7.Deep reading,as opposed to superficial (shallow) reading we do on the Web,is an endangered practice,one we ought to take steps to preserve as we would a historic building or a significant work of art.
Recent research has illustrated that deep reading,characterized as a unique experience different kind from the mere understanding of words,is slow,immersive (沉浸的),rich in sensory detail and emotional and moral complexity.Although deep reading does not,strictly speaking,require a conventional book,the limits of the printed page are uniquely helpful to the deep reading experience.A book's lack of hyperlinks (超鏈接),for example,frees the reader from making decisions-should I click on this link or not-allowing her to remain fully absorbed in the story.
That immersion is supported by the way the brain handles language rich in detail,indirect reference and figures of speech:by creating a mental representation that draws on the same brain regions that would be active if the scene were unfolding in real life.The emotional situations and moral dilemmas that are the material of literature are also vigorous (有活力的) exercise for the brain,driving us inside the heads of fictional characters and even,studies suggest,increasing our real-life capacity (能力) for recognition.
None of this is likely to happen when we're browsing through a website.Although we call the activity by the same name,the deep reading of books and the information-driven reading we do on the Web are very different,both in the experience they produce and in the capacity they develop.A growing body of evidence suggests that online reading may be less satisfying,even for the"digital natives"to whom it is so familiar.Researchers reported that 39% of children and teens read daily using electronic devices,but only 28% read printe d materials every day.Those who only read onscreen were three times less likely to say they enjoy reading very much and tell which book they like best.The study also found that young people who read daily only onscreen were nearly twice less likely to be above-average readers than those who read daily in print or both in print and onscreen.
All in all,the disappearance of deep reading would harm the intellectual and emotional development of generations growing up online,as well as the preservation of a critical part of our culture:the novels,poems and other kinds of literature that can be appreciated only by readers whose brains have been trained to understand them.
Passage outline | Supporting details |
The present situation about deep reading | ◆As we are reading more on the Web,deep reading has a tendency to (71)disappear. ◆Like a historic building or a significant work of art,deep reading (72)needs our preservation. |
(73)Characteristicsof deep reading | ◆Deep reading (74)produces complex emotional and moral experiences. ◆Deep reading usually (75)arises from printed materials. ◆Deep reading helps train a reader's brain and make it more (76)capable. ◆Compared with online reading,deep reading can bring readers more (77)satisfaction. ◆Deep reading makes a bigger (78)differencein increasing readers'reading ability. |
Conclusion | ◆Without deep reading,generations in this digital world can't develop well in emotion and (79)intelligence. ◆Without deep reading,people may be (80)unable to appreciate literature. |