The most common complaint about cellphones is that people talk on them to the an

The most common complaint about cellphonesis that people talk on them to the annoyance of people around them. But moredamaging may be the cellphone’s interruption of our thoughts.

We have already entered a goldenage of little white lies about our cellphones, and this is in generally ahealthy, protective development. “I didn’t hear it ring” or “I didn’t realizemy phone had shut off” are among the lies we tell to give ourselves space wherewe’re beyond reach.

The concept of being unreachableis not new – we have “Do Not Disturb” signs on the doors of hotel rooms. So whymust we feel guilty when it comes to cellphones? Why must we apologize if wedecide to shut off the phone for a while?

The problem is that we come froma long-established tradition of difficulty with distance communication. Untilthe recent mass use of cellphones, it was easy to communicate with someone nextto us or a few feet away, but difficult with someone across town, the countryor the globe. We came to take it for granted.

But cellphones make long-distancecommunication common, and endanger our time by ourselves. Now time alone, or aconversation with someone next to us which cannot be interrupted by a phone, issomething to be cherished. Even cellphone devotees, myself usuallyincluded, can’t help at times wanting to throw their phones away, or curse thisinvention.

But we don’t and won’t, and therereally is no need. That we have the right to take back our private time is ageneral social recognition.

In other words, we don’t have topay too much attention to the rings of our own phones. Given the ease of makingand receiving cellphone calls, if we don’t talk to the caller right now, wesurely will shortly later.

A cellphone call deserves no moreimportance than a word from the person next to us. Though the call on mycellphone may be the one-in-a-million from Steven Spielberg–who has finallyread my novel and wants to make it his next movie. But most likely it is not,and I’m better off, thinking about the idea I just had for a new story, or theslice of pizza I’ll eat for lunch.

1..

What does the writer think about peopletelling “white lies” about their cellphones?

A. It is a way to show that youdon’t like the caller.

B. It is natural to tell liesabout small things.

C. It is basically a good way toprotect one’s privacy.

D. We should feel guilty when wecan’t tell the truth.

2..

What is the meaning of the underlined word“devotees” in Paragraph 5?

A. people who enjoy something.           B.people who are bothered.

C. people who hate something.                D.people who are interrupted.

3..

. According to the author, what is the mostannoying problem caused by cellphones?

A. People are always thinking ofthe cellphone rings so that they fail to notice anything else.

 B. Cellphones interruptpeople’s private time.

C. People feel guilty when theyare not able to answer their cellphones.

D. With cellphones it is nolonger possible to be unreachable.

4..

. What does the last paragraph suggest?

A. A person who calls us fromafar deserves more of our attention.

B. Steven Spielberg once calledthe author to talk about the author’s novel.

C. You should always finish yourlunch before you answer a call on the cellphone.

D. Never let cellphones disturbyour life too much.

试题答案

【答案】

1..C

2..A

3..B

4..D

【解析】 略