Clases Prcticas - Capacitacin de idio ma Ingls I

GUIA TRABAJOS PRACTICOS 2014

Prof. Ma. Candela Prez Albiz Pgina 1

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TRABAJO PRACTICO N 1 A. Look at the following definition. What do you think the missing word is?

______________ is a person who puts metal in your mouth and takes coins out of your pocket.

B. Have a look at the title and the pictures. What do you think the text is about? C. Read the text once. Where is the definition from?

A different kind of dictionary

Ambrose Bierce was a 19th century American author and journalist. His most popular book is probably the Devils Dictionary, written between 1881 and 1887. Bierces dictionary does not contain normal definitions his definitions are funny and cynical. For example, in a normal dictionary, the definition of dentist is a kind of doctor who looks after peoples teeth. But in the Devils Dictionary, the definition of a dentist is a person who puts metal in your mouth and takes coins out of your pocket. Today on the Internet you can find many websites with more modern versions of the Devils Dictionary.

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D. Read the text again and answer the following questions: Who was Ambrose Bierce? What is the normal definition of dentist? Where can you find modern versions of the Devils Dictionary? E. Now match the following words/phrases to heir cynical definitions.

a boring person

the brain

a star

a friend

a secret

________ is a person who works all her life to become famous and then wears sunglasses so people dont recognize her. ________ is something which you only tell one person. ________ is somebody who talks about himself when you want to talk about yourself. ________ is somebody who dislikes the same people as you. ________ is something that starts working when you get up in the morning and stops working when you get to university or work. F. Translate the text.

(Adapted from New English File, Pre-Intermediate, Lesson 1, OUP)

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TRABAJO PRACTICO N 2 A. Have a look at the title and pictures. Then answer the following questions: Are men and women the same in terms of their character and behaviour? Why? Why not? B. Read the text. Do the authors agree with you?

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C. Read the text again and answer the following questions: What do many people believe about mens behaviour? What do these people think modern men should do? Do the Moirs think men can change very much? What do you think? Are men and women born with different behaviour or do they learn it? D. Translate the text.

(Adapted from Language to go, Pre-Intermediate, Lesson 7, Pearson Longman)

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TRABAJO PRACTICO N 3 A. Have a look at the title (subtitles) and the pictures. Then read the text quickly and say: Who attends the event and why?

TAKE YOUR DAUGHTER TO WORK DAY

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B. Read the text again and answer the following questions: 1. What do you think is the purpose of Take Your Daughters to Work Day ? 2. Do you think it is fair to invite the daughters but not the sons? 3. What different things can girls do at Intuit? 4. Would you like to have a Take Your Child To Work Day in your job? Why/ Why not? C. Translate the text.

(Adapted from Quick Work, Pre-Intermediate, Unit 2, OUP)

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TRABAJO PRACTICO N 4 A. Have a look at the title and the pictures. In the last decades, we have experienced many changes in our daily lives. Make a list include both the positive and the negative ones! B. Read the article and say: does the author mention any of the ideas in your list?

Were living faster, but are we living better?

Not long ago people believed that in the future we would work less, have more free time, and be more relaxed. But sadly this has not happened Today we work harder, work longer hours, and are more stressed than ten years ago. We walk faster, talk faster, and sleep less than previous generations. And although we are obsessed with machines which save us time, we have less free time than our parents and grandparents had. But what is this doing to our health? An American journalist James Gleick in a new book, Faster: the Acceleration of just about everything, says that people who live in cities are suffering from hurry sickness we are always trying to do more things in less time. As a result, our lives are more stressful. He says that if we dont slow down, we wont live as long as our parents. For most people, faster doesnt mean better. Newspaper articles today are shorter and the headlines are bigger. Most people dont have enough time to read the articles, they only read the headlines! On TV and the radio, newsreaders speak more quickly than ten years ago. In the USA there is a book called One-Minute Bedtime Stories for children . These are shorter versions of traditional stories, specially written for busy parents who want to save time!

