My summer hols wr CWOT. B4, we usd 2 go 2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3 : -@ kids FTF. ILNY; its gr8. Can you understand this sentence? If you can't, don't feel too bad. The middle school teacher in England who received this as homework couldn't either. This is Netspeak: the language of computerized communication found on Internet or mobile phones. To newcomers, it can look like a completely foreign language. So, what is the "translation" of the sentence above? My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend, and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York; it's great. Schoolteachers and parents say this new form of writing is harming the English language. Increasing spelling and grammatical mistakes can be seen in students' writing. They fear the language could become corrupted . Everyone should just relax, say linguists . They believe Netspeak is in fact more of a good thing. David Crystal, from the University of Wales, argues that Netspeak and Internet create a new language use and the almost lost art of diary writing has been picked up again. Geoffrey Nunberg, from Stanford University, agrees. "People get better at writing by writing," he says, "Kids who are now doing text messaging and e-mail will write at least as well as, and possibly better than, their parents." Linguist James Milroy says, for centuries, it is believed without exception that young people are harming the language. And you can that when today's teenagers become tomorrow's parents, they too will think this way. Milroy argues that languages do not and cannot become "corrupted", and that they simply change to meet the new needs. However, Netspeakers do agree that it is important to teach young people how to speak and write Standard English. Cynthia Mcvey says, "I can understand Netspeak worries teachers and it's important that they get across to their pupils that text messaging is for fun, but that learning to write proper English is a must for their future." Perhaps we should give teenagers a little more trust anyway. Erin, age 12, says, "I wouldn't use text language in my homework. Texting is just for fun." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who received text as homework?
2. Where did that person teach?
3. Did the teacher understand?
4. What is texting language called?
5. Does it seem foreign?
6. Who thinks it's harmful?
7. What are they scared of?
8. Do kids write in diaries now?
9. Does Erin use Netspeak in homework?
10. How old is Erin?
Answer: 1. A middle school teacher
2. England
3. no
4. Netspeak
5. Yes
6. Schoolteachers and parents
7. language being corrupted
8. Yes
9. no
10. 12

BALTIMORE. MARYLAND--An old postcard changed the lives of an eleven-year-old boy and a very sick woman. The postcard had a picture of the steamship Titanic. The Titanic was the largest ocean ship in the world. It hit an iceberg and sank on April 14. 1912. More than 1,500 of the 2,200 people on the ship were killed. The postcard was passed from one person to another for more than 80 years. Then it appeared at a card show for people who liked to collect postcards. An eleven-year-old boy, Joey Russell, came to the show with his grandfather. His grandfather knew everything about the Titanic and its trip from England to New York. "Let's buy that postcard." he told Joey. "It will be important someday." Two years later, Joey's grandfather took him on a special trip. They went on a trip to the North Atlantic ocean to watch as workers pulled the Titanic up from the bottom of the ocean. Joey put his special postcard in his bag for the trip. On the ship, Joey met Edith Haisman. This woman was on the Titanic when it sank. She was one of the people who were _ Joey pulled the postcard out of his pocket. "Please sign this, Mrs. Haisman." he said. She was happy to write her name on the back of the postcard. When Joey got home, he put the postcard away and forgot about it, Then Kate Shelley, one of Joey's friends, told him that her mother was very sick. She needed an operation, but there was a problem. The operation was very expensive, and the family needed $80, 000 to pay for it. Friends and relatives tried to help. But where could they get so much money? Then when Joey went to see the new movie "Titanic", he had an idea. "Millions of people are seeing this movie and reading about the Titanic." Joey thought. He remembered the old postcard with Edith Haisman's signature on it. "Maybe I can sell it for some money. Then I can help Kate's mom." Joey told his mother and father about his idea to help Mrs. Shelley. His parents helped him try to sell the postcard to the person who would pay the most money for it. Joey's story was on television and in newspapers. Joey and Kate even went to New York to be on a national TV show. After the show, many people called in to offer money for the Titanic card. Someone bought it for $60. 000. Joey's kind heart and the old Titanic postcard worked together to save a woman's life. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Where did Joey get the postcard?
2. What kind?
3. Who took him there?
4. What was Joey's last name?
5. How old was he?
6. Who signed the postcard?
7. Where did they meet?
8. What was on the postcard?
9. Is that the ship they met on?
10. What happened to the Titanic
11. when?
12. How many people died?
13. Why did they buy the postcard?
14. How old was the postcard when they bought it?
15. Where was Edith when the ship sank?
16. Who needed an operation?
17. Why?
18. How much was the operation?
19. What did Joey do with his postcard?
20. For how much?
Answer: 1. At a card show.
2. a card show for people who liked to collect postcards
3. his grandfather
4. Russell
5. eleven
6. Edith Haisman
7. On a ship
8. a picture of the steamship Titanic
9. no
10. It hit an iceberg and sank
11. April 14. 1912
12. More than 1,500
13. Joey thought it would be important someday.
14. more than 80 years
15. on the Titanic
16. Kate Shelley's mother
17. she was very sick
18. $80, 000
19. sold it
20. $60. 000

Oliver is a cat. He has a sister called Spike. Oliver and Spike like to play outside. They chase bugs in the backyard. When they get tired, they sleep in the sun. They don't like to go outside when it is raining. On rainy days Oliver and Spike sit in the window. They watch the rain through the window. Oliver is big and has grey and white fur. His nose is pink. Spike is small and has grey fur. Her nose is the same color as her fur. Spike is round. Oliver is tall. Oliver likes to eat. He worries when there is no food in his bowl. Spike likes to roll in dirt. Sometimes she is smelly. At Christmas time they like to play with the Christmas tree and presents. Oliver climbs the Christmas tree and breaks ornaments. Spike plays with the presents and unwraps them with her claws. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. who has a sister called spike ?
2. what is oliver ?
3. what do the do in the backyard ?
4. who has a pink nose ?
5. is spike tall ?
6. who is tall ?
7. why does he worry ?
8. who likes dirt ?
9. what does spike do with the presents ?
10. what color is his nose ?
11. do they like to look at rain ?
12. where ?
13. where do they sleep ?
14. why ?
15. who is round ?
16. are spike and Oliver friends ?
17. do they both love christmas ?
18. why ?
19. do they like the rain ?
20. who has gray and white fur ?
Answer:
1. Oliver
2. a cat
3. chase bugs
4. Oliver
5. No
6. Oliver
7. no food
8. Spike
9. play with the Christmas tree and presents
10. pink
11. Yes
12. through the window
13. in the sun
14. They don't like to go outside when it is raining
15. Spike
16. Yes
17. Yes
18. ke to play with the Christmas tree and presents
19. No
20. Oliver