The main objective of the article is to:
Can talking on a mobile phone be hazardous to your health? It is difficult to know for sure. Some research suggests that
heavy users of mobile phones are at a greater risk of developing cancerous brain tumours. However, many other
studies suggest there are no links between cancer and mobile phone use.
The main problem with the current research is that mobile phones have only been popular since the 1990s. As a
result, it is impossible to study long-term exposure to mobile phones. This concerns many health professionals who
point out that certain cancers can take over twenty years to develop. Another concern about these studies is that many
have been funded by the mobile phone industry or those who benefit from it.
Over five billion people now use mobile phones on a daily basis, and many talk for more than an hour a day. Mobile
phone antennas are similar to microwave ovens. While both rely on electromagnetic radiation (EMR), the radio waves
in mobile phones are lower in frequency. Microwave ovens have radio wave frequencies that are high enough to cook
food, and they are also known to be dangerous to human tissues like those in the brain. The concern is that the lowerfrequency radio waves that mobile phones rely on may also be dangerous. It seems logical that holding a heat source
near your brain for a long period of time is a potential health hazard.
Some researchers believe that other types of wireless technology may also be dangerous to human health, including
cordless phones, wireless gaming consoles, and laptop or tablet computers with wireless connections. They suggest
replacing all cordless and wireless devices with wired ones where possible. They also say that many cordless phones
can emit dangerous levels of Electromagnetic Radiation even when they are not in use. They even suggest keeping
electronic devices such as desktop and tablet computers out of the bedroom, or at least six feet from the head while
we're sleeping.
A growing number of health professionals worldwide are recommending that mobile phone users err on the side of
caution until more definitive studies can be conducted. They use the example of tobacco to illustrate the potential risks.
Many years ago, people smoked freely and were not concerned about the effects of cigarettes on their health. Today,
people know that cigarettes cause lung cancer, though it is still unknown exactly how or why. Some doctors fear that the
same thing will happen with mobile phones. In May 2016, the UK's Independent newspaper reported on research by
the US government's National Toxicology Program that showed a slight increase in brain tumours among rats exposed
to the type of radio frequencies commonly emitted by mobile phones. This doesn't prove that mobile phones can cause
brain tumours in humans, but it does show that it's possible. As a result, many experts now recommend texting or using
head sets or speaker phones instead of holding a mobile phone to the ear.
(Source: https://www.englishclub.com/reading/health/cell-phone.htm)
Gabarito comentado
Comentário do Professor – Interpretação de Texto (Reading Comprehension)
Tema central: O texto discute se o uso de telefones celulares apresenta riscos à saúde, especialmente quanto ao desenvolvimento de câncer cerebral, destacando a falta de consenso científico sobre o assunto, mesmo havendo pesquisas que sugerem riscos potenciais.
Estratégias de leitura usadas: Para questões desse tipo, empregamos o skimming, que nos ajuda a captar rapidamente a ideia principal ao passar os olhos pelo texto, identificando partes sobre falta de provas definitivas e a comparação com o cigarro (tema controverso por muitos anos). O scanning serve para localizar dados e exemplos concretos que apoiam a análise.
Análise da alternativa correta:
D) To show that there is still no consensus on whether mobile phones are hazardous to health, even though research suggests they may be.
O texto não afirma categoricamente que o celular faz mal, nem que é seguro. Em vez disso, evidencia que há estudos para ambos os lados e ausência de respostas definitivas, além de destacar limitações das pesquisas (curto prazo e financiamentos tendenciosos). Logo, a alternativa D corresponde perfeitamente ao objetivo central do texto.
Análise das alternativas incorretas:
- A) "Show that smartphones are the main cause of cancer nowadays."
Esta opção é exagerada e imprecisa; o texto nunca declara que smartphones sejam a principal causa de câncer. - B) "Warn us of the risks of using mobile phones."
Embora cite riscos, o foco está na ausência de consenso, e não num alerta direto ao leitor. - C) "To provide compelling evidence that it is completely safe to use mobile technology."
O artigo justamente destaca que ainda não há "compelling evidence" quanto à segurança absoluta da tecnologia móvel; essa alternativa vai contra o texto.
Armadilhas e estratégias para provas: Atenção à generalização (main cause of cancer, completely safe) e às palavras de tom extremo. Evite escolher alternativas que trazem conclusões categóricas se o texto traz incerteza ou debate.
Resumo: Ao empregar skimming para captar o propósito e scanning para buscar detalhes, identificamos precisamente que a alternativa D expressa o objetivo do texto: mostrar a falta de consenso sobre os riscos do uso de celulares, mesmo com algumas indicações preocupantes nas pesquisas.
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