British researchers studied instant messages exchanged by 231 teens, aged 14 to 18. All of the participants were "regular" or "extensive" IM'ers. In the U. S., two thirds of teens use instant messaging services regularly, with a full third messaging at least once every day.

　　The researchers analyzed 150 conversations in the study, and reported the results in the journal Computers in Human Behavior. In 100 of these chats, the study participant began IM'ing while in a negative emotional state such as sadness, distress or anger. The rest were conversations begun when the participant was feeling good or neutral. After the chat, participants reported about a 20% reduction in their distress--not enough to completely eliminate it, but enough to leave them feeling better than they had before reaching out.

　　"Our findings suggest that IM'ing between distressed adolescents and their peers may provide emotional relief and consequently contribute to their well-being," the authors write, noting that prior research has shown that people assigned to talk to a stranger either in real life or online improved their mood in both settings, but even more with IM. And people who talk with their real-life friends online also report feeling closer to them than those who just communicate face-to-face, implying a strengthening of their bond.

　　Why would digital communication trump human contact? The reasons are complex, but may have something to do with the fact that users can control expression of sadness and other emotions via IM without revealing emotional elements like tears that some may perceive as embarrassing or sources of discomfort. Studies also show that the anonymity( 匿名) of writing on a device blankets the users in a sense of safety that may prompt people to feel more comfortable in sharing and discussing their deepest and most authentic feelings. Prior research has shown that expressive writing itself can "vent" emotions and provide a sense of relief--and doing so knowing that your words are reaching a sympathetic friend may provide even more comfort and potentially be the rapeutic. Researchers also found that introverted participants reported more relief from IM conversations when they were distressed than extraverts ( 內向的) did. As Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, wrote recently for TIME: Introverts are often brimming over with thoughts and care deeply for their friends, family and colleagues. But even the most socially skilled introverts sometimes long for a free pass from socializing or talking on the phone. This is what the Internet offers : the chance to connect--but in measured doses and from behind a screen.

　　仔細閱讀專項訓練選項：

　　1. What is the finding of the new study by British researchers?

　　A) Instant messaging will hinder children's social and intellectual development.

　　B) Introverted teens may benefit from constant instant messaging.

　　C) Two thirds of Amebean teens use instant messaging every day.

　　D) American teens aged 14 to 18 are extensive instant messaging users.

　　2. What can be inferred from the results of the study?

　　A) Teens are more likely to send instant messages when feeling distressed.

　　B) Instant messaging can help completely remove teens' negative emotions.

　　C) Chat via instant messaging services makes participants feel good or calm.

　　D) Constant instant messaging can help teens control their negative emotions.

　　3. According to the authors of Computers in Human Behavior,

　　A) talking to strangers on the Internet can improve the mood

　　B) face-to-face talk can strengthen the bond between friends

　　C) people often feel closer to real-life friends than to net friends

　　D) teens feeling bad can benefit from talks via instant messaging

　　4. What does the digital communication enable users to do?

　　A) Avoid embarrassment and discomfort.

　　C) Share and discuss more information.

　　B) Produce more expressive writings.

　　D) Find more sympathetic friends.

　　5. What does Susan Cain say about introverts?

　　A) They do not reveal their thoughts to friends, family and colleagues.

　　B) They tend to feel more distressed about IM conversations than extraverts.

　　C) They are more skillful at the art of socializing than extraverts.

　　D) They at times desire to socialize or talk via social media.

　　仔細閱讀專項訓練答案：

　　1.B)。由題干中的new study定位到原文第一段第二句：But a new study suggests that constant instant messaging(IM’ing)and texting among teens may also provide benefits，particularly for those who are introverted(內向的).

　　詳解：事實細節題。本題考查英國科學家的新發現。由定位句可知，有一項新的研究表明，經常性的即時通訊和短信交流也可能有正面效應，尤其是對于那些內向的青少年而言，故答案為B)。A)“即時通訊對孩子的社交能力和智力發展可能會造成傷害”，文章第一段提到，很多人抱怨社會媒體——尤其是短信，對孩子的社交能力和智力發展可能會造成傷害，但這不是科學家的新發現，故排除;C)“在美國，有2/3的青少年每天都使用即時信息服務”，文章第二段第二句提到，在美國，2/3的青少年經常性使用即時信息服務，并沒有說是每天使用，故排除;D)“在美國，l4到18歲的青少年是‘大量’的即時通訊使用者”，文章第二段前兩句提到，英國研究人員抽樣調查的14到18歲的231位青少年都是“大量”的即時通訊使用者，但不代表美國所有14到l8歲的青少年都是如此，D)屬于推斷過度，故排除。

　　2.A)。由題干中的the results of the study定位到原文第三段第一、二句：The researchers analyzed l50 conversations in the study.and reported the results in the journal Computers in Human Behavior.In l00 of these chats，the study participant began IM'ing while in a negative emotional state such ills sadness，distress or anger.

