❑ TEXTO: Read the article below and answer the questions that follow.
Virtual People, Real Friends
by Anna Pickard (The Guardian)
The benefits of forming friendships with those we meet online are obvious, so why is the idea still treated with such disdain?
Another week, another survey claiming to reveal great truths about ourselves. This one says that people are increasingly turning “online friends” into people they’d think worthy of calling real-life friends. Well, that’s stating the obvious, I would have thought! If there’s a more perfect place for making friends, I have yet to find it. However, when surveys like this are reported in the media, it’s always with a slight air of “it’s a crazy, crazy world!” And whenever the subject crops up in the conversation, it’s clear that people look down on friends like these. In fact some members of my family still refer to my partner of six years as my “Internet Boyfriend.”
It’s the shocked reaction that surprises me as if people on the internet were not “real” at all. Certainly, people play a character online quite often – they may be a more confident or more argumentative version of their real selves – but what’s the alternative? Is meeting people at work so much better than making friends in a virtual world? Perhaps, but for some a professional
distance between their “work” selves and their “social” selves is necessary, especially, if they tend to let their guard down and might say or do something they will later regret.
Those people disapproving of online friendships argue that the concept of “friendship” is used loosely in a world driven by technology, in which you might have a thousand online friends. They make a distinction between “social connections” – acquaintances who are only one click away – and meaningful human interaction, which they say requires time and effort. They note that for many Facebook “friends,” conversation is a way of exchanging information quickly and efficiently rather than being a social activity.
However, I’ve found that far from being the home of oddballs and potential serial killers, the internet is full of like-minded people. For the first time in history, we’re lucky to enough to choose friends not by location or luck, but by those who have similar interests and senses of humour, or passionate feelings about the same things. The friends I’ve made online might be spread wide geographically, but I’m closer to them than anyone I went to school with, by millions miles. They are the best friends I have.
Obviously, there will be concerns about the dangers of online friendship. There are always stories buzzing around such as “man runs off with the woman he met on Second Life” or people who meet their “soulmate” online and are never seen again. But people are people, whether online or not. As for “real” friendship dying out, surely, is social networking simply redefining our notion of what this is in the twenty-first century? The figures – half a billion Facebook users worldwide – speak for themselves. And technology has allowed countless numbers of these people to keep in close contact with their loved ones, however far away they are. Without it, many disabled or household people might go without social contact at all. Call me naive, call me a social misfit, I don’t care. Virtual people make best real friends.
- Adapted from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/jan/02/internet-relationships
❑ TRADUÇÃO DO TEXTO:
Virtual People, Real Friends
Pessoas virtuais, Amigos reais
by Anna Pickard (The Guardian)
The benefits of forming friendships with those we meet online are obvious, so why is the idea still treated with such disdain?
Os benefícios de fazer amizade com aqueles que conhecemos online são óbvios, então porque é que a ideia ainda é tratada com tanto desdém?
- "so why is the idea" - então porque é que a ideia.
- "still treated" - ainda tratado.
- "with such" - com tanto.
Another week, another survey claiming to reveal great truths about ourselves.
Mais uma semana, mais uma pesquisa que afirma revelar grandes verdades sobre nós próprios.
This one says that people are increasingly turning “online friends” into people they’d think worthy of calling real-life friends.
Esta diz que as pessoas estão cada vez mais transformando os “amigos online” em pessoas que considerariam dignas de chamar amigos da vida real.
Well, that’s stating the obvious, I would have thought!
Bem, isso é afirmar o óbvio, teria pensado!
If there’s a more perfect place for making friends, I have yet to find it.
Se há um lugar mais perfeito para fazer amigos, ainda não o encontrei.
However, when surveys like this are reported in the media, it’s always with a slight air of “it’s a crazy, crazy world!”
No entanto, quando pesquisas como esta são divulgadas na mídia, é sempre com um ligeiro ar de “é um mundo louco, muito louco!”
And whenever the subject crops up in the conversation, it’s clear that people look down on friends like these.
