Play the game
A. I}isciiss the lollowing:
• Do you like playing video,
computer or online games?
Why/Why not?
8. flead ttle lirst paragraph ol the lexl
below and look al ltie charl§ on
iiage 7. Wlial do you think the main
tinllings ol the survey are?
C. floail llie lext quickly anll
compare il with your predictions
in llle iirevious exercise.
There is no doubt that computers and the Internet play
an important role in how young people spend their
spare time. This week we are presenting the results
of a survey that focuses on college students' use of
video, computer and online games, and how that use
influences their everyday life. The survey was carried
out at ten American college campuses in the Midwest
and approximately 150 students between the ages of
18 and 24 took part.
Many people might believe that sitting in front of a
computer screen would have a negative effect on one's
social life. However, 20% of students say that playing
games like War/d of Wcircroft, Co// of Duty, and
Second Li.fe, actually helps them meet new people clnd
make their friendships better. 60% of students said
that games help them pass .heir time when they are
unable to spend time with their friends. Finally, 65% of
them reported that games do not affect or reduce the
time they spend with friends.
Most students have positive feelings about games.
45% describe them as challenging, 36% as pleasant
and 34% as exciting. Fewer students have negative
feelings. Those students said that they feel f rustrated
(12%), bored (11%) or stressed (6%) when they play
games.
College students seem to believe that games do not
affect their study habits. 66% of them reported that
games do not influence their grades. On the other
hand, almost half of them (48%) admitted that games
keep them from sti/dying to some extent. Only 9% said
that the main reason why they play gcimes is to avoid
studying.
What is surprising about the number of students who
play games, is the difference between males and
females. Overall, males play games more, but it is
interesting lhot females play more computer games
than males, while males play more video games. A
possible reason for this is that video games focus more
on violence, and computer games focus on strategy
and problem solving. When asked which games they
play the most, more thcln half of the mciles (53%)
answered video games, followed by computer games
(19%) and Internet games (12%). The females' answers
were 17% for video games, 32% for computer games
and 15% for lntemet games.16% of males and 36%
of females answered "none" to that question.
I
D. Reall lhB lexl again anil complele the missing inlormation, phrases or iierceiilages, in the charts lielow.

Games and socializing

Playing games helps making friends.

Games help pass time when not being with friends.

Which games they play the most

Games don't affect socializing.

How college students feel about games

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A. Head the lollowing senteiices. What's ltie dillerence
bel"een liored and boringiv

A: I think that new computer game is very boring.

a.. You're right. I got boied afterjust five minutes
Of playing it. Complete with the Present Simple or the Presenl Progressive
ol the verbs in parentheses.

8. Circlo the correct words.

1. Scott was terffed / terrifylng at the thought of

staying home alone.

2. I really hate Peter's jokes. I don't think they are

amused / amLis]n8 at all.

3. There was an accident outside my house last

night and we were all amazed / amazlng to find
that the driver wasn't hurt.

4. I find it absolutely astonlshed / astonlshlng that

you would say something so I.ude.
5. Riding the roller coaster was one of the most
thrllled / thrilllng experiences in my life.