Smartphones have been blamed for everything from taking drivers’ attention from driving to keeping people on the sofa scrolling (滚屏) videos.But the smartphone that seems to be everywhere could just easily increase physical activities if it pushes its owner’s buttons in the right way.
New research shows that making social connections through activity-tracking apps gets people to move more.And a separate study on this summer’s “Pokemon Go” phenomenon shows that the smartphone game got players to take more steps than usual.Together,the studies show the potential for smartphones to push a range of people to be more active.
People who linked with friends on the activity-tracking app increased their steps by 400 a day on average,compared with people who made no social connections,according to Tim Althoff and two other computer scientists at Stanford University.The effect of social connections declined,but remained significant for five months before the numbers fell back even with users who made no connections.
Such insights show the promise of smartphones and games to help with one of the most stubborn public health problems—that even people who want to be active have trouble staying active.
An NBA videogame,for example,gives players extra power in the game if they reach a step goal in real life.The app “Zombies,Run!” uses audio stories to push people to run more or run faster.
Still,there is room for growth.Only about 4% of all health apps use “gamification”,according to a study published in October in BMJ Open.“Gamification is actually quite closely linked with behavior change techniques,” says Dr.Elizabeth Ann Edwards,the study’s lead author and a doctor and researcher at Queen Mary University of London.
【语篇导读】智能手机在许多方面受到人们的谴责,但是无处不在的智能手机如果运用恰当的话还是有利于人们的锻炼的,比如“Pokemon Go” 智能手机游戏让玩家比平时多走,而使用音频可使人们跑得更多或跑得更快。
1.What does the author think of smartphones?
A.They lead to people’s lack of physical activity.
B.They will make people have more connections.
C.They can have video games more interesting.
D.They can involve their users in more exercise.
答案 D
解析 细节理解题。根据第一段中的“But the smartphone that seems to be everywhere could just easily increase physical activities...”可知,无处不在的智能手机同样可以增加体力活动,所以D项符合语境。
2.According to “Pokemon Go” phenomenon,smartphone users become more active because .
A.they have more social connections
B.they get extra powers in life
C.the games increase physical activities
D.a life goal has been set step by step
答案 C
解析 细节理解题。根据第二段中的“...‘Pokemon Go’ phenomenon shows that the smartphone game got players to take more steps than usual.Together,the studies show the potential for smartphones to push a range of people to be more active.” 可知,智能手机游戏让玩家比平时多走,使人们更活跃,所以选C项。
3.Who are most likely to exercise more?
A.Video watchers on the sofa.
B.Smartphone game lovers.
C.People with no social connections.
D.People with trouble staying active.
答案 B
解析 推理判断题。第五段中提到了一个NBA视频游戏,如果玩家在现实生活中达成目标,游戏就给他们在游戏中额外的权力。诸如此类等等来推动人们运动得更多或运动得更快。由此判断选B项。
4.How does the author try to prove the ease of smartphones?
A.By showing the results of some researches.
B.By explaining the functions of smartphones.
C.By giving vivid description of some games.
D.By analyzing the causes of public health problems.
答案 A
解析 推理判断题。通读全文可知,作者通过展示一些研究的成果来论证手机的易用性,所以A项正确。
