You are sending a text, watching the TV or listening to the radio ? You may want to stop and give this your full attention after you finish reading this article.
Multi-tasking shrinks the brain, research suggests.
A study found that men and women who frequently used several types of technology at the same time had less grey matter in a key part of the brain.
University of Sussex researchers said: “Simultaneously using mobile phones, laptops and other media devices could be changing the structure of our brains .”
Worryingly, the part of the brain that shrinks is involved in processing emotion. The finding follows research which has linked multi-tasking with a shortened attention span, depression, anxiety and lower grades at school.
The researchers began by asking 75 healthy men and women how often they divided their attention between different types of technology. This could mean sending a text message while listening to music and checking email, or speaking on the phone while watching TV and surfing the web.
The volunteers were then given brain scans which showed they had less grey matter in a region called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).
The findings held even when differences in personality were taken into account. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, is the first to make a link between multi-tasking and the structure of the brain. Researcher Kep Kee Loh said: ‘Media multi-tasking is becoming more popular in our lives today and there is increasing concern about its impacts on our social-emotional well-being.’ He added that more research is needed to prove that multi-tasking shrinks the brain. This is because it is also possible that people with less grey matter in the ACC are more drawn to using lots of gadgets simultaneously.
Scientists have previously demonstrated brain structure can be altered on prolonged exposure to novel environments and experience.
Other studies have shown that training – such as learning to juggle or taxi drivers learning the map of London – can increase grey-matter densities in certain parts of the brain .Experts have also warned of the harmful effect technology can have on our memory and attention span.
The University of California team conducted a survey of more than 18,000 people aged between 18 and 99 and found 20 percent had problems with memory. Researchers were taken aback by the 14 per cent of 18 to 39-year-olds who also worried about their memories.
Multi-tasking with gadgets may shorten attention span, making it harder to focus and form memories, the researchers said, adding that youngsters may be particularly affected by stress.In writing the passage, the author intends to _____.
| A．tell people multi—tasking is becoming more and more popular in our life today |
| B．inform people of the findings that stress and other emotional problems are caused by using media devices |
| C．warn people of the possible damage to our brain by performing several tasks at the same time |
| D．prove the links between multi-tasking with the increase of grey matter in the brain |
What does the underlined word “held” in the eighth paragraph mean?
| A．contained | B．carried | C．owned | D．remained |
It can be inferred from the passage that __________
| A．Multi-tasking has a bad effect on men rather than on women |
| B．Multi-tasking could change the structure of the brains and shrink the brain |
| C．the part of the brain that shrinks is involved in language learning |
| D．the writer doubts that using mobile phones and other media devices at the same time could shrink the brain |
The reason why Kep Kee Loh thought more research would be needed to prove that multi-tasking shrinks the brain was that ____
| A．he doubted the findings of the research |
| B．it was also possible that people with less grey matter in the ACC are more drawn to using lots of gadgets simultaneously. |
| C．the study published in the journal PLOS ONE drew a different conclusion |
| D．he wanted to prove training can increase grey – matter densities |
The passage suggests that _____
| A．when watching TV or listening to the radio, people’s brain will shrink |
| B．no measures can be taken to increase grey – matter densities in people’s brains |
| C．people gradually realize the negative impact media multi—tasking could have on people’ s social-emotional well –being. |
| D．multi—tasking can’t affect the grey matter in our brain |
According to US research, it can take up to ten years to become a near-native English speaker. Asian and Spanish students took between five and ten years to reach native speaker performance in English-only schools. Fluency obviously doesn’t happen overnight. But time can definitely make you a better speaker.
After testing his own memory, German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus discovered that humans forget most of what they learn in the first 20 minutes.
So cramming right before a speaking exam is not likely to be as effective as practicing regularly over time. The more you practice, the more familiar new words will become. In the classroom, studies have also shown that repeating oral tasks improves a speaker’s performance.
One of the best repetition exercises is the 4/3/2 technique. Speakers give the same talk to three different listeners with a progressive decrease in delivery time, starting at four minutes, then three, and finally two minutes. This exercise has been proven to help learners speak faster. It can also result in less hesitation and more grammatical accuracy. While time dose make a difference when it comes to speaking perfect English, it would not hurt to brush up on your other language skills.
Studies have also shown that reading can increase your speaking vocabulary. After one month of an extensive reading program, a 27-year-old student of French became more familiar with 65 percent of the new words.
