Never again, that is, will I take all my technology along. The Internet has ruined summer vacations.Instead of reading dog-eared summerhouse mystery novels, this year we browsed the Internet. Instead of long evenings of crossword puzzles or board games, we checked our Twitter feeds and updated our Facebook pages. And that, of course, is the problem with the Internet: It's so easy that, unless you're equipped with massive self-control, you use it if it's there.For several years, I kept my Internet addiction under control by using inconvenient technology: a laptop which is old and not in good condition and a slow dial-up connection. But this year, the combination of a new iPad and very good Wi-Fi turned out to be fatal. The magical iPad signaled silently from the picnic table: What harm could it be to give the e-mail a quick check? But once that attractive touch screen lights up, who can resist?I'm not the first to get lost across this problem, of course. I, m a late adopter. As early as 2008, Nicholas Carr, author of The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, was warning that broadband Internet was reducing our attention spans and making us stupid. The Web, he said, encourages us to get stuck into our "natural state of distractedness." Even before that, in 2000, Harvard's Robert Putnam warned that television-and, more broadly, staring into any kind of screen-had reduced the amount of time families spent in social interactions. And last year, researchers at UC-Irvine reported that employees who were unplugged from their e-mail got more work done-and experienced far less stress.Access to the Web is unquestionably a wonderful thing. I love having a bottomless library at my fingertips; I love having the world's newspapers on my electronic doorstep. I love being able to pay bills and make airplane reservations online. And, thanks to those ugly cell phone towers in the woods, we now have a way to call for help if we need an ambulance or a fire truck. It's also nice to have an app that identifies the constellations (星座)when you hold the iPad up to the night sky. But then, you have to remember to put the screen down and simply drink in the stars-the original, uncut version.And that's the point: It's important not to let the convenience of the Internet get in the way of simpler beauties. It's our fault instead of the Internet, for failing to control the urge to browse. My problem is learning how to limit the time I spend on it. So now I have one more thing to look forward to next summer: More time reading old novels; more time playing crossword puzzles and chasing frogs. Next year, I promise to unplug. Except, of course, when we need to find a new bike trail, or Google a recipe for wild blueberry pie.1Throughout the passage, what evidence does the author provide to support the claims he makes in paragraph 2? A.Scientific studies and statistics about Internet use.B. Historical facts regarding the effects of television and the Internet.C. Personal accounts and opinions of those who have studied the Internet.D. Results of opinion polls about Internet use.2 According to the passage, how does the writer keep himself from getting addicted to the Internet?
Throughout the passage, what evidence does the author provide to support the claims he makes in paragraph 2?
- A.Scientific studies and statistics about Internet use.
- B. Historical facts regarding the effects of television and the Internet.
- C. Personal accounts and opinions of those who have studied the Internet.
- D. Results of opinion polls about Internet use.
2 According to the passage, how does the writer keep himself from getting addicted to the Internet?
- A. By using outdated laptops with poor Internet access.
- B. By only giving the e-mail a quick look.
- C. By keeping the electronic devices out of reach.
- D. By accessing new iPad and good Wi-Fi.
3In the article, UC-Irvine research functions as __________ .
- A. a personal account that illustrates an idea about social life
- B. a restatement of the author's main argument
- C. historical context to allow the reader to understand the article's setting
- D. evidence to support a point made by Nicolas Carr
4Which of the following statement will the author probably agree to?
- A. people should not rely simply on the Internet to provide them with news and other information
- B. people can have meaningful vacations only if they leave all electronic devices at home
- C. although the Internet is often useful, it can become addictive and prevent human interaction
- D. even though there are some good things about the Internet, overall it has affected civilization for the worse