LESSON 4A READING AND VOCABULARY - Switch on

Students’ own answers

Answers
The first text shows how social media can play a positive role and the second text shows how it can be negative.

• A fact is something that you can check and prove to be true.
• Facts often include numbers, but not every statement with a number is a fact.
• An opinion is what someone believes or feels about something. You can agree with it or not.
• To give opinions, we often use adjectives like great, terrible, simple, etc., adverbs like probably and possibly, and verbs like feel, think, seem, etc.

1 The message was simple. fact
2 After three days, the message was fully revealed. opinion

1 A quarter of people who saw the message checked their water stores. fact
2 People often worry they are missing out on things. opinion
3 Some people spend up to nine hours a day on social sites. fact

easy/difficult to stop   normal for people today   people you know   sign of the times   will get worse

Students’ own answers

Students’ own answers

💡 Discussion Starter (Question 1 & 8)

For Question 1, think about specific actions: Do you use Instagram to share photos, Twitter/X for news, or YouTube to learn new things? For Question 8, consider real examples like viral fundraisers for medical bills, awareness campaigns for social issues (e.g., #BlackLivesMatter), or communities organizing local clean-ups through Facebook groups. Social media's power lies in its ability to connect people for a common purpose.

📚 Understanding Phrasal Verbs (Question 6)

Phrasal verbs are verbs combined with a preposition or adverb that create a new meaning. They are very common in spoken English. For example, 'carry out' means to perform or conduct, 'turn into' means to become something else, and 'miss out' means to fail to experience something good. Learning them in context, as in this article, is the best way to remember them.

🤔 Mastering Fact vs. Opinion (Questions 3 & 4)

This is a crucial critical thinking skill, especially when reading news or social media. A quick test: Can you find concrete evidence or data to support it? If yes, it's likely a fact (e.g., "25% of people..." - this can be measured). Does it express a belief, feeling, or judgment? If yes, it's an opinion (e.g., "People often worry..." - this is a generalization about feelings).

📱 About FOMO (Question 7)

FOMO stands for "Fear Of Missing Out." It's the anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may be happening elsewhere, often sparked by posts on social media. When discussing if it's a serious problem, consider its effects on mental health, sleep, and real-life relationships. Is it a modern pressure, or has it always existed in some form?