The Reading / Listening - World Wide Web - Level 3

The man who created the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has warned of the dangers of the Internet. He described his three main worries about how the Internet is being misused. The first problem is fake news. He said websites and companies are creating fake news just to make money, or to try and change people's political opinions. He said the danger is that fake news "spreads like wildfire". The second problem is political advertising. He said adverts are used in "unethical ways" to stop voters from voting or to make them click on fake news stories. His final concern is the misuse of personal data by governments. He said people are killed in some countries because of the websites they visit.

Berners-Lee invented the web in 1989. He said that it had "lived up to [his] vision" in many ways. He said: "I imagined the web as an open platform that would allow everyone, everywhere to share information, access opportunities and collaborate across geographic and cultural boundaries." His letter outlined a five-year strategy to keep his vision alive. He said there were complex problems, and that the solutions would not be simple. He wants to put, "a fair level of data control back in the hands of people". He also wants to stop governments from looking at our online data, which he said creates a "chilling effect on free speech". And he wants to fight against fake news and misinformation. He called on all Internet users to help.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    World Wide Web - Level 0 World Wide Web - Level 1   or  World Wide Web - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39246810
  • https://www.newscientist.com/article/2124201-web-creator-tim-berners-lee-speaks-out-on-fake-news/
  • http://webfoundation.org/2017/03/web-turns-28-letter/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. THE WORLD WIDE WEB: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the World Wide Web. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       Internet dangers / fake news / political opinions / political advertising / personal data /
       vision / platform / information / opportunities / strategy / solutions / free speech

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. GOOD: Students A strongly believe the Internet is a good thing; Students B strongly believe the Internet is a bad thing.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. DANGERS: What are the dangers of the Internet? How can we avoid them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Dangers

How to avoid them?

Identity theft

 

 

Phishing

 

 

Cyber-bullying

 

 

Fake news

 

 

Personal data

 

 

Addiction

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. FAKE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "fake". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. INTERNET: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about the Internet at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • shopping
  • gaming
  • YouTube
  • research
  • news
  • wi-fi
  • mail
  • social media

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The man who created the World Wide Web wrote about five dangers.     T / F
  2. The first problem the man mentioned was cyber-bullying.     T / F
  3. The man said fake news stories spread like wildfire.     T / F
  4. The last danger he mentioned was misuse of personal data.     T / F
  5. The man said the Internet had lived up to his vision.     T / F
  6. He outlined a 10-year plan to free the Internet of dangers.     T / F
  7. The man said the solutions to the problems were simple.     T / F
  8. The man asked everyone who used the Internet to help.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. dangers
  2. fake
  3. opinions
  4. unethical
  5. concern
  6. lived up to
  7. allow
  8. collaborate
  9. solutions
  10. chilling
  1. answers
  2. risks
  3. dishonest
  4. satisfied
  5. work together
  6. beliefs
  7. scary
  8. hoax
  9. let
  10. worry

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. warned of the dangers
  2. worries about how the Internet
  3. try and change people's political
  4. fake news spreads like
  5. adverts are used in unethical
  6. He said that it had lived
  7. allow everyone, everywhere
  8. complex
  9. control back in the
  10. creates a chilling
  1. to share information
  2. opinions
  3. ways
  4. up to his vision
  5. is being misused
  6. hands of people
  7. effect on free speech
  8. of the Internet
  9. wildfire
  10. problems

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
click
fake
main
visit
dangers
data
adverts
opinions

The man who created the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has warned of the (1) ____________ of the Internet. He described his three (2) ____________ worries about how the Internet is being misused. The first problem is (3) ____________ news. He said websites and companies are creating fake news just to make money, or to try and change people's political (4) ____________. He said the danger is that fake news "spreads like wildfire". The second problem is political advertising. He said (5) ____________ are used in "unethical ways" to stop voters from voting or to make them (6) ____________ on fake news stories. His final concern is the misuse of personal (7) ____________ by governments. He said people are killed in some countries because of the websites they (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
vision
called
access
simple
speech
allow
hands
alive

