READING COMPRENSION

Read the following text:

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’s 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’s every two minutes”. A leading psychologist
has classified Caroline’s plight as “ technology addition”, in which suffered
experience a “high” when they receive a message bleep from their mobile. “
It’s 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. Anwer the flollowing 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) of 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 she was 12.

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

3. Find a word in the text acoording to the following definitions of synonyms:

a) a sudden rise of emotion:

b) an intoxicated state caused by alcohol or narcotic drugs:

c) a strong or eager desire:

d) bear, tolerate:

4. 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:
5. Choose a, b or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct.

1. Caroline’s addiction is a silly one for her…..

a) because she can cope with the money she has

b) because she can afford the 40 pointless calls plus some more
messages

c) she thinks it it silly but a real one to her.

2. Her doctor recommended her to…..

a) give up having mobiles.

b) put the phone away for a while.

c) to put all her money in a cupboard and forget about it.

3. Caroline was sent to a specialist….

a) because she didn’t put her mobile in a cupboard.

b) because her addiction was very serious.

c) because she smashed her mobile against a wall.

Writing

Are you a addict to your mobile phone ?. Give your opinion.