TikTok advances plans to develop independent U.S. algorithm amid legislative pressure

admin 2024年6月10日

Beginner

world news, world news - beginner

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。

Is TikTok commonly used in your country?
Have you ever used TikTok or heard about it from friends or family?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。

independent /in-di-PEN-duhnt/

[adjective] – not influenced or controlled by others; self-reliant
The documentary aims to showcase the stories of independent filmmakers around the world.

argue /AHR-gyoo/

[verb] – to give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory, often with the intention of persuading others to agree
Lawyers often argue their cases passionately in court to convince the judge and jury of their client’s position.

impractical /im-PRAK-ti-kuhl/

[adjective] – not effective or reasonable
Building a bridge in this remote area would be impractical due to the high costs and environmental concerns.

challenging /CHAL-in-jing/

[adjective] – difficult, in a way that tests your ability or determination
Learning a new language can be challenging, but with perseverance, it’s achievable.

difficulty /DIF-i-kuhl-tee/

[noun] – the state or condition of being hard to accomplish or deal with
Many students experience difficulty when learning a new language, especially when it involves unfamiliar grammar rules.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。

TikTok, a popular video-sharing app, is creating a new way to suggest videos for its 170 million users in the United States. The goal is to make TikTok independent from its parent company, ByteDance, based in China. This change aims to ease concerns from American lawmakers who are thinking about banning TikTok. The process started before new laws in April demanded that TikTok sell its American operations. Sources, who wished to stay anonymous, shared that this change might lead to TikTok selling its U.S. assets eventually. However, TikTok clarified that it currently has no plans to sell and that selling would not be easy. Initially silent, TikTok later criticized reports as inaccurate. In a legal battle, TikTok argued that selling within the given timeframe is impractical. Engineering teams from both the U.S. and China are working hard to modify the recommendation algorithm. This challenging task highlights the difficulty in separating TikTok’s U.S. operations from ByteDance. Despite facing legal and technical obstacles, TikTok persists in ensuring autonomy for its U.S. operations, though this may result in performance differences.

True or False:

Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.

文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。

The separation of TikTok’s U.S. operations from ByteDance is described as an easy task.
The new recommendation algorithm is designed for TikTok’s 170 million users in the United States.
TikTok is modifying the recommendation algorithm to make it more dependent on ByteDance.
Sources, who wished to stay anonymous, shared information about the changes in TikTok’s source code, which might lead to the eventual sale of TikTok’s U.S. assets.
Despite challenges, TikTok is working to make its U.S. operations independent, which may lead to performance changes.

Fill in the blanks:

Choose the correct word from the table then fill in the blanks.

適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。

independent

argue

impractical

challenging

difficulty

In the meeting, the team members __________ over the best approach to increase sales, each presenting different strategies and data.
Managing a team of diverse personalities can present __________ situations that require effective communication skills.
The company prides itself on its __________ decision-making process, free from external pressures.
Despite the __________ of the task, the engineers were determined to find a solution.
It’s __________ to expect a small car to carry such a heavy load without risking damage.