Berners-Lee invented the web in 1989. He said that it had "lived up to [his] (9) ____________ " in many ways. He said: "I imagined the web as an open platform that would (10) ____________ everyone, everywhere to share information, (11) ____________ opportunities and collaborate across geographic and cultural boundaries." His letter outlined a five-year strategy to keep his vision (12) ____________. He said there were complex problems, and that the solutions would not be (13) ____________. He wants to put, "a fair level of data control back in the (14) ____________ of people". He also wants to stop governments from looking at our online data, which he said creates a "chilling effect on free (15) ____________". And he wants to fight against fake news and misinformation. He (16) ____________ on all Internet users to help.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  He described his three main worries about how the Internet is ______
     a.  being miss use
     b.  being misused
     c.  being missed use
     d.  being miscued

2)  creating fake news just to make money, or to try and change people's ______
     a.  politically opinions
     b.  political opens
     c.  politically opens
     d.  political opinions

3) He said the danger is that fake news "spreads ______".
     a.  likes wild fare
     b.  liking wildly fire
     c.  like wild fryer
     d.  like wildfire

4) used in "unethical ways" to stop voters from voting or to make them click ______"
     a.  on fakes news
     b.  in fake news
     c.  on fake news
     d.  at fakes news

5)  people are killed in some countries because of the websites ______
     a.  they visiting
     b.  they visit
     c.  they visited
     d.  they visits

6)  Berners-Lee invented the web in 1989. He said that it had lived ______
     a.  down to his vision
     b.  up to his vision
     c.  on to his vision
     d.  in to his vision

7)  share information, access opportunities and collaborate across geographic and ______
     a.  cultural bound dries
     b.  cultural bounder ease
     c.  cultural bow dairies
     d.  cultural boundaries

8)  His letter outlined a five-year strategy to keep his ______
     a.  vision life
     b.  vision lives
     c.  vision alive
     d.  vision lifetime

9)  He wants to put, "a fair level of data control back ______ people".
     a.  in the hands of
     b.  in the bands of
     c.  in the lands of
     d.  in the sands of

10)  …looking at our online data, which he said creates a "chilling ______ speech".
     a.  effect on freedom
     b.  effect on frees
     c.  effect on freeze
     d.  effect on free

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The man who created the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, (1) ___________________ dangers of the Internet. He described his three main worries about how the Internet is being misused. The first (2) ___________________. He said websites and companies are creating fake news (3) ___________________, or to try and change people's political opinions. He said the danger is that fake news "spreads like wildfire". The second (4) ___________________ advertising. He said adverts are used in "unethical ways" to stop voters from voting or to make (5) ___________________ news stories. His final concern is the misuse of personal data by governments. He said people are killed in some countries (6) ___________________ websites they visit.

Berners-Lee invented the web in 1989. He said that (7) ___________________ to [his] vision" in many ways. He said: "I imagined the web as an open platform that (8) ___________________, everywhere to share information, access opportunities (9) ___________________ across geographic and cultural boundaries." His letter outlined a five-year strategy to keep his vision alive. He said there were complex problems, and that the solutions would (10) ___________________. He wants to put, "a fair level of data control back in the hands of people". He also wants to stop governments from looking (11) ___________________ data, which he said creates a "chilling effect on free speech". And he wants to fight against fake news and misinformation. He (12) ___________________ Internet users to help.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did Sir Tim Berners-Lee create?
  2. How many main dangers of the Internet are mentioned in the article?
  3. What do websites want to change with fake news?
  4. How does the article say fake news spreads?
  5. Who did the article say misuses personal data?
  6. When was the Internet invented?
  7. How long is the strategy to help the Internet stay safe?
  8. What did the article say about the answers to the complex problems?
  9. Where did Tim Berners-Lee want to put data control back into?
  10. Who did Tim Berners-Lee ask to help him?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did Sir Tim Berners-Lee create?
a) opinions
b) the World Wide Web
c) fake news
d) dangers

2) How many main dangers of the Internet are mentioned in the article?
a) 6
b) 5
c) 4
d) 3

3) What do websites want to change with fake news?
a) political opinions
b) honest opinions
c) personal opinions
d) opinions on art

4) How does the article say fake news spreads?
a) like the wind
b) at the speed of light
c) like wildfire
d) with the speed of a cheetah

5) Who did the article say misuses personal data?
a) social media
b) governments
c) advertisers
d) politicians

6) When was the Internet invented?
a) 1989
b) 1979
c) 2099
d) 1999

7) How long is the strategy to help the Internet stay safe?
a) 25 years
b) a decade
c) five years
d) eight years

8) What did the article say about the answers to the complex problems?
a) they are not simple
b) there are many
c) they are easy
d) they will take time

9) Where did Tim Berners-Lee want to put data control back into?
a) the hands of people
b) cyberspace
c) Internet companies
d)

10) Who did Tim Berners-Lee ask to help him?
a) governments
b) the FBI
c) social media sites
d) all Internet users

Role play

Role A — News

You think news is the best thing about the Internet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so great online. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): social media, shopping or gaming.