　　詳解：推理判斷題。本題考查對最新研究結果的理解。由定位句可知，研究人員分析了l50條對話，并在《計算機在人類行為研究中的應用》雜志上發表了研究結果。其中100條對話顯示，當研究對象處于悲傷、痛苦或憤怒等消極情緒中時，他們就開始用信息聊天，故答案為A)。B)“信息聊天可以完全消除青少年的消極情緒”，文章第三段最后一句指出，聊天后，大約20%的研究對象表明痛苦減少了——雖然不能完全消除，但是感覺比聊天之前好多了，B)與原文不符，故排除;c)“通過即時通訊來聊天可以讓雙方感覺良好或平靜”，文章第三段第二、三句只是提到被調查者有些時候會在心情好或是心情一般時聊天，C)對原文理解錯誤，故排除;D)“即時通訊聊天可以幫助青少年控制他們的消極情緒”，文章第四段只提到，發現表明青少年與同伴之間通過即時通訊進行情感交流或許能安撫悲痛情緒，D)屬于推斷過度，故排除。

　　3.D)。由題干中的authors of Computers in human Behavior定位到原文第四段第一句：“our findings suggest that IM’ing between distressed adolescents and their peers may provide emotional relief and consequently contribute to their well—bein9.”the authors write…

　　詳解：推理判斷題。本題主要考查對句意的理解。由定位句可知，研究表明青少年與同伴之間通過即時通訊進行情感交流或許能安撫悲痛情緒，因此有助于他們提高幸福感。也就是說，心情不好的青少年可以獲益于即時通訊聊天，故本題答案為D)。A)“與陌生人網聊可以改善情緒”是先前的研究發現，與題干不符，故排除;B)“面對面交流會增進朋友問的友誼”，文章第四段最后一句提到，人們通過網絡與現實生活中的朋友溝通也感覺比面對面談話更親近，無形中增進了他們的友誼，B)與原文的邏輯關系相反，故排除;C)“人們感覺現實中的朋友比網絡中的朋友更親近”文章中并沒有提及，故排除。

　　4.A)。由題干中的digital communication和users定位到文章第五段第二句：The reasons are complex，but may have something to do with the fact that users can control expression of sadness and other emotions via IM without revealing emotional elements like tears that some may perceive as embarrassing or sources of discomfort.

　　詳解： 事實細節題。本題考查電子通訊對人們交流的益處。由定位句可知，在電子通訊過程中，用戶可以控制好悲傷及其他情緒的表達，因為即時通訊可以隱藏諸如眼淚等讓人覺得尷尬或不適的情感元素，故本題答案為A)。B)“創作更多表達性的作品”文中并沒有提及，故排除;c)“分享和討論更多的內容”，文章第五段提到，研究還表明，在電子設備上匿名寫作會使用戶產生一種安全感，讓人們敞開心扉去討論他們最深入、最真實的感覺，這是匿名寫作給人們交流帶來的益處，對于題干來說，C)是片面的，故排除D)“找到更多有同情心的朋友”是對第五段末旬“你的文字如果讓富有同情心的朋友看到了，他會給你更多的安慰”的錯誤理解，故排除。

　　5.D)。由題干中的Susan Cain和introverts定位到文章末段第二旬：But even the most socially skilled introverts sometimes long for a free pass from socializing or talking on the phone.

　　詳解：事實細節題。本題考查蘇珊·凱恩對內向者的即時通訊聊天的觀點。由定位句可知，即使社交能力最強的內向者有時候也會渴望在社交或打電話時能應對自如，故本題答案為D)。A)“內向的人不喜歡向朋友、家人及同事交流自己的想法”文章中并沒有提及，故排除;B)“與外向的人相比，內向的人使用即時通訊會感到更焦慮”，文章倒數第二段提到，研究同樣發現，與外向的研究對象相比，內向的研究對象傷心時使用即時通訊聊天更能得到釋放，B)的邏輯關系與原文相反，故排除;c)“與外向的人相比，內向的人更擅長社交”