Question

As I enter my 40s, I’ve noticed many of my parents’ generation think social networking is something they are simply unable to understand. They fear that, should they try, they will somehow get it wrong; they will say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing or behave in a way that causes embarrassment(尴尬). But here’s the first secret of social media: Everyone feels this way.

I recently met a young actor who was complaining that her work demands that she join Microblog, but she always feels like she doesn’t have anything smart to say. It’s the same resistance (抵制)I hear from the older generation, who, however, have somehow believed that age is the barrier(障碍), rather than the differences of personal taste.

Here’s the second secret of social media: everybody uses it for more or less the same reasons. Older generations often sign up to stay in touch with children and relatives. We talk about this kind of communication like it’s some old-fashioned activity, but it is exactly why younger people use social media. The truth is that most people use social media to gently keep an eye on one another, to see how those they care about are doing without needing to ring them up on the phone every night.

And this is the last secret of social media: everyone gets to use them in their own way. Newcomers—younger and older—who worry about “getting it right” are thinking that there’s a right way to get them. But actually there isn’t. Personally, I talk a lot on Microblog. And some people post nothing and they use social media every day as readers. Social media companies would rather see people decorating their networks with pictures and posts, but there’s no rule against being a fly on the wall. It’s also a fine way to get involved.

We’re quick to forget that the web wasn’t invented by 13-year-olds; it was created by today’s seniors. I’d never try forcing those with no interest in social networks to use Microblog. But don’t let the talk of age divides put you off. There’s nothing to stop the older generation from joining in the network their own generation created.

1.What’s the author’s purpose of writing this passage?

A. To share with us his personal experience using social media.

B. To free the old generation from fearing using social media.

C. To explain why the old generation don’t use social media.

D. To tell us a few secrets of social media that he discovered.

2.The expression “a fly on the wall” in the 4 th paragraph refers to _________.

A. people who prefer reading online books

B. people who simply observe others’ posts

C. people who cause trouble to others

D. people who post many fancy pictures

3.According to the author, which is a reason for old people’s fear using social media?

A. They have no particular interest in social networking.

B. They prefer staying in touch with relatives in real life.

C. They believe they may be trapped in embarrassing situations.

D. They have no idea which contents to post online.

4.Which of the following may best describe the structure of this passage?

A. B.

C. D.

Answer 1