阅读理解

　　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)．Brain 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 called when the line is answered．What probably occurred is that between the dialing and the answering, your mind shifted to another 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．

完形填空

　　One night I was sitting in my kitchen half-listening as my 15-year-old brother Tommy antagonized(招惹)my 12-year-old brother Kevin．I didn’t pay attention when Kevin 　　1　　 up the stairs with the hurt on his face．

　　About 20 minutes later, I heard Kevin crying inside the 　　2　　．I knocked on the door and asked, “Hey, Kev, do you want a talk?” No response．So, I grabbed some index(索引)cards and a pencil and wrote, “If you don’t want to 　　3　　, we can write notes to each other．”

　　An hour later I was still 　　4　　 on the floor outside the bathroom with two piles of index cards in front of me．One was 　　5　　 and one was cards from Kevin on which he had translated all his unpleasant feelings into words．　　6　　 I read one Kevin’s notes, tears came to my eyes．It said,“　　7　　 in this family cares about me．I’m not the youngest, and I’m not the oldest, and I’m not 　　8　　．Tommy thinks I can do nothing and Dad 　　9　　 he had the other Kevin as a(n)　　10　　 because he’s better at basketball．And you’re never around to even 　　1　　 me．”

　　It was 　　12　　 what he had said about me．I wrote back “I really do love you and I’m 　　13　　 I don’t always show it．I am here for you and you are 　　14　　 in this family．”

　　There was no 　　15　　 for a while, but then I heard a 　　16　　 sound coming from inside the bathroom．Kevin, who had 　　17　　 cards wrote on a torn-up paper cup, “Thanks．”

　　Since then, I try my best to never 　　18　　 half-notice my family members anymore．Kevin and I have a closer 　　19　　 now, and sometimes when one of us notices that the other is 　　20　　, we’ll smile and say “Write it on a paper cup．”