NM Studio

www.argyre.hu/b2 ..:: Angol távoktatás ::.. angol@argyre.hu

1. What things might people become addicted to? How many can you write down in
one minute?
addiction – a strong need that someone feels to regularly take an illegal or harmful
drug:
There is a growing problem of drug addiction in our cities.
addiction to – a strong need or wish to spend as much time as possible doing a
particular activity:
Many people have an addiction to nicotine.
His addiction to the Internet is taking over his life.

2. Write the key words and phrases from the article into the sentences.

withdrawal symptoms, isolation, psychiatrist, clot, estimate, groceries, repercussions,

self-help group, case, recovery, discussion boards, components, excessive, admit,
treatment

1. When something is _____________________ it is much more than is reasonable or

necessary. (subtitle)
2. When you are alone and separated from other people you are in
_____________________. (subtitle)
3. _____________________ are the unpleasant physical and mental effects suffered
by someone who stops taking a substance that they are addicted to. (subtitle)
4. A _____________________ is a doctor who treats people with mental disorders.
(para 1)
5. _____________________ are parts, or features of something. (para 2)
6. _____________________ are the bad effects that something has, usually lasting for
a long time. (para 2)
7. A _____________________ is a lump of blood in your veins that can be dangerous.
(para 3)
8. An _____________________ is a guess at a number. (para 3)
9. _____________________ is another word for medical care. (para 3)
10. When you _____________________ to something, you agree that it is true. (para 5)
11. _____________________ are food and other goods you buy regularly for the home.
(para 5)
12. _____________________ is another term for online forums. (para 6)
13. _____________________ is the process of getting better after an illness or health
problem. (para 6 )
14. A _____________________ is a legal matter often decided at court. (para 6)
15. A _____________________ is a group of people who discuss their similar
problems and find ways to deal with them. (para 8)
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www.argyre.hu/b2 ..:: Angol távoktatás ::.. angol@argyre.hu

Addiction to Internet ‘is an illness’

New evidence shows that excessive use of the Internet causes isolation, tiredness and
withdrawal symptoms
1. Tense? Angry? Can’t get online? Internet addiction is now a serious health
problem says a leading psychiatrist.
2. In the American Journal of Psychiatry, Dr Jerald Block writes that Internet
addiction is caused by excessive gaming, looking at online pornography,
emailing and text messaging. He says that the disorder is now so common that it
should be included in medical text books. According to Block, Internet
addiction has four main components:
 Excessive use, and not realizing how long you spend on the Internet;
 Withdrawal symptoms, including feelings of anger, tension and/or
depression when there is no access to the Internet;
 The need for better computers, more software or more hours of use;
 Negative repercussions, including arguments, lying, not doing well at
school or work, social isolation and tiredness.
3. Block says that in South Korea 10 people died from blood clots because they sat
for long periods in Internet cafes and another was murdered because of an online
game. South Korea now sees Internet addiction as one of its most serious public
health issues. The government estimates that around 210,000 South Korean
children need treatment. 80 per cent of them might need medicines that help the
brain and nearly a quarter might need to go to hospital. High school pupils there
spend about 23 hours per week gaming, so another 1.2 million need basic
counselling about Internet addiction. Many people are also worried about the
number of addicts who stop going to school or leave their jobs to spend more time
on computers. In China, there might be 10 million teenage Internet addicts.

4. Dr Block, a psychiatrist at the Oregon Health and Science University in

Portland, writes that it is more difficult to estimate how bad the problem is in
America because people go online at home instead of in Internet cafes.
“Unfortunately it is not easy to treat Internet addiction,” he said. “The problem
is with the relationship with the computer,” he said. “If you try to remove the
computer, they feel they’ve lost their best friend. That can lead to depression or
rage.”
5. Harry Husted, a single 51-year-old from New York, spends 16 hours a day on
the Internet. He says that he is not addicted, but admits that he used to be. “I
used to work with computers for eight hours, then get home and go online for
another seven hours. I was online until two or three o’clock in the morning or
until I got so tired that I had to go to bed. I didn’t go out to get the groceries and
I didn’t care about friends, TV, or anything. When I realized what was
happening I did something about it. Now I only use MySpace to advertise my
business.”
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6. Internet addiction clinics are opening all around the world, and many people
have joined web discussion boards such as Internet Addicts Anonymous. The
Centre for Internet Addiction Recovery in Bradford, Pennsylvania, says Internet
addiction is often a factor in criminal, divorce and employment cases.
7. Robert Freedman, the editor of the American Journal of Psychiatry, said
Internet addiction is different from person to person. “In Korea, people are
mostly addicted to gaming sites. In America, it is Facebook. They are also
addicted to online pornography, games, gambling, chatting with friends. All
these things existed before the Internet, but now they’re a lot easier.”
8. His advice to addicts is: “A self-help group is a good place to start, but maybe a
real group is better than an online one.”

3. Match the sentence halves.

1. Internet addicts don’t realize ... lonely and tired.

how... ... spends 23 hours a week playing online
2. Leading psychiatrists think... games.
3. The average South Korean high ... difficult to treat.
school student... ... many hours they spend online.
4. People have died because of ... social networking websites.
their... ... Internet addiction.
5. South Koreans go online... ... better computers and software.
6. Internet addiction is... ... at Internet cafes more often than
7. Facebook and MySpace are... Americans.
8. In the USA, most people... ... Internet addiction is a real illness.
9. Internet addicts are often... ... surf the Internet at home.
10. Internet addicts think they need...

4. Vocabulary: Prepositions - Fill in the missing prepositions. Check your answers

in the article.

on (x2) from (x2) at (x2) to of in by

1. Internet addiction is caused _________ excessive gaming

2. looking _________ online pornography
3. it should be included _________ medical text books
4. feelings _________ anger
5. not doing well _________ school
6. 10 people died _________ blood clots
7. need to go _________ hospital
8. a single 51-year-old _________ New York
9. spend16 hours a day _________ the Internet
 NM Studio
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10. spend more time _________ computers

5. Discussion: Addicted to - Do you agree with either of these sentences?

 Many people are addicted to something and it is a big problem these days.
 Being addicted to something is not a new problem.

Megoldások

2. Key words and phrases

1. excessive
2. isolation
3. withdrawal symptoms
4. psychiatrist
5. components
6. repercussions
7. clot
8. estimate
9. treatment
10. admit
11. groceries
12. discussion boards
13. recovery
14. case
15. self-help group
3. Comprehension check – sentence halves
1. Internet addicts don’t realize how many hours they spend online.
2. Leading psychiatrists think Internet addiction is a real illness.
3. The average South Korean high school student spends 23 hours a week playing online games.
4. People have died because of their Internet addiction.
5. South Koreans go online at Internet cafes more often than Americans.
6. Internet addiction is difficult to treat.
7. Facebook and MySpace are social networking websites.
8. In the USA, most people surf the Internet at home.
9. Internet addicts are often lonely and tired.
10. Internet addicts think they need better computers and software.

4. Vocabulary: Prepositions
1. by
2. at
3. in
4. of
5. at
6. from
7. to
8. from
9. on
10. on