Question

why it matters that teens are reading less
jean twenge • 2018
when is the last time you read a book for pleasure? according to jean twenge, a professor of psychology, digital media is changing teenagers reading habits.
as you read, take notes on how a lack of reading impacts teenagers.
(1) most of us spend much more time with digital media than we did a decade ago. but today’s teens have come of age with smartphones in their pockets. compared to teens a couple of decades ago, the way they interact with traditional media like books and movies is fundamentally different.
my co - authors and i analyzed nationally representative surveys of over one million u.s. teens collected since 1976 and discovered an almost seismic shift in how teens are spending their free time.
increasingly, books seem to be gathering dust.
it’s all about the screens
by 2016, the average 12th grader said they spent a staggering six hours a day texting, on social media, and online during their free time. and that’s just three activities; if other digital media activities were included, that estimate would surely rise.

1. part a: which statement identifies the central idea of the text?

a. the time that teenagers spend with digital media negatively impacts their ability to make sense of longer and more complex written material.
b. teenagers are not developing the social skills they need to succeed in the world, as digital devices encourage them to spend time alone.
c. fast - paced games and constantly updating social media makes it difficult for teenagers to be entertained by paper media, such as books and magazines.
d. the time that teenagers spend playing video games or on social media takes away from their commitment to their studies, negatively affecting their grades.

Explanation:

To determine the central idea, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The text discusses how digital media (which takes time from reading) affects teens' ability to engage with longer, complex written material. This aligns with the article's focus on reading habits and impacts.
• Option B: The article's central idea is about reading, not social skills from digital devices' solitary time. Eliminate.
• Option C: The issue is not about being entertained by paper media, but about reduced reading and its impacts. Eliminate.
• Option D: The article focuses on reading less, not just study commitment/grades. Eliminate.

Answer:

A. The time that teenagers spend with digital media negatively impacts their ability to make sense of longer and more complex written material.