The internet has provided us with unmatched ways to get information but it is also sounding alarms. Some experts argue that the internet will produce forgetfulness in the minds of those learning to use it, because they won’t practise their memory.

Is the internet really doing harm to our memories—or will our doubtful experts be proven wrong? After all, the brain’s attention system (系统) and preferences for novel experiences were already there long before the digital age, and our ability to remember is nearly inexhaustible (无穷尽的). According to Michael Merzenich, a brain researcher, every brain is a work in progress; it keeps changing throughout our lives, depending on how we use it.

But our brains don’t work well when we’re not focused. When we repeatedly check text messages and social media during work, we are weakening our ability to form both short-and long-term memories, experts say. The flooding of information influences our ability to remember, too. Though our brains are designed to look for new data, too much of it may be causing this natural drive to go wild. The compulsion to continuously take in information means we often check social media when we should be doing “memory housekeeping” by giving our brains some rest. Another problem: the effortless way of receiving information online. Trying to actively recall (回忆) data is a good workout for the brain, but today we are using online search tools instead.

However, the internet may be changing only what we remember, not our ability to do so, suggests Columbia University psychologist (心理学家) Betsy Sparrow. In fact, the internet is becoming an outside hard drive for our memories. Some worry that this is having a negative effect on society, but Sparrow suggests this will change our way of learning from a focus on remembering facts to one on understanding ideas.

As is shown in a 2008 study, using the internet exercised the brain more than reading among older adults with strong computer skills. And two Harvard psychologists argue that not needing to remember facts might free our minds to focus on more meaningful tasks.

“There may be costs caused by our increased dependence on the internet, but generally the benefits are going to outweigh those costs,” says Benjamin Storm, a psychologist. “It seems pretty clear that memory is changing, but is it changing for the better? At this point, we don’t know.”

1.1.What does the word “compulsion” in Paragraph 3 most probably mean?

A Longing.

B Ability.

C Chance.

D Promise.

解析：选A。词义猜测题 根据第三段“The compulsion to continuously take in information means we often check social media when we should be doing ‘memory housekeeping’ by giving our brains some rest.”（不断获取信息的____意味着，本该让大脑休息、进行 “记忆整理” 的时候，我们却常常刷社交媒体），可知人们有一种忍不住、渴望持续接收信息的冲动。longing 意为 “渴望，强烈的欲望”；ability 能力；chance 机会；promise 承诺。所以选 A。

2.2.What can we learn from the passage?

A Internet users remember facts better than non-users.

B Novel experiences improve the brain’s attention system.

C Checking social media can give the brain proper breaks.

D The internet may produce a change of focus in learning.

解析：选D。细节理解题 根据第四段“Sparrow suggests this will change our way of learning from a focus on remembering facts to one on understanding ideas.”（斯帕罗认为这会改变我们的学习方式，从专注记忆事实转变为理解观点），也就是互联网可能让学习的重心发生改变。 A错误，文中没有说互联网用户记事实更强；B错误，原文说大脑本身就有对新奇体验的偏好，没有说新奇体验改善注意力系统；C错误，刷社交媒体不能让大脑好好休息。所以选 D。

3.3. How does Benjamin Storm feel about the effects of the internet on memory?

A Uneasy and doubtful.

B Positive but still uncertain.

C Negative but still hopeful.

D Encouraged and confident.

解析：选B。推理判断题 根据最后一段Benjamin Storm所说“There may be costs caused by our increased dependence on the internet, but generally the benefits are going to outweigh those costs.” 和“At this point, we don’t know.”（对互联网依赖增加或许会带来弊端，但总体而言利大于弊。目前我们还无法确定记忆是否正向变化），能看出他态度偏积极，但这件事尚无定论。所以选 B。

4.4.What is the writer’s main purpose in writing this passage?

A To argue for a belief.

B To challenge a solution.

C To present different views.

D To examine causes and effects.

解析：选C。主旨大意题 文章先是提出疑问：互联网是否损害记忆力？接着分别列举不同专家正反两方观点：有人认为上网削弱记忆；也有人认为互联网只是改变记忆内容、转变学习方式。作者只是客观呈现各方看法，没有去论证某一个观点、挑战方案或者分析因果。所以选 C。