Lesson 7
Mom Calls the Shots on Son’s iPhone

Guidance

Do you have a mobile phone? What do your parents say to you about your mobile phone? 你有手機(jī)嗎？關(guān)于手機(jī)你的父母都對(duì)你說(shuō)了些什么呢？

1 Thirteen-year-old Greg Hoffman of Massachusetts in the U.S.A. was happy to get an iPhone for Christmas, but he was surprised to find out that his mom would be calling the shots on how it was used.

2 His mom, Jane Hoffman, included a contract along with the iPhone that listed eighteen rules that Greg has to follow if he wants to keep it.^① Some of the rules limit the time he can use the phone: not after 7:30p.m., and he can’t take it to school. He also has to promise not to send “hurtful” text messages and e-mails to people; give his passwords to his parents, and always answer the phone when his mom or dad calls. Greg also has to use his own money to replace the phone if it’s broken or lost.

3 Jane says the idea behind the contract is to teach her son to have a sense of responsibility and to learn to “coexist with technology, not be ruled by it.” And she advised him to, “Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling.^②”

4 Since Jane posted the contract on her blog she’s got a lot of support from parents, but she’s also met with some criticism for trying to be too controlling. It’s a tough call. Everyone has their own ideas on the best way to raise a child and when and how they should start loosening the apron strings.

(314 words)

Word bank

Notes

^① His mom, Jane Hoffman, included a contract along with the iPhone that listed eighteen rules that Greg has to follow if he wants to keep it. 他的媽媽——簡(jiǎn)·霍夫曼——隨手機(jī)一起附上了一份合同，這份合同列舉了十八條條款，如果格雷格想擁有這部手機(jī)，就必須遵守這些條款。

^② “Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling.” “抬起頭。觀察你周圍的世界。望望窗外。聽鳥兒歌唱。散散步。和陌生人交談。心存好奇但不要使用Google搜索。”

Practice

Ⅰ. Reading comprehension

1. What did Greg Hoffman get from his mother for Christmas?

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2. Which of the following is allowed according to the contract?

A. Use this iPhone after 7:30 p.m..

B. Greg can take his iPhone to school.

C. Greg should give his password to his parents.

D. Greg can send “hurtful” text messages and e-mails to people.

3. What is the idea behind this mother’s contract?

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4. Did all people agree with Jane after she posted the contract on her blog?

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Ⅱ. Word check

A. replace

B. password

C. responsibility

D. loosen

（ ）1. If something is broken, damaged, or lost, you get a new one to use instead.

（ ）2. 放松

（ ）3. 責(zé)任

（ ）4. a secret word or phrase that you must know