It is widely thought that smartphones and laptops show the progress of society. For example, a proper amount of online searching can be good for your brain, and there are apps that can promote brain function. Yet tech advances also come with some unexpected consequences.

Studies have shown that blue-enriched light from electronic things like smartphones can disturb the body’s internal clock and makes it impossible for you to stick to a proper sleep schedule. Losing sleep has negative effects on your brain, such as bad moods, decreased focus and problems with memory.

Technology makes it much easier to get distracted, for example, you step away from an important project to check your smartphone. Teens, in particular, are more distracted than ever. A recent survey of 2, 400 teachers found that most educators feel students are more distracted than previous generations. Some 64 percent agreed with the idea that today’s digital technologies distract students more than to help them academically.

And technology makes people much more forgetful than they used to be. The new generation are actually more likely to forget what day it is or where they put their keys than people over the age of 55, according to a survey. In a press release for the survey, one of the leading researchers said technology was to blame. “This is a population that has grown up multitasking using technology, often accompanied by lack of sleep, which causes high levels of forgetfulness,” she said.

People who depend on GPS to get around have less activity in the hippocampus (海马体), an area of the brain involved in both memory and direction. Another study found that taxi drivers had a more developed hippocampus than non-taxi drivers, because they are so accustomed to using spatial (空间的) memory, rather than relying on GPS.

Now that you’re probably horrified by the effects of technology, let us remind you that you do have the power to prevent it. Just log off every once in a while!

【小题1】How does digital technology affect students according to teachers?

A．It upsets the new generation.

B．It makes students more forgetful.

C．It takes the students’ attention away.

D．It fails to aid students with their lessons.

【小题2】What does the underlined words “was to blame” mean in paragraph 4?

A．was responsible.	B．was realistic.
C．was advanced.	D．was practical.

【小题3】Why do taxi drivers have a more developed hippocampus?

A．They often depend on GPS.	B．They use spatial memory more.
C．They do more mental exercise.	D．They have a better sense of space.

【小题4】What can you infer from the last paragraph?

A．People are horrified by the effects of technology.

B．People are reminded to stop using smartphones.

C．It’s necessary to log everything once in a while.

D．It’s necessary to stop using smartphones for some time.