The term “multitasking” originally referred to a computer’s ability to carry out several tasks at one time．For many people, multitasking has become a way of life and even a key to success．In fact, some excellent mental aerobic exercises (大脑训练) involve engaging the brain in two or more challenging activities at a time．Although checking e-mail while talking on a phone and reading the newspaper may be second nature for some people, many times multitasking can make us less productive, rather than more．And studies show that too much multitasking can lead to increased stress, anxiety and memory loss．

 In order to multitask, the brain uses an area known as the prefrontal cortex (前额叶脑皮层)．Brian scans of volunteers performing multiple tasks together show that as they shift from task to task, this front part of the brain actually takes a moment of rest between tasks．You may have experienced a prefrontal cortex “moment of rest” yourself if you’ve ever dialed (拨电话) a phone number and suddenly forgotten who you dialed when the line is answered．What probably occurred is that between the dialing and the answering, your mind shifted to anther thought or task, and then took that “moment” to come back．Research has also shown that for many volunteers, job efficiency (效率) declines while multitasking, as compared to when they perform only one task at a time.

Multitasking is easiest when at least one of the tasks is habitual, or requires little thought．Most people don’t find it difficult to eat and read the newspaper at the same time．However, when two or more attention-requiring tasks are attempted at one time, people sometimes make mistakes．

 We often don’t remember things as well when we’re trying to manage several details at the same time．Without mental focus, we may not pay enough attention to new information coming in, so it never makes it into our memory stores．That is one of the main reasons we forget people’s names---even sometimes right after they have introduced themselves．Multitasking can also affect our relationships．If someone checks their e-mail while on the phone with a friend, they may come off as absent-minded or disinterested．It can also cause that person to miss or overlook key information being passed on to them．

1.Why are some mental aerobic exercises designed to engage people in multitasking?

     A．To make them more productive．       

       B．To reduce their stress and anxiety．

  C．To develop their communication skills．

  D．To help them perform daily tasks more easily．   

2.According to Paragraph 2, why may a person suddenly forget who has called?

A．He may leave his prefrontal cortex temporarily damaged．

B．He is probably interrupted by another task．

C．He is probably not very familiar with the person he has called．

D．He may need a rest between dialing and speaking.

3.People tend to make mistake when ____.

A．they perform several challenging tasks at a time．

B．new messages are processed one after another

C．their relationships with others are affected

D．the tasks require little thought

4.What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Multitasking has become a way of life．

B．Multitasking often leads to efficiency decline．

C．Multitasking exercises need to be improved．

D．Multitasking enables people to remember things better．

The term “multitasking” originally referred to a computer’s ability to carry out several tasks at one time．For many people, multitasking has become a way of life and even a key to success．In fact, some excellent mental aerobic exercises （大脑训练） involve engaging the brain in two or more challenging activities at a time．Although checking e-mail while talking on a phone and reading the newspaper may be second nature for some people, many times multitasking can make us less productive, rather than more．And studies show that too much multitasking can lead to increased stress, anxiety and memory loss．

 In order to multitask, the brain uses an area known as the prefrontal cortex （前额叶脑皮层）．Brian scans of volunteers performing multiple tasks together show that as they shift from task to task, this front part of the brain actually takes a moment of rest between tasks．You may have experienced a prefrontal cortex “moment of rest” yourself if you’ve ever dialed （拨电话） a phone number and suddenly forgotten who you dialed when the line is answered．What probably occurred is that between the dialing and the answering, your mind shifted to anther thought or task, and then took that “moment” to come back．Research has also shown that for many volunteers, job efficiency （效率） declines while multitasking, as compared to when they perform only one task at a time.

Multitasking is easiest when at least one of the tasks is habitual, or requires little thought．Most people don’t find it difficult to eat and read the newspaper at the same time．However, when two or more attention-requiring tasks are attempted at one time, people sometimes make mistakes．

 We often don’t remember things as well when we’re trying to manage several details at the same time．Without mental focus, we may not pay enough attention to new information coming in, so it never makes it into our memory stores．That is one of the main reasons we forget people’s names---even sometimes right after they have introduced themselves．Multitasking can also affect our relationships．If someone checks their e-mail while on the phone with a friend, they may come off as absent-minded or disinterested．It can also cause that person to miss or overlook key information being passed on to them．

1．Why are some mental aerobic exercises designed to engage people in multitasking?

