Unlocking Word
Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in
today’s article.
1. raised
a few eyebrows (idiom) [reyzd a fyoo ahy-brous] – to shock or surprise people
Example: The sudden death of the president raised a few eyebrows.
2. riot
(n.) [rahy-uht] – public disorder caused by a group of people who become noisy and
out of control, most often damaging property and acting violently
3. movement
(n.) [moov-muhnt] – the organized action of a group of people who share the same
ideas or goals
Example: They organized a movement to save endangered wild animals.
4. compatibility
(n.) [kuhm-pat-uh-bil-li-tee] – able to exist and go together without conflict
Example: They became best friends right away
because of their good compatibility.
5. solely
(adv.) [sohl-lee] – only; for nothing other than
Example: It is solely the accountant who can explain the company’s financial
statements.
Article
Read the text below.
Facebook users can now send SMS (short messaging
service) messages with the new instant messaging application for mobile
phones introduced by the social networking giant last August.
With this application, Facebook users can send text
messages directly to the mobile phones of friends or groups of people.
Before, Facebook users could only send and receive messages by going online
on their Facebook accounts.
The launching of this new application has raised a few eyebrows because its
timing is close to the recent riot
in London. Those who participated in the said incident used a Blackberry
mobile messenger application to organize and manage their movement.
BBC News thinks, however, that Facebook timed the
launching before the release of Apple’s latest mobile operating system (iOS
5) which includes an instant messenger feature. Stuart Miles, a technology
expert from Pocket-lint.com, suggests that Facebook might be taking advantage
of its compatibility with both
iPhone and Android. Unlike other applications like Facetime which is solely used on iPhone units and BBM
for Blackberry, Facebook can work on either phone.
Currently, Facebook mobile messenger is only
available in the United States but it is expected to reach other countries
soon.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion
A
·
What
do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of using social networking
sites?
·
How
do you usually communicate with your friends or workmates?
Discussion
B
·
What
mobile features do you use often?
Which mobile features
or applications do you think are not really necessary? Why?
