Texting walkers aren’t just an annoyance to other walkers, Australian researchers armed with movie special-effects technology have determined scientifically that they’re threats to themselves. Using motion-capture technology similar to that used for films, researchers concluded that texting while walking not only affects balance but also the ability to walk in straight line.

“Some people like checking emails while walking to work in the morning,” said the study co-author Hoorn,“but they may not know it has a serious effect on the safety of themselves.” Other facts have also proved this. A tourist walked off a pier(长堤)near Melbourne last month while texting，bringing a sudden and icy end to a penguin-watching visit. Another person who was too wrapped up in his phone to notice dangers walked straight into the fountain in front of a shopping mall.

The Australian study involved 27 volunteers, a third of whom admitted having knocked into objects while texting. They were asked to walk 8.5 meters three times-once without phones, once while reading text and once while writing text, when eight cameras recorded their actions.

They found the volunteers using the phone walked slower, and, more seriously, they locked their arms and elbows in like “robots”, which forced their heads to move more, throwing themselves off balance.“In a pedestrian environment, inability to maintain a straight path would be likely to increase potential for traffic accidents,”said Mr Hoorn. “The best thing to do is to step aside and stop, or keep off the phone.”

Authorities worldwide have taken note. Signs on Hong Kong’s subway system advise passengers in three languages to keep their eyes off their phones. Police and transport authorities have highlighted the danger in Singapore, where the Straits Times newspaper recently declared cell phone-distracted road crossing as “bad habit No.2” contributing to the rising number of road deaths. Some US states, including New York and Arkansas, are considering bans on what they’re calling phone jaywalking.

【小题1】Which of the following words has the closest meaning to “wrapped up” in paragraph 2?

A．Annoyed.

B．Absorbed.

C．Confused.

D．Absent-minded.

【小题2】What can we learn from the Australian study?

A．Ten volunteers admitted knocking into things while texting.

B．The volunteers using phones while walking moved normally.

C．The volunteers were divided into three groups during the study.

D．Texting walkers are exposed to greater possibility of traffic accidents.

【小题3】What’s the official attitude to people texting while walking in most countries?

A．Neutral.

B．Negative.

C．Unclear.

D．Supportive.

【小题4】What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Various walkers will get different social evaluations.

B．Communication device greatly improves people’s lives.

C．Texting regardless of time and occasion brings huge risks.

D．Texting has become the preferred communication method