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Some answerphones now have quick playback buttons so that we can re-play peoples messages faster we can t waste time listening to people speaking at normal speed! Even when we relax we do everything more quickly. Ten years ago when people went to art galleries they spent ten seconds looking at each picture. Today they spend just three seconds! In the USA the national sport, baseball, is not as popular as before because it is a slow game and matches take a long time. Nowadays many people prefer faster and more dynamic sports like basketball. The only thing that is slower than before is the way we drive. Our cars are faster but the traffic is worse so we drive more slowly. We spend more time sitting in our cars, feeling stressed because we are worried that we wont arrive on time. Experts predict that in ten years time the average speed on the road in cities will be 17 km/h. (Adapted from New English File, Pre-Intermediate, Unit 4, OUP)

C. Read the text again and say if the following statements are T (true) or F (false). The predictions made by people some years ago about life in the future were incorrect. According to the text, technology is improving our health. Nowadays, parents write stories for their children. Peoples tastes as regards sports have changed in the USA. D. Translate the text.

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TRABAJO PRACTICO N 5 A. Have a look at the title. Do you agree with it? Discuss these questions with your partner(s): o Do you think people give presents more often now than in the past? o Do people give the same type of present now than in the past or are the presents different now? o What is the best present you have ever received? B. Before reading the text, make a list of objects you think would be a good or a bad idea as a present? C. Read the text and check which of the items above are good or bad presents according to the text.

THE GIFT OF GIVING

The tradition of giving gifts is common to all cultures throughout history. Present giving is important to strengthen our relationship with family and friends on important days like birthdays, anniversaries and religious festivals. There is a traditional ceremony with native cultures in North America called potlatch . This is a ceremony to celebrate important events in the community, where the host gives a large number of gifts to the guests. The family that gives the most presents has the highest status. Potlatch gifts are typically expensive or practical goods, traditional objects such as woollen blankets and jewellery, and food which can be kept in store. Some psychologists say it is often the person who gives the present who benefits most because of the pleasure they get
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from giving a gift that they know will please someone. This could be because it is very personal or something they know the person will really like. For example, one man climbed a tree to get a bird s egg that matched his girlfriend s blue eyes. Another example is a personalised calendar with family photos showing important family events from the previous year. However, giving a present which is not very personal or which is not wrapped nicely can make the receiver feel they are not important. One woman said she knew her marriage was over when her husband gave her a gift in a brown grocery bag. It is important to be careful when choosing gifts. In most cultures there are some things which it is not a good idea to give as presents. For example, in some cultures, sharp objects like knives or scissors mean the end of a friendship or relationship, so these are not suitable as gifts. In China, clocks are not an appropriate gift because the Chinese word for clock sounds like the word for death . In the UK handkerchiefs are popular gifts, but they are not a good present in some parts of the Middle East because it would be considered disrespectful. In some cultures it is not just what you give, but how you give and receive it. In many Asian countries, it is polite to refuse the present three times before accepting it. The person who gives the present will probably say that it is nothing even when it is obviously expensive. It is not polite to open a present immediately or when the giver is there. In this way, there is no chance of embarrassing the giver or the receiver if it is not an appropriate present.

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D. Circle the correct words needed to complete the sentences below with information from the text. 1 Potlatch is a ceremony where host gives / guests give a large number of gifts to the host / guests. 2 Some psychologists say it if often the person who gives / receives the present who benefits most / least. 3 They say someone could get pleasure from giving something personal / expensive or something they know the person will really need / like. 4 Giving a present which isnt very big / nicely wrapped can make the receiver feel they are not important. 5 In some cultures giving sharp objects like knives or scissors means the beginning / end of a relationship. 6 Its not a good idea to give a clock in China / some parts of the Middle East or a handkerchief in China / some parts of the Middle East . 7 In many Asian countries, its polite / rude to refuse a present three times before accepting / opening it. 8 In many Asian countries, its polite / not polite to open a present immediately. D. Contextual reference: What do the underlined words in the text refer to? E. Translate the text. (Adapted from Global Website, Lesson Plan 84 by Clare Booth, 5th December, 2011, Macmillan)

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TRABAJO PRACTICO N 6 A. Before reading the text, think about why we sleep and dream. Now read the text. How many of your ideas are talked about in the text?

