Digital Drama

I am so excited for a new season of True Life, which premiers tonight at 10pm on MTV. True Life is a show about real people and serious topics. The season is kicking off with a show based on "Digital Drama," which is caused when people, especially intimate couples, take technology too seriously and let it consume there lives. Often times technology, such as emails, text messages and websites like Facebook can promote many digital relationships (non-intimate). There is a friendly manner that takes place in technological relationships that are easily misunderstood. In many cases, people involved in intimate relationships misinterpret messages that there partners receive via such technology, which tend to cause an uproar in their relationships. This leads to "digital drama" and causes couples to loose trust and fight a lot. Make sure to tune in on MTV for more about "digital drama."
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Vocabulary

• consume (verb) to absorb, engross
• digital (adjective) available in electronic form
• intimate (adjective) close personal relationship, like boyfriend/girlfriend
• kicking off (verb) beginning, starting
• misunderstood/misinterpret (adjective) to take in wrong sense
• uproar (noun) commotion
• via (preposition) by way of

Fill in the blanks with the correct vocabulary words:

• I read the wrong chapter for class because I ______________ the homework.
• I talk to my friends ____ the Internet.
• I have only had one ___________ relationship.
• The employees in the office ________ in so much gossip.
• The summer should be _________ ____ with lots of parties.
• I have a ________ camera.
• There was an _________ at the school when the fire broke out.

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Grammar Point

The paragraph above showcases several adverbs. Adverbs are most often formed by adding -ly to an adjective; the examples I gave above are formed this way, too. Refer to the paragraph and review the italicized words. Ask yourself, what word is it modifying in the sentence and what is the words original form (which part of speech was it)? Lastly, choose an adverb and use it in a sentence.
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Link
To learn more about MTV's True Life show visit:
http://www.mtv.com/shows/truelife/series.jhtml

Endangered Polar Bears

Each time that I turn on the television, I am always coming across a commercial about global warming. Global warming is a huge concern for all of us living on this planet, especially the polar bears. Polar Bears are located on the Arctic ice, which is why they have become endangered species. Unfortunately for the polar bears, the ice caps are melting due to climate changes and the polar bears are left with nothing to live on or raise their young. Many polar bears are swimming into the ocean to look for food and drowning because the ice caps are moving further away from each other. Less ice caps also means that the polar bears have no place to hunt for food. Therefore, the few polar bears that do not drown end up starving because there is no place to hunt. Global Warming is caused by human consumption, in order to save these animals and other wildlife we all must make changes that include the usage of eco-friendly products.
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Vocabulary

• arctic (adjective) of, pertaining to, or located or near the North Pole
• concern (noun) a matter that engages a person's attention, interest, or care
• eco-friendly (adjective) not harmful to the environment
• endangered (adjective) threatened with extinction
• ice caps (noun) a thick cover of ice over an area
• global warming (noun) an increase in the earth's average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in the climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect
• polar bears (noun) a large white bear of the arctic regions

Fill in the blanks with the correct vocabulary words:

• _________ ________ are cute and fuzzy.
• The _________ is very cold.
• Using __________ products can reduce the damage already caused by global warming.
• Tara had no _________ for her students' success.
• Many ________ species will become extinct before our grandchildren are born.
• _________ __________ is devastating many habitats all over the planet.
• The Titanic ship collided with and iceberg, which is very similar to an ____ _____.

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Grammar Point

In the paragraph above there are some quantifiers that come at the beginning of a noun phrase and indicates the quantity of something. Identify where these quantifiers are and write (5) sentences. In addition, draw a picture that describes each sentence. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Link

To learn more about the polar bears and other endangered species, visit:

http://http//www.nwf.org/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat/Polar-Bears.aspx

Texting While Driving

Text messaging is a fast and effective way of communication. However, more and more car accidents are being caused by texting while driving. Texting and any other form of cell phone use is distracting to the driver and can lead to the loss of control of a vehicle. Statistics and studies have proven that texting while driving is just as dangerous as drinking and driving. It is imperative that people become aware of the dangers they put themselves in and others when they decide to text as they drive. Many drivers believe that they can multitask; thus, put very little thought about responding or sending a text message while driving. An accident caused by a text message takes a matter of seconds and can cause major damage. Drivers must be responsible and aware of the dangers caused by cell phone use while driving, especially texting. Do not text and drive because you are more likely to get into an accident.
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Vocabulary

• aware (adjective) Informed and alert.
• car accidents (noun) When an automobile collides with anything that causes damage to the automobile.
• distracting (verb) To draw away or divert.
• loss of control (noun) To be without or lose ability to have direction.
• multitask (verb) Do several things at once.
• responsible (adjective) answerable or accountable, as for something with one's own power, control, or management.
• text messaging (noun) The process by which text messages are transmitted.

Fill in the blanks with the correct vocabulary words:

• ________ __________ is a very easy way to talk to your friends.
• To be a good driver means that you must be __________.
• Working as an ESL teacher requires the ability to ___________.
• My neighbor survived a really bad ___________ __________.
• All of the noise in the library was very __________.
• Everyone was well ________ that the paper was due on Monday.
• When school gets to be overwhelming, you tend to feel a sense of ______ __ ________.

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Grammar Point
The paragraph contains several infinitive or -ing forms of verbs. These words are verbs that end with an -ing. Can you find all the -ing endings in the paragraph? Make a list of (5) infinitive forms of verbs. Use at least (3) of those words in a paragraph.
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Link
http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbiHwGBsRr0