Social Issues
BasicSociety: inequality, environment, technology.
- Social issue words: inequality · poverty · discrimination · equality
- Three steps to analyse an issue: Identify → Cause → Action
- From the passage: subdivided flats — poverty limits choices (tutorials, school trips)
文體小知識：An issue-based article — it names a problem, shows examples and calls for action.
§Text Passage
1Last month our class discussed social issues in Hong Kong during Liberal Studies lessons. We learned that inequality exists when some people have far more chances than others. Our teacher showed us photos of families living in tiny subdivided flats, where children do their homework on the bed. Poverty like this limits choices: some students cannot afford extra tutorials or school trips. Many of us had never realised that such conditions existed so close to our own estate.
2We also talked about discrimination, which can hurt people because of their race, gender or family background. One classmate described how her cousin was laughed at for speaking with an accent; the story made us feel uncomfortable. Our teacher explained that equality means everyone deserves fair treatment and respect. Luckily, hate cannot silence a caring community. Some students joined a volunteer group that tutors children from low-income families every Saturday morning.
3The school also started a campaign to collect rice, noodles and canned food for elderly people in our neighbourhood. Posters around the campus raised awareness of these problems, and the response was amazing. Within two weeks, we had filled fifty boxes and written greeting cards for every single one. Through these activities, I have learned that even small actions can make our society a fairer place. If each of us does a little, the whole community will be a little warmer.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Last month our class discussed social issues in Hong Kong during Liberal Studies lessons.
上個月我們班在通識課討論香港的社會議題。
We learned that inequality exists when some people have far more chances than others.
我們認識到，當部分人擁有比其他人多很多的機會時，社會就會出現不平等。
Our teacher showed us photos of families living in tiny subdivided flats, where children do their homework on the bed.
老師給我們看了些住在劏房的家庭照片，那些孩子要在牀上面做功課。
Poverty like this limits choices: some students cannot afford extra tutorials or school trips.
這樣的貧窮限制了選擇：有些學生負擔不起補習班或者學校旅行。
Many of us had never realised that such conditions existed so close to our own estate.
很多人從未想過，原來這樣的環境同自己屋邨距離這麼近。
We also talked about discrimination, which can hurt people because of their race, gender or family background.
我們亦討論了歧視問題，它會因為種族、性別或者家庭背景而傷害人。
One classmate described how her cousin was laughed at for speaking with an accent; the story made us feel uncomfortable.
有位同學說了她表姐因為有口音而被嘲笑的經歷，聽完大家都覺得很不舒服。
Our teacher explained that equality means everyone deserves fair treatment and respect.
老師解釋，平等代表每個人都應該得到公平的對待同尊重。
Luckily, hate cannot silence a caring community.
幸好，仇恨是不會蓋過一個有愛心的社區。
Some students joined a volunteer group that tutors children from low-income families every Saturday morning.
有些同學參加了義工小組，逢星期六早上幫低收入家庭的小朋友補習。
The school also started a campaign to collect rice, noodles and canned food for elderly people in our neighbourhood.
學校又發起了運動，為街坊裡面的長者收集米、麵同罐頭食物。
Posters around the campus raised awareness of these problems, and the response was amazing.
校園周圍的海報提高了大家對這些問題的關注，而反應非常熱烈。
Within two weeks, we had filled fifty boxes and written greeting cards for every single one.
兩星期之內，我們裝滿了五十個紙箱，還為每個箱寫了慰問卡。
Through these activities, I have learned that even small actions can make our society a fairer place.
透過這些活動，我明白到即使是小小的行動，都可以令社會更加公平。
If each of us does a little, the whole community will be a little warmer.
只要每個人出一分力，整個社區都會暖一分。
1Summary 重點摘要
Society: inequality, environment, technology.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Unfair difference.
Being poor.
Unfair treatment.
Fair treatment.
Neighbourhood.
Work for free.
Knowing about issue.
Organised effort.
3Step by step Steps
- Identify issueStep one: name the problem. Example: inequality exists when some people have far more chances than others — in the passage, families live in tiny subdivided flats where children do their homework on the bed.
- Find causeStep two: ask why it happens. Example: poverty limits choices — some students cannot afford extra tutorials or school trips; discrimination grows from prejudice about race, gender or family background.
- Take actionStep three: decide how to help. Example: the school ran a campaign collecting rice, noodles and canned food for elderly neighbours, and volunteers tutor children from low-income families every Saturday morning.
- Key vocabularyEight issue words: inequality, poverty, discrimination, equality, community, volunteer, awareness and campaign. Match each word to one example from the passage.
- Facts vs feelingsKeep facts and opinions apart. Example: children do their homework on the bed is a fact; the whole community will be a little warmer is a feeling — a good answer needs both, clearly separated.
- Raise awarenessPeople must know the problem before they act. Example: posters around the campus raised awareness of these problems, and within two weeks students filled fifty boxes and wrote greeting cards — publicity plus action works.
- Write about itUse four moves — issue, example, effects, action — and close with the golden line: If each of us does a little, the whole community will be a little warmer. Remember: There are many poor people (never The poor is many).
5Worked example Example
Based on the passage, write a discussion of poverty in Hong Kong using four moves: the issue → an example → its effects → action we can take (at least five sentences).
- Step 1: Name the issue — Inequality exists when some people have far more chances than others.
- Step 2: Give a concrete example — Some families live in tiny subdivided flats, and children do their homework on the bed.
- Step 3: Explain the effects — Poverty limits choices: some students cannot afford tutorials or school trips.
- Step 4: Describe action — Our school started a campaign to collect rice and canned food for elderly people.
- Step 5: Close with a feeling — If each of us does a little, the whole community will be a little warmer.
- Answer: One serious social issue in Hong Kong is inequality. Some families live in tiny subdivided flats, where children have to do their homework on the bed. Poverty limits choices: some students cannot afford extra tutorials or school trips, and some are even laughed at because of their accents — that is discrimination. Luckily, a caring community can help. Our volunteer group tutors children from low-income families every Saturday, and our school collected fifty boxes of food for elderly neighbours in two weeks. If each of us does a little, our society will become a fairer and warmer place.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What is inequality?
Q2What is poverty?
Q3What is discrimination?
Q4What is a volunteer?
Q5What is a campaign?
8Recap Recap
- Social issue words: inequality · poverty · discrimination · equality
- Three steps to analyse an issue: Identify → Cause → Action
- From the passage: subdivided flats — poverty limits choices (tutorials, school trips)
- Ways to help: volunteer tutoring · food campaigns that raise awareness
- Key line: If each of us does a little, the whole community will be a little warmer.