Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century Collections

Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century Collections

Background

It's hard to imagine, but less than 100 years ago, television as we know it didn't exist. Then in 1927, Philo T. Farnsworth successfully transmitted an image onto a remote screen. By the early 1950's, TV purchases skyrocketed. Today almost every home in the United States has at least one. This excerpt from Life at Home in the 21st Century describes what a team of archaeologists uncovered about TVs when they examined the daily lives of 32 California families.

Supplementary details

Although archaeologists study what is left behind by past cultures, the archaeological study cited in this text is of 32 families in present-day Los Angeles, California.

The abbreviation CRT stands for "cathode ray tube," a kind of vacuum tube used in electronic devices. CRT's were in heavy, bulky monitors used for TV sets and computers.

Multiple Choice

The archaeologists in this text are studying families...

• in the past

• in the future

• in present day

• on TV

Setting a purpose

After this lesson when you are reading and listening to the story: know that perhaps no other technology is more widely shared as the television. Keep track of how the popularity of this consumer good has changed over time. How will archaeologists of the future track its significance? Write down any questions you have while reading.

Analyze Structure - Cause and Effect

The structure of an informational text is the way the text is put together to organize the author's ideas. One pattern of organization, or particular arrangement of ideas and information, in this informational text is cause and effect. Using this pattern, the author tells about the big changes in American life that have been caused by the television.

Multiple Choice

The author of this text is going to use cause and effect to tell about big changes in American life caused by

• technology

• cell phoned

• TV

• Food

Multiple Choice

What is the author's main purpose in from "Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century"?

• to persuade readers to spend less time watching television

• to warn readers about the negative effects of television on family life

• to provide information about the history and social impact of television

• to compare the features of different types of television sets

Determine meaning

The author uses technical terms (remember domain terms that have to be understood to understand a topic) systemic context and archaeological context. The systemic context is how and where the artifact is used; the archaeological context is where it goes after it is thrown out.

Open Ended

Why might the author include systemic context and archaeological context? (how does this help show the impact of TV on American lives?) answer in a complete sentence using RACE

Interpret

The author helps readers understand how to interpret the graph of "battleship curves," on page 227. So named because of the step-like shapes, or curves, resemble the head-on profiles of battleships. The text that accompanies a graph, the title and caption, and the label for each vertical axis enable readers to understand the information shown. Remember to study the graph carefully when you read the text.

Multiple Choice

What information on a graph helps you understand it?

• pictures

• charts

• colors

• titles, captions, and labels

Multiple Choice

What is an observation?

• watching something

• explaining something

• understanding something

• remembering something

Multiple Choice

What does proliferation mean?

• growing acceptance

• long life

• gradual disappearance

• fast growth

Multiple Choice

A municipal issue is one that relates to a

• family.

• city.

• school

• corporation

Multiple Choice

Precipitous means

• dangerous

• steep

• sudden

• unexpected