Question

    The term “multitasking” was firstly used to describe a computer’s ability to do several tasks at one time. For many people, multitasking has become a way of life and even a key to success. Although checking e-mails while talking on a phone and reading the newspaper may be second nature for some people, multitasking can sometimes make us less productive(富有成效的), rather than more. Studies show that too much multitasking may bring anxiety and memory loss.

In order to multitask, the brain uses an area known as the prefrontal cortex(前额叶脑皮层). A research from volunteers performing multiple tasks shows that as they move 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 happened is that between the dialing and the answering, your mind moved to another thought or task, and then took that “moment” to come back. The research has also shown that for many volunteers, job efficiency(效率) drops while multitasking, compared to when they perform only one task at a time.

Multitasking is easy when at least one of the tasks 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 tried at the same 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. We may not notice new information coming in, so it never makes it into our memory. That is one of the main reasons we forget people’s names – even sometimes right after they have introduced themselves. Multitasking can also affect(影响) our relationships. If someone checks their e-mail while on the phone with a friend, they may appear absent-minded or disinterested. It can also cause that person to miss key information being passed on to them.

1.Which of the following words has the closest meaning to “anxiety”?

A.Stress B.Development C.Death D.Confidence

2.The writing purpose of this passage is to________.

A.describe the problems of multitasking B.discover the secrets of multitasking

C.tell the stories about multitasking D.explain the importance of multitasking

3.What can we learn about multitasking?

A.It is a way of life and the only key to success. B.It can be done easily by smart people.

C.It helps build a better relationship between friends. D.It has a close connection to our brain.

4.What can we infer(推断) from the passage?

A.Multitasking helps people remember things better.

B.More mistakes are made when tasks require little thought.

C.People get low job efficiency while managing several details at the same time.

D.People forgetting who to dial need to have a good rest.

Answer

1.A

2.A

3.D

4.C

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章中心主旨：对大多数人来说，多任务处理已经成为一种生活方式，成功的关键；但是有时多任务处理也会降低效率，过多的多任务处理还会给人们带来焦虑和记忆缺失。文章紧接着用调查结果讲述多任务处理效率低下的原因以及同时进行多样需要专注的任务时可能产生的消极影响。

1.

词句猜测题。stress压力；development发展；death死亡；confidence自信。根据第一段“…multitasking can sometimes make us less productive…”可知，多任务处理使人效率低下；再根据第一段“…bring anxiety and memory loss.”可知，“and”表并列且“memory loss（记忆缺失）”都是负面消极词汇，所以“anxiety”也是负面消极词汇，故可排除B和D；最后根据常识可知，多任务处理不会严重到致死，而会给人带来压力。故选A。

2.

主旨大意题。多任务处理虽有一定好处，但是文章主旨偏重讲述多任务处理的弊端：效率低下，犯错，忽略细节，影响关系等，所以作者作文的目的主要是描述多任务处理的问题。故选A。

3.

细节理解题。根据第一段“…multitasking has become a way of life and even a key to success.”可知，多任务处理甚至是成功的关键，并未提及是唯一关键，故排除A；根据第三段“Multitasking is easy when at least one of the tasks requires little thought.”可知，文章只提及需要很少的思考时，多任务处理是简单的，并未提及对聪明人来说多任务是简单的，故排除B；根据最后一段“Multitasking can also affect our relationships.”可知，多任务处理影响关系，并不增进友谊，故排除C；根据第二段“In order to multitask, the brain uses an area known as the prefrontal cortex”可知，多任务处理需要用到大脑的前额叶脑皮层，所以多任务处理是和大脑有关系的。故选D。

4.

推理判断题。根据最后一段“We often don’t remember things as well when we’re trying to manage several details at the same time”可知，当我们进行多任务处理时，我们会记不得一些细节，所以多任务处理不会增强记忆力，故排除A；根据第三段“Multitasking is easy when at least one of the tasks requires little thought.”可知多任务处理需要很少思考的任务时是简单的，所以不会犯更多的错误，故排除B；根据第二段“You may have experienced a prefrontal cortex “moment of rest” yourself if …suddenly forgotten who you dialed ....”可知，文章只提及当你突然不记得你打电话的对象是谁时，这是前额叶脑皮层在“休息片刻”，并未提及忘记打电话的对象是谁时人们要休息片刻，故排除D；根据第二段“job efficiency(效率) drops while multitasking”可知，同时处理多个细节，也就是多任务处理时工作效率会低下，C的表述与该句意思相符。故选C。