Multiple choice (longer text)

Last September, my phone fell out of my pocket while I was cycling to school, and a car drove over it. My parents said they would not buy me a new one until my birthday, which was eleven months away. At first, I thought this was the worst thing that could happen to a fifteen-year-old boy.

The first few weeks were difficult. My friends made plans in a group chat, and I often found out about them too late. Once I missed a trip to the beach because nobody remembered to tell me. I felt left out, and I was quite angry with my parents.

Things got better when I started doing something about it. I asked my best friend, Sam, to call our home phone whenever there were plans, and I began phoning people myself instead of waiting to hear from them. I was surprised how much I enjoyed talking to people properly. A five-minute call was often more fun than an hour of messages.

I also noticed that I had much more free time. Without a phone, I wasn’t watching videos late at night, so I went to bed earlier and felt less tired at school. I started reading again, something I hadn’t done since I was a child, and I joined the school chess club, which met at lunchtime.

When my birthday finally came, my parents gave me a new phone. I was pleased, of course, but I’ve made some rules for myself. I don’t take it into my bedroom at night, and I turn it off when I’m with friends. Some of my friends think I’m strange, but a few of them have started doing the same thing.

So would I recommend a year without a phone? Probably not a whole year! But I think everyone should try it for a few weeks. You might find out what you’ve been missing.