VOA常速：互联网依赖性不断增强

燕山大学 刘立军 编写

u TRANSCRIPT

Just over 60 percent of the world now has access to the Internet, and in developed countries, there are computers everywhere at work, school and home, and even at our fingertips. But according to the World Health Organization, excessive use of Internet, cell phones, gaming and other platforms can have negative health consequences, and physicians are still learning how to deal with this troubling trend. “Internet addiction is an illness both physical and psychiatric. Lately, it has become high in our agendas.” Rahmi Aktepe is the president of Turkish Association of Information Technologies. “It’s actually more dangerous than any other type of addictions because we know that other addictions are completely harmful and bad, for example, we advise people to quit cigarette or drug addiction. Internet addiction, on the other hand, is different.”

Different? Because sometimes it can be hard to pinpoint a specific harm. “Internet addiction can also be called technology addiction, taking selfies, using mobile phones are different aspects of this. This is a psychological disease, but it does not have a medical cure. It needs to be tackled with education. There has to be deliberate studies on this.” Just over 75 percent of the Turkish people between the age of 16 to 74 used the Internet in 2019 according to research done by the Turkish Statistical Institute. As a nation, 88.3 percent of Turkish homes have access to the Internet, but even as Internet overuse is still being debated by experts, it is clear that children are the most vulnerable.

“Kids choose their parents as a role model, families should be a little more careful about Internet computer and smartphone usage, parents should not overuse these devices in front of their children, they should also monitor and limit their kid’s screen time, to say an hour or two hours, depending on the kid’s age, parents should be well disciplined when it comes to their kid’s Internet usage.” The World Health Organization says excessive use of Internet, cell phones and other technology is increasing so much, it now considers it a significant health problem.

Adapted from http://www.kekenet.com/broadcast/201910/597741.shtml

u VOCABULARY

1. fingertips n. （常用复数）the end of the finger that is furthest from the hand 指尖

（习语1）have sth. at your fingertips: to have the information, knowledge, etc. that is needed in a particular situation and be able to find it easily and use it quickly 掌握（信息等）；熟悉，精通（知识等）；对……了如指掌；有……随时可供使用。

（习语2）to your fingertips: (British English) in every way 完全；十足。例如：She's a perfectionist to her fingertips. 她是个道道地地的完美主义者。

2. psychiatric adj. relating to psychiatry or to mental illness 精神病的；精神病学的。例如：

l a psychiatric hospital / nurse 精神病医院/护理人员

l psychiatric treatment 精神病治疗

l psychiatric disorders 精神紊乱

3. pinpoint n. to be able to give the exact reason for sth. or to describe sth. exactly 准确解释（或说明）。例如：The report pinpointed the areas most in need of help. 报告精确说明了亟待援助的地区。

4. vulnerable adj. vulnerable (to sb. / sth.) weak and easily hurt physically or emotionally （身体上或感情上）脆弱的，易受……伤害的。例如：

l to be vulnerable to attack 易受攻击

l She looked very vulnerable standing there on her own. 她独自站在那里，看上去弱不禁风。

l In cases of food poisoning, young children are especially vulnerable. 遇到食物中毒，幼儿尤其容易受危害。

l The sudden resignation of the financial director put the company in a very vulnerable position. 财务部主管的突然辞职使得这家公司岌岌可危。

u EXERCISES

Read the statements. Then decide whether the following statements are true (ü) or false (û) .

q 1. According to the World Health Organization, excessive use of Internet can have both positive and negative health consequences. 

q 2. Internet addiction is an illness both physical and psychiatric. 

q 3. Internet addiction is a psychological disease, and it has a medical cure. 

q 4. Internet addiction needs to be tackled with education. 

q 5. It is clear that children and women are the most vulnerable with Internet addiction.

q 6. According to the World Health Organization, excessive use of Internet, cell phones and other technology is a significant health problem.

u KEY 

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and check the true (ü) or false (û) statements.

ý 1. According to the World Health Organization, excessive use of Internet can have both positive and negative health consequences. 

    正确表达：According to the World Health Organization, excessive use of Internet can have negative health consequences. 

þ 2. Internet addiction is an illness both physical and psychiatric. 

ý 3. Internet addiction is a psychological disease, and it has a medical cure. 

    正确表达：Internet addiction is a psychological disease, but it does not have a medical cure. 

þ 4. Internet addiction needs to be tackled with education. 

ý 5. It is clear that children and women are the most vulnerable with Internet addiction. 

    正确表达：It is clear that children are the most vulnerable with Internet addiction.

þ 6. According to the World Health Organization, excessive use of Internet, cell phones and other technology is a significant health problem.