Text I
CNET News: Dear Maggie How young is too young for a cellphone or smartphone?
Dear Maggie,
This is a three-part question. I’m considering
getting a regular cellphone for my 11-year old daughter
for Christmas. A lot of girls in her class already have
phones. She’s been begging me for one. But I’m not
sure if this is too young. What do you think?
Also, at what age do you think it’s appropriate for
me to switch her from a regular- feature phone to a
smartphone? Are there any phones or services you
recommend so that I can prevent overages?
Thanks,
Annemarie
Dear Annemarie,
I’m probably a bit more conservative than most
people on this subject, but I think it’s better to wait as
long as possible before giving your child a cellphone.
While I recognize that it can be a nice convenience
for busy parents and families with hectic schedules, I
think it also can turn into a huge distraction for kids
and it opens a whole can of worms in terms of social
interaction for children at a time when they may not
need to be connected every moment to their peers.
So, if the only reason you are getting the phone is
just because her friends have them and she wants to
socialize, then I think that it’s wise to wait and so do
some parenting experts:
“When you give your child a cellphone you are
giving him or her a lot more freedom and access to
a social life that can’t be supervised,” said Marybeth
Hicks, editor of Family Events, a newsletter for families
and moms, and author of two books on parenting.
“(…) Getting a cellphone should be viewed as rite of
passage,” she said. “It is a sign of kids’ independence
and maturity that comes along with entering high
school. On the other hand, it also provides a kind
of electronic tether to home.” She means that kids
should be warned that once they have a cellphone,
they are expected to call home if they find themselves
in a situation in which they aren’t comfortable with
what’s going on around them. With a phone in hand,
there’s no excuse for not calling mom when they’re
at a party without any parental supervision and other
kids start drinking alcohol or doing drugs.
I agree with Hicks’ philosophy, and so I think that
an 11-year-old is a bit young to be given a cellphone
of her own. Kids today will have a lifetime of gadgets
and cellphones. It won’t hurt them to wait another
few years before getting one of their own. As to the
smartphone, let them provide this upgrade with their
own means.
I hope this was helpful. And good luck!
Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers’
wireless and broadband questions. The column now
appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double
dosage of Ask Maggie’s advice. If you have a question, we’d
love to hear from you.
Available at: <http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3- 57333400-266/how-young-is-too-young-for-a-cellphone- or-smartphone/?tag=mncol;topStories> Retrieved on: Dec. 02, 2011. Adapted.
In the excerpt “On the other hand, it also provides a kind of electronic tether to home.” (lines 35-36) Marybeth Hicks means that
Text I
CNET News: Dear Maggie How young is too young for a cellphone or smartphone?
Dear Maggie,
This is a three-part question. I’m considering
getting a regular cellphone for my 11-year old daughter
for Christmas. A lot of girls in her class already have
phones. She’s been begging me for one. But I’m not
sure if this is too young. What do you think?
Also, at what age do you think it’s appropriate for
me to switch her from a regular- feature phone to a
smartphone? Are there any phones or services you
recommend so that I can prevent overages?
Thanks,
Annemarie
Dear Annemarie,
I’m probably a bit more conservative than most
people on this subject, but I think it’s better to wait as
long as possible before giving your child a cellphone.
While I recognize that it can be a nice convenience
for busy parents and families with hectic schedules, I
think it also can turn into a huge distraction for kids
and it opens a whole can of worms in terms of social
interaction for children at a time when they may not
need to be connected every moment to their peers.
So, if the only reason you are getting the phone is
just because her friends have them and she wants to
socialize, then I think that it’s wise to wait and so do
some parenting experts:
“When you give your child a cellphone you are
giving him or her a lot more freedom and access to
a social life that can’t be supervised,” said Marybeth
Hicks, editor of Family Events, a newsletter for families
and moms, and author of two books on parenting.
“(…) Getting a cellphone should be viewed as rite of
passage,” she said. “It is a sign of kids’ independence
and maturity that comes along with entering high
school. On the other hand, it also provides a kind
of electronic tether to home.” She means that kids
should be warned that once they have a cellphone,
they are expected to call home if they find themselves
in a situation in which they aren’t comfortable with
what’s going on around them. With a phone in hand,
there’s no excuse for not calling mom when they’re
at a party without any parental supervision and other
kids start drinking alcohol or doing drugs.
I agree with Hicks’ philosophy, and so I think that
an 11-year-old is a bit young to be given a cellphone
of her own. Kids today will have a lifetime of gadgets
and cellphones. It won’t hurt them to wait another
few years before getting one of their own. As to the
smartphone, let them provide this upgrade with their
own means.
I hope this was helpful. And good luck!
Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers’
wireless and broadband questions. The column now
appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double
dosage of Ask Maggie’s advice. If you have a question, we’d
love to hear from you.
Available at: <http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3- 57333400-266/how-young-is-too-young-for-a-cellphone- or-smartphone/?tag=mncol;topStories> Retrieved on: Dec. 02, 2011. Adapted.
