Unlock 2 – Unit 3 – Listening 2 – Digital Age Dilemma – Quiz
Explore how computers affect our memory and ability to remember information. This quiz looks at a study from Columbia University that shows how technology changes the way we deal with tough questions and remember facts. Are we relying more on finding information instead of remembering it? Test your knowledge and understanding of this changing way we think.
About This Listening: The Digital Age Dilemma
This listening exercise is based on Unlock 2, Unit 3, Listening 2. It discusses a well-known psychology finding often called the “Google Effect”: when people know information is easy to look up online, they are less likely to remember it themselves, relying instead on remembering where to find it. Listen for how the speaker explains this shift and what it means for how we learn.
Key Vocabulary
- Dilemma – a situation requiring a choice between equally difficult options.
- Rely on – to depend on something or someone.
- Recall – to remember something from memory.
- Retrieve – to find and bring back information.
This topic connects well with our lesson on The Brain and Technology. If you’d like to read the original Columbia University research behind this idea, see the study “Google Effects on Memory” (Sparrow, Liu & Wegner, 2011).
FAQ
What is the “Digital Age Dilemma” about?
It’s a listening passage from Unlock 2, Unit 3, exploring how easy access to information online is changing what and how we remember – a phenomenon researchers call the Google Effect.
Why does this matter for learning?
Understanding how technology affects memory can help learners develop better study habits, such as actively practicing recall instead of only looking answers up.
