BLOOMINGTON --- Once Staci Roper, 14, starts sending text messages, she finds it hard to stop. " Sometimes I text from the time I get up until I go to bed, except during school," said the eighth-grader at Kingsley Junior High. 

Her sister Sara Roper, 18, also texts a lot, saying "It is a lot easier than using the telephone." 

For teens, technology has become a common way to start and keep social contacts. 

Richard Sullivan, a teacher at Illinois State University, said text messaging has become "the new way of passing notes." 

"It is an important tool for social communication, especially for the youth," Sullivan said. 

But the girls have to store their mobile phones during school because they can be a distraction , Sullivan said. 

That is why parents must monitor their children's mobile phone use, said Tim Shannon, a child psychologist at Carle Clinic in Bloomington. 

The same technologies that can help communication can be _ if children use them to ignore their family at supper, Shannon said. 

While Linda Roper does not allow her children to text massages during meals, she usually does not need to intervene . "My kids are both very disciplined and good about doing their homework," she said. 

Gary and Mary Carstens also do not allow their children to text at supper or at family get-togethers. 

Their daughter, Kayla, 14, usually texts more on weekends when she has more free time. Kayla likes text messaging "because others can't hear you." 

The Carstens got Kayla a mobile phone several years ago because she is active in after-class sports and the phone allows her parents to keep in touch with her. 

Mary Carstens believes all the communication allowed by modern technology is good for her kids.

Based on the article and the following list of answers, write a list of questions.

1. yes
2. he's a child psychologist
3. Carle Clinic in Bloomington
4. no
5. no
6. her kids are both very disciplined and good about doing their homework
7. no
8. yes
9. family get-togethers
10. Kayla
11. 14
12. no
13. the weekends
14. she has more free time then
15. yes
16. "because others can't hear you."
17. no
18. to keep in touch with her
19. "the new way of passing notes."
20. text messaging

Numbered questions:
1. Does Tim Shannon think parents should monitor phone usage?
2. What is his profession?
3. At which clinic?
4. Does Linda Roper allow her children to use their phones during meals?
5. Is it usually necessary for her to intervene?
6. Why?
7. What about the Carstens, do they allow their children to text at supper?
8. Are they prohibited anywhere else?
9. Where?
10. What is their daughters name?
11. How old?
12. Does she text more during the week?
13. When?
14. Why?
15. Does she enjoy texting?
16. What is her reason?
17. Did her parents get her a phone to play games?
18. Why did they get her a phone?
19. What does Richard Sullivan say texting has become?
20. What does he believe has become an important tool for communication?