B1 Preliminary (PET) Practice Paper 32

alice: I've been trying to cut down on my phone use lately. Have you ever tried that? george: Yes, actually, I did something similar last year. I turned off almost all my notifications. alice: Did that make a big difference? george: Definitely. I used to check my phone every time it buzzed, which was constantly distracting. alice: How did you decide which notifications to keep? george: I only kept phone calls and messages from close family, everything else I turned off. alice: That's a good approach. Did you find it hard to adjust at first? george: The first week felt strange, like I was missing something, but after that it felt completely normal. alice: What benefits have you noticed since then? george: I sleep better, and I'm much more focused when I'm working or studying. alice: That's really encouraging. I think I'll try turning off my notifications too.

The phenomenon of 'digital minimalism', deliberately limiting technology use to only what genuinely adds value to one's life, has gained considerable attention as concerns grow about the psychological effects of constant connectivity. For Marcus, a university student, adopting this approach began after he realised he was spending over six hours daily on his phone, much of it scrolling through content he barely remembered afterwards. Marcus's first step was removing social media applications from his phone entirely, keeping access only through a web browser on his laptop, which made checking them considerably less convenient. He also began leaving his phone in another room while studying, a change that initially felt uncomfortable but gradually became normal within a few weeks. The most challenging adjustment, Marcus explains, was managing the anxiety of missing important messages or social updates, a feeling researchers sometimes call 'fear of missing out'. However, he noticed that this anxiety diminished significantly once he established a routine of checking messages at set times rather than constantly throughout the day. Six months into his digital minimalism experiment, Marcus reports substantially improved concentration during studying, better sleep quality, and more meaningful in-person conversations with friends. He acknowledges the approach requires ongoing discipline, particularly during stressful periods when the temptation to seek distraction increases, but he considers the trade-off entirely worthwhile given the improvements to his overall wellbeing.

Digital wellbeing ___1___ a topic of growing concern as researchers study the effects of constant smartphone use on mental health. My roommate, Priya, ___2___ to reduce her screen time after noticing she checked her phone almost every few minutes throughout the day. She ___3___ several apps that track and limit daily usage, setting strict time limits for social media. At first, she ___4___ frustrated whenever the app blocked her from opening a website she wanted to check. Over time, however, she ___5___ to fill that time with reading or short walks instead. Priya ___6___ that her attention span for reading books, which had noticeably shortened, gradually improved again. She now ___7___ her phone away during meals and social gatherings, a habit she previously never considered important. Priya believes that if more people ___8___ similar limits, general wellbeing across society might improve considerably.