PHONES FOR A NEW GENERATION

Paragraph 1: “I need a new phone,” I said to my mom. “In case you didn’t know, I’m still using
last year’s model.”

Paragraph 2: It was true. Here it was the year 2039, and I was still using a phone that was
released back in 2038. “It’s been a whole year since 2038 came out,” I went on, “and it’s just
ridiculous how out-of-date it is. I mean, it doesn’t even do holograms.”
Paragraph 3: Mom looked sympathetic – sort of. “I’m sorry, Sam,” she said. “I wish we had the
money for a new phone, but we just don’t.”
Paragraph 4: I stared out the window of the bus, which was zooming along at two hundred
miles an hour or so. A robot was driving it, of course. Robots have been driving buses ever
since I was born, back in 2024. Mom says people used to drive buses, but I think that’s a
ridiculous idea.
Paragraph 5: “The 2038 model doesn’t even fit behind my ear,” I said, still trying to make my
case. All the cool kids at school were keeping their brand-new phones behind their ears, but
my old phone was too big. “It’s, like, a whole inch long. I need this year’s model really badly.
We can print one out from the Internet.”
Paragraph 6: Mom shook her head. “I know how much you want one, but the 2038 is fine for
most things. You can do three-dimensional graphics with it. You can use it as a mind reader.
You can even microwave your lunch with it.“
Paragraph 7: Mom started high school back in 2014, or something ridiculous like that. She’s
always talking about how she used to use her phone to “call” people or sometimes to “text”
them. I think “texting” has to do with typing out messages with a little keyboard, but I’m not
really sure. People have much better ways to communicate now.
Paragraph 8: “And back when I was young, we had to recharge the battery every few days or
so instead of once a year, like with your phone,” Mom was saying. “Be glad your phone can do
all these wonderful things, Sam. I would have loved having a phone like yours.”
Paragraph 9: I sighed. I could understand Mom’s concern about cost. But really, the idea that I
should be happy with a phone that can’t even program a robot to clean my room – like this
year’s model can – is just ridiculous.
 COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. In which year does this story take place?
● 2024
● 2038
● 2039
● None of the above

2. According to the story, what can new phones do that Sam’s current phone cannot do?
● Program a robot to clean a room.
● Microwave a lunch or dinner.
● Send and receive text messages.
● Run for a year on one battery charge.

3. Which conclusion about phone use in Sam’s time can be drawn from the story?
● People in Sam’s time text more than people do today.
● People in Sam’s time no longer use their phones to text.
● People in Sam’s time use their phones to text and to call.
● People in Sam’s time never use their phones to read minds.

4. According to the story, what has been true for Sam’s whole lifetime?
● All phones are less than one inch long.
● All bus drivers are robots.
● All cool students wear their phones behind their ears.
● All phones can do three dimensional graphics.

5. What reason does Sam’s mother give for not buying him a new phone?
● The cost.
● The time.
● The color.
● All of the above.