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Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

      

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

With every passing day, technology is overtaking our daily lives. Regardless of age, gender, career or economic status, smartphones are fast becoming ubiquitous.
More than two million Kenyans now own smartphones. Add the computer, tablet and other high tech devices and your life is surrounded by a myriad gadgets which, to some, have become best friends.
Many of us rely on the phone to do everything, from saying “ I love you” to “I’m quitting”, from checking bank balances to selling stuff on OLX, from sharing photos and videos to streaming content on the web. We can carry out a plethora of daily tasks, right from the palms of our hands.
At the dinner table, it’s the norm to constantly check for texts, e-mails, tweets, WhatsApp and Face book updates. In a darkened movie hall, people are always multi task on their phones while watching a movie. Some people even walk with the phone to the toilet and text and take calls from there.
Over dinner, in church, at a funeral service and even when carrying on face-to-face conversation, the smartphone is guaranteed to keep you in tune and in touch. It is common to see careless people texting while driving despite the fact that it is six times more dangerous to text and drive than to drink and drive.
Because of this over-dependence on the smartphone, many people suffer from the fear of losing it, even if only for a few minutes.
The “I must- have-my-phone-with-me-at-all-times” mindset has become such a real problem. There’s now a name coined for the fear of being without phone: nomophobia -no-mo(bile) phone-phobia. Nomophobia is the fear of not being able to connect to the digital world by the means of mobile phone.
Although there is no ICD-10 code (the required classification for any medical condition) yet for this specific affliction, researchers into the phenomenon describe nomophobic people as individuals who suffer from the anxiety of not having their mobile phone.
The anxiety commonly manifests itself when the person notices their smartphones has a low battery, no internet connection or if it is missing and one is therefore out of the loop with friends, family, work and the world. We are ever so busy with gadgets that we intrude into other people’s space.
As our culture becomes ever more tech savvy and tech hungry, phone-free zones will become more and more common. Just like we have smoke-free zones in public places, we are starting to see quiet corners, where phone calls are restricted. It’s because common courtesy is often thrown out the window when we’re on the phone.
Some airports are now offering lounges that are cell phone free. Just like cigarettes, the mobile phone pendulum is beginning to swing as more and more people acquire monophonic tendencies.

Considering the Smartphone’s new abilities and capabilities, they are now being used like digital ‘Swiss Army Knives’, replacing possessions like watches, cameras, books and even laptops. Today the Smartphone is capable of being an alarm clock, digital camera, and even television, which causes users to become heavily dependent on it.
Psychologists advise that, while monophobia could possibly never receive a diagnosis, it is certainly a rising trend. If you constantly find yourself using your Smartphone at odd times, such as dinner table, while driving, or even in washroom, try your best to refrain from it and use it only when it is safe and not considered rude.
Setting limits for yourself and engaging with family and friends face-to-face can help calm the anxiety of continuously checking your phone.
(Adapted from Sunday Nation May 25, 2014)

Questions

a) Why is technology said to be overtaking our daily lives?

b) In point form, state the uses of a phone.

c) What are the bad habits that result from over-dependency on the phone as seen in the passage and how can they be managed?

d) When does anxiety manifest itself more with the use of a phone?

e) According to the passage, why is there need for free zones in public places.

f)Some airports are now offering lounges that are cellphone free.’ Rewrite using a question tag.

g) What is the author’s attitude towards smartphones?

h) Give the meaning of the following words as used in the passage:

a) Myriad......................................

b) Ubiquitous............................

c) Plethora................................

  

Answers


Martin
a) This is so because, regardless of age, gender, career or economic status, smartphones are fast becoming
ubiquitous

b)
- Texting/emailing
- Checking bank balances
- Selling stuff on OLX
- Photo/video sharing
- Surfing the net
- Making calls (Any 4x1=4 marks)
c) Bad habits
- Texting and taking calls from the toilet
- using the phone at dinner table, in church and funeral services
- Texting while driving
Management
- Refraining
- Setting limits
- Engaging with family and friends face to face
d)
- When one’s phone lacks internet connection
- When the phone is low on battery
- If its missing

e) This is because common courtesy is often thrown out through the window when we are on the phone.

f) Some airports are now offering lounges that are cellphones free aren’t they?

g) Apprehension/cautionary use - he’s not overly happy or sad with invention.

h)
a) A large number of
b) Very common
c) A great amount of

marto answered the question on August 19, 2019 at 13:43


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