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In an era dominated by digital devices, regulating children's screen time has become an increasingly complex challenge for parents and educators alike. While screens have revolutionized the way information is accessed and shared, excessive usage can have detrimental effects on young minds. Numerous studies have indicated that unregulated screen exposure may contribute to sleep disturbances, reduced academic performance, and impaired social interaction skills.

Conversely, when used responsibly, digital tools can foster learning, creativity, and global awareness. Hence, experts advocate for a balanced approach, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines and open dialogue between parents and children. Encouraging offline activities, monitoring content, and setting time limits are some strategies recommended to ensure that technology acts as an aid rather than an impediment to a child's development.

What does the word "detrimental" most nearly mean as used in the passage?

This question was previously asked in
SSC CHSL 2025 Tier 1 Question Paper (21-Nov-2025) (Shift 1)
The correct answer is

Harmful

The question is a vocabulary-in-context item asking what 'detrimental' most nearly means as it is used in the passage.

The best strategy is to read the word in its own sentence and use the surrounding ideas as clues rather than relying on any single dictionary sense.

The passage states that excessive screen usage 'can have detrimental effects on young minds', and the very next sentence lists those effects as sleep disturbances, reduced academic performance, and impaired social interaction skills.

All of these are plainly negative, damaging consequences, so 'detrimental' must carry a negative, injurious sense in this context.

'Detrimental' literally means causing harm or damage, which matches 'harmful' exactly.

'Beneficial' is the opposite meaning; 'unimportant' understates the serious effects described; and 'unpredictable' refers to uncertainty rather than harm, so none of these fits the damage the passage outlines.

Hence the closest meaning is Harmful.

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Similar Questions

  1. In an era dominated by digital devices, regulating children's screen time has become an increasingly complex challenge for parents and educators alike. While screens have revolutionized the way information is accessed and shared, excessive usage can have detrimental effects on young minds. Numerous studies have indicated that unregulated screen exposure may contribute to sleep disturbances, reduced academic performance, and impaired social interaction skills.

    Conversely, when used responsibly, digital tools can foster learning, creativity, and global awareness. Hence, experts advocate for a balanced approach, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines and open dialogue between parents and children. Encouraging offline activities, monitoring content, and setting time limits are some strategies recommended to ensure that technology acts as an aid rather than an impediment to a child's development.

    Choose the option that correctly converts this sentence into passive voice:

    "Experts advocate for a balanced approach."

  2. In an era dominated by digital devices, regulating children's screen time has become an increasingly complex challenge for parents and educators alike. While screens have revolutionized the way information is accessed and shared, excessive usage can have detrimental effects on young minds. Numerous studies have indicated that unregulated screen exposure may contribute to sleep disturbances, reduced academic performance, and impaired social interaction skills.

    Conversely, when used responsibly, digital tools can foster learning, creativity, and global awareness. Hence, experts advocate for a balanced approach, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines and open dialogue between parents and children. Encouraging offline activities, monitoring content, and setting time limits are some strategies recommended to ensure that technology acts as an aid rather than an impediment to a child's development.

    Which of the following sentences from the passage contains a present perfect tense verb?

  3. Read the passage and answer the following question:

    In an era dominated by digital devices, regulating children's screen time has become an increasingly complex challenge for parents and educators alike. While screens have revolutionized the way information is accessed and shared, excessive usage can have detrimental effects on young minds. Numerous studies have indicated that unregulated screen exposure may contribute to sleep disturbances, reduced academic performance, and impaired social interaction skills.

    Conversely, when used responsibly, digital tools can foster learning, creativity, and global awareness. Hence, experts advocate for a balanced approach, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines and open dialogue between parents and children. Encouraging offline activities, monitoring content, and setting time limits are some strategies recommended to ensure that technology acts as an aid rather than an impediment to a child's development.

    What does the word "detrimental" most nearly mean as used in the passage?

  4. Read the passage and answer the following question:

    In an era dominated by digital devices, regulating children's screen time has become an increasingly complex challenge for parents and educators alike. While screens have revolutionized the way information is accessed and shared, excessive usage can have detrimental effects on young minds. Numerous studies have indicated that unregulated screen exposure may contribute to sleep disturbances, reduced academic performance, and impaired social interaction skills.

    Conversely, when used responsibly, digital tools can foster learning, creativity, and global awareness. Hence, experts advocate for a balanced approach, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines and open dialogue between parents and children. Encouraging offline activities, monitoring content, and setting time limits are some strategies recommended to ensure that technology acts as an aid rather than an impediment to a child's development.

    Which word is the closest synonym for "impediment" as used in the passage?

  5. Read the passage and answer the following question:

    In an era dominated by digital devices, regulating children's screen time has become an increasingly complex challenge for parents and educators alike. While screens have revolutionized the way information is accessed and shared, excessive usage can have detrimental effects on young minds. Numerous studies have indicated that unregulated screen exposure may contribute to sleep disturbances, reduced academic performance, and impaired social interaction skills.

    Conversely, when used responsibly, digital tools can foster learning, creativity, and global awareness. Hence, experts advocate for a balanced approach, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines and open dialogue between parents and children. Encouraging offline activities, monitoring content, and setting time limits are some strategies recommended to ensure that technology acts as an aid rather than an impediment to a child's development.

    According to the passage, what is one way to ensure technology benefits children?

  6. In an era dominated by digital devices, regulating children's screen time has become an increasingly complex challenge for parents and educators alike. While screens have revolutionized the way information is accessed and shared, excessive usage can have detrimental effects on young minds. Numerous studies have indicated that unregulated screen exposure may contribute to sleep disturbances, reduced academic performance, and impaired social interaction skills.

    Conversely, when used responsibly, digital tools can foster learning, creativity, and global awareness. Hence, experts advocate for a balanced approach, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines and open dialogue between parents and children. Encouraging offline activities, monitoring content, and setting time limits are some strategies recommended to ensure that technology acts as an aid rather than an impediment to a child's development.

  7. Choose the option that correctly converts this sentence into passive voice:

    "Experts advocate for a balanced approach."

  8. Which of the following sentences from the passage contains a present perfect tense verb?

  9. Which word is the closest synonym for "impediment" as used in the passage?

  10. According to the passage, what is one way to ensure technology benefits children?


Important Questions from Reading Comprehension

  1. What is the meaning of ‘intrigued’?

  2. What are ice shelves?

  3. What are icebergs?

  4. When the iceberg turns upside down, it appears ________.

  5. The use of science in its simple form has helped man to ____________

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