell me about it?
- Based on your experience, what were the advantages of having a cell phone as a kid?
- Would you buy your son or daughter a cellphone? Why or why not?
- Do you believe that children are more susceptible to negative outcomes?
- Do you believe that kids who don’t have phones miss out on a lot? Why or why not?