Question

There is plenty of complaints about how social media-texting in particular—may be harming children’s social development. But a new study suggests that constant instant messaging(IM’ing) and texting among teens may also provide benefits, particularly for those who are introverted(内向的).

British researchers studied instant messages exchanged by 231 teens. The researchers analyzed 150 conversations in the study. In 100 of these chats, the study participant began IM’ing while in a negative emotional state such as sadness or anger. The rest were conversations begun when the participant was feeling good or neutral(中立的). After the chat, participants reported about a 20% reduction in their distress—not enough to completely eliminate it, but enough to leave them feeling better than they had before reaching out.

"Our findings suggest that IM’ing between distressed adolescents and their peers may provide emotional relief and consequently contribute to their well-being," the authors write, noting that previous research has shown that people assigned to talk to a stranger either in real life or online improved their mood in both settings, but even more with IM. And people who talk with their real-life friends online also report feeling closer to them than those who just communicate face-to-face, implying a strengthening of their bond.

Why would digital communication trump human contact? The reasons may have something to do with the fact that users can control expression of sadness and other emotions via IM without revealing emotional elements like tears that some may consider as embarrassing. Studies also show that the anonymity(匿名) of writing on a device blankets the users in a sense of safety. Previous research has shown that expressive writing itself can "vent" emotions and provide a sense of relief—and doing so, knowing that your words are reaching a sympathetic friend, may provide even more comfort and potentially be helpful. This is what the Internet offers: the change to connect—but in measured doses(剂量) and from behind a screen.

1.What can we learn from the passage?

A. Teens are more likely to send instant messages when feeling upset.

B. Instant messaging can help completely remove teens’ negative emotions.

C. Chat via instant messaging services makes participants feel happy.

D. Constant instant messaging can help teens value their negative emotions.

2.The underlined word “vent” in paragraph 4 most probably means ________.

A. develop    B. maintain

C. release    D. hide

3.What does the digital communication enable users to do?

A. Find more sympathetic friends.

B. Share and discuss more information.

C. Produce more expressive writings.

D. Avoid embarrassment and discomfort.

4.What can be concluded from the new study by British researchers?

A. American teens are extensive instant messaging users.

B. Instant messaging will prevent children’s social development.

C. Introverted teens may benefit from constant instant messaging.

D. Teens feeling bad often feel closer to real-life friends than to the net friends.

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.C

【解析】很多人抱怨社交媒介尤其是短信可能影响孩子社交能力的发展，但新的研究表明，经常编辑短信可能还会对青少年尤其是性格内向的青少年有益。

1.推理判断题。根据第二段In 100 of these chats, the study participant began IM’ing while in a negative emotional state such as sadness or anger.可知，在所研究的150份对话中，有100份以消极的状态开头，可以推断，当心情沮丧时，青少年更愿意发短信，故选A；而根据第一段最后一句After the chat, participants reported about a 20% reduction in their distress—not enough to completely eliminate it可知，发短信只能部分消除沮丧心情，并不能完全消除，故B错误；而C、D原文均没有阐述。

2.猜测词义题。根据单词所在句子Previous research has shown that expressive writing itself can "vent" emotions and provide a sense of relief可知，短语"vent" emotions和provide a sense of relief（缓解，减轻）由并列连词and连接，意思相近，可知vent的意思是“放出，发泄感情”，而release意为“释放，放出”，故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据最后一段The reasons may have something to do with the fact that users can control expression of sadness and other emotions via IM without revealing emotional elements like tears that some may consider as embarrassing.可知，数字沟通可以避免尴尬和不安。故选D。

4.细节理解题。根据第一段But a new study suggests that constant instant messaging(IM’ing) and texting among teens may also provide benefits, particularly for those who are introverted(内向的).可知，新的研究表明，经常编辑短信可能还会对青少年尤其是性格内向的青少年有益。故选C。

【名师点睛】

介绍科学研究成果或调查报告类文章，一般会开门见山，第一段即点明最新研究结果或调查结果；此外，在做阅读理解时，需特别注意but, however, while等表示转折的词，作者重点要表达的思想或意思即在这些转折词之后，答案也往往蕴含其中。

本文的研究结果也同样在第一段中点明，再根据第一段中的“But”可知，重点在于其后面的a new study suggests that constant instant messaging(IM’ing) and texting among teens may also provide benefits, particularly for those who are introverted.，故答案选C。