E sempre que o assunto surge na conversa, percebe-se que as pessoas menosprezam amigos como estes.
- "crops up in the conversation" - surge na conversa.
- "look down on friends" - menosprezam amigos.
In fact some members of my family still refer to my partner of six years as my “Internet Boyfriend.”
Na verdade, alguns membros da minha família ainda se referem ao meu companheiro de seis anos como o meu “namorado da Internet”.
It’s the shocked reaction that surprises me as if people on the internet were not “real” at all.
É a reação de choque que me surpreende, como se as pessoas na internet não fossem “reais”.
Certainly, people play a character online quite often – they may be a more confident or more argumentative version of their real selves – but what’s the alternative?
Certamente, as pessoas interpretam uma personagem online com bastante frequência – podem ser uma versão mais confiante ou mais argumentativa do seu verdadeiro eu – mas qual é a alternativa?
- "a character online" - uma personagem online.
- "quite often" - uma personagem online.
- "they may be" - podem ser.
Is meeting people at work so much better than making friends in a virtual world?
Conhecer pessoas no trabalho é muito melhor do que fazer amigos num mundo virtual?
Perhaps, but for some a professional
distance between their “work” selves and their “social” selves is necessary, especially, if they tend to let their guard down and might say or do something they will later regret.
Talvez, mas para alguns um profissional
a distância entre o seu eu “profissional” e o seu eu “social” é necessária, especialmente se tendem a baixar a guarda e podem dizer ou fazer algo de que se arrependerão mais tarde.
Those people disapproving of online friendships argue that the concept of “friendship” is used loosely in a world driven by technology, in which you might have a thousand online friends.
As pessoas que desaprovam as amizades online argumentam que o conceito de “amizade” é usado de forma vaga num mundo impulsionado pela tecnologia, no qual podemos ter mil amigos online.
They make a distinction between “social connections” – acquaintances who are only one click away – and meaningful human interaction, which they say requires time and effort.
Fazem uma distinção entre “conexões sociais” – conhecidos que estão à distância de um clique – e interação humana significativa, que, segundo eles, requer tempo e esforço.
- "acquaintances" - conhecidos, conhecidas.
- "meaningful human interaction" - interação humana significativa.
They note that for many Facebook “friends,” conversation is a way of exchanging information quickly and efficiently rather than being a social activity.
Observam que, para muitos “amigos” do Facebook, a conversação é uma forma de trocar informações de forma rápida e eficiente, em vez de ser uma atividade social.
- "rather than being" - em vez de ser.
However, I’ve found that far from being the home of oddballs and potential serial killers, the internet is full of like-minded people.
No entanto, descobri que, longe de ser o lar de excêntricos e potenciais assassinos em série, a Internet está cheia de pessoas que pensam como eu.
- "far from being" - longe de ser.
- "is full of like-minded people" - está cheia de pessoas que pensam como eu.
For the first time in history, we’re lucky to enough to choose friends not by location or luck, but by those who have similar interests and senses of humour, or passionate feelings about the same things.
Pela primeira vez na história, temos a sorte de escolher amigos não pela localização ou sorte, mas por aqueles que têm interesses e sentidos de humor semelhantes, ou sentimentos apaixonados pelas mesmas coisas.
- "For the first time" - Pela primeira vez.
The friends I’ve made online might be spread wide geographically, but I’m closer to them than anyone I went to school with, by millions miles.
Os amigos que fiz online podem estar espalhados geograficamente, mas estou mais perto deles do que qualquer pessoa com quem estudei, a milhões de milhas.
They are the best friends I have.
São os melhores amigos que tenho.
Obviously, there will be concerns about the dangers of online friendship.
Obviamente, haverá preocupações sobre os perigos da amizade online.
- "online friendship" - amizade online.
There are always stories buzzing around such as “man runs off with the woman he met on Second Life” or people who meet their “soulmate” online and are never seen again.
Há sempre histórias circulando por aí, como “homem foge com a mulher que conheceu no Second Life” ou pessoas que conhecem a sua “alma gêmea” online e nunca mais são vistas.
- "Buzzing around" – Circulando por aí, Zoando em volta, Zoando ao redor.
- "runs off with someone" – fugir com alguém.
- "soulmate" – “alma gêmea”.
But people are people, whether online or not.
Mas pessoas são pessoas, estejam elas online ou não.
As for “real” friendship dying out, surely, is social networking simply redefining our notion of what this is in the twenty-first century?
Quanto à extinção da amizade “real”, certamente que as redes sociais estão simplesmente redefinindo a nossa noção do que isso é no século XXI?
The figures – half a billion Facebook users worldwide – speak for themselves.
Os números – meio bilião de usuários do Facebook em todo o mundo – falam por si.
- "The figures" – Os números.
- "speak for themselves" – falam por si só.
- "half a billion" – meio bilhão.
- "users worldwide" – usuários em todo o mundo.
And technology has allowed countless numbers of these people to keep in close contact with their loved ones, however far away they are.
E a tecnologia permitiu que um número incontável destas pessoas mantivesse um contato próximo com os seus entes queridos, por mais distantes que estivessem.
- "countless numbers" – incontáveis números.
- "however far away they are" – por mais distantes que estivessem.
Without it, many disabled or household people might go without social contact at all.
Sem ela, muitas pessoas com deficiência ou famílias poderiam ficar sem qualquer contato social.
Call me naive, call me a social misfit, I don’t care. Virtual people make best real friends.
Chamem-me ingênuo, chamem-me desajustado social, não me importo. As pessoas virtuais são melhores amigos reais.
49 – (UEMG-VESTIBULAR-2015) What is the article mainly about?
(A) Making friends online is the only way to improve your business.
(B) Making friends through Facebook is worse than face-to-face relationships.
(C) Making friends online helps one to be in touch with other people.
(D) Making friends through Facebook can only bring about dangerous situations.
Comentários e Gabarito C
TÓPICOS - VOCABULÁRIO & RELAÇÃO SEMÂNTICA COM TRECHO DO TEXTO:
What is the article mainly about?
Sobre o que trata principalmente o artigo?
A) Making friends online is the only way to improve your business.
Fazer amigos online é a única forma de melhorar o seu negócio.
B) Making friends through Facebook is worse than face-to-face relationships.
Fazer amigos através do Facebook é pior do que as relações cara a cara.
C) Making friends online helps one to be in touch with other people.
Fazer amigos online ajuda a entrar em contato com outras pessoas.
D) Making friends through Facebook can only bring about dangerous situations.
Fazer amigos através do Facebook só pode trazer situações perigosas.
>> TRECHO QUE JUSTIFICA:
- "[...] And technology has allowed countless numbers of these people to keep in close contact with their loved ones, however far away they are."
- E a tecnologia permitiu que um número incontável destas pessoas mantivesse um contato próximo com os seus entes queridos, por mais distantes que estivessem.
50 – (UEMG-VESTIBULAR-2015) In the sentence
- “(...) acquaintances who are only one click away (...)” (4th paragraph),
what does acquaintance mean?
(A) Someone who is unfamiliar to you.
(B) Someone who is known but who is not a close friend.
(C) Someone who gets nervous when they are online.
(D) Someone who is your real friend.
Comentários e Gabarito B
TÓPICO - "ACQUAINTANCE" (= Someone who is known but who is not a close friend):
In the sentence
- “(...) acquaintances who are only one click away (...)” (4th paragraph),
- “(...) conhecidos que estão à distância de um clique (...)”
what does acquaintance mean?
A) Someone who is unfamiliar to you.
Alguém que não conhece.
B) Someone who is known but who is not a close friend.
Alguém que é conhecido, mas que não é um amigo próximo.
C) Someone who gets nervous when they are online.
Alguém que fica nervoso quando está online.
D) Someone who is your real friend.
Alguém que é o seu verdadeiro amigo.
