Neutronic ear does it work

Neutronic Ear has helped me Get Back in the Game! 1
 2


Advertisement 3
 June 19, 2011 Parade Magazine 4



5
 Before reading the passage, please do the following: 6


• Go to the file called “pre-reading activity “ and anwer the questions. For 7
 this activity, there is no right or wrong answer. The activity is designed to 8
 get you to think about the topic, and to use information you may already 9
 have to help you understand the reading. 10


• When you have completed the “pre-reading” activity, you may return to 11
 this document to read the grammar note and the vocabulary explanations 12
 before you read the passage. 13


14
 Please read the grammar note and the vocabulary or expressions information 15
 carefully before reading the passage. 16



17
 Grammar Note: All written work is directed to a specific audience, that is, those who will read the work. The intended audience often makes a great difference in the choice of words, the way the author addresses the readers, and the way the author manipulates the reader to do something or think something in response In this article, you will find the advertisement has a specific audience, in this case, older people who may want or need some help with their hearing as they age, and as most advertisements do, it is directed at YOU, second person singular and plural. Even though the product is a technological device, there is no technical language in any of the advertisement’s wording. Each paragraph is straightforward: The first, an anecdote; the second, description of the product; the third, the process of hearing enhancement; and last, the inexpensive price and money-back guarantee. The last words urge action. 
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 Some expressions you may not immediately recognize Expression or Vocabulary item Meaning Get back in the game To return to previous activities Lauren Bacall voice: A low and slow female voice, unique to the

actress Lauren Bacall

I’m from Missouri: A reference to a US state motto, which means a person must be shown how something can be true and not just trust it

Show[n] me: The continuation of the motto, which is why the state is known as the “Show Me” state

Out of the box: Refers to something that can be used immediately, without any attention

Ear canal: The open external part of the ear Circus peanut: The size of a common peanut in the shell,

often sold at circuses State-of-the-art: Most modern and up to date status

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20
 21
 READING 22
 Read the following article, thinking about the previous ideas, that is, what you 23
 already know about this topic, how the audience influences the words and ideas 24
 selected by the author, and which expressions may be confusing for you: 25
 26


Neutronic Ear has helped me Get Back in the Game! 27
 28


Advertisement 29
 June 19, 2011 Parade Magazine 30


31
 Neutronic Ear is the easy, virtually invisible and affordable way to turn up 32
 the sound on the world around you. 33
 34
 “I’m 96 years old, and I think Neutronic Ear is a great product. I had a digital 35
 hearing aid that cost over $2000, but I lost it in the supermarket. There’s nothing 36
 wrong with my hearing; I can hear sounds just fine, like a car door shutting or a 37
 plane going overhead, but when someone talks to me, I can’t understand the 38
 words. My daughter has what I call a ‘Lauren Bacall’ voice – very low, and I just 39
 can’t hear her. It’s embarrassing to have to constantly say ‘Excuse me’ and 40
 although people say they don’t mind repeating themselves, I think they are only 41
 saying that because I’m 96! With Neutronic Ear I can hear and understand her. If 42
 I need to, I can turn up the volume. I’m originally from Missouri, and Neutronic 43
 Ear has sure ‘Shown Me’ that it works. Thank-you.” 44
 – Georgia A., MA 45
 46
 For thousands of folks like Georgia, Neutronic Ear is an easy and affordable way 47
 to rejoin conversations and get the most out of life. First of all, Neutronic Ear is 48
 not a hearing aid; it is a PSAP, or Personal Sound Amplification Product. Until 49
 PSAPs, everyone was required to see the doctor, have hearing tests, have fitting 50
 appointments (numerous visits) and then pay for the instruments without any 51
 insurance coverage. These devices can cost up to $5000 each! The high cost 52
 and inconvenience drove an innovative scientist to develop the Neutronic Ear 53
 PSAP. 54


55
 Neutronic Ear has been designed with the finest micro-digital electronic 56
 components available to offer superb performance and years of use. Many years 57
 of engineering and development have created a product that’s ready to use right 58
 out of the box. The patented case design and unique clear tube make it practical 59
 and easy to use. The entire unit weighs only 1/10th of an ounce, and it hides 60
 comfortably behind either ear. The tube is designed to deliver clear crisp sound 61
 while leaving the ear canal open. The electronic components are safe from 62
 moisture and wax buildup, and you won’t feel like you have a circus peanut 63
 jammed in your ear. 64
 65
 Thanks to a state-of-the-art manufacturing process and superior design, we can 66
 make Neutronic Ear affordable and pass the savings on to you. 67
 68
 It works… but don’t take our word for it. Why pay thousands to make everything 69
 sound louder when what you really need is a Personal Sound Amplification 70
 Product? We’re so sure you’ll be absolutely thrilled with the quality and 71
 effectiveness of this product that we are offering it to the public at a low 72
 introductory price with our exclusive trial offer. If, for any reason, you are not 73
 completely amazed by how this product improves your life, simply return it for a 74
 refund of the product purchase price within 30 days. Call now. 75


76
 End of reading 77


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Now that you have read the passage, go to the file (in Blackboard) entitled 79
 “Comprehension Check Activity” and answer the questions. You may refer back 80
 to the article to answer the questions.