Is Technology Harming Our Children's Health? IELTS Reading

Dec 21, 2022

Is Technology Harming Our Children's Health? IELTS Reading contains 13 questions. These questions need to be answered in 20 minutes. Is Technology Harming Our Children's Health? IELTS Reading consists of three types of questions. They are short answers, Yes/ No/ Not given, and complete the table. Candidates need to go through the IELTS Reading passage to understand and remember the keywords. Candidates must read the reading passage, identify keywords, and recognize synonyms to answer the question. Practicing more practice papers like Is Technology Harming Our Children's Health? IELTS Reading from IELTS reading practice tests will help the students excel in the reading examination.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Is Technology Harming Our Children's Health? IELTS Reading

Technology is moving at such a breakneck speed that it is enough to make your head spin. It can be difficult to keep up. However, with each new technological marvel come consequences. Much of the research conducted has shown the extent of the damage being done to our health by technology. It is a scary thought, and with teenagers and children being heavy consumers and users of these gadgets, they run the risk of being harmed the most.

The digital revolution in music has enabled people to download, store and listen to songs on a tiny, portable device called an MP3 player. The process is quick and afterwards you can have access to a library of thousands of songs that can fit into your palm. But experts say that continuously listening to loud music on these small music players can permanently damage hair cells in the inner ear, resulting in hearing loss. Tor instance, old-fashioned headphones have been replaced with smaller ones that fit neatly into the ear, instead of over them, which intensifies the sound. In addition to that, digital music does not distort and keeps its crystal clear sound, even on loud settings, which encourages children to crank up the volume. Combine that with the fact that many children will spend hours listening to their iPods, and you have the recipe for hearing loss. Put into further perspective, most MP3 players can reach levels of 120 decibels, which is louder than a chainsaw or lawnmower. When you consider 85 decibels is the maximum safe decibel level set by hearing experts over the course of a working day, and that children will listen to music at higher decibel levels than that for long periods of time, hearing will invariably suffer.

Apart from hearing damage, there are other serious health risks. We are living in a wireless age. Calls can be made and received on mobiles from anywhere and the internet can be accessed without the need for cables.The advantages are enormous, bringing ease and convenience to our lives. It is clear that mobiles and wireless technology are here to stay but are we paying the price for new technology? Studies have shown that the rapid expansion in the use of wireless technology has brought with it a new form of radiation called ‘electropollution’.

Compared to two generations ago, we are exposed to 100 million times more radiation. The human body consists of trillions of cells which use faint electromagnetic signals to communicate with each other, so that the necessary biological and physiological changes can happen. It is a delicate, natural balance. But this balance is being upset by the constant exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) that we face in our daily lives and it is playing havoc with our bodies. EMR can disrupt and alter the way in which our cells communicate and this can result in abnormal cell behaviour. Some studies have shown that exposure to wireless technology can affect our enzyme production, immune systems, nervous system and even our moods and behaviour. The most dangerous part of the phone is around the antenna.This area emits extremely potent radiation which has been shown to cause genetic damage and an increase in the risk of cancer.

Research shows that teenagers and young adults are the largest group of mobile phone users. According to a recent Eurobarometer survey, 70 per cent of Europeans aged 12-13 own a mobile phone and the number of children five to nine years old owning mobiles has greatly increased over the years. Children are especially vulnerable because their brains and nervous systems are not as immune to attack as adults. Sir William Stewart, chairman of the National Radiological Protection Board, says there is mounting evidence to prove the harmful effects of wireless technologies and that families should monitor their children’s use of them.

Besides the physical and biological damage, technology can also have serious mental implications for children. It can be the cause of severe, addictive behaviour. In one case, two children had to be admitted into a mental health clinic in Northern Spain because of their addiction to mobile phones. An average of six hours a day would be spent talking, texting and playing games on their phones. The children could not be separated from their phones and showed disturbed behaviour that was making them fail at school. They regularly deceived family members to obtain money to buy phone cards to fund their destructive habit. There have been other cases of phone addiction like this.

Technology may also be changing our brain patterns. Professor Greenfield, a top specialist in brain development, says that, thanks to technology, teenage minds are developing differently from those of previous generations. Her main concern is over computer games. She claims that living in a virtual world where actions are rewarded without needing to think about the moral implications makes young people’lose awareness of who they are’. She claims that technology brings a decline in linguistic creativity.

As technology keeps moving at a rapid pace and everyone clamours for the new must- have gadget of the moment, we cannot easily perceive the long-term effects on our health. Unfortunately, it is the most vulnerable members of our society that will be affected.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Question 1-5
Complete the table below
Write no more than two words and/or a number from the passage for each answer.
How can MP3 players threaten health?

MP3 player features		Harmful Effects	Effects
Problem A	New 1.______ fit inside ears	Creates intense sounds	Damage to hair cells and loss of hearing
Problem B	2._____ is distortion-free with clear quality sound	Invites children to increase 3.______
Problem C	Capable of producing sound at 4._______	As loud as a lawnmower or chainsaw – over recommended safe 5._____

Question 1.

Answer: Headphone
Supporting Sentence: For instance, old-fashioned headphones have been replaced with smaller ones that fit neatly into the ear, instead of over them, which intensifies the sound.
Keywords: headphones, ear, intensifies
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, lines 5, 6, and 7
Explanation: The author tells us that old headphones are replaced with new ones. These are smaller ones that fits in the ear and not over them. Hence, headphones is the correct answer.

Question 2.

