[D] Hello? Hello? Can You Hear Me Now?

LET'S UNLOCK WORDS AND PHRASES 🔐

irresistible

[ ˌir-i-ˈzis-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

- impossible to refuse or avoid because it is too pleasant, or attractive

With her beauty, wit and charm, he found her irresistible.

features

[ ˈfee-cherz ]

noun

- special things something can do; important parts of something

The latest model has over 100 new features.

in touch

phrase

- To communicate with someone

I keep in touch with my parents by emails.

bowl of cereal

phrase

- a typical American breakfast made of dried grains like wheat and oats

I have a bowl of cereal every morning.

face-to-face

adjective

- in person

We've spoken on the phone but never face-to-face.

LET'S READ! 📖

Direction: Read the passage aloud. Then, read it silently.

Hello? Hello? Can You Hear Me Now?

We can hear you -- and we don't want to hear you!

Come on, admit it. We know it's happened to you, too. You were sitting quietly on the bus, reading your newspaper, when she took the seat next to you. You heard all about her boyfriend's cooking skills. You heard about her sister's new chocolate diet. You heard about the neighbor's dog. Do you care? We don't care!

Okay, we all love our cell phones. They make it easy to stay in touch with friends and family at all times. The convenient features of smartphones are irresistible: hi-tech cameras, HD video, data and high speed Internet access, cool ringtones, and GPS guidance to help you get where you want to go! You love the touch screens, games, and apps that can help you do just about anything you need to do. Want to find a restaurant near your class tonight? Check your phone. Need a map of the neighborhood? Check your phone. Want to know what movie is showing at the theater on Tuesday? Check your phone.

All of these communication conveniences come at a cost, and we're not just talking about the monthly bill!

But the biggest cost of all this convenience is suffering when people don't observe simple phone etiquette. It's rude to speak loudly on the phone in a public place. It's rude when your phone rings or vibrates in a meeting. It's rude when you interrupt a face-to-face conversation to answer a phone call. Many places ban cell phone use. Some trains have special "quiet cars" where no cell phones are allowed. Good cell phone etiquette means that you are respectful of others around you. No matter how interesting your bowl of cereal is to you, trust us: The guy sitting next to you does not want to hear about it!

COMPREHENSION CHECK 🧠 A. Direction: Choose the correct answer to the following questions.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

What do smartphones offer that people find irresistible?
a. Smartphones offer features like long-life batteries, photos, and indoor games.
b. Smartphones offer features like applications and timers.
c. Smartphones offer features like cameras, games, and photos.
d. Smartphones offer features like cameras, internet access, games, and apps that people love.
Why do some people find it annoying when others use their phones in public places?
a. Some people find it annoying because it can be confusing.

b. Some people find it annoying because it can be rude and disruptive to others.

c. Some people find it annoying because it can be a waste of time.

d. Some people find it annoying because it can be unhelpful.
What is one example of bad phone etiquette mentioned in the text?
a. One example is speaking loudly on the phone in a public place.

b. One example is speaking slowly on the phone in a public place.

c. One example is not speaking on the phone in a public place.

d. One example is putting the phone in a pocket when in a public place.
What is the cost of using smartphones mentioned in the text?
a. The cost of using smartphones is an expensive monthly bill.

b. The cost of using smartphones is a cheaper monthly bill.

c. The cost of using smartphones is not just the monthly bill but also the inconvenience caused by bad phone etiquette.

d. The cost of using smartphones is both the monthly bill and the disturbance it causes others.
Where can you find "quiet cars" where cellphones are not allowed?
a. Some trains have special "quiet cars" were cellphones are not allowed.

b. Some buses have special "quiet cars" where cell phones are allowed.

c. Some buses have special "quiet cars" where cellphones are not allowed.

d. Some ships have special "quiet cars" where cellphones are not allowed.

B. Direction: Answer the following questions based on the article.

What kind of information can you easily find using your phone according to the text?
Why is interrupting a face-to-face conversation to answer a phone call considered rude?
What do people sometimes hear about when they sit next to someone on the bus?
What are some convenient features of smartphones mentioned in the text?
Why do people love their cell phones, according to the text?

C. Direction: Match the words in column A with their synonyms in column B.

A	B
1. etiquette	A. interfere
2. interrupt	B. prohibit
3. observe	C. notice
4. rude	D. manners
5. ban	E. impolite