【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. stigma [STIG-muh] (n.) – a symbol of disgrace in a circumstance, quality, or person
Example: The stigma of having a mental disorder prevents other people from going near the woman.
2. desperate [DES-per-it, -prit] (adj.) – having the strong desire to do something
Example: Couples who are desperate to have a child often end up adopting from foster homes.
3. tendency [TEN-duh n-see] (n.) – a condition that makes something more likely to happen
Example: James has a tendency to give up easily.
4. gripe [grahyp] (n.) – a complaint or objection
Example: Jane started to feel annoyed with her husband’s gripes about her cooking.
5. myriad [MIR-ee-uh d] (adj.) – countless; innumerable
Example: She is having a hard time finding the right person to date due to myriad choices.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
A new report from the Pew Research Center revealed that one in ten American adults use online dating sites to find their partners.
The researchers surveyed 2,252 respondents aged 18 and above about their attitudes and tendencies toward online dating. According to the research, the general public’s attitude towards online dating has changed over the past years.
According to senior researcher Aaron Smith, lesser stigma is now attached to online dating compared with the previous years. Although one out of five still thinks that online dating is a desperate measure to find a partner, people has generally become more positive about it today.
As many people changed their attitude towards gay marriage, people’s attitude towards internet dating has improved as well. Match.com, eHarmony, and OkCupid.com are just some of the online dating sites visited by people. The survey also found that younger people who are single and looking for a partner have actually used dating websites at some point.
During Pew’s first research about online dating, one-third of the surveyed adults think online dating is for desperate people. Also, only 43% of the respondents are willing to go on an actual date. But now, most online daters actually engage in physical dates.
Online dating is ideal for people who are picky in choosing their partner or for those who are having a hard time finding one. However, Smith said that one of the main gripes of online dating is that people are different from how they appear online and in person. Also, the myriad options on the Internet prevent some people from settling down or choosing one partner.
|
【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· Why do you think online dating is popular in the US? Please explain your answer.
· What could be the reason why people’s attitude towards online dating has changed? Why do you think so?
Discussion B
· In your opinion, why do some people expose their personal information on the Internet?
· What are the disadvantages of giving your personal information online? Please explain briefly.
