题目内容

Multitasking

People who multitask all the time may be the worst at doing two things at once, a new research suggests. The findings, based on performances and self-evaluation by about 275 college students, indicate that many people multitask not out of a desire to increase productivity, but because they are easily distracted (分心) and can’t focus on one activity. And “those people turn out to be the worst at handling different things,” said David Sanbonmatsu, a psychologist at the University of Utah.

Sanbonmatsu and his colleagues gave the students a set of tests and asked them to report how often they multitasked, how good they thought they were at it, and how sensation-seeking (寻求刺激) or imperative (冲动) they were. They then evaluated the participants’ multitasking ability with a tricky mental task that required the students to do simple mathematical calculations while remembering a set of letters.

Not surprisingly, the scientists said, most people thought they were better than average at multitasking, and those who thought they were better at it were more likely to report using a cellphone while driving or viewing multiple kinds of media at once. But those who frequently deal with many things at the same time were found to perform the worst at the actual multitasking test. They also were more likely to admit to sensation-seeking and impulsive behavior, which connects with how easily people get bored and distracted.

“People multitask not because it’s going to lead to greater productivity, but because they’re distractible, and they get sucked into things that are not as important.” Sanbonmatsu said.

Adam Gazzaley, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not a member of the research group, said one limitation of the study was that it couldn’t find out whether people who start out less focused   toward multitasking or whether people’s recognizing and understanding abilities change as a result of multitasking.

The findings do suggest, however, why the sensation-seeker who multitask the most may enjoy risky distracted driving. “People who are multitasking are generally less sensitive to risky situations.” said Paul Atchley, another researcher not in the group. “This may partly explain why people go in for these situations even though they’re dangerous.”

1. The research led by Sanbonmatsu indicates that people who multitask       .

A.seek high productivity constantly

B.prefer handling different things when getting bored

C.are more focused when doing many things at a time

D.have the poorest results in doing various things at the same time

2.When Sanbonmatsu and his colleagues conducted their research, they          .

A.assessed the multitasking ability of the students

B.evaluated the academic achievements of the students

C.analyzed the effects of the participants’ tricky mental tasks

D.measured the changes of the students’ understanding ability

3.According to Sanbonmatsu, people multitask because of their        _.

A.limited power in calculation               B.interests in doing things differently

C.inability to concentrate on one task          D.impulsive desire to try new things

4. From the last paragraph, we can learn that multitaskers usually____  .

A.drive very skillfully

B.go in for different tasks

C.fail to react quickly to potential dangers

D.refuse to explain the reasons for their behavior

 

【答案】

1.D

2.A

3.C

4.C

【解析】

文章大意:文章讲述的是一项与人们通常的观点相反的研究结果,即通常同时做多件事情的人,反而没有普通人同时处理两件事情的效率高,因为同时做多件事情的人平时更容易分心。

1.根据第一段的“People who multitask all the time may be the worst at doing two things at once, a new research suggests和those people turn out to be the worst at handling different things,”可知,平时同时做多件事情的人,在研究的实验中结果表现最差。故选择D

2.根据第二段的“They then evaluated the participants’ multitasking ability”可知,他们是为了评估每一位参与者的多任务处理能力。

3.根据第四段“People multitask not because it’s going to lead to greater productivity, but because they’re distractible, and they get sucked into things that are not as important.”可知,Sanbonmatsu认为人们同时做很多件事情,不是因为他们想增加销量/产量,而是因为他们容易分心(distractible),他们很容易被不重要的事情所吸引,因此,得出结论,很多人是没有集中精力做一件事情的能力,即C选项。

4.根据最后一段的“People who are multitasking are generally less sensitive to risky situations.”,通常同时做多件事情的人对于危险的情况没有那么敏感,也就是说他们对于危险的情况或者潜在的危险没有那么强的敏感性,或者说没有能够做出快速反应的能力,即C选项。

 

