READING COMPREHENSION: SHORT ANSWERS Answer in note form in the space e!ow" 1. In what situations is friendship difficult?

________________________________________ 2. Why is listening important? ________________________________________ 3. What can you do if you don't know how to solve your friend s pro!lem yourself? ________________________________________ ". Why is it important to know a lot a!out the sicknesses your friends have? ________________________________________ #. In which case is it ok to do something opposite from what your friend wants? ________________________________________ $. What is the !asic thing a!out friendship according to the te%t? ________________________________________ &. 'ame two ways of talking to your friend if you can't see them in person. ________________________________________ (. Where can you find reading material written !y young people? ________________________________________ ). 'ame two people you can turn to if your friend has pro!lems. ________________________________________ 1*. Which organi+ations can children with pro!lems call? ________________________________________

#ein$ There %or a %rien&

adapted from What is a good friend? pu!lished at http,--au.reachout.com-find-articles-what.is.a.good.friend

/riendships are pro!a!ly some of the most important relationships you will have in your life. 0any of your favourite memories are likely to include times you have spent with your friends. 1owever2 friendships can !e hard work sometimes2 especially when your good friend is going through a tough time or is 3ust feeling down. 'ot knowing what to do2 or what to say can !e hard2 frustrating2 and emotionally challenging. 1owever2 3ust !y thinking a!out what you can do to make them feel !etter2 shows that you are a good friend. 4o how can you !e there for a friend in need?

'isten . 'ever underestimate the importance of listening. 5ne of the main parts of listening is trying to understand the situation from your friend's point of view. If you aim to do this you'll find you'll ask the right sort of 6uestions and they'll appreciate having someone who truly cares a!out how they feel. /rom that point on you will pro!a!ly feel more comforta!le talking through possi!le solutions to your friend's situation with them2 if they want to. 7on't assume your friend wants advice . sometimes they may simply want someone to listen to what they're going through2 and to work out what they're going to do themselves. If it gets out of your depth2 or you feel that you can't cope2 say so2 and offer alternatives such as seeing a professional2 and offer to !e there to support them. Get the facts . If your friend has a medical condition or mental illness2 a good way to offer support would !e for you to learn a!out what your friend has !een diagnosed with. 8his simple action shows that you care and that you are not going to run away !ecause your friend's situation has changed. 8his will let them know that you like them for who they are. Gi(e )o*r frien& a h*$ . 9 simple gesture such as a hug or a smile can show your friend that they are not alone and that you are there for them. #e wi!!in$ to ma+e a to*$h ca!! . If you think a friend is displaying a serious risk to their personal safety2 you may need to act without their consent. 'o matter how hard it can !e or if you are worried a!out your friend's reaction2 3ust remem!er it's !ecause you care a!out them and you don't want them to !e hurt. 'et )o*r frien& +now )o* care . :ou might want to write a letter or a poem addressed to your friend2 showing how special they are to you and no matter how tough things get; that you will !e there for them !ecause that's the importance of friendship. ,eep in to*ch . If you can't physically !e with your friend when in need2 think a!out sending an email2 chatting on 04' or a 6uick phone call or sms; to show that you are there for them. Chec+ o*t ReachO*t"com . :ou may also find it helpful to look through some other <each 5ut fact sheets and stories2 and show these to your friend. 4tories on the site are inspiring and reinforce that your friend is not alone and that no matter how dark that tunnel looks there is light at the other end. 'oo+in$ after )o*rse!f =eing a good friend is important2 !ut !efore you can !e a good friend it's important to look after your own well !eing as well. 4upporting a friend through tough periods can place pressure on you2 and it may help to talk with someone a!out it. 8his might !e a teacher2 school counsellor2 family mem!er or another adult. >ids 1elpline or ?ifeline are also always there to give you support2 allow you to de!rief and to process some things that may !e going through your mind.

