MSPS 2024 Prelim Comprehension Cloze

My parents bought me a mobile phone when I turned twelve. From the very first day, I was inseparable from my phone, constantly sending text messages to my friends. Initially, my parents were (1) the idea of me having a phone. I managed to (2) them eventually, telling them that getting a phone for me meant that they could stay (3) with me at all times and keep tabs on my whereabouts.

As time went by, I became increasingly (4) on my phone. It seemed like it was always within arm’s reach. Its screen would light up with notifications and tempt me to check them constantly. I would often choose to stay home after school just to text my friends and browse the internet, rather (5) focusing on my studies. It became a constant struggle to tear myself away from the digital world and concentrate on the tasks at hand. (6) my efforts to strike a balance, I found myself slipping further into digital addiction. Consequently, my grades suffered, and my friendships were affected.

In the end, my parents decided to intervene and put an (7) to it. I was deprived of the (8) of having the phone for a few months. I (9) into tears and argued for a second chance but my father, (10) a stubborn man, would not budge.

During the months, I felt lost and disconnected. (11), as the days passed, I adjusted to life (12) any digital distractions and began to rediscover the joys of the offline world. I spent more time engaging in face-to-face interactions, spending quality time with friends and family and pursing hobbies that I had neglected in favour of my digital usage. I set boundaries for myself, (13) that my studies and personal life did not suffer because of (14) screen time.

Since then, I realised that there was more to life than being glued to a screen. I was grateful for the tough love that my parents showed me. Their (15) to confiscate my phone taught me valuable lessons about self-discipline, moderation and importance of living in the moment. It was indeed a wake-up call that I sorely needed.