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WorksheetsReading: B1 How to spot fake news
Total questions: 30
Worksheet time: 25mins
Have you ever believed something that you later found out was untrue?
On a scale of 1-10, how good do you think you are at spotting fake news?
1-3
4-6
7-8
9-10
A (...) is something that is designed to look real but isn’t.
I thought it was an authentic iPhone, but it turned out to be a real convincing (...)
bombard / fooled / unrelated / fake / subtle / phenomenon / sure
(a)
If you (...) someone (...) messages or information, you give them so much that it is difficult to deal with at all.
People seem to (...) me (...) messages just before I go to bed.
bombard with / fooled / unrelated / fake / subtle / phenomenon / sure
(a)
(...) are rare or important facts or events.
The (...) have developed and become increasingly complex.
bombard with / fooled / unrelated / fake / subtle / phenomenon / phenomena / sure
(a)
If something is (...), it is not obvious, and it is difficult to notice.
The advertising and product placement in some TV shows is very (...).
bombard with / fooled / unrelated / fake / subtle / phenomenon / phenomena / sure
(a)
A (...) is a rare or important fact or event.
The (...) has developed and become increasingly complex.
bombard with / fooled / unrelated / fake / subtle / phenomenon / phenomena / sure
(a)
If you are (...), you are tricked into believing something that is not true.
I'm not an idiot, you know? –Well you could have (...) me!
bombard with / fooled / unrelated / fake / subtle / phenomenon / phenomena / sure
(a)
If you are (...) something, you are confident that it is true or correct.
Are you (...) that?
bombard with / fooled / unrelated / fake / subtle / phenomenon / phenomena / sure about
(a)
If something is (...) something else, the two things have nothing to do with each other.
That's (...) to the matter at hand. Let's try to stay on topic.
bombard with / fooled / unrelated to / fake / subtle / phenomenon / phenomena / sure about
(a)
A (...) is a thing, person, or place that provides information.
Always be sure to check the (...) of the media you're consuming.
bombard with / fooled / unrelated to / fake / subtle / phenomenon / phenomena / sure about
(a)
(...Choose the title...)
There is a range of fake news: from crazy stories which people easily recognise to more subtle types of misinformation. Experts in media studies and online psychology have been examining the fake news phenomenon. Read these tips, and don’t get fooled!
Experts share dangers of fake news
Experts share top tips for resisting fake news
How to create fake news: a guide
Tips on how to read the news online
(...Choose the title...)
Look at the website where the story comes from. Does it look real? Is the text well written? Are there a variety of other stories or is it just one story? Fake news websites often use addresses that sound like real newspapers, but don’t have many real stories about other topics. If you aren’t sure, click on the ‘About’ page and look for a clear description of the organisation.
Check the source
Watch out for fake photos
Check the story is in other places
Look for other signs
(...Choose the title...)
Many fake news stories use images that are Photoshopped or taken from an unrelated site. Sometimes, if you just look closely at an image, you can see if it has been changed. Or use a tool like Google Reverse Image search. It will show you if the same image has been used in other contexts.
Check the source
Watch out for fake photos
Check the story is in other places
Look for other signs
(...Choose the title...)
Look to see if the story you are reading is on other news sites that you know and trust. If you do find it on many other sites, then it probably isn’t fake (although there are some exceptions), as many big news organisations try to check their sources before they publish a story.
Check the source
Watch out for fake photos
Check the story is in other places
Look for other signs
(...Choose the title...)
There are other techniques that fake news uses. These include using ALL CAPS and lots of ads that pop up when you click on a link. Also, think about how the story makes you feel. If the news story makes you angry, it’s probably designed to make you angry.
If you know these things about online news, and can apply them in your everyday life, then you have the control over what to read, what to believe and most importantly what to share. If you find a news story that you know is fake, the most important advice is: don’t share it!
Check the source
Watch out for fake photos
Check the story is in other places
Look for other signs
Every time you’re online, you are bombarded by pictures, articles, links and videos trying to tell their story. Unfortunately, not all of these stories are true. Sometimes they want you to click on another story or advertisement at their own site, other times they want to upset people for political reasons. These days it’s so easy to share information. These stories circulate quickly, and the result is ... fake news.
Which reason is NOT given for an online fake news story?
To convince people of a political view
To make people angry or sad
To plant a virus in your computer
There is a range of fake news: from crazy stories which people easily recognise to more subtle types of misinformation. Experts in media studies and online psychology have been examining the fake news phenomenon. Read these tips, and don’t get fooled!
The text says some fake news ...
is easy to recognise as fake.
is funny.
comes from the political right.
Look at the website where the story comes from. Does it look real? Is the text well written? Are there a variety of other stories or is it just one story? Fake news websites often use addresses that sound like real newspapers, but don’t have many real stories about other topics. If you aren’t sure, click on the ‘About’ page and look for a clear description of the organisation.
Which of these may mean that a news site should not be trusted?
The text is well-written.
The site has a variety of other stories.
The site’s ‘About’ page does not clearly describe the organisation.
Many fake news stories use images that are Photoshopped or taken from an unrelated site. Sometimes, if you just look closely at an image, you can see if it has been changed. Or use a tool like Google Reverse Image search. It will show you if the same image has been used in other contexts.
Some images on fake news sites...
are real images, but come from a different website.
are images that have been changed.
both of the above
Look to see if the story you are reading is on other news sites that you know and trust. If you do find it on many other sites, then it probably isn’t fake (although there are some exceptions), as many big news organisations try to check their sources before they publish a story.
Fake news stories...
are usually only on fake news sites or social media.
are not on any websites, only in social media.
are often hidden on real news sites.
There are other techniques that fake news uses. These include using ALL CAPS and lots of ads that pop up when you click on a link. Also, think about how the story makes you feel. If the news story makes you angry, it’s probably designed to make you angry.
Many fake news stories are written ...
without capital letters and with terrible spelling.
in a way that makes people upset.
inside of advertisements that pop up on your screen.
There are other techniques that fake news uses. These include using ALL CAPS and lots of ads that pop up when you click on a link. Also, think about how the story makes you feel. If the news story makes you angry, it’s probably designed to make you angry.
What should you do with fake news?
Report it to the police
Make a note of it for reference
Not show it to other people online
Real
Fake
Real
Fake
Real
Fake
Real
Fake
Real
Fake
If you'd like more practice distinguishing between real and fake news, try this game: http://factitious.augamestudio.com/#/
Now that you've read the article and tried spotting some fake news yourself, on a scale of 1-10, how good do you think you are at spotting fake news?
1-3
4-6
7-8
9-10
