1 . Today, a large number of people are always looking at their mobile phones with their heads down. These people are called the “Heads-down Tribe (低头族)”. Are you a heads-down tribe member? Heads-down tribe members now can be seen everywhere.

More and more traffic accidents are happening because more drivers use mobile phones while they are driving. In order to make drivers pay more attention to driving, some new traffic rules have been made. For example, people who use mobile phones while driving in Taiwan are fined (罚款). Car drivers and motorcyclists who break the traffic rule will be fined NT $3,000 and NT $1,000 respectively (分别地).

As we can see above, using mobile phones may cause accidents and even cost a lot of money. Also, more and more interesting and strange stories happen to the “Heads-down Tribe”. Let’s have a look at an interesting TV report. A man in America kept using his mobile phone on his way home. As a result, he knocked into a big lost bear. When he lifted his eyes from the phone, he was so afraid that he turned around and ran away quickly. Another story is that we can often see people in the restaurant eating face to face but looking at their own mobile phones. It’s strange that they don’t talk to the ones who sit opposite to them during the meal. Some of them even have fun communicating with others on the phone.

Mobile phones are helpful and necessary tools for modem life. Are mobile phones good or bad? It depends on how people use them. Let’s be “healthy” users and try to be the “Heads-up Tribe”.

3 . Mobile phones (手机) have become a problem for middle schools. Some middle schools in Australia have stopped students from carrying mobile phones during school hours. The mobile phone use among children has become a problem for the school this year. Several children have got mobile phones as Christmas gifts, and more students will want them.

Mary, a teacher, said the mobile phone use is a distraction (干扰) to students during school hours and it also gives teachers so much trouble in their classrooms. Teachers also said that sometimes students might use phone messages to copy during exams. She said some schools tried to stop mobile phones. Some parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t get in touch with their children.

Many teachers said students should not have mobile phones at school, but if there was a good reason, they could leave their phones at the school office. They also said there were many reasons why the students should not have mobile phones at school, they were easy to lose and were a distraction for studies.

Many people say that they understand why parents would want their children to have phones, but they think schools should let the students know when they can use their mobile phones.

My 100 Days Without a Mobile Phone

When was the last time you left home without your mobile phone? Can you imagine yourself living a month, or even a year without checking your mobile phone from time to time?

As a busy modern person with lots of social connections, plans and responsibilities, I just cannot afford to not be in touch with the rest of the world. Staying connected to other people is a big part of my life. However, sometimes it can be bothered (恼人的).

One day I discovered I was terribly tired out. I tried turning notices off. But the fear of missing out something important made me check the phone more often than before. So, I simply stopped using my phone.

Well, to tell the truth, it was not simple at all. For the first couple of days, I had a big fear that all of my friends would soon forget about me. When I had a free moment, I had no idea what to get myself distracted (分心的) with, and the worries mixed with boredom (无聊) kept bothering me.

However, after three weeks without a mobile phone, I started noticing changes — changes which I liked, and which drove me to not just continue the experiment, but in fact to organize some of my habits again.

First of all, I noticed that I became much more focused (专注的). Before, while doing something, I would often find myself wondering what was going on online. After a month of staying away from my mobile phone, I found that the urge (冲动) was already not so strong and that my ability to focus improved.

I discovered that the world is a beautiful place. Before, I would look at it through my camera mostly: take a photo, post it, get some likes. Now, I saw beautiful people walking around and I felt the seasons change. I could understand the actual beauty of the world, and I did not need anyone else to prove the value of this beauty through likes or shares.

Now, as 100 days have passed, I can say that the experiment was worth it. I am planning to stay away from my phone for as long as possible.

My husband’s grandmother, aged 75, has been living with us in Beijing for a month now. Full of energy, she volunteers to     1     for us every day. The food she prepares is very delicious. That’s not all. Granny helps us with chores in our house. When we go out for a walk, I try hard to keep up with her.

    2    , what surprises me most is how excitedly she accepts the latest progress in high technology life. Mind you, she had received only primary school education.

When she joined us, we bought her a Beijing transportation card     3     she could use city buses and subways. One day, she came back     4     an e-card fixed on her smartphone. “It’s far more convenient. I saw others walk into the subway station just by scanning (扫描) their phones. I asked one for help to     5     on my phone,” she said with a big smile.

Later, we taught her how to watch videos, buy clothes and vegetables on smartphones, and even play mahjong (麻将) online. It quickly became her favorite smartphone app (应用软件). Though she was unable to understand well     6    , our patient help a few times and some encouragement helped her overcome the troubles. Most importantly, such communication has made our family relationship     7    . As for me, I’m very glad to play mahjong online with Grandma. The other day,     8     I was practicing the guitar in my room, she knocked on my door and said, “Come, we need a fourth player to play mahjong together.”

We realize an elderly-friendly society means the old people can get great satisfaction and     9    . When grandparents turn to their grandchildren for help with smartphones, a little more patience from the young can go a long way in encouraging the old to     10     in high technology life.

During the break, Ken was     1     games on his mobile phone. Some classmates were standing around him and talking. “It seems that people now can’t live     2     mobile phones. What will the mobile phone be     3     in the future?” One of them suddenly asked. “I think it will be as thin as paper. And we can charge it by putting it in the sun,” Andy said first. Kelly     4     with Andy. She said, “Yes, it is really possible. In the future, people may leave the Earth and live on other planets. It will be very far, but we can still talk on the mobile phone.     5     do you think? Millie?” “Well, I don’t know. Maybe it will be able to do everything.” Millie answered. “No matter what it will be like, I believe it will become better and better.”

Ever since the first mobile phones came out, they have changed our lives in many     1    .

First of all, mobile phones change the way we     2     with others. In the past, people used to keep in     3     with their families, relatives and friends by writing letters. Now if we want to contact (联系) them, we just need to take out our mobile phones, dial the number and then we can     4     them in a minute.

Secondly, mobile phones     5     us a number of ways to relax. With the help of all kinds of mobile apps, we can post photos, blogs, messages and videos on websites from time to     6    . We can also play all types of games as well. So we may not feel     7    .

However, every coin (硬币) has two     8    . Mobile phones have disadvantages (缺点), too. In the past, people who took the same bus every day would start a conversation (谈话) and might develop friendships along the way. But this     9     does not happen any more. Today, phubbers (低头族) can be seen everywhere. They miss the chance to make new     10    .