Internet Access Is A Human Right

Most of the worlds Internet users believe Internet access is a basic human right. This is according to a new poll
conducted for the BBC. A survey of more than 27,000 adults in 26 different countries found four out of five
people believed access to the World Wide Web was a right everyone in the world needs and should have. The
chief (secretar general) of the International Telecommunication Union, Dr. Hamadoun Toure, told the BBC
World Service: "The right to communicate cannot be ignored. The Internet is the most powerful potential source
of enlightenment ever created." Dr. Toure believes online access should be available everywhere, just like roads
and water. In some countries, this has already happened. Finland and Estonia have laws saying access is a
human right.
The survey also showed how the Internet is quickly becoming a vital part of our life, all across the world. Over
75 per cent of Japanese, Mexican and Russian people said they could not live without it. It is easy to see why.
Almost everything we do in our life today, from communication, study, work and leisure, needs the Internet.
Without access to the Web, many people would feel helpless and powerless. Almost 80 per cent of those who
took the survey believe the Web had a positive impact, with nearly four fifths saying they have greater freedom.
Other people were worried about the dangers of using the Internet. One big surprise was that the majority of
Germans felt it was not safe for them to express their opinions online.

TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.

The article says the UN has made Internet access a human right.
A poll questioned 27,000 adults in 126 countries.
A telecommunication chief said the Web was important for light.
There are at least 2 countries with laws saying the Internet is a right.
Three-quarters of Mexicans cannot live without the Internet.
The Internet makes it easy for us to see.
Four fifths of people said they feel the Web is a positive thing.
Most Germans surveyed were worried about freedom of expression.

SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.
2
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

believe
chief
ignored
potential
enlightenment
vital
leisure
helpless
impact
express

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.

think
head
disregarded
possible
learning
necessary
free time
weak
effect
talk about

T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F
T/F

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Internet Access Is A Human Right
Most of the worlds Internet _________ believe Internet access is a basic _______________. This is according to a new
poll conducted for the BBC. A survey of more than _________ adults in _________ different countries found _________
out of _________ people believed access to the ________________ was a right everyone in the world needs and should
have. The _________ of the International Telecommunication Union, Dr. Hamadoun Toure, told the BBC World Service:
"The right to _________ cannot be ignored. The Internet is the most powerful potential _________ of enlightenment ever
created." Dr. Toure believes ______________ should be available everywhere, just like roads and water. In some
_________ , this has already happened. Finland and Estonia have _________ saying access is a human right.
The _________ also showed how the Internet is quickly becoming a vital part of our life, all across the _________ . Over
_________ per cent of Japanese, _________ and Russian people said they could not live without it. It is easy to see why.
Almost everything we do in our life today, from _________ , study, _________ and leisure, needs the Internet. Without
access to the _________ , many people would feel helpless and powerless. Almost _________ per cent of those who took
the survey believe the Web had a positive impact, with nearly _____________ saying they have greater _________ .
Other people were worried about the _________ of using the Internet. One big _________ was that the majority of
_________ felt it was not _________ for them to express their opinions _________ .
LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS
Internet Access Is A Human Right
Most of the worlds Internet _________ believe Internet access is a basic _______________. This is according to a new
poll conducted for the BBC. A survey of more than _________ adults in _________ different countries found _________
out of _________ people believed access to the ________________ was a right everyone in the world needs and should
have. The _________ of the International Telecommunication Union, Dr. Hamadoun Toure, told the BBC World Service:
"The right to _________ cannot be ignored. The Internet is the most powerful potential _________ of enlightenment ever
created." Dr. Toure believes ______________ should be available everywhere, just like roads and water. In some
_________ , this has already happened. Finland and Estonia have _________ saying access is a human right.
The _________ also showed how the Internet is quickly becoming a vital part of our life, all across the _________ . Over
_________ per cent of Japanese, _________ and Russian people said they could not live without it. It is easy to see why.
Almost everything we do in our life today, from _________ , study, _________ and leisure, needs the Internet. Without
access to the _________ , many people would feel helpless and powerless. Almost _________ per cent of those who took
the survey believe the Web had a positive impact, with nearly _____________ saying they have greater _________ .
Other people were worried about the _________ of using the Internet. One big _________ was that the majority of
_________ felt it was not _________ for them to express their opinions _________ .
LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS
Internet Access Is A Human Right
Most of the worlds Internet _________ believe Internet access is a basic _______________. This is according to a new
poll conducted for the BBC. A survey of more than _________ adults in _________ different countries found _________
out of _________ people believed access to the ________________ was a right everyone in the world needs and should
have. The _________ of the International Telecommunication Union, Dr. Hamadoun Toure, told the BBC World Service:
"The right to _________ cannot be ignored. The Internet is the most powerful potential _________ of enlightenment ever
created." Dr. Toure believes ______________ should be available everywhere, just like roads and water. In some
_________ , this has already happened. Finland and Estonia have _________ saying access is a human right.
The _________ also showed how the Internet is quickly becoming a vital part of our life, all across the _________ . Over
_________ per cent of Japanese, _________ and Russian people said they could not live without it. It is easy to see why.
Almost everything we do in our life today, from _________ , study, _________ and leisure, needs the Internet. Without
access to the _________ , many people would feel helpless and powerless. Almost _________ per cent of those who took
the survey believe the Web had a positive impact, with nearly _____________ saying they have greater _________ .
Other people were worried about the _________ of using the Internet. One big _________ was that the majority of
_________ felt it was not _________ for them to express their opinions _________ .