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After a very busy afternoon,as I walked into my house,I heard the phone ringing. It was my friend Lydia,upset over an argument with her husband. My usual approach is to offer advice,but this time,exhausted from chores,I simply sat down in a chair and listened to my friend’s frustration  and sadness. Without the disturbance of judgment or the desire to comfort her,I stayed totally quiet while she talked. Eventually Lydia’s depression eased and we said our goodbyes. The next day she phoned to thank me. “I’m so grateful for the way you helped me through this,”she said.
At first I was surprised. After all,I had done nothing except be there for her. But after I had my own venting (发泄的)  experience with another friend later that evening,I realized that my focused silence had some value. In fact,most relationship experts agree that talk is cheap;it’s listening that’s rare and valuable It allows you not only to hear what the other person is saying,but also to have a clear understanding of her thoughts and feelings. And for the speaker,that level of understanding translates into concern and respect.
Unfortunately,listening isn’t as easy as it sounds. Thanks  to  schedules  filled  with  family and work,multitasking has become a barrier (障碍) to listening. My tiredness may have been the only thing stopping me from folding  laundry or checking my e­mail while Lydia talked that afternoon.
Another barrier to listening is our listening system:Most of us take in only about half of what’s being said during a conversation,according to the International Listening Association. Research shows that we speak at 125 to 150 words per minute,yet think at 500 words a minute. Therefore,because we think much more quickly than we  speak,it is easy for us to lose our concentration when  listening to speakers.
While it can be hard to focus at times,it’s a skill worth developing. With a little practice  (employing some techniques),you can become a better listener.
【小题1】Why didn’t the author give any advice to Lydia that afternoon?

A.Because she thought her keeping silence was better for Lydia.
B.Because she didn’t know how to comfort Lydia.
C.Because she was too tired to talk to Lydia.
D.Because she couldn’t cut in while Lydia was talking.
【小题2】In Paragraph 2,the author mainly talks about________.
A.the importance of listening
B.the importance of venting anger
C.her own listening experience
D.her own venting experience
【小题3】The author uses the result of the research in Paragraph 4 to mainly show that________.
A.we think much more quickly than we speak
B.we can only understand about half of what we hear
C.there is not much thinking time available while we are listening
D.we lose our concentration easily while we are listening
【小题4】What will be discussed following the passage?
A.Why listening is valuable.
B.What we should do while listening.
C.How to become a good listener.
D.How to stop drifting off while listening.
【小题5】The first paragraph serves as a(n)________.
A.explanation B.introduction
C.commentD.background

It’s 10:30 p.m. and 11-year-old Brandon Blanco is sound asleep at home. Suddenly, a loud noise wakes him up. Naturally, Brandon reaches for his cell phone. He blinks twice, and the message on the screen becomes clear: “ R U awake?”
But the late-night text does not annoy Brandon. He gets frequent messages and calls, even after bedtime. And he can’t imagine life without them. “ If I didn’t have a cell phone, I wouldn’t be able to talk to my friends or family as often,” he told TFK.
Brandon’s use of technology doesn’t stop there. He also has a computer, a TV and three video-game consoles in his room. With so many choices, it is no surprise that when he is not at school, he spends nearly every waking minute using one or more of these devices. Brandon is hardly alone. According to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, kids aged 8 to 18 are spending more time than ever before using electronic devices. How much time? More than seven and a half hours a day on average, the study found. That’s about an hour more than just five years ago.
The jump is the result of a huge explosion in mobile devices, says Victoria Rideout, the lead author of the study. Today, nearly seven out of ten kids have cell phones. Just five years ago, it was four out of ten.
“ These devices have opened up many more opportunities for young people to use media, whether it’s on the bus, on the way to school or waiting in line at the pizza parlor,” says Rideout.
Often, kids multitask, or use more than one device at a time. “ If you’ve got a chance to do something on your computer and take a phone call and have the TV on in the background, why not?” Media expert Cheryl Olson says.
Most experts agree technology has much to offer kids. But some worry the kids could be missing out on other activities like playing outside or hanging out with friends. “ It’s a matter of balance,” says Olson. “ You’ve got to work on it.”
Multitasking while doing homework is another concern. Some kids listen to music, watch TV or use the phone while doing their homework. “It’s important to make sure that you can stop and concentrate on one thing deeply,” says Rideout.
Logan Jones, 11, of Maumelle, Arkansas, describes himself as a “game freak”. Still, he is glad not to have unlimited time with his PlayStation 2. “I’ll tell my mom I’m going to play a game, and she’ll say, ‘Okay, but only for 30 minutes,’”, Logan told TFK.
With new and exciting devices hitting stores every year, keeping technology use in check is more important than ever. “ Kids should try,” adds Rideout. “:But parents might have to step in sometimes.”
【小题1】The text is mainly about kids’ _________

