Weibo, or micro-blogs, the Chinese version of Twitter, has be-come a way of life in China, especially for the young. Our train bumped into something. Our carriage has fallen onto its side. Children are screaming. Come to help us please ！ Come fast ！
This is the first message sent from a high-speed train that crashed on July 23rd，2011 in China's Zhejiang province.
Not only was it a cry for help, which saved tens of lives, but it also contributed to a wave of unprecedented（史无前例的）"citizen journalism" on China's micro-blogs. Within ten hours, the message was reposted over one-hundred-thousand times, which was something the girl, Xiao Yang, who wrote it had never imagined. She said，" I just wanted to survive at that moment, so I posted a message on Weibo. I didn't know it would help us to be rescued so quickly. "After the crash, China's twenty million strong microbloggers demonstrated tremendous （巨大的）and unfamiliar power. They joined rescue efforts, helped survivors and monitored the officials investigating the accident.
As with traditional media, Weibo functions as a mirror on society, sparking debates and enlightening discussions. But what's different about the micro-blogging site is that anyone-not just journa-lists-can take a photo, record a video clip or write a quick note about what is happening around them.
I can fully accept this new Weibo lifestyle. Almost everyone has Weibo now. I read news on Weibo and it helps me with my life. I also write or repost news sometimes.
Clearly, Weibo enables millions of Chinese to become " citizen journalists"，opening them up to fresh news and views on their community, country and world.
This has led to many micro-bloggers keeping a closer eye on the authorities. In response, the government is also using Weibo as a tool to respond to citizens' queries（疑问）. And in Beijing, microbloggers have already left thousands of messages, urging the government to solve problems they consider urgent.
Wang Hui, general director of Beijing Information Office, said，"Weibo has created a platform for government officials to better understand what the citizens are thinking about and what they really need. This bottom-to-top information transmission channel is innovative and will become a new trend for government officials to provide better services for the people. "
But, however compelling （引人注目的）Weibo may be, much information it provides turns out to be rumors. Weibo, as a platform, not only helps the Chinese people express their views, but also trains the government in facing public opinion. Meanwhile, for Xiao Yang, a simple message saved her life. And for millions of others, Weibo means much more than just a simple touch on a smart phone.

Weibo helps Chinese __________ views
Passage outline The Chinese version of Twitter	Supporting details
Weibo has become a new way of life, especially for young __________ in China.
One example__________ how tremendous the power of Weibo is	Process of the event	•    A message from a crashed train for __________ appeared on Weibo. •    The message was immediately reposted over one-hundred-thousand times. •    Rescue efforts were joined __________ millions of micro-bloggers.
Effects and results of the event	•    Some people were saved. •    A wave of "citizen journalism" was __________ •    How officials responded to and dealt with the accident was also monitored.
Comparisons between traditional media and Weibo	__________	They both function as a mirror on society.
Difference	Any micro-blogger can be a __________，who can report what is happening.

 

Discussion between traditional media and Weibo	•    It enables millions of Chinese to become supervisors of society as well as the authorities. •    People have new __________ to fresh news and views. •    The government feels _______. to make their services more effective.
Something more about Weibo	•    It sometimes provides rumors. •    It means much more than just a simple touch on the smart phone.