Questões de Inglês

Today’s multitasking teens

1 On more than one occasion, I entered my 14-year-old

son’s room to see if he was doing his homework, only to find

him surrounded by gadgets. He’s listening to his iPod, working

4 on his computer, texting on his phone, chatting with friends on

his Facebook page, and using Skype with another friend.

Somewhere among the gadgets is his homework.

7 As a parent, I wonder how much is done when he is

working on so many different things, but this is the new state of

normal for today’s teens. They’re professional media users,

10 switching frequently back and forth among cell phones, iPods,

television, video games, and computers.

On average, young people today spend more than

13 seven hours a day with some kind of technology or media,

according to research. This is up from six-plus hours in 2005.

Besides, 58% of teens aged 13 through 18 say that they

16 multitask “most of the time” with at least one type of media —

and they’re generally doing it while working on their

homework.

19 The effect of multitasking on adolescent cognitive

brain development is still a mystery because research is

inconclusive. But, like any parent, I wonder what all this

22 technological multitasking is doing to my own son’s brain,

especially since all kids are different. Some students can

multitask and do homework successfully, while others need

25 quiet and fewer technological interruptions. Some may be able

to multitask while doing language or arts homework, while

others know they need to “unplug” when it comes to math or

28 physics homework. Because teen brains are still developing —

and will continue to develop until age 25 — I feel sure that all

this multitasking must make a difference.

Internet: <www.schoolfamily.com> (adapted).

Doctors Without Borders

1 Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières

(MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization

created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. In 1999,

4 the organization received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Today, MSF provides independent, impartial

assistance in more than 60 countries to people whose survival

7 is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due

to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from

health care, or natural disasters. MSF gives assistance to those

10 most in need. MSF also calls attention to neglected crises,

challenges inadequacies or abuse of the aid system, and

defends improved medical treatments and protocols.

13 Humanitarian Action

MSF's work is based on the humanitarian principles of

medical ethics and impartiality. The organization is dedicated

16 to giving quality medical care to people in crises not

considering race, religion, or political affiliation.

MSF operates independently of any political, military,

19 or religious views. Medical teams conduct evaluations to

determine a population's medical needs before opening

programs, with the objective of answering problems that exist

22 (instead of duplicating services that are already offered) or

reach communities that are not being assisted. The key to

MSF’s ability to act independently in response to a crisis is its

25 independent funding. Ninety percent of MSF's overall funding

(and 100 percent of MSF-USA's funding) comes from private,

non-governmental sources. In 2009, MSF had 3.8 million

28 individual donors and private funders all over the world. As a

consequence, MSF is a neutral organization. It does not take

sides in any armed conflicts, for example.

Internet: <www.doctorswithoutborders.org> (adapted).

Doctors Without Borders

1 Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières

(MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization

created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. In 1999,

4 the organization received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Today, MSF provides independent, impartial

assistance in more than 60 countries to people whose survival

7 is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due

to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from

health care, or natural disasters. MSF gives assistance to those

10 most in need. MSF also calls attention to neglected crises,

challenges inadequacies or abuse of the aid system, and

defends improved medical treatments and protocols.

13 Humanitarian Action

MSF's work is based on the humanitarian principles of

medical ethics and impartiality. The organization is dedicated

16 to giving quality medical care to people in crises not

considering race, religion, or political affiliation.

MSF operates independently of any political, military,

19 or religious views. Medical teams conduct evaluations to

determine a population's medical needs before opening

programs, with the objective of answering problems that exist

22 (instead of duplicating services that are already offered) or

reach communities that are not being assisted. The key to

MSF’s ability to act independently in response to a crisis is its

25 independent funding. Ninety percent of MSF's overall funding

(and 100 percent of MSF-USA's funding) comes from private,

non-governmental sources. In 2009, MSF had 3.8 million

28 individual donors and private funders all over the world. As a

consequence, MSF is a neutral organization. It does not take

sides in any armed conflicts, for example.

Internet: <www.doctorswithoutborders.org> (adapted).

