Text interpretation activity, suitable for students in the seventh or eighth grade of elementary school, with questions based on the text “Does your mother know you spread hate on the internet?”.
This Portuguese language activity is available for download in an editable Word template, ready to print in PDF and also the activity with answers.
Download this Portuguese activity at:
SCHOOL: DATE:
PROF: CLASS:
NAME:
João wakes up every morning at six in the morning to take his daughter to school. When he returns from work, he never forgets to stop by the market to buy the whole grain bread that his wife loves. Last Sunday João helped fix the electric shower for the lady who lives upstairs. If there's one thing everyone agrees on, it's that:
John is a good neighbor.
John is a good father.
John is a good husband.
John's mother often tells her friends at church that John is the loving son she asked God for. Little does everyone know that John has a secret. A secret identity. When the ten o'clock news ends, João sits in front of the computer with a single mission: to spread hate on the internet.
João starts the night by opening a news page. Discovers that a fifteen-year-old girl was abused on her way back from a party.
“She goes out with a short outfit and then complains. If he was at home nothing would have happened.”
João presses the button to send the comment and changes the site. Who would have thought, huh? The same João who gets angry if a man messes with his daughter at school. João reads that a twenty-year-old boy was beaten that dawn after being seen kissing his boyfriend in a restaurant.
“You really have to crash to learn to stop these trips. Too bad they didn't kill him."
João sends the comment and is watching to see if he gets any likes. It seems that João doesn't remember that at the last lunch at the company he said that he doesn't judge anyone for their sexual orientation. Still waiting for the likes, João joins the Facebook and comes across an event dedicated to helping animals in the city where he lives.
“They don't even take care of their husband at home and stay here asking for dog food? I bet they're full of dirty dishes in the sink.”
In João's sink there are leftovers from last week's pizza. To end the night, João goes to actress Taís Araújo's page and comments: “I didn't know monkeys could act.”
Yawning, João turns off the computer and lays his head on the pillow, sure that he is a good citizen. A family man. A good person. After all, John never hit a woman. João never cursed that gay colleague, on the contrary! He even shares the table with him without complaining.
There are a lot of Johns on the internet. You probably know one of them. It could be that office colleague of yours, or that man in line at the bank. It could be that cousin of yours that you only find at family parties. Or worse: It could be you.
If you are a John, here is a request:
Stop confusing the internet with a toilet. The internet is not a place for you to unload the anger of your frustrated life. Just like in a bathroom, other people will use the internet with you.
Tonight before you go to bed, ask the question: Am I confusing the internet with my bathroom? If the answer is “yes”, reread the text.
Author: Natalia Nodari
1) According to the text, is John a good man? Explain.
2) Explain what the author of the text meant by the title "Does your mother know you spread hate on the internet?" What is the social function of this text?
3) What are John's identities?
4) Why are some sentences in the text in quotation marks? What do they represent?
5) João has good qualities in society, however, when he is alone in front of the computer he changes his identity. Review the sentences below and rate John's comments. Tick the alternative you think refers to John's comment. Then give your opinion about the attitude of the character in the text.
a) “he goes out with a short outfit and then complains. If he was at home nothing would have happened.”
( ) nasty comments
( ) malicious comment
( ) biased comment
() racist comment
Opinion:
b) “You really have to crash to learn how to stop this trip. Too bad they didn't kill him."
( ) nasty comments
( ) malicious comment
( ) biased comment
() racist comment
Opinion:
c) “They don't even take care of their husband at home and stay here asking for dog food? I bet they're full of dirty dishes in the sink.”
( ) nasty comments
( ) malicious comment
( ) biased comment
() racist comment
Opinion:
d) "I didn't know monkeys could act."
( ) nasty comments
( ) malicious comment
( ) biased comment
() racist comment
Opinion:
6) Why despite the bad attitudes John considers himself a good citizen? Do you agree with him? Justify.
7) According to the text there are many Johns throughout life. Do you know a João with the characteristics of the character in the text? Comment.
8) Present other cases of hate propagation on the internet.
9) Is there a solution to this problem nowadays? Explain.
10) Search the internet for two cases of prejudiced attitudes on the network and what was the punishment of those involved?
11) Make a mural with the title of the text highlighted, below the text of João, beside displaying the researches carried out. Develop phrases of encouragement to no hate propagation on the internet. Good work!
By Rosiane Fernandes Silva – Graduated in Letters
At answers are in the link above the header.
report this ad