ENGLISH DEPARTMENT 1º BACHILLERATO READING PRACTICE

READ THE TEXT

ADDICTED TO HER MOBILE PHONE

Addicted to her mobile A teenager is to undergo psychiatric treatment after becoming addicted to
her mobile phone. Like the worst type of addicts, Caroline regularly blows all her spending money.
“I know it sounds like a silly addiction but it is real to me”, she said. “When I hear my phone
beeping with a text message I am all smiles and it makes me happy. When I don’t have any credit
left I become depressed. I haven’t got enough money for proper food and I have to borrow it”.

Her parents have become so worried that next week she is due to begin a course of treatment from a
specialist. She first revealed her craving to her doctor, who advised her to switch the phone on the
silent mode, put it in a cupboard and forget about it. But he has now referred her for more
psychiatric care after the scale of the problem became apparent.

Caroline said: “I have become protective of the phone. I can’t let anyone take it from me and I
check where it is every two minutes”. A leading psychologist has classified Caroline’s plight as
“technology addition”, in which sufferers experience a “high” when they receive a message bleep
from their mobile. “It is like the first flush of love when you receive an e-mail or text, you feel
good”. Caroline became hooked at 12 after her parents gave her a mobile for Christmas. Since then
she has spent all her pocket money on phone cards.

1) Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the
information in the text.

a. What is the meaning of “technology addiction”?

b. Why does Caroline call herself “protective” of the phone?

2) Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that
supports your answer by copying the exact words on the answer sheet.

a. She'd rather eat than phone.

b. Her parents sent her to a hospital when she was 12.

c. The sound of an in-coming message makes Caroline feel good.

3) Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options:

flush plight top preoccupied nonsensical mute

a) worried
b) silly
c) silent
d) leading
Composition (100-120 words approximately).

What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a mobile phone?