Watching television more than two hours a day early in life can lead to attention problems later in adolescence, according to a study released on Tuesday.
The roughly 40 percent increase in attention problems among heavy TV viewers was observed in both boys and girls
The link was established by a long-term study of the habits and behaviors of more than1,000 children born in Dunedin, Hew Zealand, between April 1972 and March 1973.
"Those who watched more than two hours, and particularly those who watched more than three hours, of television per day during childhood had above-average symptoms of attention problems in adolescence," Carl Landhuis of the University of Otago in Dunedin wrote in his report, published in the journal Pediatrics.
"It suggests that the effects of childhood viewing on attention may be long lasting," Landhuis wrote.
Landhuis offered several possible explanations for the association.
One was that the rapid scene changes common to many TV programs may over excite the developing brain of a young child, and could make reality seem boring by comparison.
"Therefore, children who watch a lot of television may become less tolerant of slower-paced and more mundane tasks, such as school work," he wrote.
It was also possible that TV viewing may supplant(挤占) other activities that promote concentration, such as reading, games, sports and play, he said.
Previous studies have linked the habit of long TV watching among children to over weight and diabetes(糖尿病), and another study in the same journal stated the poor nutritional content of the majority of food products advertised on the top-rated US. children's television shows.
Up to 98 percent of the TV ads promoting food products that were directed at children aged 2 through 11 "were high in either fat, sugar, or salt," wrote Lisa Powell of the University of Illinois in Chicago.
1. Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?
A. TV viewing may occupy activities promoting concentration
B. Childhood TV viewing can cause teenage problems.
C. Attention problems were observed in both boys and girls.
D. Attention to adolescence problems are highlighted.
2. According to Carl Landhuis, .
A. the study was based on the habits and behaviors of more than 1,000 children.
B. the effects of childhood viewing on attention may last for a short time.
C. the young heavy television viewers are more likely to suffer from attention problems.
D. children addicted to watching TV were more willing to do their school work.
3. What does the underlined word "mundane" refer m?
A. ordinary B. complex C. challenging D. boring
4. Which of the following explanations is NOT true?
A. Habit of TV watching among children is linked to overweight and diabetes.
B.TV viewing may supplant other activities that promote concentration.
C. The rapid scene changes may over excite the developing brain of a young child.
D. Majority of food products advertised on children's television are rich in nutrition.
5. The main purpose of this article is
A. to advise children not to watch TV too much B. to forbid children to watch TW
C. to offer some advice on watching TV D. to introduce the result of a study