A.cell phone useB.various hobbies
C.favorite video gamesD.using electronic devices
【小题2】It can be learnt from the text that _________.
A.Brandon feels annoyed about his late-night message.
B.Olson is against teenagers’ using mobile phones.
C.many teenagers lack friends in their middle school
D.kids have too many electronic devices to choose from
【小题3】Which of the following is an example of multitasking?
A.Watching TV while using the computer
B.Talking on the phone while lying on the sofa.
C.Playing video games after having lunch.
D.Listening to loud music while relaxing.
【小题4】The underlined phrase “in check” in the last paragraph can be replaced by ______.
A.in orderB.in storeC.in sightD.in control
【小题5】According to the text, Victoria Rideout would probably agree that kids should ____.
A.do homework while watching TV
B.do homework in a place without disturbance
C.spend more time on homework
D.have less homework

After a very busy afternoon, as I walked into my house, I heard the phone ringing. It was my friend Lydia, upset over an argument with her husband. My usual approach is to offer advice, but this time, extremely tired from chores, I simply pulled off my coat, sat down in a chair and listened to my friend's frustration and sadness. Without the disturbance of judgment or the desire to comfort her, I stayed totally quiet while she talked. Eventually Lydia's depression eased and we said our goodbyes. The next day she phoned to thank me. "I'm so grateful for the way you helped me through this," she said.
At first I was surprised. After all, I had done nothing except be there for her. But after I had my own venting(发泄的) experience with another friend later that evening, I realized that my focused silence had some value. In fact, most relationship experts agree that talk is cheap; it's listening that's rare and valuable. It allows you not only to hear what the other person is saying, but also to have a clear understanding of her thoughts and feelings. And for the speaker, that level of understanding translates into concern and respect.
Unfortunately, listening isn't as easy as it sounds. Thanks to schedules filled with family and work, multitasking has become the barrier(障碍) to listening. My tiredness may have been the only thing stopping me from folding laundry or checking my e-mail while Lydia talked that afternoon.
Another barrier to listening is our listening system: Most of us take in only about half of what's being said during a conversation, according to the International Listening Association. Research shows that we speak at 125 to 150 words per minute, yet think at 500 words a minute. Therefore, because we think much more quickly than we speak, it is easy for us to lose our concentration when listening to speakers.
While it can be hard to focus at times, it's a skill worth developing. With a little practice — employing some techniques— you can become a better listener.
【小题1】 In Paragraph 2, the author mainly talks about ____.

A.the importance of listeningB.the importance of venting anger
C.her own listening experienceD.her own venting experience
【小题2】The author uses the result of the research in Paragraph 4 to mainly show that ____.
A.we think much more quickly than we speak
B.we can only understand about half of what we hear
C.there is not much thinking time available while we are listening
D.we lose our concentration easily while we are listening
【小题3】 What will be discussed following the passage?
A.Why listening is valuable.B.What we should do while listening
C.How to become a good listenerD.How to stop drifting off while listening.