Sleep matters
The science of sleep is more than 50 years old, but much remains a mystery. We still don't really know exactly what sleep is for or why we dream, but there are some interesting theories. Most scientists agree that we have periods of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep. Although previously scientists believed that all dreaming happened during REM sleep, recent research shows that we have different kinds of dreams, with nonREM dreams being short and dull and REM dreams being long and vivid. Some scientists believe that one function of dreaming is probably to process information and find meaning. There is some experimental evidence that REM sleep promotes creative thinking. The idea that sleep plays an important role in learning and memory isnt new. But there is now considerable evidence that REM sleep is strongly connected with learning how to do something, for example how to play an instrument. This contrasts with non-REM sleep, which seems to be connected with spatial memories, for instance learning to find your way around a new city. How you feel when you wake up depends on what stage of sleep youre in. If you wake up feeling wide awake and refreshed, you probably woke up during a phase of light sleep. On the othe r hand, if you wake up feeling groggy, this is probably because youve woken up during a deeper phase of sleep, so youre still half asleep. Fortunately, research shows a short nap of 10 15 minutes could help you catch up, but avoid a longer siesta as it could leave you feeling groggy. Some sleep researchers believe that a 10-minute snooze can improve your overall performance and could prevent accidents for overtired drivers and nurses. Researchers agree we need between about 6 and 8 hours sleep a night for good mental and physical health, but studies show about 1 in 10 people have problems sleeping. To avoid insomnia and get a good nights sleep, its important to go to bed at about the same time
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every night. Avoid watching TV, using a computer or doing e xercise shortly before going to bed and make sure youre neither too hot nor too cold. If youre worrying about something when you go to bed, theres no point in telling yourself not to think about it. Instead, think about a pleasant, relaxing scene, which should soon help you to fall asleep.

B. Which paragraph in the text (2 5) talks about the following?

1 tips for improving your sleep paragraph _____ 2 how dreams differ paragraph _____ 3 waking up and short sleeps paragraph _____ 4 sleep and different kinds of memory paragraph _____

C. Read the article and decide if the sentences are true (T) or false (F), according to the text. Circle the correct statements and correct those that are false.
1 All dreaming happens during REM sleep. T/F 2 REM sleep might help you think creatively. T/F 3 REM sleep would probably help you to learn to ski. T/F 4 A short nap will leave you feeling groggy. T/F 5 A short sleep could help avoid accidents caused by tiredness. T/F 6 Watching television should help you get to sleep. T/F

D. Translate the article. (Adapted from Global Website, Lesson Plan 81 by Clare Booth, 24th October 2011, Macmillan)

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TRABAJO PRACTICO N 7 A. Read through the text and blacken in the correct option.