Role B — Social Media

You think social media is the best thing about the Internet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so great online. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): news, shopping or gaming.

Role C — Shopping

You think shopping is the best thing about the Internet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so great online. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): social media, news or gaming.

Role D — Gaming

You think gaming is the best thing about the Internet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so great online. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): social media, news or shopping.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'wide'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'web'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • lived
    • allow
    • five
    • simple
    • chilling
    • called
    • warned
    • first
    • wildfire
    • second
    • voters
    • killed

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - World Wide Web inventor worried about its future

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'Internet'?
    3. Have you had a problem because of the Internet?
    4. Do you prefer the name 'Internet' or 'World Wide Web'?
    5. How has the Internet made your life better?
    6. What would life be like without the Internet?
    7. How can governments and companies misuse personal data?
    8. What do you think of the idea of free speech?
    9. Should we all check if news is fake or not?
    10. How can we help to keep the Internet safe?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'danger'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How important is the Internet to you?
    5. How dangerous could the Internet be?
    6. What do you know about fake news?
    7. How dangerous is fake news?
    8. What do you do to protect your data online?
    9. How can advertising change politics?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Sir Tim Berners-Lee?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The man who (1) ____ the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has warned of the dangers of the Internet. He described his three (2) ____ worries about how the Internet is being misused. The first problem is fake news. He said websites and companies are creating fake news just to (3) ____ money, or to try and change people's political opinions. He said the danger (4) ____ that fake news "spreads like wildfire". The second problem is political advertising. He said adverts are (5) ____ in "unethical ways" to stop voters from voting or to make them click on fake news stories. His final concern is the misuse of personal data by governments. He said people are killed in some countries because (6) ____ the websites they visit.

    Berners-Lee invented the web in 1989. He said that it had "lived (7) ____ to [his] vision" in many ways. He said: "I imagined the web as an open platform that would allow everyone, everywhere to share information, (8) ____ opportunities and collaborate across geographic and cultural boundaries." His letter outlined a five-year strategy to keep his vision (9) ____. He said there were complex problems, and that the solutions would not be simple. He wants to put, "a (10) ____ level of data control back in the (11) ____ of people". He also wants to stop governments from looking at our online data, which he said creates a "chilling effect on free speech". And he wants to fight against fake news and misinformation. He called (12) ____ all Internet users to help.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. a)     creation     (b)     created     (c)     creative     (d)     creating    
    2. (a)     mainly     (b)     main     (c)     mains     (d)     maim    
    3. (a)     save     (b)     spend     (c)     print     (d)     make    
    4. (a)     be     (b)     is     (c)     do     (d)     have    
    5. (a)     user     (b)     uses     (c)     use     (d)     used    
    6. (a)     as     (b)     by     (c)     of     (d)     to    
    7. (a)     up     (b)     along     (c)     down     (d)     over    
    8. (a)     accolade     (b)     account     (c)     access     (d)     accept    
    9. (a)     livelihood     (b)     lifetime     (c)     life     (d)     alive    
    10. (a)     fair     (b)     fare     (c)     fear     (d)     far    
    11. (a)     hands     (b)     fingers     (c)     knuckles     (d)     palms    
    12. (a)     on     (b)     in     (c)     by     (d)     at

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the asrgnde of the Internet
    2. He described his three main sierorw
    3. change people's cilaopitl opinions
    4. fake news "esadrsp like wildfire"
    5. in "unecahlit ways"
    6. His final ocnncre

    Paragraph 2

    1. lived up to his iovnis
    2. an open rfalmotp
    3. access opportunities and rcollaaebto
    4. across ggphraoeic and cultural boundaries
    5. a five-year rtsyegat
    6. a "chilling fecfte on free speech

    Put the text back together

    (    )     information, access opportunities and collaborate across geographic and cultural boundaries." His letter

    (    )     on fake news stories. His final concern is the misuse of personal data by

    1  )     The man who created the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has warned of the dangers

    (    )     effect on free speech". And he wants to fight against fake news and misinformation. He called on all Internet users to help.