In Text I, Annemarie inquires Ask Maggie
Text I
CNET News: Dear Maggie How young is too young for a cellphone or smartphone?
Dear Maggie,
This is a three-part question. I’m considering
getting a regular cellphone for my 11-year old daughter
for Christmas. A lot of girls in her class already have
phones. She’s been begging me for one. But I’m not
sure if this is too young. What do you think?
Also, at what age do you think it’s appropriate for
me to switch her from a regular- feature phone to a
smartphone? Are there any phones or services you
recommend so that I can prevent overages?
Thanks,
Annemarie
Dear Annemarie,
I’m probably a bit more conservative than most
people on this subject, but I think it’s better to wait as
long as possible before giving your child a cellphone.
While I recognize that it can be a nice convenience
for busy parents and families with hectic schedules, I
think it also can turn into a huge distraction for kids
and it opens a whole can of worms in terms of social
interaction for children at a time when they may not
need to be connected every moment to their peers.
So, if the only reason you are getting the phone is
just because her friends have them and she wants to
socialize, then I think that it’s wise to wait and so do
some parenting experts:
“When you give your child a cellphone you are
giving him or her a lot more freedom and access to
a social life that can’t be supervised,” said Marybeth
Hicks, editor of Family Events, a newsletter for families
and moms, and author of two books on parenting.
“(…) Getting a cellphone should be viewed as rite of
passage,” she said. “It is a sign of kids’ independence
and maturity that comes along with entering high
school. On the other hand, it also provides a kind
of electronic tether to home.” She means that kids
should be warned that once they have a cellphone,
they are expected to call home if they find themselves
in a situation in which they aren’t comfortable with
what’s going on around them. With a phone in hand,
there’s no excuse for not calling mom when they’re
at a party without any parental supervision and other
kids start drinking alcohol or doing drugs.
I agree with Hicks’ philosophy, and so I think that
an 11-year-old is a bit young to be given a cellphone
of her own. Kids today will have a lifetime of gadgets
and cellphones. It won’t hurt them to wait another
few years before getting one of their own. As to the
smartphone, let them provide this upgrade with their
own means.
I hope this was helpful. And good luck!
Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers’
wireless and broadband questions. The column now
appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double
dosage of Ask Maggie’s advice. If you have a question, we’d
love to hear from you.
Available at: <http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3- 57333400-266/how-young-is-too-young-for-a-cellphone- or-smartphone/?tag=mncol;topStories> Retrieved on: Dec. 02, 2011. Adapted.
In Text I, the word in parentheses describes the idea expressed by the word in bold-face type in
Text I
CNET News: Dear Maggie How young is too young for a cellphone or smartphone?
Dear Maggie,
This is a three-part question. I’m considering
getting a regular cellphone for my 11-year old daughter
for Christmas. A lot of girls in her class already have
phones. She’s been begging me for one. But I’m not
sure if this is too young. What do you think?
Also, at what age do you think it’s appropriate for
me to switch her from a regular- feature phone to a
smartphone? Are there any phones or services you
recommend so that I can prevent overages?
Thanks,
Annemarie
Dear Annemarie,
I’m probably a bit more conservative than most
people on this subject, but I think it’s better to wait as
long as possible before giving your child a cellphone.
While I recognize that it can be a nice convenience
for busy parents and families with hectic schedules, I
think it also can turn into a huge distraction for kids
and it opens a whole can of worms in terms of social
interaction for children at a time when they may not
need to be connected every moment to their peers.
So, if the only reason you are getting the phone is
just because her friends have them and she wants to
socialize, then I think that it’s wise to wait and so do
some parenting experts:
“When you give your child a cellphone you are
giving him or her a lot more freedom and access to
a social life that can’t be supervised,” said Marybeth
Hicks, editor of Family Events, a newsletter for families
and moms, and author of two books on parenting.
“(…) Getting a cellphone should be viewed as rite of
passage,” she said. “It is a sign of kids’ independence
and maturity that comes along with entering high
school. On the other hand, it also provides a kind
of electronic tether to home.” She means that kids
should be warned that once they have a cellphone,
they are expected to call home if they find themselves
in a situation in which they aren’t comfortable with
what’s going on around them. With a phone in hand,
there’s no excuse for not calling mom when they’re
at a party without any parental supervision and other
kids start drinking alcohol or doing drugs.
I agree with Hicks’ philosophy, and so I think that
an 11-year-old is a bit young to be given a cellphone
of her own. Kids today will have a lifetime of gadgets
and cellphones. It won’t hurt them to wait another
few years before getting one of their own. As to the
smartphone, let them provide this upgrade with their
own means.
I hope this was helpful. And good luck!
Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers’
wireless and broadband questions. The column now
appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double
dosage of Ask Maggie’s advice. If you have a question, we’d
love to hear from you.
Available at: <http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3- 57333400-266/how-young-is-too-young-for-a-cellphone- or-smartphone/?tag=mncol;topStories> Retrieved on: Dec. 02, 2011. Adapted.