C
Being able to multitask—doing several things at the same time—is considered a welcome skill by most people. But if we consider the situation of the young people aged from eight to eighteen, we should think again.
What we often see nowadays is that young people juggle an ever larger number of electronic devices(电子产品)as they study. While working, they also surf on the Internet, send out emails, answer the telephone and listen to music on their iPods. In a sense, they are spending a significant amount of time in fruitless efforts as they multitask.
Multitasking is even changing the relationship between family members. As young people around them. They can no longer greet family members when they enter the house, nor can they cat at the family table.
Multitasking also affects young people’s performance at university and in the workplace. When asked about their opinion of the effect of modern gadgets(器具)on their performance of tasks, many young people gave a positive response(反应). However, the response from the worlds of education and business was not quite as positive. Educators feel that multitasking by children has a serious effect on later development of study skills. They believe that many college students now need help to improve their study skills. Similarly, employers feel that young people entering the job market need to be taught all over again, as modern gadgets have made it unnecessary for them to learn special skills to do their work.
【小题1】What does the underlined word “juggle” in Paragraph 2 most probably mean?

A.Want to buyB.Take the place of.
C.Use at the same time D.Seek for information from.
【小题2】In Paragraph 3, the author points out that      .
A.family members do not cat at the family table
B.family member do not greet each other
C.young people live happily in their families
D.young people seldom talk with their family members
【小题3】What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A.Multitasking is harmful to young people’s development.
B.Young people benefit a lot from modern gadgets
C.Multitasking is an important skill to young people.
D.Young people must learn skills for future jobs.
【小题4】The author develops the passage mainly by    .
A.providing typical examplesB.following the natural time order
C.comparing opinions from different fields
D.presenting a cause and analyzing its effects

After a very busy afternoon, as I walked into my house, I heard the phone ringing. It was my friend Lydia, upset over an argument with her husband. My usual approach is to offer advice, but this time, extremely tired from chores, I simply pulled off my coat, sat down in a chair and listened to my friend's frustration and sadness. Without the disturbance of judgment or the desire to comfort her, I stayed totally quiet while she talked. Eventually Lydia's depression eased and we said our goodbyes. The next day she phoned to thank me. "I'm so grateful for the way you helped me through this," she said.

At first I was surprised. After all, I had done nothing except be there for her. But after I had my own venting(发泄的) experience with another friend later that evening, I realized that my focused silence had some value. In fact, most relationship experts agree that talk is cheap; it's listening that's rare and valuable. It allows you not only to hear what the other person is saying, but also to have a clear understanding of her thoughts and feelings. And for the speaker, that level of understanding translates into concern and respect.

Unfortunately, listening isn't as easy as it sounds. Thanks to schedules filled with family and work, multitasking has become the barrier(障碍) to listening. My tiredness may have been the only thing stopping me from folding laundry or checking my e-mail while Lydia talked that afternoon.

Another barrier to listening is our listening system: Most of us take in only about half of what's being said during a conversation, according to the International Listening Association. Research shows that we speak at 125 to 150 words per minute, yet think at 500 words a minute. Therefore, because we think much more quickly than we speak, it is easy for us to lose our concentration when listening to speakers.

While it can be hard to focus at times, it's a skill worth developing. With a little practice — employing some techniques— you can become a better listener.

1. In Paragraph 2, the author mainly talks about ____.

  A. the importance of listening         B. the importance of venting anger

  C. her own listening experience       D. her own venting experience

2.The author uses the result of the research in Paragraph 4 to mainly show that ____.

  A. we think much more quickly than we speak

  B. we can only understand about half of what we hear

  C. there is not much thinking time available while we are listening

  D. we lose our concentration easily while we are listening

3. What will be discussed following the passage?

  A. Why listening is valuable.        B. What we should do while listening

C. How to become a good listener    D. How to stop drifting off while listening.

 

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