DEPENDENCE ON TECHNOLOGY: TIME FOR CHANGE!

        (I) Los Angeles dancer, Brian Perez, was eating out with his friends one evening when suddenly everyone went quiet. (II) To his horror, he saw that the reason for this was that people were checking their phones. (III) What if they all put their gadgets in a pile in the middle of the table until they had finished the meal? (IV) If anyone picked up their phone, that person would have to pay the whole bill. And so, it is said, the game of ‘phone stacking’ was born. 

        The necessity for action like this highlights a major problem in today’s society: our inability to disconnect from technology. But while Brian’s idea deals with the obsession in a social context, measures also need to be taken at home. Some people drop their smartphones into a box the moment they arrive home, which gives them the chance to interact with the people they live with. The fact that the phone cannot be heard – it is on silent – not seen the flashing lights are hidden by the box – means that they are no longer tempte– to use it

        A less drastic s–lution is to ban electronic devices at certain times of day when the whole family is likely to be together, for example at meal times. This can be hard for everyone, from teenagers desperate to text friends to parents unable to switch off from work. On a normal day, however, dinner takes less than an hour, and the benefits of exchanging opinions and anecdotes with the rest of the family certainly makes up for the time spent offline. 

        Taking a break from technology is one thing, but knowing when to turn off a device is another. Time seems to stand still in the virtual world, and before you know it, you find that it is three o’clock in the morning. This is where a digital curfew comes in handy, a set time when all devices must be put away. Evenings without technology are usually nice and peaceful and make a more agreeable end to the day. And then it’s time for bed. One of the best ways of ensuring you can sleep at night is to ban electronic devices altogether from the bedroom. Lying next to a machine bursting with information is far from relaxing, and the sounds it emits during the night can easily wake you up. With technology out of the room, a line has been drawn between daytime and sleep time, which enables us to switch off ourselves and drift off to sleep. 

Question 31. Where in paragraph 1 does the following sentence best fit? 

Realising he had to do something to stop this, Brian made a rather daring suggestion.

        A. (I)         B. (II)         C. (III)         D. (IV) 

Question 32. The phrase "the necessity for action" in paragraph II could be best replaced by______

        A. the requirement for change         B. the importance of communication 

        C. the need for technology         D. the demand for connection 

Question 33. The word "it" in paragraph 2 refers to_______ 

        A. fact         B. phone         C. light         D. box 

Question 34. According to paragraph 1, Brian Perez was shocked to find that_______

        A. people were willing to remove all their gadgets         B. the prices for food were too expensive

        C. people were glued to their phones         D. everyone seemed quiet by nature

Question 35. Which of the following best summarises paragraph 3? 

A. Banning electronic devices during family meals helps improve communication and connection.

B. Parents find it easy to disconnect from work during meal times. 

C. Family meals should be brief to accommodate everyone's schedules. 

D. Teenagers resist limits on device use but benefit from family interaction 

Question 36. The word "ban" in paragraph 3 is OPPOSITE in meaning to_____ 

        A. allow         B. forbid         C. prohibit         D. prevent 

Question 37. Which of the following statements is true, according to the passage?

A. People choose not to use their phones at home so that they can talk to other members.

B. Meal times are the most suitable for the whole family to use phones together. 

C. Teenagers can find it easier to turn off their phones compared to their parents. 

D. Brian's idea is not new in terms of making people less dependent on technology. 

Question 38. The word "highlights" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to_______

        A. tackles         B. expects         C. proposes         D. emphasizes 

Question 39. Which of the following best paraphrases the sentence "With technology out of the room, a line has been drawn between daytime and sleep time"? 

A. Removing devices from the bedroom helps distinguish between waking hours and rest.

B. Keeping technology in the bedroom allows for better sleep quality. 

C. Limiting device usage at night makes it easier to stay awake. 

D. Having devices in the bedroom is beneficial for sleep routines. 

Question 40. Which of the following best summarises the passage? 

A. Taking breaks from technology promotes family interaction, peaceful evenings, and better sleep through simple measures. 

B. Banning all technology use throughout the day significantly reduces its negative impact on daily life.

C. Social games like 'phone stacking' are the most effective method for reducing smartphone dependence.

D. Devices left on silent at work prevent distractions and improve professional productivity and relationships.

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