Too much television - PAU 2005

>Exámenes selectividad inglés resueltos C. Madrid

A new study suggests that the amount of television young children watch may be directly related to attention problems later in school. They may even suffer a condition known as Attention Deficit Disorder or A.D.D. Experts say that A.D.D. involves an over-stimulation of young developing brains and teachers say many children in the United States are showing signs of the disorder. Some education researchers have believed for years that watching television at a very young age could change the normal development of the brain. For example, they say that children who watch a lot of television are not able to sit and read for an extended period of time, show less ability to listen, pay attention, as well as engage in independent problem solving.

This new study tested the idea that television watching by very young children is linked to attention problems by the age of seven. The findings reported that every hour preschoolers watch television increases their chances by about ten percent of developing attention deficit problems later in life. For example, children who watched three hours a day were thirty percent more likely to have attention problems than those who watched no television. 

One of the researchers said there are other reasons why children should not watch television. Earlier studies have linked it with children becoming too fat and too aggressive. Other experts say the new study is important, but more work needs to confirm the results and better explain the cause and effect.

RESPUESTAS

I. READING COMPREHENSION

1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence form the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE.

a) It seems that the Attention Deficit Disorder appears when children´s brains are not stimulated.

• FALSE. Experts say that A.D.D. involves an over-stimulation of young developing brains (...)

b) The new study examined the effect of TV on attention problems in teenagers.

• FALSE. This new study tested the idea that television watching by very young children is linked to attention problems by the age of seven. 

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions.

a) According to the new study, how can watching a lot of television affect children´s behaviour?

• Key ideas: They are not able to sit and read for an extended period of time, show less ability to listen, pay attention, as well as engage in independent problem solving.
  

b) Why didn´t earlier research encourage the habit of watching television?

• Key ideas: Because it is not beneficial to children. They seem to become fat and aggressive.

II. USE OF ENGLISH 

3. Find the words in the text that mean...

• a) quantity (paragraph 1): amount
• b) symptoms (paragraph 1): signs
• c) examined (paragraph 2): tested
• d) previous (paragraph 3): earlier

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets
when given.

• a) Thirty years ago, scientists began (begin) to study the link between aggressive behaviour and television watching.
• b) “How often do you go to the cinema?” “I usually go once a month.”
• c) Switch on the TV now, the news is (be) about to start.
• d) Complete the following sentence to report what was saidWhat will you do when you finish your homework? -- He asked the girl what she would do when she finished her homework.

+EXÁMENES RESUELTOS