Reality Television
Reality television is a genre of television programming which, it is claimed, presents unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and features ordinary people rather than professional actors. It could be described as a form of artificial or "heightened" documentary. Although the genre has existed in some form or another since the early years of television, the current explosion of popularity dates from around 2000.Reality television covers a wide range of television programming formats, from game or quiz shows which resemble the frantic, often demeaning programmes produced in Japan in the 1980s and 1990s (a modern example is Gaki no tsukai), to surveillance- or voyeurism- focused productions such as Big Brother. Critics say that the term "reality television" is somewhat of a misnomer and that such shows frequently portray a modified and highly influenced form of reality, with participants put in exotic locations or abnormal situations, sometimes coached to act in certain ways by off-screen handlers, and with events on screen manipulated through editing and other post-production techniques. Part of reality television's appeal is due to its ability to place ordinary people in extraordinary situations. For example, on the ABC show, The Bachelor, an eligible male dates a dozen women simultaneously, travelling on extraordinary dates to scenic locales. Reality television also has the potential to turn its participants into national celebrities, outwardly in talent and performance programs such as Pop Idol, though frequently Survivor and Big Brother participants also reach some degree of celebrity. Some commentators have said that the name "reality television" is an inaccurate description for several styles of program included in the genre. In competition-based programs such as Big Brother and Survivor, and other specialliving-environment shows like The Real World, the producers design the format of the show and control the day-to-day activities and the environment, creating a completely fabricated world in which the competition plays out. Producers specifically select the participants, and they use carefully designed scenarios, challenges, events, and settings to encourage particular behaviours and conflicts. Mark Burnett, creator of Survivor and other reality shows, has agreed with this assessment, and avoids the word "reality" to describe his shows; he has said, "I tell good stories. It really is not reality TV. It really is unscripted drama."

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1 - In the first line, the writer says 'it is claimed ' because O they agree with the statement. O everyone agrees with the statement. O no one agrees with the statement. O they want to distance themselves from the statement. 2 - Reality television has O always been this popular. O has been popular since well before 2000. O has only been popular since 2000. O has been popular since approximately 2000. 3 Japan O is the only place to produce demeaning TV shows. O has produced demeaning TV shows copied elsewhere. O produced Big Brother. O invented surveillance focused productions. 4 - People have criticised reality television because O it is demeaning. O it uses exotic locations. O the name is inaccurate. O it shows reality. 5 - Reality TV appeals to some because O it shows eligible males dating women. O it uses exotic locations. O it shows average people in exceptional circumstances. O it can turn ordinary people into celebrities. 6 - Pop Idol O turns all its participants into celebrities. O is more likely to turn its participants into celebrities tha n Big Brother. O is less likely to turn its participants into celebrities than Big Brother. O is a dating show. 7 - The term 'reality television' is inaccurate O for all programs. O just for Big Brother and Survivor. O for talent and performance programs. O for special- living-environment programs. 8 - Producers choose the participants... O on the ground of talent. O only for special- living-environment shows. O to create conflict among other things. O to make a fabricated world.
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9 - Paul Burnett O was a participant on Survivor. O is a critic of reality TV. O thinks the term 'reality television' is inaccurate. O writes the script for Survivor. 10 - Shows like Survivor O are definitely reality TV. O are scripted. O have good narratives. O are theatre.

(Taken from http://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/8.html) B- Find the corresponding contextual references for the words written in bold and italics. (In English) C- Translate the text.

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TRABAJO PRACTICO N 8 A. Look in the text and find this information as quickly as possible. 1. What will the worlds population be in 2050? 2. How many of the worlds 25 oldest countries are in Europe? 3. By 2040 how many Europeans will be at least 65? 4. Which country has the highest life expectancy in the world? 5. Which country has the lowest life expectancy? 6. How much longer (on average) do women live than men?

Population of older people to surpass number of children

Ed Pilkington, 20 July, 2009 The worlds population will soon experience a moment of huge social and economic importance. For the first time the number of people aged 65 or more will be greater than the number of children under five years old. A new report by the US census bureau shows the worlds population is ageing rapidly, with enormous consequences for both rich and poor nations. This situation will bring challenges for both families and politicians, including how to care for older people living alone to how to pay for enormous numbers of pensioners more than one billion of them by 2040. The report, An Ageing World: 2008, shows that within ten years older people will outnumber children for the first time. It forecasts that over the next 30 years the number of over-65s will double, from 506 million in 2008 to 1.3 billion an increase from 7% of the worlds population to 14%. Already, the number of people in the world 65 and over is increasing at an average of 870,000 each month. The number of people over 65 will increase rapidly in the next couple of years. The change is the result of a combination of the high birth rates after the Second World War and recent improvements in health that are bringing down death rates at older ages. United Nations forecasts predict that the global population will be more than nine billion by 2050. The US census bureau was the first to draw attention to these changes. This is its ninth report using data from around the world since it first reported in 1987. Its latest forecasts warn governments and international bodies that this change in population structure will bring significant problems at every level of human organization, starting with the structure of the family, which will be transformed as people live longer. This will also bring new problems for careers and social services providers, while changes in work and retirement will have an impact on health services and pensions systems.

