Task A - Answer the questions about What Makes a Fad? - SHS Explore English 8 page 98

1. Nội dung câu hỏi

1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

a. to give examples of fads

b. to explain what a fad is

c. to show how fads become popular

2. A fad stops being a fad when _________.

a. it becomes very popular

b. older people start to like it

c. people don't think it’s cool anymore

3. According to the article, people stopped buying the Rubik's Cube in 1983 because ________.

a. it was very difficult to solve

b. books gave away the secrets to solving it

c. so many people already had one

4. What helped “Gangnam Style” become such a huge worldwide hit?

a. the Internet

b. television

c. the radio

5. In line 17, what does “faded in popularity” mean?

a. became less popular

b. continued to be popular

c. became a fad

What makes a FAD?

A fad is something that becomes very popular among a large number of people, but only for a short time. When it is no longer “cool,” a fad goes away. Anything can become a fad—fashion, food, entertainment, technology, or even language.

In the late 1970s, a Hungarian professor, Erno Rubik, invented a six-color plastic object called the Rubik's Cube. The challenge was to get each side of the cube to show one color. At the toy’s sudden peak of popularity in 1982, everyone had one. Then, suddenly the craze ended. By 1983, people were not interested anymore, perhaps because so many people already had one Rubik’s Cube in their homes.

In 2012, a South Korean musician, Psy, released a song called “Gangnam Style.” In six months, it became the first YouTube video ever to reach a billion views. Six months later, it went on to reach two billion views. “Gangnam Style” had a huge influence on world popular culture, similar to the “Macarena” dance fad from the 1990s. Although “Gangnam Style” faded in popularity, the “Korean Wave" of culture remains internationally popular.

2. Phương pháp giải

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3. Lời giải chi tiết

1. b. to explain what a fad is

Thông tin: A fad is something that becomes very popular among a large number of people, but only for a short time. When it is no longer “cool,” a fad goes away. Anything can become a fad—fashion, food, entertainment, technology, or even language.

2. c. people don't think it’s cool anymore

Thông tin: When it is no longer “cool,” a fad goes away

3. c. so many people already had one

Thông tin:  By 1983, people were not interested anymore, perhaps because so many people already had one Rubik’s Cube in their homes.

4. a. the Internet

Thông tin: In 2012, a South Korean musician, Psy, released a song called “Gangnam Style.” In six months, it became the first YouTube video ever to reach a billion views. Six months later, it went on to reach two billion views

5. a. became less popular

Thông tin: Although “Gangnam Style” faded in popularity, the “Korean Wave" of culture remains internationally popular.