Brian's favorite thing was his laptop. He spent most of his day glued to his laptop, playing games, updating his blog, or watching movies, and he rarely spent time outside home with his friends or family. Since he would always keep to himself, his parents were worried about his social life, and one evening during dinner, they decided that they had had enough. While he was busy playing an online game, his mom said, "Brian, you need to pack a bag with clothes and toiletries for the weekend. We're going camping tomorrow, and we're leaving early."
"Yeah sure, Mom," Brian said, chuckling, but not taking his eyes off the screen.
When his mom didn't respond, he looked up and noticed her serious face. He shut his laptop and gave her a disbelieving look.
"Mom, you can't be serious! I don't want to go camping in some forest without electricity or a network," Brian declared stubbornly.
"We are tired of seeing you glued to your laptop. You need to go outdoors and spend some time with us," his mom said and walked out of the room before he could respond.
The next day, at 5:30 in the morning, in spite of Brian's sleepy protests, his mom woke him up and pushed him into the shower. By 6:30, the family was in the car and ready to head out for the camp. Initially, Brian kept himself busy on his phone, but as they reached the outskirts of their town, the roads became surrounded by thick forests, and he couldn't help but put his phone aside to observe the pleasing scenery outside.
"Is it always so quiet and green out here?" Brian asked in wonder.
"Yes, it is, and maybe if you start coming out with us more often, you would enjoy such things," his father replied. Soon, they finally stopped at their camping spot.
Brian realized he wasn't getting an Internet signal, and he dumped his phone into his bag. He helped his parents set up camp, and in the evening, he gathered firewood so that his mom could cook dinner. This strange routine fascinated him, and he laughed his heart out when, during dinner, his parents shared their funny childhood stories. He was surprised to realize how much he didn't know about his parents. He was awestruck by the dazzling night sky and the sounds of insects. This was a new experience for him, and he was glad that his parents had forced him to go camping.
8
Authors often include multiple themes in their writing. Two themes expressed in this passage are
A.
spending time with family is important, and using technology in excess can affect relationships.
B.
experiencing the beauty of nature at night can be thrilling, and having time to one's self is valuable.
C.
people desire to escape from the mundane, and ordinary and it is important to keep in touch with loved ones.
D.
the Internet can adversely impact teenagers, and good health includes spending time outdoors.
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