Question

    When you start working on something but don't finish it, thoughts of the unfinished work continue to jump into your mind even when you've moved on to other things. Psychologists refer the phenomenon as the Zeigamik effect. The effect was first observed by a Russian psychologist named Bluma Zeigamik. While sitting in a busy restaurant in Vienna, she noted the waiters had better memories of unpaid orders. Once the bill was paid, however, the waiters had difficulty remembering the exact details of the orders.

In one of her studies, participants were asked to complete simple tasks such as putting together puzzles, or solving math problems. Half of the participants were interrupted halfway through these tasks. After an hour-long delay, Zeigamik asked the participants to give an account of what they'd been working on. She discovered that those who had their work interrupted were twice as likely to remember what they had been doing as those who had actually completed the tasks.

We can use this effect to our advantage. For example, if you're struggling to memorize something important, momentary interruptions might actually work to your advantage. Rather than simply remember the information over and over again, review it several times and then take a break. While you're focusing on other things, you'll find yourself mentally returning to the information you were studying.

We often put off tasks until the last moment, only completing them in a rush at the last possible moment. Unfortunately, this tendency can lead to heavy stress and even poor performance. One way to overcome this is to put the Zeigamik effect to work. Start by taking the first step, no matter how small. Once you have begun — but not finished — your work, you'll find yourself thinking of the task until, at last, you finish it. You might not finish it all at once, but each small step you take puts you closer to your final goal.

1.What does the Zeigamik effect refer to?

A.Waiters tend to have good memories.

B.Once interrupted, one will forget things easily.

C.Most people can't focus on one thing for a long time.

D.People remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones.

2.How should we study according to the Zeigamik effect?

A.Repeat over and over again.

B.Divide our study session.

C.Focus on several tasks at a time.

D.Have enough rest before studying.

3.What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?

A.How to get rid of heavy stress.

B.Why we should set a final goal.

C.How to break the habit of delaying work.

D.Why we always complete tasks in a rush.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了Zeigamik效应。

1.细节理解题。由第二段“She discovered that those who had their work interrupted were twice as likely to remember what they had been doing as those who had actually completed the tasks.”可知，她发现那些工作被打断的人记得他们一直在做什么的可能性是那些实际完成任务的人可能性的两倍。所以Zeigamik效应指的是人们记得未完成的任务比已完成的任务更清楚。故选D项。

2.细节理解题。由倒数第二段“Rather than simply remember the information over and over again, review it several times and then take a break. While you're focusing on other things, you'll find yourself mentally returning to the information you were studying.”可知，与其简单地一遍又一遍地记住这些信息，不如复习几次，然后休息一下。当你专注于其他事情时，你会发现自己在精神上回到了正在学习的信息。所以根据Zeigamik效应，在学习时我们应该划分我们的学习时段。故选B项。

3.主旨大意题。由最后一段“One way to overcome this is to put the Zeigamik effect to work. Start by taking the first step, no matter how small. Once you have begun—but not finished—your work, you'll find yourself thinking of the task until, at last, you finish it. You might not finish it all at once, but each small step you take puts you closer to your final goal.”可知，克服这个问题的一个方法是让Zeigamik效应发挥作用。从迈出第一步开始，不管有多小。一旦你已经开始但还没有完成你的工作，你会发现自己一直在思考这个任务，直到你最终完成它。你也许不能一下子完成，但你迈出的每一小步都会让你离最终目标更近。所以最后一段的大意是如何改掉拖延工作的习惯。故选C项。