Question
The black hole of endless, unimportant streams of technology-
enabled information is devouring everyone living in the
twenty-first century. No matter how much people may look at
information, it does not mean they are absorbing it. Equating
quality with speed and volume, people may read thousands
of news headlines broadcasted across the world daily, yet
they will forget them in a couple of hours. No one stops to
process information anymore to determine its significance or
importance. No one appreciates the value of personal interaction
or nature. Everything is go, go, go. Not once do we stop. Before
being introduced to my phone and computer, I had been more
appreciative of the world around me. Now, I’m always consumed
by my “tech,” and I never stop to take a break.
“Did you guys see what Miley Cyrus
1
posted?” My friend Fouly
only peeled her eyes away from her iPhone screen to ask us that
question. I glanced around at my friends, and they all quickly
checked Instagram
2
in the hopes that they hadn’t missed Miley’s
latest update. I, on the other hand, glanced out the window
separating us from the beautiful weather outside. We were 15
friends sitting inside under artificial lighting and with our hands
1. Miley Cyrus celebrity who has achieved fame as an actress and a singer.
2. Instagram online social-media platform.
1
devouring (dih VOW rihng)
v. taking in greedily
absorbing (ab ZAWR bihng)
v. learning; fully taking in
process (PROS ehs) v. gain
an understanding of
consumed (kuhn SOOMD)
adj. absorbed; occupied
2
NOTES
Leena Khan
The Black Hole of Technology 215
Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
NOTES
glued to our phones on a Friday, when the enticing warmth of the
sun and delicate breeze were begging us to run around outside.
Of course, our ears were deaf to nature’s pleas, just like any other
teenager nowadays. I put my phone down to shut the curtains,
then I continued to mindlessly scroll through Miley’s Instagram
page.
I found myself longing for that Instagram page a week later, in
an entirely different country. The scorching sun baked the back of
my neck as my family and I walked along the wide, crowded dirt
path on our way to visit yet another Cambodian temple. I slipped
my phone out of my bag to check for a signal, but before I could
even unlock it, it was snatched out of my hands.
“Leena, you’re heading toward one of the most well preserved
ancient wonders in the world. It would do you well to appreciate
your surroundings!” my dad scolded.
My phone was wailing at me from the tight grip his hands had
on it, but I had no choice but to ignore it, like I had been forced
to do for the entire fall break. Huffing, I looked up and drank
in our surroundings. There were tents perched on the sides of
the sandy roads, and a couple of half-naked boys were jumping
into a murky lake nearby. A toddler was laughing her head off,
playing with an old man who I assumed was her grandfather. I
missed all of this liveliness, the beauty of a community, because
I was trapped in the black hole of technology. Everyone around
me was smiling, despite having to live their lives in poverty. Then
I noticed something I hadn’t before: no one had a cellphone on
them. There were no TVs, no radios, and their music came from
live instruments instead of mp3 players and iPods. These people
had nothing. Some of them were even walking around without
shoes! How could they look so happy? Then I thought . . . Maybe
it’s because they don’t have all that modern technology. They
aren’t subjected to the black hole of endless information.
I carried my insightful observations all the way to the temple,
and my breath caught in my throat when we got there. It was
stunning. When the guide started a long speech about the origin
of the temple, I turned to face him. Then I realized I was inside of
the black hole again. I was paying attention to the information the
guide was throwing at me instead of also recognizing this once-
in-a-lifetime experience. When would I be able to visit one of the
seven wonders of the world again? The answer was pretty clear,
so keeping one ear with the guide, and turning the rest of myself
to the temple, I soaked in the extraordinary sight before me. For
once, I wasn’t digesting useless information. I wasn’t typing into
my phone, or watching any screen at all. In a life of go, go, go I
had finally stopped.
3
4
5
6
digesting (dih JEH stihng) v
.
thinking over; mentally
taking in
CLOSE READ
ANNOTATE: In paragraph 3,
mark sensory words and
phrases. These are details
that relate to the senses
(sight, hearing, taste, touch,
or smell).
QUESTION: Why does the
blogger use these sensory
details?
CONCLUDE: What mood
or feeling do these details
help create?
216 UNIT 3 • MODERN TECHNOLOGY
Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
NOTES
It was then that I vowed that the next time my friends and I are
absorbed in our phones on a sunny day, I won’t close the curtains.
