【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. preference [PREF-er-uh ns, PREF-ruh ns] (n) – the condition of choosing one thing or person as more desirable than another thing or person
Example: The young man expressed his preference for DSLR cameras rather than camera phones.
2. giant [JAHY-uh nt] (n.) – a person or object that is extraordinarily accomplished or very successful
Example: Twitter is a giant among social networking sites because it has the most number of users.
3. sizeable [SAHY-zuh-buh l] (adj.) – considerably large, huge, or substantial
Example: I do not feel satisfied although I have already gained a sizeable number of new Facebook friends.
4. procurement [proh-KYOO R-muh nt, pruh‐] (n.) – the act of acquiring or buying something
Example: The company’s procurement of the building at the city helped boost its sales.
Example: The company’s procurement of the building at the city helped boost its sales.
5. at the forefront [at th uh FAWR-fruhnt, FOHR-] (idiom) – being in the lead or in advance
Example: Japan is one of the countries that are at the forefront in terms of technological advancement.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
A recent study conducted by the financial firm Piper Jaffray reported that the American youth have chosen Twitter over Facebook as their most important social networking site.
The study revealed that the American teenagers’ preference for social media has now significantly changed as compared with their preference earlier this year.
According to the study, 26 percent of the American teens surveyed preferred Twitter. On the other hand, only 23 percent favored the social media giant Facebook, showing a decrease of 10 percent from the figures earlier this year.
This news came after Twitter announced its plans to have a $1 billion public offering. This plan may imply that the company has been enjoying a sizeable growth, as proved by its 218 million active users and $316 million revenue the previous year. Clearly, Twitter has secured a huge number of “followers” ever since it was launched.
Nonetheless, there may still be hope for Facebook. According to Gene Munster, Piper Jaffray’s senior analyst, Facebook’s procurement of Instagram maintains its strong appeal to the public. As a matter of fact, Instagram soared seven points and consequently tied with Facebook in terms of popularity among American teens, making both sites a perfect match.
Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are now at the forefront of other social networking sites used by teens. A very small percentage—less than 10 percent—of American teens selected Tumblr, Google+, or Pinterest as their most important social media.
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【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 young people prefer Twitter to Facebook?
· Why do you think social media appeal so much to young people? Please explain.
Discussion B
· How do you think these social networking sites can help young people when it comes to participating in the society? Explain.
· What do you think are the disadvantages of using these social media? Explain your opinion.