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People are living longer and, in some parts of the world, healthier lives, the authors say. This represents one of the greatest achievements of the last century but also a significant challenge as numbers of older people increase in most countries. Europe is the oldest continent, with 23 of the worlds 25 oldest countries. By 2040, more than one in four Europeans are expected to be at least 65, and one in seven at least 75. The UK is number 19 in the list of the worlds oldest countries. Number one is Japan, which recently replaced Italy as the worlds oldest major country. Its life expectancy at birth is 82 years. In western Europe, France, Sweden and It aly all have life expectancies of more than 80 years. In the UK it is 78.8. The difference in life expectancy between rich and poor nations is huge. The report shows that a person born in a developed country can expect to live 14 years longer than someone in a developing country. Zimbabwe has the lowest life expectancy. It is just 40 years the result of a combination of Aids, famine and dictatorship. But an important finding of the report is that poorer countries are also experiencing the phenomenon of an ageing population. More than 80% of the increase in older people in the year up to July 2008 was seen in developing countries. By 2040, the poor world is expected to be home to more than 1 billion people aged 65 and over as much as 76% of the world total. Many countries with large numbers of old people are already having problems paying for a longer retirement for their older population. Life expectancy after retirement has already reached 21 years for French men and 26 years for French women. Retirement ages have begun to rise in developed countries, as governments encourage people to continue working, but public pensions funds may be unable to provide enough money to pay for old age pensions. Socially, too, there are pressures for both individuals and families. Women live on average seven years longer than men, so more and more older women are living alone. Around half of all women 65 and over in Germany, Denmark and Slovakia are on their own and loneliness is a major problem. Guardian News & Media 2009 First published in The Guardian, 20/07/09

B. Read the text again and match the beginnings and endings to make sentences about the text. 1. People over 65 will soon 2. The number of people in the world over 65 years old . 3. This change in population structure 4. People born in developed countries 5. By 2040, 76% of people aged 65 and over ... 6. Large numbers of older women live alone because

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a) will live in poor, developing countries. b) will bring significant problems to families and social service providers. c) women live on average seven years longer than men. d) is increasing at an average of 870,000 each month. e) outnumber children under five years old for the first time. f) live on average 14 years longer than those born in developing countries. C. Translate the text.

