Published: bbc.co.uk/news
Level of difficulty:*** ( Int. Quarter 2 level)
BEFORE YOU READ
§ How would you describe yourself; hotheaded, laidback and easy going or something in between?
§ How easily do you lose your temper?
§ When did you last lose your temper?
§ In hindsight, were you right or wrong to lose your temper on that particular occasion?
§ Do you think people are more bad-tempered than they used to be?
§ What might the reasons for this be?
NOW READ DOWN AS FAR AS BIG BROTHER
1. The incident that takes place at a supermarket is provided to prove that __________________________________________________________.
2. Have you ever witnessed or been involved in a similar altercation? Explain.
___________________________________________________________.
NOW READ THE SECTION TITLED BIG BROTHER
3. What leisure time activity is claimed to influence the confrontational attitude we have developed in recent years?
________________________________________________________________
4. The Big Brother show is structured in a certain way. How exactly is it structured? Answer in your own words.
_________________________________________________________________
5. Dr. Cassidy says he didn’t want anything to do with the show because he didn’t feel anything that was being done was right. What was he ultimately worried about?
___________________________________________________________________
NOW READ THE SECTION TITLED RETAIL RAGE
6. In the first half of this section, the writer defends shows like Big Brother. How exactly does he try and show that such shows may not in fact be as harmful as we currently think?
____________________________________________________________________
7. How does Paul Clarke support his opinion concerning the connection between reality television and public behavior?
_____________________________________________________________________
8. At the end of this section the writer poses a question. What do you think the answer is?
____________________________________________________________________
NOW READ THE SECTION TASTE THE DEFERENCE
9. At the beginning of paragraph three, the writer says “this shift”. What is he referring to? Be very specific.
____________________________________________________________________
10. What do you think the phrase flip-side means in this context?
_____________________________________________________________________
11. Sir Allan Steer, whose opinions are given in this section, seems to find young people’s “loud and exaggerated behavior” perfectly normal for two reasons. What are they?
a) __________________________________________________________________
b) __________________________________________________________________
NOW READ THE SECTION TITLED I’LL SCREAM AND I’LL SCREAM
12. In this section Ben Page lists some of the reasons why we are getting worse in our public behavior. What are they?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
13. In the text, it is stated that the institute’s research also revealed some double think. What does the latter phrase mean in this context? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________
OPTIONAL FREE WRITING
To what extent do you agree with the reasons provided in this text to explain our worsening public behavior? State your views clearly and support them. Remember to reach a logical conclusion.
CONFRONTATION CULTURE
This innocent looking text is furnished with some serious comprehension questions that make it a challenge. Could be done as a follow up to Tempering Toddler Tantrums. The level of difficulty:***
BEFORE YOU READ
§ How would you describe yourself; hotheaded, laidback and easy going or something in between?
§ How easily do you lose your temper?
§ When did you last lose your temper?
§ In hindsight, were you right or wrong to lose your temper on that particular occasion?
§ Do you think people are more bad-tempered than they used to be?
§ What might the reasons for this be?
NOW READ DOWN AS FAR AS BIG BROTHER
1. The incident that takes place at a supermarket is provided to prove that we are becoming addicted to confrontation.
2. Have you ever witnessed or been involved in a similar altercation? Explain.
Answers will vary.
NOW READ THE SECTION TITLED BIG BROTHER
3. What leisure time activity is claimed to influence the confrontational attitude we have developed in recent years?
watching television
4. The Big Brother show is structured in a certain way. How exactly is it structured? Answer in your own words.
Arguments fights and personality clashes are engineered on purpose and the people in the show act up accordingly (or something similar).
5. Dr. Cassidy says he didn’t want anything to do with the show because he didn’t feel anything that was being done was right. What was he ultimately worried about?
We learn from others if people… / or this has a knock on effect…. But if they find this alternative there is a good chance they don’t understand what it means so make sure to stop and explain.
NOW READ THE SECTION TITLED RETAIL RAGE
6. In the first half of this section, the writer defends shows like Big Brother. How exactly does he try and show that such shows may not in fact be as harmful as we currently think?
But since it was invented… The Big Brother show may be something similar.
7. How does Paul Clarke support his opinion concerning the connection between reality television and public behavior?
People blur what they see on television with the real world.
8. At the end of this section the writer poses a question. What do you think the answer is?
Answers will vary. Such discussion questions interspersed among the questions help break the monotony and refocus attention.
NOW READ THE SECTION TASTE THE DEFERENCE
9. At the beginning of paragraph three, the writer says “this shift”. What is he referring to? Be very specific.
The shift from a more accepting society … to a more democratic culture.
10. What do you think the phrase flip-side means in this context?
the bad side
11. Sir Allan Steer, whose opinions are given in this section, seems to find young people’s “loud and exaggerated behavior” perfectly normal for two reasons. What are they?
a) you model bad behavior
b) young people are impressionable
c) programmes being pitched at the young
NOW READ THE SECTION TITLED I’LL SCREAM AND I’LL SCREAM
12. In this section Ben Page lists some of the reasons why we are getting worse in our public behavior. What are they?
People expect the world to revolve around the axis of their egos/ people are less inhibited/ 1960’s liberalism / 1980’s me first culture/ increase in affluence/ stress/ long working hours/ alcohol consumption / people feel they have a right to express themselves they don’t care what people think.
13. In the text, it is stated that the institute’s research also revealed some double think. What does the latter phrase mean in this context? Explain.
People both condemn and secretly enjoy confrontations. / Open ended.
OPTIONAL FREE WRITING
To what extent do you agree with the reasons provided in this text to explain our worsening public behavior? State your views clearly and support them. Remember to reach a logical conclusion.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment