21143 crazy about technology

CRAZY ABOUT TECHNOLOGY:

Read the
following text about a teenager who sold a kidney to buy a
technological gadget. Talk to your classmates about it and
then answer the questions below:

PHOTO

The teenager sold his kidney to buy an iPhone and iPad.
Five people in southern China have been charged with
intentional injury in the case of a teenager who sold a
kidney so he could buy an iPhone and an iPad.
The five included a surgeon, who removed a kidney from
the
17-year-old
boy
in
April
last
year.
The boy, identified only by his surname Wang, now suffers


from renal deficiency, the government-run Xinhua News
Agency quoted prosecutors in Chenzhou city, Hunan
province
as
saying.
According to Xinhua, one of the defendants received about
220,000 yuan ($US34,00) to arrange the transplant.

He paid Wang 22,000 yuan and split the rest with the
surgeon, the three other defendants and other medical
staff.
The report did not say who received and paid for the kidney.
The teen was from Anhui, one of China's poorest provinces,
where inhabitants frequently leave to find work and a better
life elsewhere. He bought an iPhone and iPad, and when
asked by his mother where he got the money, admitted
selling
a
kidney.
Apple products are hugely popular in China, but are priced
beyond
the
reach
of
many
Chinese.
Wang's renal deficiency is deteriorating, Xinhua quoted
prosecutors
as
saying.
Only a fraction of the people who need organ transplants in
China are able to get them, leading to "transplant tourism"
where patients travel overseas for such operations, and to a
black
market
for
human
organs.

China banned the trading of human organs in 2007, Xinhua
said. Several other suspects involved in the case are still
being investigated.


DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
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Are you interested in new technology?
Do you know anybody who is scared by technology?
Do you believe in the stereotype of the mad scientist?
What is the most important invention in the world for
you? And for your parents?

Could you live comfortably and happily without your
mobile phone?
Do you have an ipad? What is it useful for? And an
ipod? What is it different from an ipad and a mobile
phone?
How fast can you type? How many fingers do you
use? How did you learn?
Would you consider dating someone you had met over
the Internet? Why/why not?
If you were deprived of your mobile phone or laptop,
what would you be willing to do to get it back?
Do you have access to the Internet on your phone?
How much do you pay for it? Do you think it is cheap
or expensive?
Do you like science fiction films? Do you think any of
the “crazy” ideas about the future will ever come true?
Have you ever had any viruses on your computer?
Was it difficult to get rid of them? What do you think
about those people who spread these viruses or spam
on the Internet? What punishment do they deserve?
Would you consider dating someone you had met
over the Internet? Why /why not? Do you know
anybody who has done that?
Do you like buying things on the Internet? If so, what
sort of things do you buy? Are there special offers?