    (    )     ways. He said: "I imagined the web as an open platform that would allow everyone, everywhere to share

    (    )     is political advertising. He said adverts are used in "unethical ways" to stop voters from voting or to make them click

    (    )     change people's political opinions. He said the danger is that fake news "spreads like wildfire". The second problem

    (    )     of the Internet. He described his three main worries about how the Internet is being misused. The first problem is fake

    (    )     governments. He said people are killed in some countries because of the websites they visit.

    (    )     solutions would not be simple. He wants to put, "a fair level of data control back in the hands

    (    )     of people". He also wants to stop governments from looking at our online data, which he said creates a "chilling

    (    )     news. He said websites and companies are creating fake news just to make money, or to try and

    (    )     outlined a five-year strategy to keep his vision alive. He said there were complex problems, and that the

    (    )     Berners-Lee invented the web in 1989. He said that it had "lived up to [his] vision" in many

    Put the words in the right order

    1. being   main   how  is   Three   about  Internet   misused  worries  the  .
    2. money   news   Companies   just   are   to   creating   make   fake   .
    3. people's   opinions   try   change   political   To   and   .
    4. danger   like   wildfire"   news   The   is   that   "spreads   fake   .
    5. of   concern   personal   is   data   the   His   misuse   final   .
    6. had   said  many   his   lived  that   ways   vision   up   it   He   in   to   .
    7. that  everywhere  share  platform  everyone  would  An  to  ,  allow open  .
    8. vision   five   strategy   his   A   year   keep   alive   -   to   .
    9. people  the  control   level  Put  hands   back  of   a  of   in   data   fair  .
    10. users   Internet   all   on   called   He   help   to   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The man who created / creation the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has warned of the dangers / dangerous of the Internet. He described his three main worry / worries about how the Internet is being misused. The first problem is flake / fake news. He said websites and companies are creating fake news just to make / print money, or to try and change people's politically / political opinions. He said the danger is that fake news "spread / spreads like wildfire". The second problem are / is political advertising. He said adverts are used to / in "unethical ways" to stop voters from voting or to make them click on fake news stories. His final concern is the misuse for / of personal data by governments. He said people are killed in some countries because of the websites they visit.

    Berners-Lee invented the web in 1989. He said that it had "lived down / up to [his] vision" in much / many ways. He said: "I imagined the web as a / an open platform that would allow everyone, everywhere to share information, access / excess opportunities and corroborate / collaborate across geographic and cultural boundaries." His letter outlined a five-year strategy to keep his vision alive / life. He said there were complex problems, and that the solves / solutions would not be simple. He wants to put, "a fair level of data control back in the fingers / hands of people". He also wants to stop governments from looking at our online data, which he said creates a "chilling effect / affect on free speech". And he wants to fight against fake news and misinformation. He called on / in all Internet users to help.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_ m_n wh_ cr__t_d th_ W_rld W_d_ W_b, S_r T_m B_rn_rs-L__, h_s w_rn_d _f th_ d_ng_rs _f th_ _nt_rn_t. H_ d_scr_b_d h_s thr__ m__n w_rr__s _b__t h_w th_ _nt_rn_t _s b__ng m_s_s_d. Th_ f_rst pr_bl_m _s f_k_ n_ws. H_ s__d w_bs_t_s _nd c_mp_n__s _r_ cr__t_ng f_k_ n_ws j_st t_ m_k_ m_n_y, _r t_ try _nd ch_ng_ p__pl_'s p_l_t_c_l _p_n__ns. H_ s__d th_ d_ng_r _s th_t f_k_ n_ws "spr__ds l_k_ w_ldf_r_". Th_ s_c_nd pr_bl_m _s p_l_t_c_l _dv_rt_s_ng. H_ s__d _dv_rts _r_ _s_d _n "_n_th_c_l w_ys" t_ st_p v_t_rs fr_m v_t_ng _r t_ m_k_ th_m cl_ck _n f_k_ n_ws st_r__s. H_s f_n_l c_nc_rn _s th_ m_s_s_ _f p_rs_n_l d_t_ by g_v_rnm_nts. H_ s__d p__pl_ _r_ k_ll_d _n s_m_ c__ntr__s b_c__s_ _f th_ w_bs_t_s th_y v_s_t.

