1. What kind of communication problems can one face in real life?
D. Psychologists say that social networking sites can have serious disadvantages. It is hard for children to have real conversations and make friends. They become selfish personalities and lose interest in real life. Parents spend less time with their children and all members of the family spend less time with each other because they are using the Internet instead of communicating in person.
2. What are different opinions about social networks?
A. The popularity of social networking sites such as Vkon-takte, Facebook, MySpace, and Classmates has risen more than four times from 2005 to 2009. Many users say these sites are good for our society, but others are sure that there are more dangers in them than benefits. Your attitude to such websites depends on your age, job, interests and way of life.
3. Why do some people call social networking sites “time eaters”?
C. Social networking sites make people spend more time online and less time communicating face-to-face. The sites have many time-wasting activities. You stay online longer than you planned and do nothing serious or important. Experts say that teenagers spend about nine hours every week on social networking sites.
4. What are the hidden dangers?
5. What kind of new communication opportunities are provided by social networks?
B. Social networks promote communication with friends and family, they give people necessary and useful computer skills and teach them to express their ideas in a clear way. Another thing is that the sites let people create new relationships and reconnect with old friends. In every way, more communication, even online, makes connections stronger.
6. What are the new prospects in education?
F. New research shows that social networking sites can be used in schools. Teachers should find ways to use them in class. It would help students to learn how to get information from Internet resources and share it with classmates. Students would also be able to express themselves creatively and present themselves better.
7. What is a fact about worrying time statistics?
E. Internet users spend most of their time on social networks and blogs. Users in the USA spend about five and a half hours every month on their favourite site. And the number is growing. Russians spend 6.6 hours monthly on social networking sites. It is more than people in any other country. For example, in Europe it is 3.7 hours a month.
My family lives in a three-room flat of a typical block of flats with a lift and rubbish chute. Our flat is on the sixth floor. As you enter the flat you find yourself in a small hall and from there you can go to the living room, my parents' bedroom and my room. I use my room as a study and a bedroom. My room is very tiny but still it's rather cosy and has its advantages. The only window in my room looks out on the park. The walls are papered in a design of white and silver stripes, and the curtains on the window match the wallpaper. The built-in furniture doesn't take much space in the room. On the left, there is a built-in wardrobe and a sofa, next to it - a writing table. The table has got many drawers and I keep there my text-books, notes, lead and coloured pencils, felt-pens, biros, refills, pencil-cases, pencil-sharpeners, booklets, posters, pads and other necessary knick-knacks, as my mother is used to say. In the right corner beside the writing table there's a standard lamp with a pink silk shade and a comfortable arm-chair. I like to sit in it muffling myself into a plaid and read a thrilling book. Opposite the wardrobe there is a bookcase full of books newspapers, journals, magazines. The floor in my room is parquet, that's why there is neither a carpet nor a rug on it. There are a lot of flowers in my room; they are everywhere - on the window-sill, on the walls and on the bookcase. I take care of the flowers, water them, plant them out, cut dead ij leaves, and once a month I take them to the bathroom and scour them. My room is a nice place for both rest and work. Моя комната
Моя семья живет в трехкомнатной квартире обычного многоквартирного дома с лифтом и мусоропроводом. Наша квартира на шестом этаже. Когда входишь в квартиру, то оказываешься в небольшой прихожей, откуда можешь попасть в гостиную, спальню моих родителей и в мою комнату. Я использую свою комнату как кабинет и как спальню. Моя комната небольшая, но очень уютная и имеет свои преимущества. В моей комнате одно окно, которое выходит на парк. Стены оклеены обоями в белую и серебряную полоску, а гардины на окне подходят под обои. Встроенная мебель не занимает много места в комнате. Слева находится встроенный шкаф и диван, рядом с ним - письменный стол. В столе много выдвижных ящиков. Я хранютам свои учебники, конспекты, простые и цветные карандаши, фломастеры, шариковые ручки, стержни, пеналы, точилки для карандашей, буклеты, постеры, блокноты и другие безделушки, как привыкла говорить моя мама. В правом углу, возле письменного стола, стоит торшер с розовым шелковым абажуром и удобное кресло. Я люблю сидеть, закутавшись в плед, и читать захватывающую книгу. Напротив шкафа находится книжный шкаф, который полон книг, газет, журналов. В моей комнате пол паркетный, поэтому на нем нет ни ковра, ни коврика. У меня в комнате много цветов, они везде - на подоконнике, на стенах и на книжном шкафу. Я ухаживаю за цветами, поливаю их, пересаживаю, срезаю сухие листья, а раз в неделю я несу их в ванную и промываю. Моя комната - хорошее место для отдыха и для работы.