Ten years ago, everybody was getting home after work to a fixed answerphone and nobody ever left a message. Now, everywhere you look -on trains, on buses, in shopping centres, in restaurants, at wedding receptions- what a miracle! What a transformation! So many happy people talking away into their mobile phones. Connected at last!
However, on some social occasions, from just a meeting of two friends to a funeral, mobile phones can be the enemy. They mean that people are not joining in, they're imposing, they're disrupting. It would have been better if they'd brought a book with them, which they could get on with quietly in a corner. SWITCH THEM OFF. Liberate yourself. The missed call won't be someone saying your house has burnt down. If you can't control yourself, "check" your phone out of sight of the others, in the toilets perhaps.
It's perfectly obvious -but how often does it happen?- if you really have to either make or receive an urgent call during a social occasion, you should explain the situation to the others at the outset. When the time comes, remove yourself from the scene to deal with the call. Whatever you do, apologise.
And now, here is an appeal to the good, too-silent majority.Don't put up with it. Don't suffer in silence. If you come across some rude mobile phone addicts, don't hesitate to interrupt and ask them to move away, to switch off. If they are passengers in your car, stop, ask them to get out, especially if it's raining.
QUESTIONS:
1) In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions.
a) Why is the use of mobile phones sometimes seen as an antisocial behaviour?
b) What does the text recommend doing about inconsiderate mobile phone users?
2) Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE.
a) Nowadays, a lot of people seem to enjoy using the mobile phone.
b) The text suggests that it is advisable to inform the other members of the group when you are expecting an important call.
3) Find the words in the text that mean:
a) maybe
b) beginning
c) say sorry
d) encounter
GRAMMAR POINT: Conditionals
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Answers:
1) a) According to the text, there are some social events,
such as a funeral, where the use of a mobile phone is inappropriate as it is an
imposing and interrupting element for those people which are not part of the
conversation.
b) The text recommends us not to put up with those people
who use their mobile phones inconsiderately and so ask them to move away when
they receive a call or even tell them to switch off their mobile phones.
2) a) True: Now, everywhere you look -on trains, on buses,
in shopping centres, in restaurants, at wedding receptions- what a miracle!
What a transformation! So many happy people talking away into their mobile
phones.
b) you really have to either make or receive an urgent call during
a social occasion, you should explain the situation to the others at the
outset.
3) a) perhaps b) ouset c) apologise d) came across
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