    B_rn_rs-L__ _nv_nt_d th_ w_b _n 1989. H_ s__d th_t _t h_d "l_v_d _p t_ [h_s] v_s__n" _n m_ny w_ys. H_ s__d: "_ _m_g_n_d th_ w_b _s _n _p_n pl_tf_rm th_t w__ld _ll_w _v_ry_n_, _v_rywh_r_ t_ sh_r_ _nf_rm_t__n, _cc_ss _pp_rt_n_t__s _nd c_ll_b_r_t_ _cr_ss g__gr_ph_c _nd c_lt_r_l b__nd_r__s." H_s l_tt_r __tl_n_d _ f_v_-y__r str_t_gy t_ k__p h_s v_s__n _l_v_. H_ s__d th_r_ w_r_ c_mpl_x pr_bl_ms, _nd th_t th_ s_l_t__ns w__ld n_t b_ s_mpl_. H_ w_nts t_ p_t, "_ f__r l_v_l _f d_t_ c_ntr_l b_ck _n th_ h_nds _f p__pl_". H_ _ls_ w_nts t_ st_p g_v_rnm_nts fr_m l__k_ng _t __r _nl_n_ d_t_, wh_ch h_ s__d cr__t_s _ "ch_ll_ng _ff_ct _n fr__ sp__ch". _nd h_ w_nts t_ f_ght _g__nst f_k_ n_ws _nd m_s_nf_rm_t__n. H_ c_ll_d _n _ll _nt_rn_t _s_rs t_ h_lp.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the man who created the world wide web sir tim berners-lee has warned of the dangers of the internet he described his three main worries about how the internet is being misused the first problem is fake news he said websites and companies are creating fake news just to make money or to try and change people's political opinions he said the danger is that fake news "spreads like wildfire" the second problem is political advertising he said adverts are used in "unethical ways" to stop voters from voting or to make them click on fake news stories his final concern is the misuse of personal data by governments he said people are killed in some countries because of the websites they visit berners-lee invented the web in 1989 he said that it had "lived up to [his] vision" in many ways he said "i imagined the web as an open platform that would allow everyone everywhere to share information access opportunities and collaborate across geographic and cultural boundaries" his letter outlined a five-year strategy to keep his vision alive he said there were complex problems and that the solutions would not be simple he wants to put "a fair level of data control back in the hands of people" he also wants to stop governments from looking at our online data which he said creates a "chilling effect on free speech" and he wants to fight against fake news and misinformation he called on all internet users to help

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ThemanwhocreatedtheWorldWideWeb,SirTimBerners-Lee,haswar
    nedofthedangersoftheInternet.Hedescribedhisthreemainworriesab
    outhowtheInternetisbeingmisused.Thefirstproblemisfakenews.Hes
    aidwebsitesandcompaniesarecreatingfakenewsjusttomakemoney,
    ortotryandchangepeople'spoliticalopinions.Hesaidthedangeristhatf
    akenews"spreadslikewildfire".Thesecondproblemispoliticaladvertisi
    ng.Hesaidadvertsareusedin"unethicalways"tostopvotersfromvoting
    ortomakethemclickonfakenewsstories.Hisfinalconcernisthemisuseo
    fpersonaldatabygovernments.Hesaidpeoplearekilledinsomecountri
    esbecauseofthewebsitestheyvisit.Berners-Leeinventedthewebi
    n1989.Hesaidthatithad"livedupto[his]vision"inmanyways.Hesaid:"
    Iimaginedthewebasanopenplatformthatwouldalloweveryone,every
    wheretoshareinformation,accessopportunitiesandcollaborateacros
    sgeographicandculturalboundaries."Hisletteroutlinedafive-yearstr
    ategytokeephisvisionalive.Hesaidtherewerecomplexproblems,andt
    hatthesolutionswouldnotbesimple.Hewantstoput,"afairlevelofdatac
    ontrolbackinthehandsofpeople".Healsowantstostopgovernmentsfro
    mlookingatouronlinedata,whichhesaidcreatesa"chillingeffectonfree
    speech".Andhewantstofightagainstfakenewsandmisinformation.He
    calledonallInternetuserstohelp.

    Free writing

    Write about World Wide Web for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    What are the main dangers of the World Wide Web and what are the solutions?

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    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 out more about Sir Tim Berners-Lee. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. THE WORLD WIDE WEB: Make a poster about the World Wide Web. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. DANGERS: Write a magazine article about the dangers of the World Wide Web. Include imaginary interviews with people who think it will be safer in the future, and with those who think it will be more dangerous in the future.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on the World Wide Web. Ask him/her three questions about the World Wide Web. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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