     A．To make them more productive．

       B．To reduce their stress and anxiety．

  C．To develop their communication skills．

  D．To help them perform daily tasks more easily．   

2．According to Paragraph 2, why may a person suddenly forget who has called?

A．He may leave his prefrontal cortex temporarily damaged．

B．He is probably interrupted by another task．

C．He is probably not very familiar with the person he has called．

D．He may need a rest between dialing and speaking.

3．People tend to make mistake when ____.

A．they perform several challenging tasks at a time．

B．new messages are processed one after another

C．their relationships with others are affected

D．the tasks require little thought

4．What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Multitasking has become a way of life．

B．Multitasking often leads to efficiency decline．

C．Multitasking exercises need to be improved．

D．Multitasking enables people to remember things better．

?New York State has passed the USA’s first state law banning motorists talking on hand-held cell phones. The ban will begin November 1st, although drivers caught using hand-held cell phones will be given only warnings during the first month. 
First-time violators（违法者）will face a ＄100 fine. A second time call for a ＄200 fine and every violation after that will cost＄500. 
At least a dozen localities（地方）have established bans, starting in 1999; and 40 states have had bans proposed but not passed. At least 23 countries, including the Great Britain, Italy, Israel and Japan, ban drivers from using hand-held cell phones. 
There are about 115 million cell phones in use in the United States and more than 6 million in New York State. 
“To think that I’m not going to use cell phone when at the same time I can still use my laptop(膝上电脑), I still can read a paper, I can still change my trousers while driving 65 mph. I think there’s just something wrong,” an official said. 
Other critics noted that other things like eating, drinking coffee and applying make up while driving caused at least as much of a concern. They suggested that the ban include a broader range of things. 
【小题1】 How much fine will a hand-held cell phone user receive if he has been caught using it four times while driving after November？

?New York State has passed the USA’s first state law banning motorists talking on hand-held cell phones. The ban will begin November 1st, although drivers caught using hand-held cell phones will be given only warnings during the first month. 

First-time violators（违法者）will face a ＄100 fine. A second time call for a ＄200 fine and every violation after that will cost＄500. 

At least a dozen localities（地方）have established bans, starting in 1999; and 40 states have had bans proposed but not passed. At least 23 countries, including the Great Britain, Italy, Israel and Japan, ban drivers from using hand-held cell phones. 

There are about 115 million cell phones in use in the United States and more than 6 million in New York State. 

“To think that I’m not going to use cell phone when at the same time I can still use my laptop(膝上电脑), I still can read a paper, I can still change my trousers while driving 65 mph. I think there’s just something wrong,” an official said. 

Other critics noted that other things like eating, drinking coffee and applying make up while driving caused at least as much of a concern. They suggested that the ban include a broader range of things. 

1. How much fine will a hand-held cell phone user receive if he has been caught using it four times while driving after November？

A.＄500.              B.＄1000.         C.＄1200.         D.＄1300. 

2.. We can see from this passage that ____. 

A. the ban has been put into effect in most states in the U. S. 

B. many of the developed countries forbid drivers using hand-held cell phones

C. over fifty localities or states ban drivers from using hand-held cell phones

D. more people in the U. S. are against the ban than for it

3.The official mentioned in this passage ____. 

A. does not agree with this ban

B. doesn’t believe using hand-held cell phones while driving will cause any danger

C. doesn’t understand why hand-held cell phones alone should be banned among many others

D. believes changing pants while driving will cause greater danger

4.The writer intends to tell us in the last paragraph that ______. 

A. it is not fair to have this ban passed

B. the ban will never be passed in the whole country

C. more activities of the same kind should also be banned

D. the ban will meet with more criticism