Question

    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 reduce their stress and anxiety.

B.To develop their communication skills.

C.To help them perform daily tasks more easily.

D.To make them more productive.

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 not very familiar with the person he has called.

C.He is probably interrupted by another task.

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

3.People tend to make mistakes when ____.

A.new messages are processed one after another

B.their relationships with others are affected

C.the tasks require little thought

D.they perform several challenging tasks at a time.

4.What is the main idea of the passage?

A.Multitasking has become a way of life.

B.Multitasking exercises need to be improved.

C.Multitasking often leads to efficiency decline.

D.Multitasking enables people to remember things better.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.D

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。讲述了同时实施多任务时带来的问题：低效率、压力增加，焦虑、记忆力减退。

1.

细节理解题。由题干关键词mental aerobic exercises可以定位到文章第一段第三句：In fact, some excellent mental aerobic exercises (大脑训练) involve engaging the brain in two or more challenging activities at a time. 事实上，一些优秀的大脑训练包括让大脑同时参与两个或两个以上具有挑战性的活动。本段第四句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. 虽然对某些人来说，边打电话边查邮件和看报纸可能是第二天性，但多任务处理，很多时候会降低我们的效率，而不是提高效率。可以得出，很多大脑训练的目的是为了提高我们的效率。选项D符合文意。故选D项。

2.

细节理解题。根据第二段第三、四句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. 如果你曾经拨过一个电话号码，然后突然忘记接电话的时候你拨的是谁，那么你可能也经历过一个脑前额叶外皮的“休息时刻”。 可能发生的是，在拨号和回答之间，你的思维转移到了其他的想法或任务，然后那个“时刻”回来了。可以得出，忘记刚刚给谁打电话，是因为我们在拨号和回答之间，我们的思维被其他的想法或任务给占用了，因而不会记得发生的事情。选项C符合题意。故选C项。

3.

细节理解题。结合关键词People tend to make mistakes可以定位到文章的第三段第三句 However, when two or more attention-requiring tasks are attempted at one time, people sometimes make mistakes. 然而，当同时尝试两个或两个以上需要注意力的任务时，人们有时会犯错误。可知道，当同时做多个任务其需要注意力时，人有时会犯错误。换句话说，同时做多个带有挑战意义的任务时，就容易出错。选项D符合题意。故选D项。

4.

主旨大意题。第一段And studies show that too much multitasking can lead to increased stress, anxiety and memory loss.（研究表明，过多的多任务处理会导致压力、焦虑和记忆力下降。）是全文的主题句，结合全文，文章开头提到了同时实施多任务时带来的问题：低效率、压力增加，焦虑、记忆力减退。在接下了的内容里主要讲述同时多任务时带来的低效率的问题。选项C“多任务处理常常导致效率下降”符合题意。故选C项。