阅读理解。
Social networking websites are causing alarming changes in the brains of young users, a famous scientist
has warned. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are said to shorten attention spans (幅度), encourage
instant satisfaction and make children more self-centered.
Warnings from neuroscientist (神经系统科学家) Susan Greenfield will disturb the millions whose social
lives depend on surfing their favorite websites each day. But they will strike a chord (弦) with parents and
teachers who complain that many teenagers lack the ability to communicate or concentrate away from their
screens.
More than 150 million use Facebook to keep in touch with friends, share photographs and videos and
post regular updates of their movements and thoughts. A further six million have signed up to Twitter, the
"micro-blogging" service that lets users exchange text messages about themselves. But while the sites are
popular and extremely profitable, a growing number of psychologists and neuroscientists believe they may
be doing more harm than good.
Baroness Tarot, an Oxford University neuroscientist believes repeated exposure could rewire the brain.
Computer games and fast-paced TV shows were also a factor, she said. "My fear is that these technologies
are weakening the brain to the state of small children who are attracted by buzzing noises and bright lights,
who have a small attention span and live for the moment. often wonder whether real conversation in real
time may eventually give way to these easier and faster screen dialogues, in much the same way as killing
and butchering an animal to eat has been replaced by the convenience of packages on the supermarket shelf,"
she said.
Psychologists have also argued that digital technology is changing the way we think. They point out that
students no longer need to plan their term papers before starting to write-thanks to word processors they
can edit as they go along.
A study by the Broadcaster Audience Board found teenagers now spend seven and a half hours a day in
front of a screen. Educational psychologist Jane Healy believes children should be kept away from computer
games until they are seven. Most games only excite the "flight or fight" areas of the brain, rather than the
areas responsible reasoning.
Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood, said:"We are seeing children's brain development damaged because
they don't engage in the activity they have engaged in for thousands of years. I'm not against technology and
computers. But before they start social networking, they need to learn to make real relationships with people."
1. According to the passage, social networking websites might _____.
A. encourage young users constant satisfaction
B. lengthen young users' attention span
C. make young users more selfish
D. help young users communicate better with their families
2. A neuroscientist may worry that sites like Facebook may _____.
A. help children learn to make real relationships with people in society
B. encourage students not to plan their term papers before starting to write
C. disturb those whose social lives depend on surfing their favorite websites
D. make real conversation in real time give way to easier and faster screen dialogue
3. From the passage we can infer that _____.
A. Baroness Tarot agrees websites cause small children's small attention span
B. Jane Healy believes computer games can do good to children's reasoning
C. Susan Greenfield's warnings have been brought to wide public attention
D. Sue Palmer's book Toxic Childhood discusses the development of networking
4. What is the purpose of this passage?
A. To tell us the conflict between neuroscientists and psychologists on websites.
B. To present some negative opinions on social networking websites.
C. To offer advice on the problem of brain damage caused by social networking.
D. To analyse how social networking websites cause damage in the brains of teenagers.
5. From Baroness Tarot's example of "killing and butchering an animal to eat", we can learn he is worried
that _____.
A. technologies are weakening are the brain to the state of small children
B. small children have a small attention span and live for the moment
C. real conversation in real time may be replaced by easier and faster screen dialogues
D. killing and butchering an animal to eat leads to the convenience of the supermarket