The Black Hole of Technology

The Black Hole of Technology Summary In this blog post, called "The Black Hole of Technology," Leena Khan argues that overusing modern technology is making us less aware and less happy. The amount of information you read is less important than the quality. She tells the story of a visit she paid to a temple in Cambodia, where her phone distracted her from the sight of a beautiful ancient temple. She noticed that the people nearby, though poor, seemed far happier than her friends back home. Digesting useless information distracts us from what's really significant and keeps us from being happy. vocabulary Part of speech 1 devouring v taking in greedily 2 absorbing v learning; fully taking in 3 process v gain an understanding of 4 consumed adj 5 digesting v thinking over; mentally taking in scolded v to speak to someone angrily because you disapprove of their behavior. criticized angrily 7 murky adj dark and dirty or difficult to see through 8 stunning adj shocking or very impressive 6 Meaning & definition e.g. food or information Fully taking in something, such as information or an experience, with great interest absorbed; occupied , used up ingest - information Dark, gloomy, or not clear. Fill in the space with the suitable word: stunning 1- The man liked the _______________ performance of the players. process 2- I tried to________________ the lesson when I attended the session. scolded 3- My sister________________when she asked me about her broken phone. absorbing 4- The boys were________________ the scientific experiments. murky 5- Dangerous insects live in ________________water. devouring 6- Being wealthy is ____________ the life of many people. 1 The Black Hole of Technology Complete the following passage according to the words in the definitions table: In the quiet town of Willow Creek, a stunning transformation was taking place. The townspeople were absorbing the changes around them, especially the new devouring restaurant that had opened. Every evening, families gathered, …………………. delicious meals while sharing stories. However, the process of running a restaurant was not always smooth. One night, a chef accidentally spilled a murky sauce on the floor. The owner, feeling frustrated, scolded ………………………. the chef for the mess. Meanwhile, customers were happily consuming …………………….. their food, unaware of the chaos in the kitchen. digesting As the chef was …………………... the criticism, he realized that mistakes were part of the learning process. He vowed to improve and make the restaurant even better. 2 Name: Date: The Black Hole of Technology WORD LIST devouring process digesting absorbing consumed A. DIRECTIONS: In each of the following items, think about the meaning of the italicized word or phrase. Then answer the question. 1. If you are digesting instructions that your teacher gives you before a task, are you more or less likely to understand how to do that task? Explain your You are more likely to understand how to do the task because “digesting” means “thinking answer. _____________________ over; mentally taking in. 2. Sarah was consumed with fear when she entered the haunted house. Would you say that Sarah was unafraid? Explain your answer. No, because consumed means “to be absorbed by all of the attention and energy of.” 3. The directions to the ancient ruins were confusing. Caleb reread them so that he could better process them. Was Caleb paying attention the first time he read Probably, but the directions were confusing, so Caleb is the directions? Explain your answer. rereading them to make sure he understands them. Process means “gain an understanding of.” 4. Niko began devouring science books when she was only 8. True or false: Niko did not want to read about science. Explain your answer.false; devouring means “taking in greedily.” 5. Jia was having trouble absorbing what she was reading in her history book because she was distracted by loud construction noises out. Is Jia likely to remember what she read in her history book? Explain your answer. no; absorbing means “learning; fully taking in.” If she is having trouble absorbing what she was reading she wasn’t fully taking it in. B. WORD STUDY: A multiple-meaning word is one that has more than one meaning. For example, the word rock can refer to a “a large stone” or “to sway to and fro.” Below, write two sentences for each word. Each sentence should use a different meaning of the italicized word. 1. racket 1: noise - The children at the playground were chasing each other and making a racket. 2: bat with an oval shaped frame - Nana bought me a tennis racket for my birthday! 2. hide 1: to conceal / keep out of sight: Calvin can’t hide his admiration for his older brother Mkichael. 2: Skin of an animal: Leopards have spots on their hide; tigers have stripes. . Protagonist - main lead / main character Urban- relating to or characteristic of a city or town. Decline - decrease. Engrossed - being completely absorbed or fully involved Comprehension Questions: 1- Who is the protagonist of the story? The protagonist is a young individual struggling with how technology affects their life and relationships. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2- Where does the story take place? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… The story takes place in a modern urban setting, focusing on both the protagonist's home and various social environments. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-When does the protagonist begin to notice the negative impacts of technology? The protagonist begins to notice the negative impacts of technology during a series of ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… events where they miss out on important moments due to being engrossed in their devices. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4-Why does the protagonist feel trapped by technology? The protagonist feels trapped by technology because it consumes their time and attention, ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… leading to a decline in meaningful relationships and personal well-being. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5-How does the protagonist attempt to overcome their struggles with technology? The protagonist attempts to overcome their struggles by setting limits on their screen time, ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… engaging in offline activities, and reconnecting with friends and family. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Critical Questions: 6- What is the main conflict in the story? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… The main conflict revolves around the protagonist's struggle to balance their technology use with real-life experiences, leading to feelings of isolation and disconnection. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7-What message does the story convey about technology and human connection? The story conveys the message that while technology can enhance communication, it ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… should not replace genuine human interactions, highlighting the importance of finding a healthy balance. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Int'l coordinator Mr-Adel Helmy 1