Smartphones have been blamed for everything from taking drivers’attention from driving to keeping people on the sofa scrolling (滚屏) videos. But the smartphone that seems to be everywhere could just easily increase physical activity if it pushes its owner’s buttons in the right way.

New research shows that making social connections (人际关系) through activity-tracking apps gets people to move more. And another study on the “Pokemon Go” phenomenon shows that the smartphone game got players to take thousands more steps than usual. Together, the studies show the potential (潜在性) of smartphones to push a range of people to be more active.

People who linked with friends on the activity-tracking app increase their steps by 400 a day on average, compared with people who made no social connections, according to Tim Althoff and two other computer scientists at Stanford University. Such opinions show the possibilities of smartphones and games to help with one of the most stubborn public health problems — that even people who want to be active have trouble staying active.

An NBA video game, for example, will give players extra powers in the game if they reach a step goal in real life. The app “Zomies, Run!” uses audio stories to push people to run more or run faster.

Still, there is room for growth: Only about 4% of all health apps use “gamification”, such as point- scoring or competition, according to a study published in October in BMJ Open. “Gamification is actually quite closely linked with behavior change techniques,” says Dr. Elizabeth Ann Edwards, the study’s lead author.

【小题1】According to the “Pokemon Go” phenomenon, smartphone users become more active because __________ .

A．they have more social connections	B．they get extra powers in life
C．the games increase physical activity	D．a life goal has been set step by step

【小题2】Who are most likely to exercise more?

A．Video watchers on the sofa.	B．Smartphone game lovers.
C．People with no social connections.	D．People with trouble staying active.

【小题3】How does the author try to argue the benefits of smartphones?

A．By showing the results of some research.

B．By explaining the functions of smartphones.

C．By giving clear description of some games.

D．By analyzing the causes of public health problems.