Module G Unseen- Are You Bored?

PARAGRAPH 1 About a decade ago, cell phones started making their way into our lives. The benefits were clear: parents could check in with their children, friends and colleagues miles apart could keep in touch, and people could feel safer. Lately, however, cell phones have taken on a new role - arming users against the ever-present threat of boredom. PARAGRAPH 2 Empty moments used to be a fact of life; time just ticked away as you stood in line or sat in traffic. But increasingly, such moments are being filled by mobile devices. One cell phone phone manufacturer, for example, provides escape from the tiny bits of free time that it calls "micro-boredom" by offering a variety of diversions. Among other things, these include 2-minute TV episodes made for the cell phone screen and games designed to last no more than five minutes. And then, of course, there's the hugely popular text messaging, which turns every dull second into a chance to broadcast thoughts and feelings - even if all you want to say is, "I'm bored." 1. What is the relationship between the first and second paragraphs? The first presents some problems; the second gives the solutions. The first presents arguments; the second contradicts them The first presents a situation; the second gives more details The first presents a change; the second presents the problems it causes. 2. COMPLETE THE SENTENCE.All the cell phone diversions mentioned in the last 4 lines of paragraph 2 have the same............. . PARAGRAPH 3 But are we too busy playing with our digital toys to realize that we are giving up a good thing? Dr. Richard Ralley believes we are. A psychologist from Edge Hill University in England, Dr. Ralley set out to investigate the phenomenon of boredom. Studying various age groups he soon noticed (perhaps not surprisingly) that the younger one is, the less likely one is to get easily bored. Young children, for instance, are imaginative enough to play "pretend" games for hours and hours with nothing more than a piece of string or an old hat. But as people grow older, they require more and more external distractions to keep their minds occupied. And what happens if nothing interesting comes their way? In such cases, Dr. Ralley has found, they are often motivated to think something up themselves. "In fact, those people who can tolerate boredom best have also been found to be the most creative," he says. "This means that boredom has considerable value." 3. Give the TWO findings of Dr. Ralley's study. (paragraph 3)COMPLETE THE SENTENCES.(1) There is a connection between boredom and .............................. .(2) There is a connection between boredom and ................................ . PARAGRAPH 4 Psychiatrist Edward Hallowell, author of CrazyBusy,concurs. Boredom is not a state of nothingness, he insists. Rather, it is an essential human emotion without which are, philosophy, science and even love would be impossible. People who don't spend their time constantly reacting to the external world are better able to explore the internal one, and it is in times of contemplation that we are often visited by fresh ideas or insights. In the words of Dr. Hallowell, boredom "is not something to flee from in horror, but a doorway to something better." 4. What do Dr. Ralley and Dr. Hallowell agree on regarding boredom? It can be eliminated easily. It is a fact of life. It isn't easy to cope with. It has a function. 5. According to paragraph 4, what is the advantage of having empty time? PARAGRAPH 5 The potential of boredom may therefore be worth considering. So before you run to check your email again or send another SMS, why not give yourself a few minutes of "empty" time? You never know what you might discover. 6. In the last paragraph, the writer gives advice about how to (—). respond to boredom use technological devices keep yourself busy get more things done 7. What is the main argument made in the article against the current use of cellphones?