E.L.L. Practice + Prompt | Homework Assignments and the Digital Divide

Tony and Isabella Ruiz, with their younger brother, Leo, used a nearby school’s Wi-Fi to download homework assignments onto their smartphones. Their family, in McAllen, Tex., has no Internet access at home. Related Article Credit Ilana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times


First, read the following paragraphs from a New York Times article. They appear in the wrong order. Then answer the questions:


Now, read the entire article, “Bridging a Digital Divide That Leaves Schoolchildren Behind.”


1. Explain the clues in the passage that show you the correct order for the sentences.
You can use these sentence frames:
Sentence ___ goes first because _________. Sentence ___ goes second because _________. Sentence ___ goes third because _________. Sentence _____ goes fourth because ______________. Sentence ___ goes last because _________.

2. Do you think it’s important for students to have an Internet connection at home? Why or why not?

You can use this sentence frame to answer:

I think it (is/is not) important for students to have an Internet connection at home because _________.

For extra practice with words related to technology, take this matching quiz or this one, which is about software. Or explore lessons about computers and technology and review the names of computer parts.

Find many more Ideas for English Language Learners.