READING COMPREHENSION: SHORT ANSWERS

Answer the -*estions in note form. N*m er / is an e0amp!e" *. What status did the United Nations give to the Internet? The status of human right. 1. 7oes every!ody in the @4 have connection to the Internet? ______________________________________________________________ 2. What educational purposes does ?onnette use her computer for? ______________________________________________________________ 3. Why was it hard for ?onnette to do her homework in the two hours after school? ______________________________________________________________ ". What kind of people live at Aeople s Bmergency Center? ______________________________________________________________ #. 1ow many people are estimated to have an Internet connection in Ahiladelphia? ______________________________________________________________ $. What is one of the key conditions for freedom according to the 0ayor? ______________________________________________________________ &. What was added to Ahiladelphia s most recent infrastructure plan? ______________________________________________________________ (. Where will the new computer centers in Ahiladelphia !e? ______________________________________________________________ ). Where will laptop computers go? ______________________________________________________________ 1*. What is the aim of the Ahiladelphia city officials? ______________________________________________________________ 11. Where is it !est to have an Internet connection? ______________________________________________________________ 12. 9t least how many other cities and communities are working towards narrowing the digital divide? ______________________________________________________________

Phi!a&e!phia Stri(es %or Di$ita! E-*a!it)

adapted from http,--www.voanews.com-english-news-usa-Ahiladelphia.4trives.for.7igital.B6uality.12(23)1"(.html

8he @nited 'ations recently declared Internet access to !e a human right. =ut in the @nited 4tates2 as in many other countries2 millions of people do not have access to the wealth of information found online. In Ahiladelphia2 communities are responding to narrow the digital divide. 4even.year.old ?onnette Wiley frowns in concentration as she manoeuvres her mouse to +ig+ag a white arrow across her computer screen. With one finger2 she carefully types the name of one of her favourite we!sites. 4he likes to email her dad2 talk to friends on /ace!ook and is learning to do research online. D4ometimes my teacher will ask me 6uestions2E she says2 Eand then I will search them on Foogle.G =ut last year2 the second grader struggled to do Internet homework. 8he only computer she could use was at a local li!rary2 which usually closed two hours after school ended. ?onnette was still learning where all the letters were on the key!oard2 so she never had enough time to finish. ?onnette currently lives with her mother at the Aeople s Bmergency Center in Ahiladelphia. It serves as a transitional residence for homeless single women and their children. 8he do+ens of families it serves had no in.house computer access until recently2 when the city opened a computer la! in the center.

?iving in the digital dark ages made it difficult for children to do homework and for moms2 like /lorence 7el!ridge2 to learn computer skills or find a 3o!. D'ever had access to a computer so I m learning2E says 7el!ridge. EI m also in computer classes and like to learn all I can2 !ecause I never had the opportunity to.G Ahiladelphia city officials estimate "1 percent of residents cannot afford computers or to pay for Internet access. =ut 0ayor 0ichael 'utter plans to change that. D:ou can't truly !e free if you don't have information2E he says. E:ou can t truly !e connected if you have no a!ility to !e connected.G 'utter has added technology improvements to Ahiladelphia s most recent infrastructure plan2 which typically maps out future transportation and utility systems2 housing developments and pu!lic !uildings. B%perts2 like 9ndrew =uss2 from the city s division of technology2 say that s a vital step in closing the digital divide. DIt s kind of a new mindset that technology has to !e viewed across the city s infrastructure and it s a very important part of it2G says =uss. 4o important that2 over the ne%t two years2 Ahiladelphia plans to set up "( computer centers . like the one at the Aeople s Bmergency Center . in other shelters2 recreation centers and li!raries. It will also distri!ute more than #2*** laptops to low.income families and create pu!lic wi.fi spots for free wireless Internet access. 8he pro3ect will !ring the city closer to digital e6uality. 8hat's an important goal2 according to 'icol 8urner ?ee2 director of the 0edia and 8echnology Institute for the Hoint Center for Aolitical and Bconomic 4tudies. DWhat started out as a digital divide2 where at that time we were dealing with pu!lic access to computers and the Internet2 has turned into a movement to advance digital inclusion and digital e6uality2E says ?ee2 Ethat allows citi+ens to really reali+e the full !enefit of how this tool and platform can improve the 6uality of their life.G Computer la!s are a great way to !ring access to low.income families2 !ut ?ee says she would like to see cities invest in pro3ects that !ring the Internet directly into homes. D8he a!ility to accelerate in.home !road!and access allows people to have this unlimited connection to a resource that will change their lives and transform their lives. 8hat s really the ideal place to have citi+ens connected, where they live.G 5ther @.4. cities are also taking steps to close the digital divide. 4an /rancisco's mayor hopes to provide the entire city with free or low cost Internet access. 0inneapolis participates in a Computer B%change Arogram that gives refur!ished computers to low income families. 9nd smaller communities2 like =inghamton2 'ew :ork2 focus on teaching digital literacy skills to children and the unemployed.