A
(2021·杭州模拟)
A few years ago, I started to notice big shifts in teens’ behavior. Around 2010, teens started to spend their time much differently from the generations before. These teens and young adults all have one thing in common: Their childhood or adolescence coincided with the rise of the smart phone. For this reason, I call them iGeneration.
What makes iGen different? Growing up with a smartphone has affected nearly every aspect of their lives. They spend so much time on the Internet, texting friends and on social media that they have less leisure time for everything else. Whether it’s going to parties, shopping at the mall, or watching movies, iGen teens are participating in these social activities at a significantly low rate.
Some parents might worry about their teens spending so much time on their phones because it differs from the way they spent their own adolescence. But it is not just different—in many ways, it’s actually worse. Spending less time with friends means less time to develop social skills. A 2014 study found that sixth graders who spent just five days at a camp without using screens ended the time better at reading emotions on others’ faces, suggesting that iGen’s screen-filled lives might cause their social skills to shrink.
In addition, in the annual Monitoring the Future survey, the percentage of iGen teens who read a non required book every day dropped from 60 percent in 1980 to only 16 percent in 2015. Perhaps as a result, average SAT critical reading scores have dropped 14 points since 2005.
iGen shows another break with the previous generations:Depression, anxiety, and loneliness have shot upward with happiness declining. The teen suicide rate increased by more than 50 percent, as did the number of teens with clinical-level depression.
Parents used to worry about their teens spending too much time with their friends—they were a distraction, a bad influence, a waste of time. But it might be just what iGen needs now.
【文章大意】这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了iGen一代, 他们的童年或青春期恰好赶上了智能手机的兴起。由于这个原因, 所以称他们为iGeneration。在智能手机的陪伴下长大几乎影响了iGen生活的方方面面, 他们把太多时间花在上网、给朋友发短信和社交媒体上, 所以很少有闲暇时间做其他事情。文章还提到了iGen一代在阅读、心理健康等方面存在的问题。
1. How are iGen teens different from the generations before?
A. They are more skillful in high-tech products.
B. They stay in close contact with friends.
C. They prefer to live a virtual life than a real one.
D. They spend their adolescence with smartphones.
【解析】选D。细节理解题。根据第一段中Around 2010, teens started to spend their time much differently from the generations before. These teens and young adults all have one thing in common: Their childhood or adolescence coincided with the rise of the smart phone. 可知2010年前后, 青少年的生活方式开始与前几代人大不相同。这些青少年和年轻的成年人都有一个共同点:他们的童年或青春期恰好赶上了智能手机的兴起。由此可知, iGen青少年和过去的几代人的不同在于他们用智能手机度过青春期。故选D。
2. Why is the “annual Monitoring the Future survey” mentioned in Paragraph 4?
A. To stress the importance of reading the required books.
B. To explain the reason why iGeneration reads less.
C. To introduce the extra curriculum reading situation of iGeneration.
D. To show the influence of reading on iGen teenagers’ mental health.
【解析】选C。推理判断题。根据第四段In addition, in the annual Monitoring the Future survey, the percentage of iGen teens who read a non required book every day dropped from 60 percent in 1980 to only 16 percent in 2015. Perhaps as a result, average SAT critical reading scores have dropped 14 points since 2005. 可知此外, 在Monitoring the Future的年度调查中, 每天阅读非必读书籍的iGen青少年的百分比从1980年的60%下降到2015年的16%。或许正因为如此, SAT批判性阅读的平均分数自2005年以来下降了14分。由此可推知, 第四段提到Monitoring the Future的年度调查是为了介绍青少年课外阅读的情况。故选C。
3. What is the fifth paragraph mainly about?
A. Depression and anxiety are the common symptoms of mental problems.
B. Mental problems can be found in large numbers of iGen teens.
C. Net-addicted teenagers are more likely to suffer from mental problems.
D. iGen teens’ mental problems are getting more and more attention.
【解析】选B。段落大意题。根据第五段iGen shows another break with the previous generations:Depression, anxiety, and loneliness have shot upward with happiness declining. The teen suicide rate increased by more than 50 percent, as did the number of teens with clinical-level depression. 可知iGen显示出与前几代人的另一种不同:抑郁、焦虑和孤独感直线上升, 幸福感下降。青少年自杀率增加了50%以上, 患有临床级抑郁症的青少年人数也增加了。由此可知, 第五段主要讲了大量 iGen青少年存在精神问题。故选B。
4. What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. How the Smartphone Affected an Entire Generation of Kids?
B. Parents Are Getting Serious about Teen Smartphone Addiction.
C. Smartphones for Teens: Smart or Stupid?
D. Smartphones Are Changing iGen Teen’s Lifestyle.
【解析】选A。主旨大意题。根据第一段中Around 2010, teens started to spend their time much differently from the generations before. These teens and young adults all have one thing in common: Their childhood or adolescence coincided with the rise of the smart phone. For this reason, I call them iGeneration. 可知2010年前后, 青少年的生活方式开始与前几代人大不相同。这些青少年和年轻的成年人都有一个共同点:他们的童年或青春期恰好赶上了智能手机的兴起。由于这个原因, 我称他们为iGeneration。结合文章主要介绍了iGen一代, 他们的童年或青春期恰好赶上了智能手机的兴起。在智能手机的陪伴下长大几乎影响了iGen生活的方方面面, 他们把太多时间花在上网、给朋友发短信和社交媒体上, 所以很少有闲暇时间做其他事情。文章还提到了iGen一代在阅读、心理健康等方面存在的问题。由此可知, A选项“智能手机是如何影响整整一代孩子的?”最符合文章标题。故选A。
【知识拓展】佳词积累
1. coincide with 符合, 与……一致
2. participate in 参加
3. distraction n. 注意力分散;消遣