Next time I’m walking along any road, I’ll value my surroundings
instead of texting on a device. From now on, I will make sure that
the endless information flying my way won’t go in one ear and
out the other. I will find the significance in things and recognize it,
because that’s something many people fail to do—by falling into
the technology trap. Escape the black hole of technology, because
when you do . . . you feel free. ❧
After completing the first read, come back to the concept vocabulary and review your rankings. Mark changes to your original rankings as needed.
First Read Nonfiction
Apply these strategies as you conduct your first read. You will have an opportunity to complete the close- read notes after your first read.
Notice the general ideas of the text. What is it about? Who is involved?
The general idea of the text is
____________ is involved
Annotate by marking vocabulary and key passages you want to visit.
Unknown Vocabulary
Passage you would like to revisit:
Connect ideas within the selection to what you already know and what you have already read.
I already know
Respond by completing the Comprehension Check and by writing three important ideas from the selection.
write in 6th grade perspective
enabled information is devouring everyone living in the
twenty-first century. No matter how much people may look at
information, it does not mean they are absorbing it. Equating
quality with speed and volume, people may read thousands
of news headlines broadcasted across the world daily, yet
they will forget them in a couple of hours. No one stops to
process information anymore to determine its significance or
importance. No one appreciates the value of personal interaction
or nature. Everything is go, go, go. Not once do we stop. Before
being introduced to my phone and computer, I had been more
appreciative of the world around me. Now, I’m always consumed
by my “tech,” and I never stop to take a break.
“Did you guys see what Miley Cyrus
1
posted?” My friend Fouly
only peeled her eyes away from her iPhone screen to ask us that
question. I glanced around at my friends, and they all quickly
checked Instagram
2
in the hopes that they hadn’t missed Miley’s
latest update. I, on the other hand, glanced out the window
separating us from the beautiful weather outside. We were 15
friends sitting inside under artificial lighting and with our hands
1. Miley Cyrus celebrity who has achieved fame as an actress and a singer.
2. Instagram online social-media platform.
1
devouring (dih VOW rihng)
v. taking in greedily
absorbing (ab ZAWR bihng)
v. learning; fully taking in
process (PROS ehs) v. gain
an understanding of
consumed (kuhn SOOMD)
adj. absorbed; occupied
2
NOTES
Leena Khan
The Black Hole of Technology 215
Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
NOTES
glued to our phones on a Friday, when the enticing warmth of the
sun and delicate breeze were begging us to run around outside.
Of course, our ears were deaf to nature’s pleas, just like any other
teenager nowadays. I put my phone down to shut the curtains,
then I continued to mindlessly scroll through Miley’s Instagram
page.
I found myself longing for that Instagram page a week later, in
an entirely different country. The scorching sun baked the back of
my neck as my family and I walked along the wide, crowded dirt
path on our way to visit yet another Cambodian temple. I slipped
my phone out of my bag to check for a signal, but before I could
even unlock it, it was snatched out of my hands.
“Leena, you’re heading toward one of the most well preserved
ancient wonders in the world. It would do you well to appreciate
your surroundings!” my dad scolded.
My phone was wailing at me from the tight grip his hands had
on it, but I had no choice but to ignore it, like I had been forced
to do for the entire fall break. Huffing, I looked up and drank
in our surroundings. There were tents perched on the sides of
the sandy roads, and a couple of half-naked boys were jumping
into a murky lake nearby. A toddler was laughing her head off,
playing with an old man who I assumed was her grandfather. I
missed all of this liveliness, the beauty of a community, because
I was trapped in the black hole of technology. Everyone around
me was smiling, despite having to live their lives in poverty. Then
I noticed something I hadn’t before: no one had a cellphone on
them. There were no TVs, no radios, and their music came from
live instruments instead of mp3 players and iPods. These people
had nothing. Some of them were even walking around without
shoes! How could they look so happy? Then I thought . . . Maybe
it’s because they don’t have all that modern technology. They
aren’t subjected to the black hole of endless information.
