Peter is reading an article. Give short answers.

E-age communication

In the past, there were only a few ways to pass messages. Pigeon was a way of doing
it. Later on, people sent messages through telegrams. Afterwards, a home telephone was
invented. It made communication easier. How about nowadays?
In the E-age, even kids know how to use computers and use them to communicate
5 with friends. You can send emails to your friends or chat online with them on Facebook.
Nowadays, you can do these with a smartphone. A smartphone is not just a mobile phone.
It is like a computer. You can use it to play online games. You can use it to surf the internet
or read an e-book. Besides, you can use it to send voice messages or talk to your friend
visually.
10 In Hong Kong, smartphones become very popular. People like using smartphones
because they are user-friendly. You can use them to take clear and beautiful photos. How
wonderful!
E-age makes our lives easier, quicker and more convenient. Maybe one day, there
are some other new ways of communication. Let's see!

1. What did people use to pass messages in the past? pigeons / telegrams /
State two. home telephones

2. Which word in the article means “it is easy for us user-friendly

to use”?

3. What are smartphones like? computers

4. What do you do with your smartphone? take photos / watch

videos / chat with friends, etc

5. Read line 6. What does 'these' refer to? send emails to your friends
and chat online with them on
Facebook
 Alan is reading a playscript.

Characters:

Mum - a smart woman

Bob - a ten-year-old boy

Richard - a famous athlete

Enter Mum and Bob hurriedly.

Mum : (impatiently) Hurry up, Bob. You will be late for school!

Richard : Help! Help!

Bob : Mum, did you hear that? Someone is shouting for help.

5 Mum : I heard that too.

Richard : (shouts) Help!

Mum : Where are you? We don't know where you are.

Richard : (nervously) Over here. Can you see the stone under the tree? My name is

Richard. A witch wanted to steal all my powers. I refused, so she turned me

10 into a stone.

Bob : (shocked) Mum, the stone can speak!

Mum : Quiet, Bob!

(speaks to the stone) How can we help you? I am not a witch. I can't cast a

spell.
15 Richard : The witch is near us. She has also hurt herself. She has turned into

something very sharp. If you can find her and knock her on her head three

times, I will turn back into a man. Can you see her? She has only one eye.

(Two of them search everywhere carefully)

Bob : Mum, look what's on the ground! You usually use it for repairing clothes. Let

20 me pick it up and knock on its head three times.

Richard : (turns back into a man) Thanks a lot!

(takes something out of his pocket) Here is my name card. I will treat you to

lunch tomorrow.

Bob : (reads from card) Richard Wong ... you are the most famous athlete in Hong

25 Kong! Hmmmm ... can you train me up as an athlete?

Richard : Yes, of course. We can train with the basketball. The basic drills will be the

first step we should focus on.

Bob : (excitedly) Mum, I think I will be one of the members of the basketball team.

I will practise hard and achieve my goal.

Answer the questions in complete sentences.

1. How many characters are there in the play?

There are three characters in the play.

2. What sport was Richard good at?

He was good at playing basketball.

3. What did the witch turn into?

She turned into a needle.

4. Read line 7, what does ‘We’ refer to?

It refers to Mum and Bob.

5. Which word in the playscript means “repetitive training”?

The word “drills” means “repetitive training”.