Many parents are(1) _____________ that their children will spend time on social networking which they could be using to do their homework, exercises, or interact with people in the real world.
They may feel that social networking sites are a (2) _____________ of their children’s time. However, new research claims that the communication opportunities provided by social networking encourage young people to explore their interests, develop technical skills, and work on new forms of self- expression. The three-year study carried (3) _____________ by a University of California research team that interviewed over 800 teens and conducted over 2000 hours of online observations. It found that social networking helps teenagers learn the social and technical skills they need to be knowledgeable(4) _____________ in the digital age.
The study concludes that social networking contributes to young people’s extended friendships and interests. (5) _____________ the majority of teens use social networking sites to “hang out” with people they already know in real life, some use them to find like- minded people. Those interested in chess or international politics, for example, can expand their circle with(6) _____________ who share the same interests and can find information that goes beyond that they have access to at school. They can also (7) _____________ and distribute their music, art work, or writing to online audiences, and gain visibility and enhance their reputations. Teenagers create new modes of self-expression and rules for social behavior online. New forms of online media (8) _____________ them to acquire technical skills through creating videos, writing blogs or customizing their online profiles. The researchers said teens usually respect one another’s authority online, and they are often more(9) _____________ to learn from one another than from their parents or other adults.
Social networking has become a societal reality. Children and teens commonly use these sites to interact like adults. With social networking such an important part of youth social culture, it can be extremely difficult to completely keep teens away from social networks. Instead, it is better for parents to allow their kids to access the appropriate websites while teaching them to use them safely and (10) _____________.
1. A. interested B. concerned C. glad D. wondered
2. A. waste B.lot C. disadvantage D.free
3. A. in B. out C. on D. for
4. A. citizens B. students C. residents D. scientists
5. A. When B. While C. Why D. If
6. A. another B. others C.the others D. other
7. A. publicizing B. publicize C. publicized D. public
8. A. allow B. make C. force D. let
9.. A. worried B. interesting C. bored D. motivated
10. A. inspirationally B. responsibly C. heathily D. effectively