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TRABAJO PRACTICO N 9 A. Read the text quickly and find the answers to these questions. 1. How many people came to the new bands first gig? 2. How many came to their second gig? 3. Where is the Guitar School? 4. When did satellite television arrive in Pakistan? 5. Where is the Rock Musicarium? 6. What will the capacity of the Rock Musicarium be? PAKISTANS YOUTH PUT THEIR FAITH IN ROCKNROLL
Countrys internal turmoil is feeding underground music scene and popular guitar school Declan Walsh 1 September, 2009 Young people who want to be rock stars dont have an easy time in Pakistan. Last month a new band, Poor Rich Boy, appeared on the stage of a small caf in Islamabad for their first gig. On the first night, only one person came to listen. It was the night of the world cricket finals. Bad timing, said the groups guitarist, Zain Ahsan. The second gig was better 30 people came but the musicians were still w orried. I asked the caf owner, What if a bomb goes off? said Ahsan. She said, Dont worry, Ill be with you. There has been a lot of Taliban violence this summer but young Pakistanis are continuing to enjoy rock music. An underground music scene is quietly growing in the countrys major cities, helped by the Internet and by the passion of a number of non-professional bands. In Lahore a pair of unemployed rockers have used that enthusiasm to found a new school for rocknroll. We werent getting a lot of gigs, and we needed to survive, said co -founder Hamza Jafri. So we thought wed try this. The Guitar School, as it is known, has been surprisingly successful. Around 40 students have signed up, from surly teenagers in jeans to more practised musicians such as Ahsan who want to improve their skills. Classes take place in a small room lined with egg boxes; the schools teaching style can be seen in its motto: Play it like you feel it. Many come from rich families that might once have disapproved o f music, Jafri said. People associated it with sexual entertainment. But a popular new television show called Coke Studio, which
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shows live performances, has helped to make more people accept rock music. On a recent afternoon a woman brought in her two teenage daughters for lessons. It will do them good to learn, she said. But becoming a professional musician is difficult and sometimes dangerous. For the past six months almost all public performances in Lahore have stopped since extremist attacks on a performing arts festival and the Sri Lankan cricket team. The Pakistani music industry itself is disorganized and there is a lot of music piracy in Pakistan. But the countrys internal chaos is also making people creative. Pakistanis have a rich musical tradition but modern musicians have generally avoided political issues. But the new single from Jafris band, co -VEN, is a parody of Pakistans controversial alliance with the US. Theres a lot of foreign pressure on our government to attack people in the tribal areas, he said. Others make fun of the chaos. The Islamabad band Bumbu Sauce recently brought out Jiggernaut, a single that has references to kung fu, talking dogs and the Taliban. Guitarist Shehryar Mufti is not worried the insurgents might not li ke the joke. Their argument is with the government, not the people, he said. I dont think rock music is something important to them. Pakistani rock was helped by the arrival of satellite television in the 1990s. Today the musicians, many self-taught, publicize themselves through networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace, and Pakistans growing number of FM radio stations. And despite the security situation, a new concert scene is appearing. On a hot Saturday night hundreds of young people, mostly dressed in jeans and Tshirts, crowded into a new outdoor theatre on the edge of Islamabad called the Rock Musicarium. People are hungry for music; they want to get out, said the founder, Zeejah Fazli. When it opens officially in November 2009, the Rock Musicarium will have a recording studio and capacity for 600 people, said Fazli, who believes there are 20 rock bands in Islamabad alone. But, he said, the project depends on the six-month break in terrorist attacks on the capital continuing. For some rich Pakistanis, rock music is an example of the cultural tensions of their life, which is divided between western influences and the conservative direction their society is taking. On one side kids feel like they are in England; on the other this strict Islamic thing is going on. Its not good for peoples mental health, said Jafri. About five years ago Junaid Jamshed, the countrys most famous pop star, gave up music and returned to religion. Now he appears on religious programmes with a long, curly beard. But most young people who want to become rock stars say they can live with the difference. At the Lahore guitar school, 17-year-old Danish Khwaja strummed his guitar. Its kind of cool doing stuff you love, he said. Guardian News & Media 2009 First published in The Guardian, 01/09/09
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B. Read the text again and match the beginnings and endings to make sentences about the text. 1. A popular new television show 2. Becoming a professional musician in Pakistan 3. Extremist attacks 4. Pakistani musicians use 5. A new music scene is appearing 6. For rich Pakistanis, there is a big difference ... a. have stopped almost all public performances in Lahore for the past six months. b. between western influences and the conservative nature of Pak istani society. c. in spite of the security situation. d. ... has helped to make more people accept rock music. e. networking sites like MySpace and Facebook to publicize themselves. f. is difficu lt and sometimes dangerous. C. Find the corresponding contextual references. 1. who (l.1) 2. their (l.3) 3. she (l.1) 4. We (l.12) 5. who (l.17) 6. it (l.20) 7. her (l.23) 8. them (l.24) 9. he (l.33) 10. their (l.37) 11. themselves (l.40) 12. who (l.49) 13. their (l.54) 14. which (l.54) 15. he (l.58) 16. who (l.59) 17. they (l.59) 18. his (l.61) D. Translate the text.
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TRABAJO PRACTICO N 10 A. What things might people become addicted to? Make a list. Can you divide the list into new or modern addictions and old or traditional addictions?

