Unlocking
Word Meanings
Read
the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. distract (v.) [dih-strakt] – to cause someone to turn away his attention from something and direct it to another
1. distract (v.) [dih-strakt] – to cause someone to turn away his attention from something and direct it to another
Example: He could not study
well because he got distracted by the
loud music next door.
2. regulate (v.) [reg-yuh-leyt] - to bring
under control
Example: The doctor advised her
to regulate the amount of salt in her
food.
3. equip (v.) [ih-kwip] – to provide with things that are needed for a specific purpose
Example: Mountain climbers are equipped with the necessary tools to
ensure their safety.
4. activate (v.) [ak-tuh-veyt] – to make something
act or start working
Example: Most appliances today
are activated by just a push of a
button on the remote control.
5. evolve (v.) [ih-volv] – to develop slowly into another state or condition
Example: Her hobby has evolved into a good business.
Article
Read the text below.
Read the text below.
To prevent more car
accidents from happening, the US government plans to create regulations on the use of new car
technology.
At present, ten US states
ban the use of hand-held cellphones and 35 states ban texting while driving,
resulting in a 50% drop in road accidents in some states. However, in 2011 alone, more than 3,000
people in the US were killed in distracted-driving accidents.
Experts say many deaths on the road have been caused by driving distractions such as texting, Internet browsing, and looking down to check one’s mobile phone.
But even if drivers
use their phones less, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) worries that new built-in car technology may cause additional distractions.
Most new cars are equipped with built-in digital
devices that can connect to the Internet and smartphones. Such devices allow
drivers to access Facebook, find addresses, and use mobile apps even without
holding their phones.
Car manufacturers say
that driving is also much safer now because these built-in features are on
the car’s dashboard.
Yet NHTSA fears the
communication features may continue to endanger drivers who often activate the devices while driving. The
agency has started holding public talks on how new car technology can be controlled
to avoid further distractions and accidents.
However, car
technology is evolving so fast
that NHSTA is finding it difficult to create policies to limit each new technology’s
use. Many years may pass before the regulations on some car technologies will
actually become official, and by that time many other new technologies might already be in use.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Do you agree that drivers must not be allowed
to use devices while driving? Why?
·
Is technology putting people’s lives at risk?
Please explain your answer.
Discussion B
·
Does the government have the right to regulate
the way people use technology? Why? Why
not?
How
can you help spread awareness on the dangers of distracted driving?