Lesson 1

Reading

1. Read the text and choose the best title.

1. Why penfriends are history
2. Penfriends are here to stay
3. The last and longest penfriends

2. Read again and answer the questions in your notebook.

1. Name three differences between communication now and in the past.

Now, people have apps and smartphones to communicate. They didn’t in the past.
Now, we expect people to reply very soon. In the past, replies took a long time.
Now, we need apps, passwords and anti-virus software. In the past, you only needed a pen and paper.

2. Penfriends were very popular, though letters took very long to arrive. Why do you think this happened?

In the past, it was a way for people to compare their lives with people in different places. They could learn a lot about each other’s lives by doing this.

3. How are online clubs and penfriends different?

Most online clubs need a password and access to the internet. Penfriends do not need any technology.

5. Why do you think Nellie still prefers writing letters until now?

a. She feels that letters express her ideas better.
b. Her penfriend prefers to receive letters.
c. She has no money to buy a smartphone.
d. Mobile phones make her stressed.

Vocabulary

3. Complete the sentences with these words and expressions from the text.

1. It is important to get an anti-virus software for your computer to protect your personal details.

2. You can send emails and use the internet on a smartphone.

3. Choose a strong password for your computer. Your name or 1234 are not very good ones!

4. In England, people take it for granted that it will rain in the summer.

5. My friend has a great app on his phone. It knows where all the planes in the sky are going!

6. Sending letters to a penfriend was very popular in the past.