课文内容
词汇：Technology 技术
Children are hooked on computers. Some spend up to six hours a day on their gadgets. They can be playing games live with others elsewhere in the world, updating their status on social media, texting friends or looking for the latest app to download to their tablets or smartphones.
This worried Martin Strott. He’s the headmaster of the Old Hall School in Wellington, in the west of England. He was so concerned that he challenged his students to take part in a week of ‘digital detox‘.
Strott told the local newspaper, the Shropshire Star, that he encourages the pupils to be computer-savvy from a young age, but is concerned that too much screen time will affect the development of their social skills. He said that this over-reliance on digital devices “erodes family time and they’re missing out on messages from body language and facial expressions from those around them”.
According to the headmaster, the parents are happy with the initiative. But what about the children? Nine-year-old Fred usually spends around two hours on his gadgets at home after school and around 12 hours on weekends. For him, the digital detox experience was “really hard”. Fred spent it playing outside, especially cricket. He said that he’ll probably engage in different activities from now on but he did miss his phone and online games.
The idea of keeping children away from their tech for a while to prevent ‘addiction‘ is not particularly new. There have been similar initiatives in the US. But are they effective in the long run? Well, even if kids go back to their gadgets, the hope is that at least they’ll think about how they use their time.
What about you: do you spend too many hours hooked on your digital devices?
词汇表
to be hooked on 痴迷于做某事
a gadget （常指新的科技）产品
to update (their) status 更新他们的状态
to text 发短信
an app 应用程序
to download 下载
a tablet 平板电脑
a smartphone 智能电话
the headmaster 校长
detox 排毒
computer-savvy 精通电脑的
social skills 社交技能
a device 设备，设置
cricket 英式板球
tech 科技
an addiction 着迷，嗜好
测验与练习
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. How long is the digital detox supposed to last?
2. True or false? The headmaster thinks access to gadgets should only be given to children who are old enough not to get addicted to them.
3. Who said the digital detox was a difficult experience?
4. According to the article, where else can you find digital detox initiatives?
5. Which word means ‘the most recent’?
2. 请你在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。
1. I __________ my brother. He lives abroad.
miss out on am concerned am hooked on miss
2. Johnny __________ two hours a day playing computer games. His teacher isn’t happy.
takes goes spends stays
3. Children start developing their __________ skills at an early age.
computer-savvy digital computer gadget
4. Mr Bradford’s __________ do very well in exams. He’s a great teacher!
pupils schoolchildren computer savvy parents
5. Has your father taken away your smartphone? I have a __________ problem. My dad told me I use it too much and he won’t pay for my calls anymore.
same similar equal identical
答案
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. How long is the digital detox supposed to last?
One week.
2. True or false? The headmaster thinks access to gadgets should only be given to children who are old enough not to get addicted to them.
False. The Old House School’s headmaster encourages children to be computer-savvy from an early age.
3. Who said the digital detox was a difficult experience?
Fred, a nine-year-old pupil at the Old Hall School.
4. According to the article, where else can you find digital detox initiatives?
In the US.
5. Which word means ‘the most recent’?
The latest.
2. 请你在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。
1. I miss my brother. He lives abroad.
2. Johnny spends two hours a day playing computer games. His teacher isn’t happy.
3. Children start developing their computer skills at an early age.
4. Mr Bradford’s pupils do very well in exams. He’s a great teacher!
5. Has your father taken away your smartphone? I have a similar problem. My dad told me I use it too much and he won’t pay for my calls anymore.