有人说，爱玩是人类的天性。随着科技的发展，电子游戏已成为现代人用来丰富生活、寻求挑战的一项娱乐活动。从模拟、冒险、动作到角色扮演，再到近年来非常流行的 VR 虚拟现实游戏，电子游戏的类别多种多样，玩法千变万化。虽然玩游戏可以放松身心，但有些人却沉迷在幻想的世界中，无法自拔。玩游戏上瘾这一趋势是否愈演愈烈？这种消遣方式有哪些积极作用？本集Take Away English谈谈 “电游瘾”。
gaming addiction---from BBC
article
It's human nature to want to play. From board games to sports, games have been an integral part of human culture since time immemorial. Since their invention in the mid-20th century, video games have been among the most popular pastimes. In fact, in 2018 UK gamers spent on average over seven hours a week playing, according to market research conducted by global network provider Limelight. But how much is too much? When does entertainment become an addiction? Are we hooked on video games?
'The urge to play never goes away,' said Sean – not his real name - on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme. His fixation with gaming once involved playing for 48 hours straight. It consumed him to the point he would ignore his family and children and ended up losing them along with his job and home. Since then he has checked into rehab, and despite falling off the wagon once or twice, he has been on track for the last 14 months.
'Sean' is not alone. The UK Addiction Treatment group have noticed an increase in the number of people seeking treatment for gaming addiction from four in 2014 to 22 in 2018, they told the BBC. And in 2018 the World Health Organization classified gaming addiction as a disorder. In the UK, an enquiry into technology addiction held by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee included testimony from self-professed gaming addicts. One, Matus Mikus, said "games by their very nature are addictive."
However, the association for UK Interactive Entertainment informed the committee that there was a 'lack of evidence' around the addiction. They stated that gaming could be a 'force for good, encouraging, among other things, critical thinking skills'. Indeed, in a 2018 BBC article, registrar in anaesthetic and intensive care at Sheffield Teaching Hospital, Rajin Chowdhury seems to agree. Gaming, he says, made him more dextrous, improved hand-eye coordination and aided procedures that were performed remotely through looking at a screen, especially where the surgery controls were not intuitive.
Are video games addictive? It's unclear. Like anything, moderation is key. The games themselves may not be the problem, but letting them negatively impact our lives certainly is. With that in mind, play well, have fun and don't forget to take regular breaks.
vocabulary
pastime 消遣
gamer 游戏玩家
entertainment 娱乐
addiction 成瘾
be hooked on 被…迷住的
urge 强烈的欲望，冲动
fixation 执迷
straight 连续地
consume 吞噬
testimony n. 证据，证人
lack of evidence 缺少证据
rehab 康复治疗
fall off the wagon 旧瘾复发
on track 在正轨上
treatment 治疗
addictive adj. 使人上瘾的
addiction n. 上瘾;吸毒成瘾;入迷，嗜好;癖好
addict
n.有瘾的人;入迷的人;（吸毒）成瘾者
vt.使沉溺;使上瘾;使自己沾染（某些恶习）
anaesthetic [ˌænəsˈθetɪk] adj. 麻醉的
critical thinking 批判性思维
dextrous 灵巧的，敏捷的
hand-eye coordination 手眼协调
surgery controls 手术操作杆
intuitive 凭直觉的，直观的
moderation 适度、合理
immemorial adj. [ˌɪməˈmɔ:riəl] 无法追忆的，远古的
make sentences
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He hasn't played cards in ages. Now he's hooked on doing origami（折纸手工）!
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I though she wasn't drinking alcohol but it seems she's fallen off the wagon.
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The advantage of touch-screen technology is that its controls are intuitive.
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A world-class tennis champion needs excellent hand-eye coordination.
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When angry, try to resist the urge to shout. Take a deep breath and calm down.
question
What benefits did playing video games bring to Rajin Chowdhury?
answer
He says gaming made him more dextrous, improved hand-eye coordination and aided procedures performed remotely through a screen.
@BBC Learning English
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