I carried my insightful observations all the way to the temple,
and my breath caught in my throat when we got there. It was
stunning. When the guide started a long speech about the origin
of the temple, I turned to face him. Then I realized I was inside of
the black hole again. I was paying attention to the information the
guide was throwing at me instead of also recognizing this once-
in-a-lifetime experience. When would I be able to visit one of the
seven wonders of the world again? The answer was pretty clear,
so keeping one ear with the guide, and turning the rest of myself
to the temple, I soaked in the extraordinary sight before me. For
once, I wasn’t digesting useless information. I wasn’t typing into
my phone, or watching any screen at all. In a life of go, go, go I
had finally stopped.
3
4
5
6
digesting (dih JEH stihng) v
.
thinking over; mentally
taking in
CLOSE READ
ANNOTATE: In paragraph 3,
mark sensory words and
phrases. These are details
that relate to the senses
(sight, hearing, taste, touch,
or smell).
QUESTION: Why does the
blogger use these sensory
details?
CONCLUDE: What mood
or feeling do these details
help create?
216 UNIT 3 • MODERN TECHNOLOGY
Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
NOTES
It was then that I vowed that the next time my friends and I are
absorbed in our phones on a sunny day, I won’t close the curtains.
Next time I’m walking along any road, I’ll value my surroundings
instead of texting on a device. From now on, I will make sure that
the endless information flying my way won’t go in one ear and
out the other. I will find the significance in things and recognize it,
because that’s something many people fail to do—by falling into
the technology trap. Escape the black hole of technology, because
when you do . . . you feel free. ❧
After completing the first read, come back to the concept vocabulary and review your rankings. Mark changes to your original rankings as needed.
First Read Nonfiction
Apply these strategies as you conduct your first read. You will have an opportunity to complete the close- read notes after your first read.
Notice the general ideas of the text. What is it about? Who is involved?
The general idea of the text is
____________ is involved
Annotate by marking vocabulary and key passages you want to visit.
Unknown Vocabulary
Passage you would like to revisit:
Connect ideas within the selection to what you already know and what you have already read.
I already know
Respond by completing the Comprehension Check and by writing three important ideas from the selection.
write in 6th grade perspective
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
**The general idea of the text is**: The author discusses how technology, especially smartphones and social media, distracts people from truly experiencing the world around them. It highlights the importance of taking a break from technology and appreciating real-life experiences.
**____________ is involved**: The author, Leena Khan, her friends, and her family are involved in the text. It also mentions people living in Cambodia who seem happier without modern technology.
---
**Unknown Vocabulary**:
1. **Devouring** - taking in greedily
2. **Absorbing** - learning; fully taking in
3. **Process** - gain an understanding of
4. **Consumed** - absorbed; occupied
5. **Digesting** - thinking over; mentally taking in
---
**Passage you would like to revisit**: The part where the author realizes that people in Cambodia seem happy without phones and technology. I want to think about why that is.
---
**I already know**: I know that spending too much time on devices can make us miss out on the fun things happening around us. I’ve noticed that when I’m with friends, we sometimes focus more on our phones than on each other.
---
**Three important ideas from the selection**:
1. Technology can trap people in a "black hole," making them miss out on what is happening in the real world.
2. The author realizes that people around her are happy without technology, which makes her question her own habits.
3. It’s important to appreciate our surroundings and take breaks from our devices to experience life fully and feel free.
**____________ is involved**: The author, Leena Khan, her friends, and her family are involved in the text. It also mentions people living in Cambodia who seem happier without modern technology.
---
**Unknown Vocabulary**:
1. **Devouring** - taking in greedily
2. **Absorbing** - learning; fully taking in
3. **Process** - gain an understanding of
4. **Consumed** - absorbed; occupied
5. **Digesting** - thinking over; mentally taking in
---
**Passage you would like to revisit**: The part where the author realizes that people in Cambodia seem happy without phones and technology. I want to think about why that is.
---
**I already know**: I know that spending too much time on devices can make us miss out on the fun things happening around us. I’ve noticed that when I’m with friends, we sometimes focus more on our phones than on each other.
---
**Three important ideas from the selection**:
1. Technology can trap people in a "black hole," making them miss out on what is happening in the real world.
2. The author realizes that people around her are happy without technology, which makes her question her own habits.
3. It’s important to appreciate our surroundings and take breaks from our devices to experience life fully and feel free.
There are no human answers yet. A form for humans to post answers is coming very soon!