Reading Text

Discuss these questions with your classmates before you read: What is your opinion of cell phones? Do you own
one? Do you think they are beneficial? Are they problematic?

Living with Cell Phones

1 In today’s technology-driven world, the cell phone has emerged as a great success. If you have any doubt
about the popularity of “cells” just look around you. In buildings, parking lots, stores, vehicles and on the street, nearly
everyone is carrying a cell. However, the popularity of cell phones is also the problem with cell phones.
2 Of course, no one can deny that cell phones are very useful. Parents and children carry them around so
that they can keep track of1 each other. Friends use cell phones to chat with each other on the spur of the moment. 2 In
emergencies, people use cell phones to call tow trucks, taxis or ambulances or notify others that are running late. Users
soon discover that their cell phones are so useful that they can go anywhere without them.
3 The fact that cell phones are in everyone’s pocket, purse, and hand means that the din 3 of ringing phones
and conversation has invaded public spaces. Cell phones ring in restaurants, cinemas, and libraries. In stores, shoppers
talk long and loudly, asking their family members what size o color clothing they want. People even carry on long
conversations about personal topics with friends and lovers where everyone around them can hear. Recently I was
sitting in chemistry class, listening closely to the professor’s lecture, and “ring” my classmate’s cell phone. All this noise
is disrupting4 the piece.
4 However, the most significance5 disadvantage of cell phones is that so many people drive and talk
simultaneously.6 Increasingly, drivers take to the roads and pull out their phones-on highways and on busy streets. It
stands to reason that drivers are distracted7 when they drive and talk. In fact, in 1997, the New England Journal of
Medicine reported that motorists who use cell phones are four times more likely to crash. A three-year study in
Oklahoma found that accidents connected with cell phone use nine times more likely to result in deaths. Japan,
Australia and numerous other countries have banned the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.
5 Clearly, cell phones are helpful devices. Still, as long as people use them irresponsibly,8 they will cause
problems, particularly when their users don’t think about others around them. In public, cell phone users often disturb
other people with the noise they make; on the road, they put pedestrians and other drivers in danger. People shouldn’t
throw away their cell phones, but they should get into the habit of using them more considerately.

1
keep track of: follow the movements of
2
on the spur of the moment: without planning ahead of time
3
din: noise
4
disrupting: stopping a situation, event, etc. from continuing in its usual ways
5
significant: noticeable or important
6
simultaneously: at the same time
7
distracted: not able to think clearly because something takes your attention away from what you are doing
8
irresponsibly: doing things carelessly without thinking about the possible results

Source: Write Ahead Skills for Academic Success

Fellag, Linda Robinson, pp. 87-88

Discussion and Analysis

In a group, do the activities and discuss the questions. Then write answers to each question on a separate sheet of
paper. Write your answers in complete sentences.
1. What is the writer’s opinion about cell phones? Underline the thesis statement.
2. What advantage of cell phones does the writer present? Underline the sentence that introduces this major
point.
3. What disadvantages of cell phones does the writer present? Underline the sentence that introduces this major
point.
4. What examples, facts or details does the writer include to tell more about each major point?
5. What kind of information does the writer include in the conclusion?
6. Do you agree with the writer’s opinion? Why or why not? Write a quick response to the writer stating whether
you agree or disagree with his idea.
Reading Text

Discuss these questions with your classmates before you read: Do you know how a CD (compact disc) burner
works? Do you buy music CDs? Do you listen to music on the Internet? Do you use CDs for other purposes?

The Pros and Cons of CD Burners

1 Music lovers of all ages are “burning” their own compact disc these on home computers. It’s tempting to
want to make a CD rather than to pay for one at a music store. Computer manufacturers are encouraging this practice by
offering CD recorders, or “burners,” a standard equipment. However, there are advantages along with benefits when you
use a CD burner to record music.
2 First, the major disadvantage of burning music CD’s is that it can be illegal. Until recently, Internet users
traded ten s of millions of songs on a Web site called Napster. Then major music companies , which blamed online piracy 1
for a drop in CD Sales, took Napster to court for violating copyright 2 laws. In July 2001, the site was shut down. Before this
event, the Napster phenomenon3 had caused an explosion in music file-sharing on the Internet. New services still allow
Internet users to trade all types of copyrighted materials-from songs to video games and movies. However, in most cases,
these sites do not get permission from the copyright holders to reproduce or copy the materials. Only a few artists who
hope to make their names better known have agreed to allow their music to be copied from free music sites.
3 In addition to the legal issues it raises, burning music files from free music sites also has technical
drawbacks. The main difficulty comes from the fact that files are shared from one user to another. When a user connects
to a file-sharing site, he or she requests a song. The site’s central server 4 lists all the songs that are available from other
users connected to the server at that time. A user can download 5 a music file only while the user who has that file on his or
her computer remains connected to the site. It takes about five minutes to download just one song, so downloads are
commonly interrupted when the user whose files are being copied disconnects from the site. Unfortunately, the music
lover may find that he or she has only copied parts of songs.
4 There are, in fact, legal music sites available on the Internet, but they have drawbacks, too. As with file-
sharing sites, music from these sites can be listened to, downloaded unto a computer, or copied unto a CD. One site
advertises that all of its music is legally licensed from music companies or artists. However, the main limitation of these
sites is that the user can copy only songs available from the site’s music library. Also the service is not free. A user pays a
monthly fee about US$10bto US $25 to access the site’s library.
5 Music lovers who want to use their CD burners have two choices. They can get free music files that may
be imperfect and illegal, or they can pay for their files but have limited choices and more expenses.

