Children into computers younger than ever

ANSWERS

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about gadgets for kids. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. KIDS’ TOYS POSTER: Make a poster about the toys that were popular with children through the ages. Show your poster to your class in the next lesson. Vote on the best one(s).

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about the pros and cons of children using electronic devices from increasingly younger ages.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Which article was best and why?

5. LETTER: Write a letter to the head of an electronics company. Ask him / her three questions about PlayStations for babies. Give him / her three pieces of advice about how to make a nice gadget for babies. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

TRUE / FALSE:

a. F

b. T

c. F

d. F

e. F

f. T

g. F

h. F

SYNONYM MATCH:

a.	according to	as stated by
b.	gadgets	machines
c.	choosy	fussy
d.	adopt	embrace
e.	fanfare	fuss
f.	via	through
g.	surveyed	questioned
h.	purchases	buys
i.	admits	confesses
j.	child’s play	a piece of cake

PHRASE MATCH:

a.	from a younger age	than ever before
b.	the average age at which	children begin using computers
c.	consumers are also getting choosy	about what they buy
d.	Kids are drawn to the	latest and greatest digital devices
e.	adopt it easily and	without fanfare
f.	an online survey to	a sample of American adults
g.	kids use electronic devices an	average of three days per week
h.	made no electronics	purchases
i.	Children nowadays	are so tech savvy
j.	Robert Junior said all the gadgets	around him really were child’s play

GAP FILL:

Children are using and owning consumer electronics from a younger age than ever before, according to US market researcher NPD. Its research shows the average age at which children begin using computers, games and other electronic gadgets has declined from 8.1 years in 2005 to 6.7 years in 2007. The NPD report, “Kids and Consumer Electronics Trends III”, says the youngest consumers are also getting choosy about what they buy. More and more young children now own a DVD player, portable video game, digital camera or cell phone. NPD’s Anita Frazier said: “Kids are drawn to the latest and greatest digital devices just as their parents are.” She added: “They appear to have no fear of technology and adopt it easily and without fanfare, making these devices a part of their everyday lives.”

The study is based on data collected via an online survey to a sample of American adults aged 25 and older who had children aged between four and fourteen. The survey also found that kids use electronic devices an average of three days per week. Surprisingly, many of the families surveyed were not regular consumer electronics buyers. Almost 25 percent of parents surveyed said they had made no electronics purchases during the previous 12 months. Father of two Robert Garside, 38, said he was amazed at what his children want to buy. He admits to often having to ask his nine-year-old how to operate his Sony PlayStation. “Children nowadays are so tech savvy that soon Sony will bring out a PlayStation for babies,” he said. His son Robert Junior said all the gadgets around him really were child’s play.

Дата добавления: 2015-01-03