In the excerpt “and so do some” (lines 25-26) the auxiliary do is replacing
Text I
CNET News: Dear Maggie How young is too young for a cellphone or smartphone?
Dear Maggie,
This is a three-part question. I’m considering
getting a regular cellphone for my 11-year old daughter
for Christmas. A lot of girls in her class already have
phones. She’s been begging me for one. But I’m not
sure if this is too young. What do you think?
Also, at what age do you think it’s appropriate for
me to switch her from a regular- feature phone to a
smartphone? Are there any phones or services you
recommend so that I can prevent overages?
Thanks,
Annemarie
Dear Annemarie,
I’m probably a bit more conservative than most
people on this subject, but I think it’s better to wait as
long as possible before giving your child a cellphone.
While I recognize that it can be a nice convenience
for busy parents and families with hectic schedules, I
think it also can turn into a huge distraction for kids
and it opens a whole can of worms in terms of social
interaction for children at a time when they may not
need to be connected every moment to their peers.
So, if the only reason you are getting the phone is
just because her friends have them and she wants to
socialize, then I think that it’s wise to wait and so do
some parenting experts:
“When you give your child a cellphone you are
giving him or her a lot more freedom and access to
a social life that can’t be supervised,” said Marybeth
Hicks, editor of Family Events, a newsletter for families
and moms, and author of two books on parenting.
“(…) Getting a cellphone should be viewed as rite of
passage,” she said. “It is a sign of kids’ independence
and maturity that comes along with entering high
school. On the other hand, it also provides a kind
of electronic tether to home.” She means that kids
should be warned that once they have a cellphone,
they are expected to call home if they find themselves
in a situation in which they aren’t comfortable with
what’s going on around them. With a phone in hand,
there’s no excuse for not calling mom when they’re
at a party without any parental supervision and other
kids start drinking alcohol or doing drugs.
I agree with Hicks’ philosophy, and so I think that
an 11-year-old is a bit young to be given a cellphone
of her own. Kids today will have a lifetime of gadgets
and cellphones. It won’t hurt them to wait another
few years before getting one of their own. As to the
smartphone, let them provide this upgrade with their
own means.
I hope this was helpful. And good luck!
Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers’
wireless and broadband questions. The column now
appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double
dosage of Ask Maggie’s advice. If you have a question, we’d
love to hear from you.
Available at: <http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3- 57333400-266/how-young-is-too-young-for-a-cellphone- or-smartphone/?tag=mncol;topStories> Retrieved on: Dec. 02, 2011. Adapted.
In Text I, Dear Maggie reports that parenting expert Marybeth Hicks defends that getting a cellphone should be viewed as rite of passage,
Text II
Discover Magazine: Environment 10 Things You Didn’t Know About...Fire
by Lee Aundra Keany From the October 2011 issue; published online October 7, 2011
1 - Fire is an event, not a thing. Heating wood
or other fuel, releases volatile vapors that can
rapidly combust with oxygen in the air; the resulting
incandescent bloom of gas further heats the fuel,
releasing more vapors and perpetuating the cycle.
2 - Most of the fuels we use derive their energy
from trapped solar rays. In photosynthesis, sunlight
and heat yield chemical energy (in the form of wood
or fossil fuel). Contrastingly, fire uses chemical energy
to produce light and heat.
3 - Assuming stable fuel, heat, and oxygen
levels, a default house fire will double in size at every
minute.
4 - Earth is the only known planet where fire can
burn. Everywhere else: scarce oxygen.
5 - Spontaneous combustion is real. Some fuel
sources can generate their own heat—by rotting, for
instance. Pistachios have so much natural oil and are
so prone to heat-generating fat decomposition that
the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
regards them as dangerous.
6 - Oxygen supply influences the color of
the flame. A low-oxygen fire is made up of lots of
uncombusted fuel particles and will give off a yellow
glow. A high-oxygen fire sets off a blue flame. So
candle flames are blue at the bottom because that’s
where they take up fresh air, and yellow at the top
because the rising fumes from below cut down on the
oxygen supply from the upper part of the flame.
7 - Fire can make water. Place a cold spoon
over a candle and you will observe the water vapor
condense on the metal. This is because like most
organic materials, including wood and gasoline,
candle wax contains hydrogen, which bonds with
oxygen and amounts to H2O when it burns.
8 - We’ve been at this a long time: Charred
bones and wood ash indicate that early hominids were
tending the first intentional fires more than 400,000
years ago.
9 - Nature’s been at it awhile, too. A coal seam
about 140 miles north of Sydney, Australia, has been
burning by some estimates for 500,000 years.
10 - A good burn in history: The 1666 Great Fire
of London destroyed 80 percent of the city but also
ended an outbreak of bubonic plague that had killed
more than 65,000 people the previous year. The fire
fried the rats and fleas that carried Yersinia pestis, the
plague-causing bacterium.
Available at <http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/site125. tmus/environment;tile=2;sz=123x32;ord=123456789?” target=”_blank”> Retrieved on: Dec. 02, 2011. Adapted.
In Text II, the author defends that fire is an event and not a thing because