RDW Assessment Emojis Aug '23

Text A - Comprehension
Read the article below and answer the questions.
Emojis
According to Professor Vyv Evans of Bangor University, Emoji is the UK’s fastest-
growing language – evolving faster than any language in history. These little
electronic images started life in Japanese mobile phones in the 90s and are now
hugely popular. In the UK they are becoming more popular than internet
abbreviations like ‘lol’ (laughing out loud), ‘muah’ (the sound of a kiss) or 'xoxoxo'
(hugs and kisses). They have inspired fashion, like the real-life dress copied from the
dancing lady emoji, and are even recognised as art! In New York’s Museum of
Modern Art you can now see the first set of the 176 original emojis.
Why do we love them so much?

We really seem to ‘big red heart’ emojis! But why? They allow us to personalise text
and have fun as we express ourselves, make people laugh and be creative in how
we use them. UK teenagers also told us they really appreciated the fact that emojis
are quick and easy.
‘… they’re quick to use instead of words and show hidden meanings.’

Will, 15
‘My favourite emoji is ‘laughing face’ because it saves you putting ‘hahaha’ or ‘lol’.’
Lucia, 15
‘It’s easier for lazy people.’
Lucy, 15
‘Yeah, cuz talking’s effort.’
Katy, 15
People also really identify with their favourite emojis. The emojis we choose can
reflect our personality. What does your recently used emoji board say about you? Is
it full of party poppers and smileys? Or unhappy faces? In the UK, the most used
emojis are ‘face with tears of joy’, ‘face blowing a kiss’ and ‘love heart’. Maybe (with
emojis at least) the British are more fun and romantic than people think! You can
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also tell a lot about a culture from their emoji complaints. Until 2015 when the
‘cheese wedge’ arrived, British people were constantly complaining about the lack of
cheese! Now, the addition of ‘bacon’ in 2016 means we’re very close to a full English
breakfast.
Diversity and representation

Getting the emoji you want can be a more serious problem than not finding exactly
what you had for breakfast. Emojis do not always represent the people that use
them. However, after many years of public anger and campaigning, things are
changing. Instead of just cartoon-yellow people and faces, we now have the option
for five different skin colours. Recent updates also included opposite gender pairs,
so we have ‘Mrs Father Christmas’, a smartly dressed ‘man in tuxedo’, as a partner
for the bride, and a ‘dancing man’, to match the dancing lady. Soon there will be a
redhead emoji, by popular demand, and a woman wearing a headscarf, after
German teenager RayoufAlhumedhi campaigned for an emoji to represent her.
Emojis for campaigns

Can emojis help to change society for the better? Did you know that the ‘eye in
speech bubble’ or ‘I Am A Witness’ emoji represents speaking out about online
bullying? It was created by Apple and the Ad Council for their ‘I Am A Witness’
campaign. Use it to say that someone’s comment is rude and not OK, or to show
someone that you’re on their side when people are not treating them right.
Companies such as McDonalds have also tried to use our love of emojis to their
advantage. In their ‘good times’ campaign they use a series of emojis on a billboard
to tell a story of a frustrating day given a happy ending by a visit to McDonalds.
Unfortunately for McDonalds, the blank white space after the end of the story was
too tempting for British graffiti artists. Can you guess what they added? That’s right
… the vomiting emoji was a popular choice!
The future of emojis

What is the future of emojis? They are already shaping social media as existing and
new platforms evolve to incorporate and respond to their use. Is emoji evolving so
rapidly that it will soon compete with English as a global language? Or is technology
changing so fast that emojis will soon be forgotten when the next big thing comes
along? It is hard to predict and even technology and language experts are divided on
the subject. What do you think? Keep your eyes open for new developments!
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1. Check your understanding: multiple choice
Circle the best answer to these questions.
1. Emoji ...
a. has more symbols than there are words in the English language.
b. is developing faster than any other language.
c. is still at a very basic stage.
2. Emojis have influenced ...

a. English vocabulary and pronunciation.
b. our messaging style and fashion.
c. art and architecture.
3. British teenagers say emojis help them ...

a. express their personalities and be creative.
b. tell stories in a funny way.
c. save time and effort.
Answer the following questions in full sentences and in your own words as far as
possible.
4. What does the author suggest about the emojis that you use most?
_____________________________________________________________ (1)
5. What is it that the UK’s favourite emoji might show about British people?
_____________________________________________________________ (1)
6. About which two things concerning emojis have people been angry?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ (2)
7. Explain what a German teenager has achieved concerning emojis.

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ (2)
8. What was the result of the McDonalds advertising campaign that used
emojis?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ (1)
(10)
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2. Check your grammar: gap fill Write the word to fill the gaps.
1. Emoji is the UK’s fastest-growing language – evolving faster _______________ any

language in history.
2. They have inspired fashion and are even recognised _______________ art!
3. They allow us _______________ personalise text and have fun as we express
ourselves.
4. They’re quick to use instead _______________ words.
5. What does your recently used emoji board say _______________ you?
6. Emojis do not always represent the people _______________ use them.
7. The 'I Am A Witness’ emoji was created _______________ Apple and the Ad
Council.
8. Companies such _______________ McDonalds have also tried to use our love of
emojis to their advantage.
9. Is technology changing _______________ fast that emojis will soon be forgotten?
10. It is hard _______________ predict the future of emojis.
(10)
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SUMMARY (10)
Read the passage (TEXT B) below. Summarise:
*how emojis were first developed and
*why emojis are considered as essential in digital communication today.
Write a paragraph of 60 – 80 words. There are 7 main points you should identify and summarise.
Write in your own words as far as possible.
TEXT B
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________(words:____)

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Text A - Comprehension

Read the article below and answer the questions.

Why do we love them so much?

‘… they’re quick to use instead of words and show hidden meanings.’

Diversity and representation

Emojis for campaigns

The future of emojis

2. Emojis have influenced ...

3. British teenagers say emojis help them ...

7. Explain what a German teenager has achieved concerning emojis.

1. Emoji is the UK’s fastest-growing language – evolving faster _______________ any

Read the passage (TEXT B) below. Summarise:

*how emojis were first developed and

*why emojis are considered as essential in digital communication today.

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