Addiction to In ternet is an illness

New evidence shows that excessive use of the Internet causes people to suffer from isolation, tiredness and withdrawal symptoms
David Smith, technology corre spondent March 23, 2008

Tense? Angry? Cant get online? Internet addict ion is now a serious health problem that should be officially recognized as a clinical disorder, says a leading psychiatrist. In the respected American Journal of Psychiatry, Dr Jerald Block writes that the disorder is caused by excessive gaming, viewing online pornography, emailing and text messaging. He says that the disorder is now so common that it should be included in medical text books. According to Block, Internet addiction has four main components: Excessive use, often associated with a loss of sense of time; Withdrawal symptoms, including feelings of anger, tension and/or depression when the computer is inaccessible; The need for better computers, more software, or more hours of use; Negative repercussions, including arguments, lying, poor achievement, social isolation and tiredness. Block says that in South Korea 10 people died from blood clots because they stayed seated for long periods in Internet cafes and another was murdered because of an online game. South Korea now considers Internet addiction one of its most serious public health issues. The government estimates that around 210,000 South Korean children need treatment. 80 per cent of them might need drugs that target the brain and nearly a quarter could need to go to hospital. Since the average high school pupil there spends about 23 hours per week gaming, another 1.2 million are believed to be at risk of addiction and require basic counselling. Many people are also worried about the number of addicts who stop going to school or leave their jobs to spend more time on computers. In China it has been reported that about 10 million adolescent Internet users could be considered addicts. Dr Block, a psychiatrist at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, writes that it is more difficult to estimate how bad the problem is in America because people tend to surf at home instead of in Internet cafes. But he believes
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there are similar cases, and says: Unfortunately it is not easy to treat Internet addiction. He told The Observer that he did not believe specific websites were responsible. The relationship is with the computer, he said. First, it becomes a significant other to them. Second, they use up emotions that they could experience in the real world on the computer, through any number of mechanisms: emailing, gaming, porn. Third, computer use takes up a huge amount of time in their life. Then if you simply try to remove the computer, they feel theyve lost their best friend. That can take the form of depression or rage. Harry Husted, a single 51-year-old from New York, spends 16 hours a day on the Internet. He insists that he is not addicted, but admits that he used to be. I used to work with computers for eight hours, then get home and go online for another seven hours. I stayed up until two or three in the morning, or until I got so sleepy I had to go to bed. I didnt go out to get the groceries and I didnt care about friends, TV, or anything. After a while I realized what was happening and did something about it. Now if I use MySpace its only to advertise my business. Internet addiction clinics are opening all around the world, and many people have turned, apparently without irony, to web discussion boards with names such as Internet Addicts Anonymous. The Centre for Internet Addiction Recovery in Bradford, Pennsylvania, says Internet addiction has become a growing legal issue in criminal, divorce and employment cases. Robert Freedman, editor of the American Journal of Psychiatry, said Internet addiction can be diverse . In Korea, it seems to be mostly gaming sites. In America, it is Facebook. Additionally, its porn, its games, its gambling, its chatting with friends. All these things existed before, but now theyre a lot easier. To beat the addiction, he advised: A self-help group might be a good place to start, but maybe a real group is better than an online one. Guardian News & Media 2008 First published in The Observer, 23/03/08

B. According to the article, are these sentences True (T) or False (F)? o The four basic components of Internet addiction are excessive use, withdrawal symptoms when the computer is not accessible, the constant need for better computers and software and negative repercussions on the users social life.
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o In South Korea, the main cause of Internet addiction is spending time on social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace. o The average South Korean high school student spends 16 hours a day playing online games. o People have died as a consequence of their Internet addiction. o South Koreans go online at Internet cafes more often than Americans. o Internet addiction is easy to treat.

C. Contextual reference: What do the underlined words in the text refer to? D. Translate the text.

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