(Page 40)
1. SPEAKING Look at the headlines. Do you think playing computer games is bad for your health? Why?/ Why not?
Teenager dies after playing video game for 40 hours without eating or sleeping (Daily Mirror)
Playing computer games encourages obesity (Daily Mail)
Overload of screen time 'causes depression in children' (Independent)
2. Read the text. How many different video games does the writer mention by name? What are they?
Could playing video games be good for your health?
☊1.38
Many people assume that video games have a negative effect on young people. A lot of time in front of a screen is bad for the mind and the body, and combat games cause concern because they contain violence. Newspapers often express the same opinion. However, according to a report in American Psychologist, playing video games can be good for children's education, health and social skills.
Video games can actually improve certain mental skills. Combat games, for example, teach players to think in three dimensions. This helps children with science, technology, engineering and maths.
Other types of video game can have other positive effects. In 2013, research showed that children who play role-playing games get better grades at school than those who don't play them. Other research showed that playing any video game improves children's creativity.
Quick and simple games like Angry Birds can improve players' mood and prevent them from feeling anxious. The report also says that video games teach children how to react well to failure because players continually fail and try again. This makes them emotionally strong in real life.
Video games can improve social skills too, the report says. More than 70% of garners play with a friend, and many take part in online games, like Farmville, with millions of other people. The players learn how to lead a group, work together and make decisions. Overall, the report accepts that some video games can have negative effects, but reminds us that they can have benefits too.
(Page 41)
Reading StrategyWhen you do a multiple-choice task, decide whether each question is about the whole text or a specific part. If it is about a specific part, find the relevant sentences and underline them. |
3. Read the Reading Strategy and questions 1–5 in exercise 4 below. Decide which question is about the whole text. Then find the relevant sentences in the text for the other questions.
4. Circle the correct answers (a–d).
1. Newspaper headlines about video games
a. only talk about violent games.
b. always present the same view.
c. do not tell the truth.
d. usually present a negative view
2. You learn to think about things in three dimensions when you
a. play combat games
b. play any kind of video game
c. study engineering or maths
d. do scientific studies.
3. Research shows that role-playing games
a. are the only games that make children more creative.
b. do not provide as many benefits as violent games.
c. help children to do well at school.
d. help children to learn how to use computers.
4. The report also suggests that video gamers
a. spend a lot of time on their own.
b. learn some useful skills by playing with others.
c. usually fail in other areas of their lives.
d. spend a lot of time feeling anxious.
5. According to the report, the effect of video games on children
a. is mostly good.
b. is mostly bad.
c. is not known.
d. is not very important.
5. VOCABULARY Complete these verb + noun collocations from the text using the words below.
cause express get have have
make take part in
Collocations: verb + noun
1. _____ a positive/ negative effect
2. _____ an opinion
3. _____ concern
4. _____ a benefit
5. _____ (good) grades at school
6. _____ online games
7. _____ a decision
6. Answer the questions using information from the text.
1. What do many people assume about the effects of video games on young people?
2. What kinds of skills can combat games improve?
3. What can simple games like Angry Birds prevent?
4. What kind of game helps children to get better grades at school, according to a 2013 report?
5. What kind of game teaches children how to work together?
7. SPEAKING Work in pairs. Complete the questions with How much or How many. Then ask and answer.
1. _____ different types of screen do you use regularly? (phone, computer, tablet, TV, etc.)
2. _____ time do you spend watching TV or DVDs each day?
3. _____ different video games do you play?
4. _____ different people do you play video games with?
How many different types of screen do you use regularly?
