B2 – Upper Intermediate
Imagine you’re out and about, scrolling through your phone, when suddenly you notice your battery percentage dipping dangerously low. You might get anxious looking for the nearest charger. This phenomenon highlights our deep reliance on smartphones, not just for communication, but for navigation, entertainment, and even a sense of security.
Let’s read the article and know more about the psychology behind battery anxiety.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does the verb “pinpoint” mean? “The survey of 2,000 Americans pinpointed precisely what level of remaining phone battery people reach before they start to worry or seek out a way to get charged. “Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
- Define the phrasal verb “creep in“. “Results showed anxiousness creeps in relatively early, with well over a third of battery life left (38%) revealed as the average level before worry sets in.” Use it in your own sentence.
- What is the meaning of the phrase “other end of the spectrum“? “At the other end of the spectrum, a quarter of Americans (24%) start to worry about their phone’s battery life before it’s even dropped to half full.” Use it in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What do the results of this survey suggest to you?
- At what battery percentage do you start feeling anxious, and how do you handle it?
- Has your phone ever died at a moment when you desperately needed it? What was the situation, and how did you handle it?
- How long do you think you could manage without using your phone? What would be the hardest part about going without your phone, and how would you adapt?