Are
Cell Phones Dangerous? Pre-reading Vocabulary
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Word
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Meaning
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conductedverb
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Carried out with control
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definitive adj
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complete; well understood
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device noun
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a
thing that people use for a specific purpose
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err
on the side of caution idiom
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take
the necessary precaution due to a possible risk
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funded verb
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paid
or partially paid for
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Gaming consolesnoun
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electronic
devices that allow people to play video games
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hazardousadjective
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dangerous;
could cause injury or health problems
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illustrateverb
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show
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logical adj
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makessense
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Longterm exposurenoun
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the
use or close proximity to something over a long period of time
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mobilephone noun
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a
wireless phone that can be carried with you out of the home and office
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Potential noun
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Good possibility
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radiationnoun
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a
type of energy that is transmitted as waves or rays
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tissue verb
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group
of cells in the body that work together
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tobacco noun
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dried
leaves found in cigarettes
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Are Cell Phones Dangerous? Reading
Is
talking on a cell phone hazardous to your health? It is difficult to know for
sure. Some research suggests that heavy users of mobile phones are at a greater
risk of developing brain tumours. However, many other studies suggest there are
no links between cancer and cell phone use.
The
main problem with the current research is that mobile phones have only been
popular since the 1990s. As a result, it is impossible to study the long term
exposure of cell phone use. This concerns many health professionals who point
out that many cancers take at least 10 years to develop. Another concern about
these studies is that many have been funded by those who benefit financially
from the cell phone industry.
Many
cancers take ten years to develop.
Over
three billion people use cell phones on a daily basis, and many talk for more
than an hour a day. Cell phone antennas are similar to microwave ovens. While
both rely on electromagnetic radiation, the radio waves in cell phones are
lower in radio frequency (RF). Microwave ovens have enough RF to cook food and
are therefore known to be dangerous to human tissues. However, the concern is
that the lower frequency radio waves that cell phones rely on may also be
dangerous. It seems logical that holding a heat source near your brain for a
long period of time is a potential health hazard.
Cell
phones get hot when they are used for a long period of time.
Some
researchers believe that other types of wireless technology may also be
dangerous to human health, including laptops, cordless phones, and gaming
consoles. Organizations that are concerned about the effects of Electromagnetic
Radiation suggest replacing all cordless devices with wired ones. They say that
many cordless phones emit dangerous levels of EMR even when they are not in
use. They even suggest keeping electronic devices, such as computers and alarm
clocks out of bedrooms, or at least six feet from your pillow.
Other
wireless technology may also be hazardous to our health.
A
growing number of health professionals worldwide are recommending that cell
phone users err on the side of caution until more definitive studies can be
conducted. They recommend that adults use head sets or speaker phones and that
children and teens, whose brain tissue are still developing, use cell phones
only for emergencies. Concerned medical experts use the example of tobacco to
illustrate the potential risks. Many years ago, people smoked freely and were
not concerned about the effects of cigarettes on their health. Today, people
know that cigarettes cause lung cancer, though it is still unknown exactly how
or why. Some doctors fear that the same thing will happen with devices such as
cell phones.
Vocabulary quiz
This quiz is based on this cell phone vocabulary page.
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1
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Another word for
dangerous is …
a) logical b)
hazardous c) potential d) definite
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2
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The device used
for playing video games is a gaming …
a) mobile b)
radiator c) console d) exposure
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3
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The term
"funded" means …
a) helped pay for
b) underpaid c) on sale d) expensive
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4
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Microwaves are a
type of …
a) tissue b)
radiation c) mobile d) cell phone
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5
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A synonym for
"to show" is …
a) to conduct b)
to illustrate c) to device d) to fund
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Reading
comprehension quiz
This quiz is based on this cell phone reading page.
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1
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According to the
article, do cell phones lead to brain tumours?
a) Yes, there is
definite proof. b) No, there is no link.
c) It`s too early to know sure
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2
|
Why does the
article mention the 1990s?
a) This is when the
mobile was invented. b) This is when cancer was linked to mobiles. c) This
is when cell phones became popular.
d) This is when gaming consoles were
invented.
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3
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Why does the
article mention microwave ovens?
a) These device
also use EMR. b) Microwaves cause brain tumours.
c) Microwaves will soon be wireless. d) They have
been around for more than 10 years.
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4
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Which of the
following is NOT mentioned in the article?
a) Video game
console. b) televisions c) wireless phones d) laptops
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5
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How is cell
phone use compared to tobacco use in this article? .
a) They both cause
brain tumours. b) Long term studies are required to link it to cancer. c)
They are equally hazardous to your helth.
d) They both affect adults rather than
children
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Grammar quiz
When writing numbers it is important to be
consistent within one essay or document. Here is a
guideline:
- Numbers one through nine should be
written out.
- Numbers 10 and up should be written
as numerals.
- At the beginning of a sentence
numbers should be written out. (Six people had cell phones in our class.)
- Large numbers should be written in
the simplest form possible: three million; 345,987
- When you do write numbers such as 22
or 145 use a hyphen: twenty-two; one-hundred and forty-five
- If you have more than one number in a
sentence, choose one format and stick with it: There are five boys and
thirteen girls in our class.
- Use an apostrophe before a set of
years ('90s) or not at all (1990s). Do not put it between the year and s
(1990's).
Using the above rules as a guideline, spot
the problems in these sentences:
- The main problem with the current
research is that mobile phones have only been popular since the 1990's.
- This concerns many health
professionals who point out that many cancers take at least ten years to
develop.
- Over 3,000,000,000 people use cell
phones on a daily basis, and many talk for more than 1 hour a day.
- They even suggest keeping electronic
devices, such as computers and alarm clocks, out of bedrooms - or at least
6 feet from your pillow.
Answers
- The main problem with the current
research is that mobile phones have only been popular since the 1990s.
- This concerns many health
professionals who point out that many cancers take at least 10 years to
develop.
- Over three billion people use cell
phones on a daily basis, and many talk for more than one hour a day.
They even suggest keeping
electronic devices, such as computers and alarm clocks, out of bedrooms - or at
least six feet from your pillow.
Are
Cell Phones Dangerous? Topics for Discussion and Essay-writing
Here
are some ideas for you to discuss or write about.
- Do
you use a cell phone? If yes, how much time do you spend on it? Do you think your health is at risk?
- Besides
a cell phone, what type of wireless technology do you use? Do you feel safe using it?
- Are
you the type of person who errs on the side of caution, or do you take
risks?
- If
your doctor told you not to use your cell phone for long periods of time
would you agree?
- Do you think
children and teens should have their own cell phones? Why or why not?
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