Q: OK, I admit it: emoticons are popular. Some people even think they are fun. Many seem unable to get through an e-mail or Instant Message chat sentence without using one. Some feel that they add feeling and character to otherwise cold digital communications.

Some people, such as a Hollywood scriptwriter John Blumenthal, however, _ the use of emoticons as "infantile just like the people who use them". He believes that words themselves should be enough. "If you're funny, happy or sad, that should be apparent from the comment that goes before the emoticons," he argues.

In the eyes of Blumenthal, the use of emoticons is a gender issue. "Men don't use emoticons very much. Maybe not at all," he said, "Teenage girls and women seem to use them a lot. Maybe there's an emoticon gene."

It's an interesting opinion, but it is not shared by all.

In an interview with The New York Times, Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at the University of California, said that emoticons are popular because our brains are programmed "to seek out representations of humanity". He believes that they are popular not because they are shortcuts for the lazy, but because they bring in something beyond language. They satisfy our needs to be with and communicate with people.

All of these arguments may be somehow right. Each one of us will choose to communicate in our own way. I tried to use one once and felt like I was stealing into a primary school class that I had no place being in. I'd rather let my words do the talking.

Friends, however, send me messages and e-mails full of emoticons. I have no problem with this. I don't regard any of my friends as lazy or immature. It's just a question of individuality.

1. emoticons
2. No
3. to add feeling and character to otherwise cold digital communications.
4. a Hollywood scriptwriter
5. infantile
6. that words themselves should be enough
7. Teenage girls and women
8. no
9. professor of psychology
10. University of California,
11. because our brains are programmed "to seek out representations of humanity"
12. No
13. because they bring in something beyond language.
14. They satisfy our needs to be with and communicate with people.
15. In an interview with The New York Times
16. individuality.
17. No
18. No
19. to be with and communicate with people.
20. Yes

Numbered questions:
1. What are popular?
2. Do people think they are boring?
3. Why do people use them?
4. Who is John Blumenthal?
5. What does he think about using them?
6. What does he think?
7. Who does he say uses them?
8. Does everyone think the same as he does?
9. Who is Dacher Keltner?
10. Where?
11. Why do they think it is common to use them?
12. Does he think it's because we are lazy?
13. Then why?
14. What else does he say?
15. When did he say this?
16. What does he say it's a question of?
17. Do enemies use these?
18. Do men use them according to Blumenthal?
19. What need do the satisfy?
20. Are both arguments right?

CHAPTER XIV

A GLEAM OF LIGHT

"I would advise that you keep that satchel and the picture out of sight at first," said Professor Potts, as he rang the bell of the sanitarium. "Talk to the old sailor and try to draw him out. Then show him his belongings when you think the time ripe."

Mr. Wadsworth and Dave thought this good advice, and when they were ushered into the old sailor's presence, the boy kept the satchel behind him.

"Well, douse my toplights, but I'm glad to see ye all!" cried Billy Dill, as he shook hands. "It's kind o' you to pay a visit to such an old wreck as I am."

"Oh, you're no wreck, Mr. Dill," answered Oliver Wadsworth. "We'll soon have you as right and tight as any craft afloat," he added, falling into the tar's manner of speaking.

"Bless the day when I can float once more, sir. Do you know, I've been thinkin' that a whiff o' salt air would do me a sight o' good. Might fix my steerin' apparatus," and the tar tapped his forehead.

"Then you must have a trip to the ocean, by all means," said Caspar Potts. He turned to the rich manufacturer. "It might be easily arranged."

"Dill, I want to talk to you about the time you were out in the South Seas," said Dave, who could bear the suspense no longer. "Now, please follow me closely, will you?"

"Will if I can, my hearty." The sailor's forehead began to wrinkle. "You know my memory box has got its cargo badly shifted." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who were they trying to draw out?
2. What was his job?
3. Was he glad to see them?
4. Did he consider himself young?
5. Did Oliver agree with him?
6. How did Oliver speak?
7. Where did Caspar say the sailor should go?
8. Was it hard to arrange?
9. What did Dave want to talk about?
10. Could the sailor remember?
Answer:
1. Billy Dill
2. sailor
3. yes
4. No
5. No
6. tar's manner
7. ocean
8. no
9. the South Seas
10. He wasn't sure