Answer: Digital music
Supporting Sentence: In addition to that, digital music does not distort and keeps its crystal clear sound, even on loud settings, which encourages children to crank up the volume.
Keywords: distort, digital music, crystal clear sound.
Keywords Location: Paragraph 2, lines 7, 8, and 9.
Explanation: The paragraph directly states that digital music does not distract. Its sound is clear even on loud settings. Hence, digital music is the correct answer.

Question 3.

Answer: The volume
Supporting Sentence: In addition to that, digital music does not distort and keeps its crystal clear sound, even on loud settings, which encourages children to crank up the volume.
Keywords:volume, encourage, crank up
Keywords Location: Paragraph 2, lines 7, 8, and 9
Explanation: The author tells that digital music does not distract. Its sound is clear even on loud settings. This encourages children to crank up or increase the sound. This makes volume the correct answer.

Question 4.

Answer: 120 decibels
Supporting Sentence: Put into further perspective, most MP3 players can reach levels of 120 decibels, which is louder than a chainsaw or lawnmower.
Keywords: MP3, 120 decibels, louder
Keywords Location: Paragraph 2, lines 10 and 11.
Explanation: As per the passage, most players can reach 120 decibels. This is usually louder than lawnmower or chainsaw. Hence, 120 decibels is the correct answer.

Question 5.

Answer: (Decibel) level
Supporting Sentence: Put into further perspective, most MP3 players can reach levels of 120 decibels, which is louder than a chainsaw or lawnmower. When you consider 85 decibels is the maximum safe decibel level set by hearing experts over the course of a working day,
Keywords: chainsaw, lawn mower
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, line 2
Explanation: This paragraph mentions the invention of various headphones and how they cause hearing loss. The decibel level is 120. Hence, decibel is the correct answer.

Questions 6-10:
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage? Write

YES- if the statement agrees with the writer's views
NO- if the statement contradicts the writer’s views
NOT GIVEN- if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

Question 6. There are considerable benefits to our wireless world.

Answer: Yes
Supporting Sentence: We are living in a wireless age. Calls can be made and received on mobiles from anywhere and the internet can be accessed without the need for cables. The advantages are enormous, bringing ease and convenience to our lives.
Keywords: Convenience, wireless, advantages
Keywords Location: Paragraph 3, lines 1, 2, and 3
Explanation: As per the author, technology has its advantages and has made our lives easier. The wireless age helps us to make calls and receive them on mobiles. Hence, the statement is True.

Question 7. Wireless technology is a permanent part of our lives.

Answer: Yes
Supporting Sentence: It is clear that mobiles and wireless technology are here to stay but are we paying the price for new technology
Keywords: mobiles, wireless technology, here to stay
Keywords Location: Paragraph 3, lines 4 and 5
Explanation: The supporting sentence states that wireless technology is here to stay. Paragraph 3 discusses how technology has its advantages and has made our lives easier. Hence, the statement is correct.

Question 8. Exposure to EMR can lead to criminal behaviour.

Answer: Not given
Explanation: No such information is provided in the passage.

Question 9. It is possible to become obsessed with technology.

Answer: Yes
Supporting Sentence: Besides the physical and biological damage, technology can also have serious mental implications for children. It can be the cause of severe, addictive behavior.
Keywords: mental implications, technology, addictive behavior
Keywords Location: Paragraph 6, lines 1 and 2
Explanation: Paragraph 6 of the passage talks about the psychological effects of technology on children. It states that technology has mental implications. The children might get addictive. Addictive is being obsessed with technology.

Question 10. Using technology always helps with academic success.

Answer: No
Supporting Sentence: She claims that living in a virtual world where actions are rewarded without needing to think about the moral implications makes young people ‘lose awareness of who they are’.
Keywords: implications, linguistic
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, lines 3-5
Explanation: The author in paragraph G talks about how technology is affecting the new generation’s brain. It is also affecting their awareness of behaving in a certain way. Hence, the statement is not in sync with the passage.

Questions 11-13:

Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Question 11. According to Professor Greenfield, what kind of world do children occupy when playing computer games?

Answer: Virtual World
Supporting Sentence: She claims that living in a virtual world where actions are rewarded without needing to think about the moral implications makes young people’lose awareness of who they are’.
Keywords: virtual world, implication, young people
Keywords Location: Paragraph 7, lines 4 and 5
Explanation: As per the passage, Professor Greenfield informs us about the effects of technology on the brains of teenagers, children, and young people. It makes them lose awareness of who they are. They get lost in the virtual world. Hence, the virtual world is the correct answer.

Question 12. What does Professor Greenfield feel children don’t pay attention to when playing computer games?

Answer: moral implications
Supporting Sentence: Her main concern is over computer games.
Keywords: moral implication, awareness, virtual world
Keywords Location: Paragraph 7, lines 4 and 5
Explanation: Professor Greenfield says that she is concerned about computer games. She claims that living in a virtual world where actions are rewarded without needing to think about the moral implications makes young people lose awareness of who they are. Hence, they don't pay attention to moral implications.

Question 13. According to Professor Greenfield, what may be lower in teenagers who play a lot of computer games?

Answer: Linguistic creativity
Supporting Sentence: She claims that technology brings a decline in linguistic creativity.
Keywords: technology, linguistic creativity, decline
Keywords Location: Paragraph 7, lines 5 and 6.
Explanation: In the last paragraph, professor Greenfield tells us that technology brings a decline in linguistic creativity. This means that the linguistic creativity becomes lower.

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