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Is Humanity Getting Dumber as Academic Achievement Declines?
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Is Humanity Getting Dumber as Academic Achievement Declines?
Student test scores around the world have plunged to a record low.
The latest global PISA report shows a steep decline in reading and maths.
Over 760,000 teenagers took the test,
and reading scores fell by 28 points across OECD countries.
This sharp drop has sparked serious questions about smart devices.
Many experts wonder if phones are making humans less capable.
French Education Minister Édouard Geffray warned that
phones are causing the cognitive destruction of young people.
He said distracted students can lose two full years of learning.
Pupils who spend hours scrolling often develop rushed reading habits,
so they stop reading longer books for enjoyment.
Without good comprehension, students cannot solve hard math or science problems.
In addition, over a quarter of students get distracted by devices during class.
European leaders now pledge urgent action to reverse this decline,
and several countries are preparing new plans to rebuild basic skills.
Quiz 🧠
Q1. Constant phone distractions in class usually lower a student's learning progress.
Show answer
✅ True
Using phones during school distracts students, making it much harder to focus and learn basic skills.
Q2. What does "plunged" mean in "test scores plunged"?
Show answer
✅ fell sharply
To plunge means to drop or fall down suddenly and steeply.
Q3. Why does poor reading skill make math and science harder for students?
Show answer
✅ Problems become hard to understand
Solving complex math and science tasks requires reading and understanding written problems clearly.
Dialogue 🎧
Alex: Did you see the latest global test scores? They plunged to a record low.
Charlotte: Yeah, the PISA report. Over 760,000 teenagers took the test worldwide.
Alex: That is a massive group! Was the drop really that severe?
Charlotte: Reading scores fell by 28 points across OECD countries.
Charlotte: Maths had a steep decline too.
Alex: Oof. That is alarming. What is causing such a crash?
Charlotte: Smart devices are taking the blame. Experts wonder if phones make us less capable.
Alex: Wait, so endless scrolling is actually hurting our minds?
Charlotte: French Education Minister Édouard Geffray warned of "cognitive destruction" among young people.
Alex: Cognitive destruction? Wow, that is dramatic language.
Charlotte: He said distracted students can lose two full years of learning.
Alex: Two full years? That is terrifying.
Charlotte: Pupils scrolling constantly develop rushed reading habits. They stop reading longer books for enjoyment.
Alex: I feel that myself. When I skim online articles, my attention span vanishes.
Charlotte: Exactly. And without solid comprehension, students cannot solve hard math or science problems.
Alex: So poor reading drags down every other subject.
Charlotte: Yes. Plus, over a quarter of students get distracted by devices during class.
Alex: A quarter of the class? How can anyone teach like that?
Charlotte: They cannot. European leaders now pledge urgent action with plans to rebuild basic skills.
Alex: Good. Honestly, this makes me want to lock my phone away tonight.