AGRUPAMENTO DE ESCOLAS DE VENDAS NOVAS

10th Year
EVALUATION TEST

I. Reading
Read the text and do the tasks that follow.

Is technology ruining the teenage mind? by Brianna Curtis

“We didn’t have all that stuff back in my day!” This is my grandmother’s usual refrain when she
gets fed up with texting, particularly the 300+ texts I commonly send and receive each day. She and I
are always arguing about talking versus texting on the phone. She made me realize that technology
today is much more advanced than it was two generations ago. Since technology has advanced over
the years and generations, it has caused teens to think a little bit differently. Some teens rely too
heavily on technology — which can be a good and a bad thing.
The technology we have nowadays did not exist two (or even one) generations ago. For
example, most teens use computers for research, because they provide updated information and
are more interactive, rather than reading a book, because books are kind of old and outdated.
Ultimately, having the Internet as a resource is a good thing, because you will receive new
information more quickly and you will still be reading at the same time.
The way we communicate has changed as well. Generations before us didn’t have the
technology to text; they had landline phones or they talked in person. Many teens with cell phones
today choose to text instead of talk. This can be good and bad. We stay constantly connected;
however, while texting, a person may misunderstand your tone. For example, you may text
something and mean it in a nice, funny or ironic way, but the person may think you mean it in
another way. This ultimately could lead to misunderstandings that, through talking, could be
avoided.
Lastly, the way we learn things in school has changed. Advanced graphing calculators have led
us teens to use them to solve simple mathematical equations, rather than to work it out the
traditional way, with a pencil and paper. Like texting, these graphing calculators are helpful because
they quickly provide the correct answer. However, many teens rely on this way of problem solving
and forget how to solve problems the traditional way, which hurts at test time. We need to think
about what happens to us if this new technology fails.
Ultimately, our generation has benefited so much from advanced technology, to the point that
it has altered the way teens think, obtain information, communicate and solve problems. While it
can be fun and productive, relying on technology too much is a big issue. If we rely on it too much,
what do we do when there is no more technology? If technology dies out or malfunctions, we will
only have our brains to depend on for information. If we haven’t learned how to solve problems or
communicate, we could be in trouble. Learning those “old school” methods like pencil and paper,
talking on the phone, and the significance of reading books, you will always be ready in case
technology fails.

Adapted from: VoxTeenCommunications.org

1. Identify the paragraphs that mention the following topics.
Technology... c. past vs. present 4 1

a. a source of information 2 d. at school 1 4

b. back-up plan 5 e. a means of communication 3

2. Say what the following words refer to.

a. my (line 1) Brianna´s Grandmother
b. they (l. 8) Computers
c. This (l.14) Texting instead of talking
d. our (l. 25) Tennagers

3. Connect items in column A and B in order to build correct statements. Two of them do not
apply.

1. because they make our world run at a faster

pace.

a. Technology is a great way to stay 2. teenagers are neglecting school to spend

entertained 4 more time with their iPods, mobile phones and
laptops.
b. Technology such as iPods, smart phones
and tablets are useful 1 3. while teens do their schoolwork.

c. Although the computer can be a great 4. but it is disconnecting teenagers from their
tool, 6 families.

d. Technology is so addictive that 2 5. because it affects family relationships.

6. students generally don’t use it for educational

purposes.

II. Grammar
1. Fill in the blanks with the suitable future tense.

1. At 3 o´clock tomorrow I will be shopping (shop) in New York.

2. I´ll have finished (finish) in an hour and then you can use the computer.

3. This time tomorrow I´ll be sitting (sit) on the beach. I can´t wait.
4. I´ll see (see) my family in April.

3. Join these sentences with the correct relative pronoun.

1. Jonas writes a blog is aimed at teens problems and worries.

2. School newspapers witnessed the fight in the canteen.

3. Our school newspaper asked for the

who main priority is making teen aware of Internet
cooperation of students dangers.
which
4. Lucy deleted some posts very poorly written.
whose
5. My school has a citizen journalism project deals with his everyday life.

6. I’ve just participated in a blog are online get more attention from students.

2) Jonas who deals with his everyday life, writes a blog.

2) School newspapers which are online get more attention from students.

3) Our schoool newspapers asked for cooperation of student who witnessed the fight in the
canteen.

4) Lucy deleted some posts which are very poorly written.

5) My school has a citizen journalism project whose main priority is making teen aware of
internet dangers.

6) I´ve just participated in a blog which is aimed at teens problems and worries.

III. Listening
1. At each number (1- 15) there is either a blank space to be filled with a word or expression
or a choice of three words, only one of which is correct. Listen to these teenagers talking
about technology to fill in the blank space or to circle the correct alternative.

Trevor

I feel very lucky to be in an advanced (1) generation where new technology is being introduced
every day to society. The tricky thing is my parents and other older relatives who don’t (2)
_____________depend / apprehend / comprehend the new (3) world of technology. When my
parents told me how many years they lived without cell phones, iPods or computers, I was
shocked. My mom didn’t know how to work a (4) laptop computer or download a song on the
Internet until I was in the 9th grade. My grandmother didn’t know what an iPod was until I told
her about it last (5) _____________weak / week / tweet. It amazes me how older people
don’t operate on (6) new technology. They always say that when they were little,
(7)___________cable / table / able never existed. It’s funny how their world was and how I
live in the new world now.

Deborah

Technology truly affects the way everyone communicates with each other; yet there are cons
to the advent of new technology and media. (8) with a cell phone, I’m expected to constantly
check my location. I’m constantly (9) _____________connected / disconnected / contented.
And if, somehow, my cell phone was lost, then my parents would immediately assume that I’d
been kidnapped or something terrifying had happened. My parents and their generation grew
up without these (10) _____________restraints / constraints / complaints. In many ways,
technology (11) complicate my life.

Lizzy

SMS, (12) __e-mail__, __IM______, chat, Tweet. These words are all relatively new and have
one thing in common: technology. They are part of the new generation of
(13)_____________slang / gang / hang. “Back in the day we didn’t have Google,” my aunt
says to me on the phone. “We went to the library where we did our (14) research by hand.”
When I complain about modern-day technology, she likes to bring up life before it. All I know is
it’s here now, and my kids will be a part of (15) __the new era__.

IV. Writing

Write your opinion article for the school newspaper giving your opinion about how technology
affects our daily life. Write about 80-100 words.

Good work!