【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. affair /əˈfɛər/ (n.) – a secret relationship between two people
Example: Having an affair with another person usually causes breakups among couples.
2. breakup /ˈbreɪkˌʌp/ (n.) – the end of a romantic relationship
Example: Our incompatibility led to our breakup.
3. impact /ˈɪmpækt/ (n.) – a strong impression or effect on someone or something
Example: His controversial post on Facebook had a huge impact, sparking debates among other users.
4. jealousy /ˈdʒɛləsi/ (n.) – the feeling of slight anger or envy when another person is attracted to one’s partner
Example: I don’t want my wife to feel any jealousy so I avoid interacting too much with other women.
5. infidelity /ˌɪnfɪˈdɛlɪti/ (n.) – the act of being unfaithful in a romantic or marital relationship
Example: Infidelity is one of the most common causes of divorce.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
Couples who spend more time on Twitter may gradually destroy their relationship, according to a study by Russell Clayton from the University of Missouri-Columbia [mi-ZOO R-ee, - ZOO R-uh].
Facebook has long been blamed for a lot of affairs and split-ups. Similarly, Twitter is now causing trouble between partners because of so much time spent on the network as well as jealousy with whom the other is talking to.
The study involved 580 Twitter users with ages ranging from 18 to 67. Before asking personal questions, Clayton first analyzed the users’ tweets. Using an online questionnaire, he asked the participants about their Twitter usage and their relationship with their partners. He also evaluated the impact of the time spent by the users and their Twitter-related conflicts.
The participants of the study were mostly male. And among the users, 62% were Caucasians [kaw-KEY-zhuh nz], 15% were Asians, 12% were Hispanic, 6% were African Americans, while 5% were Native Americans.
According to the study, the greater the couple’s activity on Twitter, the more they tend to cheat on their partners, eventually causing breakups. The study showed that couples argue about the time they spend on the site and how they get too friendly with other users. However, couples who share a single account have a lesser tendency to have arguments because of Twitter.
Problems caused by Twitter may also lead to infidelity or divorce. The study also found that even the length of the relationship does not affect the results. However, further studies are needed to determine whether or not other social media sites such as Instagram also cause relationship problems.
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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
· Do you agree that too much use of Twitter can ruin a relationship? Why or why not?
· What can couples do to resolve conflicts when their partner shows signs of unfaithfulness?
Discussion B
· What do you think are the other harmful effects of using social networking sites? Kindly discuss your answer.
· How can people avoid these harmful effects?