The Distracted Teenage Brain

Which of the following statements best expresses the central idea of the article?

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

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

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

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

What does the word 'entice' mean as used in paragraph 1?

• to attract

• to discourage

• to challenge

• to inspire

Which of the following quotes best supports the central idea that teenagers are more prone to distraction due to rewards?

• These data may help explain why teens engage in risky behavior, he says.

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

• 'The study demonstrates that the attention of adolescents is especially drawn to rewarding information'

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

According to the study, how do teenagers and adults differ in their response to previously rewarding stimuli when no longer rewarded?

• Adults and teenagers both quickly lose interest in previously rewarding stimuli.

• Teenagers continue to be distracted by previously rewarding stimuli, unlike adults.

• Both adults and teenagers continue to be equally distracted by previously rewarding stimuli.

• Adults are more distracted by previously rewarding stimuli than teenagers.

What method did psychologist Zachary Roper and his team use to study distraction in teenagers and adults?

• An interview about past rewarding experiences

• A game involving identifying colored circles and lines

• Observation of classroom behavior

• A survey on social media usage

Why do teenagers continue engaging in behaviors like texting or using social media, according to the article?

• Their prefrontal cortex is underdeveloped.

• They are following social trends.

• They are unaware of the dangers.

• These behaviors trigger the brain's reward system.

What suggestion does the article offer to help overcome distractions?

• Limiting screen time to two hours a day

• Physically removing distractions whenever possible

• Using social media more responsibly

• Engaging in more outdoor activities

What was the new target introduced during the testing phase of the experiment?

• A red circle

• A yellow square

• A blue diamond

• A green circle

How did the researchers measure the impact of distraction?

• By the participants' self-reported feelings of distraction

• By the speed of response to the new target

• By the amount of money earned

• By the number of correct answers

What does the presence of red or green circles in the test phase signify?

• A new reward system

• A higher level of difficulty in the game

• An unrelated test condition

• A potential distraction based on past rewards