Week 1 Homework
Original text:
If you bury into the stereotype of girls chatting away on their cell phones, you should think again.
One of the major wireless companies surveyed 1021 cell phone owners for a period of five years
and—surprise!—reported that guys talk on cell phones more than girls do. In fact, guys were way
ahead of girls, using an average of 571 minutes a month compared to 424 for girls. That’s 35 percent
more time on the phone! The survey also asked about conversations on home phones, and while girls
still beat the field, the guys are catching up.
Look at the five versions below. Compare the individual sentences and the texts as a whole. Which
version do you think is the best? Which individual sentences are the best? Highlight useful words
or phrases. In addition, focus on the meaning of the rewrites. Are there any significant changes in
meaning?
Sentence 1:
a) It is a common stereotype that women talk on their cell phones a lot more then men.
b) The assumption is women chatting away on their cell phones, but a new survey shows the
opposite.
c) There is a general stereotype about the amount of time spent by teenage girls communicating via
cell phones.
d) For a long time it was considered that young women are leading in using the chatting applications
at the cell phones, but according to the latest researches this oppinion found to be under debate.
e) The stereotype that female teenagers are using a lot their cell phones is not as accurate as it
seems to be.
Sentence 2:
a) However, a survey has been conducted, with 1021 cell phone owners participating for a period of
five years, and reported that men talk on cell phones 35 percent more time than women.
b) According to a survey of 1021 cell phone owners for a five-year period conducted
by one of the major wireless companies, men talk more on their cell phones than women.
c) However, 1021 cell phone owners were surveyed for a period of five years and according to the
report teenage males talk on cell phones more than teenage females do.
d) One of the major wireless companies conducted a survey of 1021 cell phone owners for a period
of five years, and the result was that young men uses their cell phones for chatting 35 percent more
time than young women do.
e) One of the major wireless companies surveyed 1021 cell phone owners for a period of five years
and reported that, surprisingly, male teenagers spend around 35% more time on the phone with an
average of 571 minutes a month compared to 424 minutes for female teenagers.
Sentence 3
a) Specifically, men were using an average of 571 minutes a month, while women only 424.
b) The survey found that men use an average of 571 minutes a month compared to 424
for women.
c) Young men were using cell phones in average of 571 minutes a month compared to 424 for young
women, which is a 35% difference.
d) The statistics show that young men, use in average 571 minutes a month compared to 424 of
young women.
e) The survey also asked about conversations on home phones and even if female teenagers are still
ahead, the difference in home phone use between female and male teenagers is decreasing.
Sentence 4
a) The survey also asked about conversation on home phones and although the stereotype is
confirmed in this situation, the difference is very tight.
b) That means that men talk on cell phones 35 percent more then women.
c) By contrast, it was reported that teenage girls spend more time conversating on home phones
compared to teenage boys.
d) The survey was also about conversations on home phones,and it seems like girls still
conquering,while guys are going to overtake them.
Sentence 5
b) The survey also covered conversations on home phones, and while women continue to lead in
that category, men are narrowing the gap.