Copy - IS IT REAL OR FAKE?

EDITED BY: VIVIAN CHITIVA

IS IT REAL OR FAKE?

Can you usually tell when the information you read online is real or fake? What clues can make information appear fake?

Degrees of truth

• Parents often have biased / dishonest opinions about their children’s abilities.
• It’s just a hoax / rumor – it might be true, but they’re not sure yet.
• Andy was suspicious / trustworthy that the news item might not be accurate.
• A good journalist does careful, accurate / suspicious reporting.
• The bank robbery turned out to be a hoax / white lie.
• It wasn’t untrue, but it was greatly exaggerated / false.
• I don’t see why you’re so upset! It was just a little misinformation / white lie.
• Selling counterfeits is a(n) accurate / dishonest way of making money.

1. Do you think all news is trustworthy?
2. Where do you go online to find accurate information?
3. How can you tell if an e-mail looks suspicious?
4. What is a popular urban legend in your community?
5. Under what circumstances is it OK to tell a white lie?
6. In what ways is social media controversial?
7. Do you think rumors about celebrities are usually true, partly true, or false?

Discuss the questions Use the previous vocabulary in your responses.

• the facts / must / check / by the editor.
• people / might / harm / by that false story.
• the rumor / couldn’t / control.
• the report / need to/ do / by this afternoon.
• the story / expect / go viral on social media.
• the manager / should / coherent with his ideas and his publications.
• that photo of me / had better / remove / from your post.

Passives with modals

This video went viral some years ago. Can you tell what happened here? Use passive voice as much as possible.

• What big world problem do you think has to _____? (fix)
• Do you agree that all animals need to _____? (protect)
• Should all children _____ thinking about going to college? (educate)

• What do you think should _____ about climate change? (do)
• Can people’s attitudes toward using plastic _____? (change)
• Is it important that elephants _____ from extinction? (save)
• Should people _____ to eat less meat, or is that a waste of time? (persuade)

Complete the questions with the passive form of the words in parentheses. Then ask and answer the questions with your partner(s).

What stories have you heard or read online that weren’t true? Did people believe them? Why? Did you believe them at first?

It’s a hoax!

THANK YOU