>> "ACQUANTANCE" (= friend) – Alguém que é conhecido, mas que não é um amigo próximo.(https://dictionary.cambridge.org)
51 – (UEMG-VESTIBULAR-2015) Read the passage below to complete the gaps with the relative pronouns (1- 4):
- Online friends are people ___ always post messages and pictures of the places ___ they are, ___ they are with and ___ they are doing.
1. what
2. who
3. whom
4. where
The CORRECT sequence is:
A) (1), (3), (2), (4)
B) (3), (1), (4), (2)
C) (4), (2), (1), (3)
D) (2), (4), (3), (1)
Comentários e Gabarito D
TÓPICO - USO DO PRONOMES RELATIVOS:
- Online friends are people who always post messages and pictures of the places where they are, whom they are with and what they are doing.
- Os amigos online são pessoas que publicam sempre mensagens e fotografias dos locais onde elas estão, com quem estão e o que estão fazendo.
1. what
2. who
3. whom
4. where
52 – (UEMG-VESTIBULAR-2015) What is the synonym of the idiomatic expression underlined below?
- It’s clear that people look down on friends like these.
(A) To be excited about something or someone.
(B) To have a lot of respect for someone or something.
(C) To consider someone or something as not important or of value.
(D) To search and find information about someone or something.
Comentários e Gabarito C
TÓPICO - EXPRESSÃO IDIOMÁTICA "LOOK DOWN ON":
What is the synonym of the idiomatic expression underlined below?
Qual é o sinônimo da expressão idiomática sublinhada abaixo?
- It’s clear that people look down on friends like these.
- É claro que as pessoas desprezam amigos como estes.
(A) To be excited about something or someone.
Estar entusiasmado com algo ou alguém.
(B) To have a lot of respect for someone or something.
Ter muito respeito por alguém ou por alguma coisa.
(C) To consider someone or something as not important or of value.
Considerar alguém ou algo como não importante ou sem valor.
(D) To search and find information about someone or something.
Pesquisar e encontrar informação sobre alguém ou alguma coisa.
>> "LOOK DOWN ON" - to regard as inferior.(https://dictionary.cambridge.org)
53 – (UEMG-VESTIBULAR-2015) Which alternative contains the correct conditional to complete the gap below?
- He would have chatted with his Facebook friends last night if he _____ so busy.
(A) hadn’t been
(B) wasn’t
(C) weren’t
(D) hasn’t been
Comentários e Gabarito A
TÓPICO - 3ª Condicional (IF + Past Perfect, WOULD HAVE + Past Participle):
Which alternative contains the correct conditional to complete the gap below?
- He would have chatted with his Facebook friends last night if he hadn’t been so busy.
- Ele teria conversado com os seus amigos do Facebook ontem à noite se não estivesse tão ocupado.
(A) hadn’t been (Past Perfect)
(B) wasn’t (Past Simple)
(C) weren’t (Past Simple)
(D) hasn’t been (Present Perfect)
54 – (UEMG-VESTIBULAR-2015) According to the writer, how does she feel about having online friends?
(A) It is not possible for shy people to make real friends.
(B) It is a chance for people to find real friendship.
(C) It is the best place to find one’s soulmate.
(D) It is hard to keep in touch with people who live miles away from you.
Comentários e Gabarito B
TÓPICOS - VOCABULÁRIO & RELAÇÃO SEMÂNTICA COM TRECHO DO TEXTO:
According to the writer, how does she feel about having online friends?
Segundo a escritora, como se sente por ter amigos online?
(A) It is not possible for shy people to make real friends.
Não é possível que as pessoas tímidas façam amigos de verdade.
(B) It is a chance for people to find real friendship.
É uma hipótese para as pessoas encontrarem uma amizade verdadeira.
(C) It is the best place to find one’s soulmate.
É o melhor local para encontrar a alma gêmea.
(D) It is hard to keep in touch with people who live miles away from you.
É difícil manter o contato com pessoas que vivem a milhas de distância entre si.
