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Has the Internet Made Us Stupid?

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IN THIS LESSON
ID: 3059 Upper Intermediate
Do you remember a time before smartphones, where dinnertime debates were so much more interesting? Now that everything is on our devices, we seem to have outsourced our brains to technology. Do you agree with this statement?
Thu Apr 06 2017 | Constance Fang, Fiona Tian
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Our lessons contain natural communication in Chinese in video and audio format. We have have lessons focused on video or a podcast format and our lessons have transcripts of Lesson Dialogues, Important Vocabulary, Expanded Materials for a deep dive into the lesson topic and Exercises focused on testing your retention.
Detailed Vocabulary
Each lesson has it's unique vocabulary and will provide you with definitions and recordings so you can practice the pronunciation. You will also be able to grasp the core material of a lesson at a glance. Here we're showing you the Simplified Chinese version.
SIMPLIFIED PINYIN ENGLISH  
趟 tàng measure word for trips
发展 fāzhǎn to develop
大幅 dàfú by a large margin
降低 jiàngdī to lower
你这次出国几号出发，要几点到机场？需不需要我载你一趟？
nǐ zhè cì chūguó jǐ hào chūfā ，yào jǐ diǎn dào jīchǎng ？xū bu xūyào wǒ zài nǐ yī tāng ？
What date are you setting off on this trip abroad? And what time do you have to be at the airport? Do you need me to give you a lift?
我看一下…你等一下，我拿手机...我是后天，早上八点的飞机。
wǒ kàn yīxià …nǐ děng yīxià ，wǒ ná shǒujī ...wǒ shì hòutiān ，zǎoshang bādiǎn de fēijī 。
Let me see.. wait here a minute. I'll get my phone... I'm going the day after tomorrow, and my flight is at eight in the morning.
这还要查呀！科技的发展果然大幅降低了你的记忆力。
zhè hái yào chá ya ！kējì de fāzhǎn guǒrán dàfú jiàngdī le nǐ de jìyìlì 。
Even this you need to look up? Technological development has really made your memory deteriorate dramatically.
哈哈！你说的倒是真的，我还有点怀念几年前大家在餐桌上为了冷知识争论不休的日子，现在各自掏出手机就结束话题了。
hāhā ！nǐ shuō de dàoshì zhēnde ，wǒ hái yǒudiǎnr huáiniàn jǐnián qián dàjiā zài cānzhuō shàng wèile lěngzhīshi zhēnglùnbùxiū de rìzi ，xiànzài gèzì tāochū shǒujī jiù jiéshù huàtí le 。
Ha ha! You're right there. I kind of miss the days a few years ago when we would have lively arguments around the dinner table over trivia. Now everyone just takes out their phones and the topic is over.
Natural Dialogues
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