reading

1. Read on!
Krisztian Vargahttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02hj624
krisztian_varga@yahoo.co.ukkrisztian_varga@yahoo.co.uk
2/a. Now look at the text. Screen-baseddevices and rewiringthe brainare
collocations(common word partnerships) from the text. Findanother 10 examples.
Rewiring the brain
Do you worry that screen- based devices – computers, video
games, smartphones, tablets – are rewiring your brain? Perhaps
you should; because they certainly are. That’s because everything
you do transforms the connections in your brain. Plasticity is
the brain’s remarkable ability to change and adapt; forming
new pathways in response to experience. And it occurs
throughout life. Neuroscientists used to believe that as we aged
neural networks became fixed; but now the consensus is that the
brain adapts all the time and that you CAN teach old dogs new
tricks.
Yet, brain plasticity has a potential downside. The scientist
Susan Greenfield believes that we could be at risk from modern
digital media. Electronic gadgets are literally reshaping our
brains and we don’t know yet how far reaching the effects will
be. She is concerned that future generations may be plagued
with attention-disorders, screen-addictions and poor social
skills. Of course new technologies can also change us for the
better and she is also suggesting they could be used to boost
creativity. But if things turn out really badly, in the future
education will all have to
be delivered in two-minute
animations.
1. Finda word with similarmeaningfrom the text for the followingthenadd at least
one more yourself.
Worry
Change
Believe
Connection
All the time
2/b. Choose three collocationsfrom the previousexercise andcreate newones from
them by changing the words. Screen-baseddevices –> hand-held/electronicdevices
3. How do you feel about moderntechnology?Do you share Susan Greenfield’s
worry or do you embrace newadvances? Discuss!