1
piracy: illegally copying and selling other people’s work

2
Copyright: laws give the creator control over his or her original work. Copyrighted materials may be reproduced, published,
or copied without the copyright holder’s permission.

3
phenomenon: something that happens or exists in society, science, or nature that is unusual or difficult to understand

4
server: in computer language, the main computer on a network that controls all the others

5
download: to move information from one computer to another using a modem, a piece of electronic equipment that
allows information from one computer to be sent along telephone wires to another computer

Source: Write Ahead Skills for Academic Success

Fellag, Linda Robinson, pp. 89-90

Discussion and Analysis

In a group, do the activities and discuss the questions. Then write answers to each question on a separate sheet of
paper. Write your answers in complete sentences.

1. What is the writer’s opinion about CD burners? Underline the thesis statement.
2. Underline the sentences that introduce each major point (the disadvantages of CD burners).
3. What examples, details or facts does the writer use to support its major point?
4. What type of information does the writer include in the conclusion?
5. Do you agree with the writer’s major points? Why or why not?
Word Families: Adjective Endings

Task 1

Learning the most common adjective endings will help you to use adjectives correctly in your writing. Study the
endings of the following adjectives.

Careful practical dangerous surprised

Expensive relaxing problematic efficient

Task 2

Complete the words in the paragraph with the appropriate adjective endings. Use a dictionary to help you. The
first one is done for you.

DVDs or Videocassettes?

There are advantages and disadvantages to watching films on digital versatile disc (DVDs). First,
DVDs are very easy to use. You can move to different tracks on a DVD just like on a CD. This may be
very use_______(1) to you if you enjoy watching one very excit_______(2) or romant_______(3) scene
of a movie over and over. If you try to search for an interest_______(4) scene with a videocassette
tape, you may become impati________(5). DVDs are also advantage________(6) because they are
small. If you have limit________(7) space, you will appreciate the fact that a DVD requires one-third
the space of a videocassette tape. However, DVDs have one bas_________(8) disadvantage. They are
more expens_______(9) than videocassettes. Many DVDs costs more the US$20, so it may be more
economic _________(10) to rent a movie DVD than to buy one unless it’s one of your
person_______(11) favorites. In conclusion, DVDs are more high-pric______(12) than videocassette
tapes, but they are still more conveni_______(13).

Task 3

Write five sentences to describe technological devises. In each sentence, use one of the adjectives from the box or
paragraph in Task 1.

Example

Using a microwave oven is an efficient way to cook food.

1.________________________________________________________________________________________

2.________________________________________________________________________________________

3.________________________________________________________________________________________

4.________________________________________________________________________________________

5._________________________________________________________________________________________
 The Pros and Cons of CD Burners
I. Introduction: Introduce the topic and present your thesis statement.
Example thesis statement: There are disadvantages along with benefits when you use a CD
burner to record music.

II. Body Paragraph 1: State the first major supporting point in your topic sentence.
Example topic sentence: First, the major disadvantage of burning music CDs is that it can be
illegal.

A. Give a first supporting point (details, examples, or facts) about this idea.
B. Give a second supporting point.
III. Body Paragraph 2: State the second major supporting point in your topic sentence.
Example topic sentence: In addition to the legal issues it raises, burning music files
from free music sites also has technical drawbacks
A. Give a first supporting point (details, examples, or facts) about this idea.
B. Give a second supporting point.

IV. Body Paragraph 3: State the third major supporting point in your topic sentence.
Example topic sentence: There are, in fact, legal music sites available on the internet,
but they have drawbacks, too.
A. Give first supporting point (details, examples, or facts) about this idea.
B. Give a second supporting point.
V. Conclusion: include the thesis or your major points and a final opinion or statement
about the importance of the topic