Distracted Teenage Brain Questions

Part A: Which of the following statements best expresses the central idea of the article?

• Teenagers' brains are more easily distracted because they use social media and text while driving more often than adults.

• Teenagers are more likely than adults to take risks for money based on a study in Iowa

  City.

• Teenagers are more prone to distraction because they are more attracted to or focused on potential rewards.

• Teenagers often do not realize why they want rewards because their brains are still developing.

Part B: Which of the following quotes best supports the answer to part A?

• "For some volunteers, green circles provided a large (10-cent) reward and red circles provided a small (2-cent) reward." (Paragraph 4)

• "'The study demonstrates that the attention of adolescents is especially drawn to rewarding information'" (Paragraph 12)

• "These data may help explain why teens engage in risky behavior, he says." (Paragraph 12)

• "When distractions are not readily available, it will be easier to focus attention on the things that matter most." (Paragraph 14)

Part A: What does the word "entice" mean as used in paragraph 1?

• to discourage

• to inspire

• to challenge

• to attract

Part B: Which of the following phrases from paragraph 1 best supports the answer to part A?

• "not-so-smart decisions"

• "allure of rewards"

• "even small ones"

• "more than they do adults"

Analyze the claim the author makes about distracted teenage behaviors and evaluate whether the evidence used to support this claim is sufficient. (Answers may vary)

Are you surprised by the findings of this study? Why or why not?

In paragraph 11, one scientist makes the claim that the results of the study, which suggest that teens are more easily distracted by potential rewards, help prove why teens are more likely to engage in irresponsible behavior. In your opinion, is this a strong argument? What might be some other reasons teenagers make poor choices?

In the context of this article, how can science define the identity of a teenager? Where does it fall short?