Workplace not psychologically safe for many

By Reuters

  Companies around the globe have work to do to improve worker satisfaction because about three in 10 employees say their workplace is not psychologically safe and healthy, according to a new poll. Whether it is due to stress, interpersonal conflict, frustration, lack of feedback or promotion, 27 percent of workers in 24 countries said they are not happy with the psychological aspects of their work environment, the survey by research company Ipsos showed.

  “Employers need to pay attention to their employees’ mental health, not just their physical health,” said Alexandra Evershed, senior vice president, Ipsos Public Affairs. “Three in 10 is still a fairly large proportion and that goes up to 44 percent and 43 percent in Argentina and Mexico and 42 percent in Hungary.” Nearly half, 47 percent, of the total of 14,618 workers polled agreed that their workplace was ‘a psychologically safe and healthy environment to work in’ and 26 percent hovered on the fence and weren’t sure.

  Although many North Americans have fewer holidays than Europeans and may work longer hours and enjoy fewer social services, Americans and Canadians had the highest marks for positively assessing the mental health of their workplace, followed by workers in India, Australia, Great Britain and South Africa.

  Evershed suggested that the improving economies in some countries could have played a part in the positive assessment among employees. “It’s better than it was,” she said in an interview. “India, China, Brazil, South Africa, these are countries where the economic picture has been brightening.”

(www.iol.co.za, 19.03.2012. Adaptado.)

Workplace not psychologically safe for many

By Reuters

  Companies around the globe have work to do to improve worker satisfaction because about three in 10 employees say their workplace is not psychologically safe and healthy, according to a new poll. Whether it is due to stress, interpersonal conflict, frustration, lack of feedback or promotion, 27 percent of workers in 24 countries said they are not happy with the psychological aspects of their work environment, the survey by research company Ipsos showed.

  “Employers need to pay attention to their employees’ mental health, not just their physical health,” said Alexandra Evershed, senior vice president, Ipsos Public Affairs. “Three in 10 is still a fairly large proportion and that goes up to 44 percent and 43 percent in Argentina and Mexico and 42 percent in Hungary.” Nearly half, 47 percent, of the total of 14,618 workers polled agreed that their workplace was ‘a psychologically safe and healthy environment to work in’ and 26 percent hovered on the fence and weren’t sure.

  Although many North Americans have fewer holidays than Europeans and may work longer hours and enjoy fewer social services, Americans and Canadians had the highest marks for positively assessing the mental health of their workplace, followed by workers in India, Australia, Great Britain and South Africa.

  Evershed suggested that the improving economies in some countries could have played a part in the positive assessment among employees. “It’s better than it was,” she said in an interview. “India, China, Brazil, South Africa, these are countries where the economic picture has been brightening.”

(www.iol.co.za, 19.03.2012. Adaptado.)

Workplace not psychologically safe for many

By Reuters

  Companies around the globe have work to do to improve worker satisfaction because about three in 10 employees say their workplace is not psychologically safe and healthy, according to a new poll. Whether it is due to stress, interpersonal conflict, frustration, lack of feedback or promotion, 27 percent of workers in 24 countries said they are not happy with the psychological aspects of their work environment, the survey by research company Ipsos showed.

  “Employers need to pay attention to their employees’ mental health, not just their physical health,” said Alexandra Evershed, senior vice president, Ipsos Public Affairs. “Three in 10 is still a fairly large proportion and that goes up to 44 percent and 43 percent in Argentina and Mexico and 42 percent in Hungary.” Nearly half, 47 percent, of the total of 14,618 workers polled agreed that their workplace was ‘a psychologically safe and healthy environment to work in’ and 26 percent hovered on the fence and weren’t sure.

  Although many North Americans have fewer holidays than Europeans and may work longer hours and enjoy fewer social services, Americans and Canadians had the highest marks for positively assessing the mental health of their workplace, followed by workers in India, Australia, Great Britain and South Africa.

  Evershed suggested that the improving economies in some countries could have played a part in the positive assessment among employees. “It’s better than it was,” she said in an interview. “India, China, Brazil, South Africa, these are countries where the economic picture has been brightening.”

(www.iol.co.za, 19.03.2012. Adaptado.)