Why does fake news spread faster?

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

1. Where do you get your news from?
2. Do you trust the news? Why or why not?
3. Have you ever shared a story that was not true?
4. Who tells you the news in your family?
5. How often do you check the news?
6. What makes a headline attractive?

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about the news.

Choose the word that fits.

1. A person, book or website that gives information is called a .
2. False stories can very quickly online.
3. False information, spread by mistake or on purpose, is called .
4. The title of a news article is called a .
5. It is wise to a surprising story before you share it.
6. A website usually checks its facts before publishing.
7. A story that many people repeat, but nobody has checked, is a .
8. Strong such as anger or fear can make people share a story quickly.

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

1. a source is a
   person or place that gives informationkind of phonetype of newspaper
2. to verify = to
   hide itmake it longercheck that it is true
3. reliable =
   easy to breakvery expensiveable to be trusted
4. a rumour is a story that
   nobody has checkedis on TVis very short
5. to deny = to say something is
   very goodnot truenew
6. to admit = to say something is true,
   always happilyusually reluctantlynever

Use these phrases to report what people said.

• She said (that) she was...Вона сказала, що була...She said she was tired of fake news.
• He told me (that) he would...Він сказав мені, що...He told me he would check the source.
• They explained that...Вони пояснили, що...They explained that the photo was old.
• He admitted (that) he had...Він визнав, що...He admitted that he had shared it without checking.
• She denied (that) she had...Вона заперечила, що...She denied that she had written the story.
• He warned us not to...Він попередив нас не...He warned us not to trust every post.
• She suggested checking...Вона запропонувала перевірити...She suggested checking two sources.
• According to the study,...Згідно з дослідженням,...According to the study, false stories spread faster.

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

1. The study looked at Twitter.
   TrueFalse
2. The researchers said that automatic accounts were the main reason.
   TrueFalse
3. False stories were more likely to be shared than true stories.
   TrueFalse
4. The text says the results are certainly true everywhere.
   TrueFalse
5. A journalist said she shares stories at once.
   TrueFalse

1. Why do surprising stories spread fast?
2. Who is responsible for fake news: the writers, the platforms or the readers?
3. Should false posts be removed? Who should decide?
4. How can children learn to check information?

Common mistakes: step back one tense in reported speech, and change the pronouns and time words. ✗ She said that she is tired → she was tired. ✗ He told that he would come → He told me / He said that he would come.

1. "I am tired of fake news." → She said she
   wasis
   tired of fake news.
2. "I will check the source." → He told me he
   will checkwould check
   the source.
3. "We shared the story." → They said they
   had sharedshared
   the story.
4. "The photo is old." → They explained that the photo
   wasis
   old.
5. "I wrote it." → She denied
   that she had writtento write
   it.
6. "Don't trust every post." → He warned us
   not to trustdon't trust
   every post.
7. "Let's check two sources." → She suggested
   to checkchecking
   two sources.
8. "I can't find it." → He said he
   couldn'tcan't
   find it.

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

1. She said that she is tired. →
2. He told that he would come. →
3. They said they shared it before. →
4. He admitted to share it. →
5. She warned us to not trust it. →
6. He said me that it was false. →

Answer in detail. Use reported speech and reporting verbs: said, told, explained, admitted, denied, warned.

1. What did the last news story you read say?
2. What did your friend tell you yesterday?
3. What did someone warn you about recently?
4. What did a teacher or boss tell you that you remember?
5. Who suggested something good to you recently? What was it?
6. What did you admit to someone, and how did it feel?

Three people talk about fake news. Compare their views. Who trusts the news the most? Who is the most careful? What do you do before you share a story?

Your teacher will time you.

1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
2. Part 1: tell a short story about something someone said to you (reported statements).
3. Part 2: use reporting verbs to say what the person admitted, warned, or suggested.
4. Part 3: say what you will do before you share a story next time.

1. What did you read in the news today?
2. What did your family tell you last weekend?
3. What did you promise someone recently?
4. Who did you talk to yesterday, and what did they say?
5. Do you check the source of news?
6. What did a friend suggest to you recently?
7. What would you tell a child about the internet?
8. What did you think about the last film you saw?

1. Who tells you the news?
2. Who do you trust most for information?
3. Who warned you about something recently?
4. Who told you a surprising story?
5. Who in your family shares articles?
6. Who explained something new to you this month?

1. Should social networks remove fake posts?
2. Is all news biased?
3. Should schools teach how to check information?
4. Can we ever trust the media again?
5. Is it worse to write fake news or to share it?