WE can hear you—and we don’t want to hear you!
Come on, admit it. We know it’s happened to you, too. You were sitting quietly on the bus, reading your newspaper, when she took the seat next to you. Yak, yak, yak! You heard all about her boyfriend’s cooking skills. You heard about her sister’s new chocolate diet. You heard about the neighbor’s dog. Do you care? We don’t care!
Okay, we all love cell phones. They make it easy to stay in touch with friends and family at all times. The convenient features of smartphones are irresistible: hi-tech cameras, HD video, high speed Internet access, cool ring tones, even GPS guidance to help you get where you want to go! We remember when voicemail, flip phones, and QWERTY keyboards for texting were cool! Come on, admit it. You love those touch screens, games, and applications that can help you do just about anything you need to do. Want to find a restaurant near your class tonight? Check your phone. Need a map of the neighborhood? Check your phone. Want to know what movie is showing at the theater on Tuesday? Check your phone. It may be hard to imagine, but even the simplest early phones had keypads with a multi-tap function for texting.
Oh, and if you just want to make a phone call, you can do that, too. Haha!
All of these communication conveniences come with a cost. And we’re not just talking about the monthly bill! But now that we’ve mentioned it, let’s talk about the monthly bill. Most companies offer a bundle of services for a set price each month. You can add features to your plan, but that will usually add to your bill, too. You’ll have to pay for some special apps (applications) or games that you download. And if you want unlimited access to the Internet, you’ll need to have a more expensive plan for that, too.
But the biggest cost of all this convenience is suffering when people don’t observe simple phone etiquette. It’s rude to speak loudly on the phone in a public place. It’s rude when your phone rings or vibrates in a meeting. It’s rude when you interrupt a face-to-face conversation to answer a phone call. Many places ban cell phone use. Some trains have special “quiet cars” where no cell phones are allowed. Good cell phone etiquette means that you are respectful of others around you. No matter how interesting your bowl of cereal is to you, trust us: The guy sitting next to you does not want to hear about it!
ALAN: Good morning, Officer. Was I speeding when you pulled me over? I thought I was being very careful.
POLICE OFFICER: I didn’t pull you over for speeding. I pulled you over because you were talking on a cell phone while driving.
ALAN: For talking on the phone? Is that a problem? My wife just called to remind me about an appointment when I get back from my business trip.
POLICE OFFICER: Sir, using a handheld device while driving is illegal in this state. I can see from your plates that you’re from out of town, so I’ll let you go with just a warning this time. But, sir, next time just check the law before your trip. Maybe you should buy a hands-free device if you do a lot of driving for business.
ALAN: I will do that, Officer. In fact, I was thinking about buying a Bluetooth earpiece when I bought my phone. I will definitely get one as soon as I get home. Thanks.
POLICE OFFICER: By the way, I hope you weren’t texting when I pulled you over. Texting while driving is even more dangerous than talking.
| Tip 1 |
It is illegal in many states to use a cell phone while driving. You should check ahead if you’re traveling. Actually, it’s a good idea to turn off the phone while you’re in the car no matter where you are! |
| Tip 2 |
Have you ever been lost while driving? Many phone plans let you order GPS just when you need it. |
Pronunciation Pointer
Cell and sell are both pronounced the same way. The fancy word we use to talk about these words is homophones. Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelled differently.
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VOCABULARY
answer: take the phone call
application: a game or tool that you can download to your phone; things your phone can do
ban: not allow; forbid
Bluetooth: the special system that lets electronic devices work without wires or hands
bowl of cereal: a typical American breakfast made of dried grains like wheat and oats
bundle of services: a group of things your phone can do
communication: giving and getting information; for example, TV, radio, telephone, computer
definitely: for sure; absolutely
download: take from the Internet so that you can use it on your phone
earpiece: part of a phone that you can wear so you don’t have to use your hands to hold the phone and talk
etiquette: ways to be polite
face-to-face: in person; with the person right there
features: special things something can do
flip phone: phone that folds
function: use
guidance: help
handheld device: a phone or other device that needs hands to operate
illegal: against the law
interrupt: stop something while it’s going on
in touch: connected by talking
irresistible: so great you have to have it!
let someone (or something) go: not hold someone responsible for something; ignore something (to let someone off the hook)
multi-tap: selecting a letter on a phone by tapping the number key that corresponds to that letter
observe: obey; use
plan: the services you select for a certain price per month
plates (also tags): license plates on a car
QWERTY keyboard: letters arranged as on a typical English computer keyboard (look at the top row of letters!)
ring tone: the sound your phone makes to let you know someone is calling
rude: not polite
texting: sending typed messages by cell phone
touch screen: instead of typing, just touch to select an option
voice mail: system of keeping recorded messages when you can’t answer a call
yak: have a very casual conversation (usually about nothing!)
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