Aside from choosing the right learning methods, having certain personality traits may also help. US linguistics expert Stephen Krashen believes those with high motivation, self-confidence and a low level of anxiety are better equipped for speaking success.
Krashen says students who don’t have these qualities are more likely to have a “mental block”. “Even if they understand the message, the input will not reach the part of the brain responsible for language acquisition,” he writes in his book Principles and Practice in second Language Acquisition.According to the passage, if you want to be a near-native speaker, you need _____.
| A．long-term speaking practice and much reading |
| B．speaking practice for ten years only |
| C．long-term speaking practice, much reading and certain qualities |
| D．cramming new words every day |
The author put forward the 4/3/2 technique just to show that _____.
| A．you should speak to 3 different people |
| B．you should speak to 3 different people at 3 different times |
| C．it can prevent you from making grammar mistakes |
| D．it is really a good way to make you a better speaker |
The example of a 27-year-old student of French in the passage mainly means that _____.
| A．reading can enlarge your vocabulary for your speaking |
| B．reading can make you memorize just 65 percent of the new words |
| C．the 27-year-old student of French is very clever |
| D．in one month, you can improve your speaking ability |
The underlined phrase “linguistics expert” means a person who is quite expert at _____.
| A．languages | B．spoken language |
| C．scientific research | D．teaching English |
Danielle Steel, America's sweetheart, is one of the hardest working women in the book business. Unlike other productive authors who write one book at a time, she can work on up to five. Her research time before writing takes at least three years. Once she has fully studied her subjects, ready to dive into a book, she can spend twenty hours nonstop at her desk.
Danielle Steel comes from New York and was sent to France for her education. After graduation, she worked in the public relations and advertising industries. Later she started a job as a writer which she was best fit for. Her achievements are unbelievable: 390 million copies of books in print, nearly fifty New York Times best-selling novels, and a series of "Max and Martha" picture books for children to help them deal with the real-life problems of death, new hobbies and new schools. Her 1998 book about the death of her son shot to the top of the New York Times best-selling list as soon as it came out. Twenty-eight of her books have been made into films. She is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for one of her books being the Times best-seller for 381 weeks straight.
Not content with a big house, a loving family, and a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Danielle Steel considers her readers to be the most important resource(资源) and has kept in touch with them by e-mail. While she is often compared to the heroines(女主人公) of her own invention, her life is undoubtedly much quieter. But, if she does have anything in common with them, it is her strength of will and her inimitable(独特的) style. There is only one Danielle Steel.Children who have read "Max and Martha" picture books may know ______.
| A．how to deal with affairs at school |
| B．what to do if Max and Martha die |
| C．what to do when new babies are born into their families |
| D．how to solve the difficult problems in their writing classes |
One of Danielle Steel's achievements is that ______.
| A．some TV plays were based on her books |
| B．her picture books attracted a lot of young men |
| C．one of her books became a best-seller in 1998 |
| D．she wrote the Guinness Book of World Records |
We can learn from the passage that Danielle Steel _____.
| A．lives an exciting life | B．value her readers a lot |
| C．writes about quiet women | D．is pleased with her achievements |
There is one word that is on the lips of Americans , day and night , “Sorry”.
One time as I was walking on the street , a young man ran by hurriedly , brushing against my handbag . Even as he continued on his way , he turned back and said “sorry” to me . Even in a rush , he didn’t forget to apologize .
One day , after I bought some apples , the salesman was giving me the change , but I wasn’t ready for it , and a coin dropped on the ground, “I’m sorry ,” he said while bending down to pick it up . I was puzzled —why would he apologize when it was my fault ?
Another time , I stepped on a man’s foot in an escalator . At the same time , we both said “sorry” . I thought it interesting : was it really necessary for him apologize ?
Later on , an American friend explained to me that according to the American ideas, the escalator is public place which everyone should be able to stand in . After someone occupies a position in the escalator , making it difficult for someone else to find a place to stand in , isn’t it necessary to express an apology ?
During my stay in America , I gradually realized that when friction (摩擦) occurs in daily life , Americans don’t care much about who is responsible . If someone is troubled , a “sorry” is always necessary . Even if the other person is hurt , the “sorry” would cool tempers . Perhaps this is why I never saw anyone quarreling on the buses , subways or streets in America .When I was walking in the street , ____ .
| A．a young man wanted to rob me of my bag |
| B．a young man ran by and wanted to brush my bag |
| C．a young man said sorry to me for touching my bag |
| D．a young man came hurriedly to help me with my bag |
When the salesman gave me the change , _____
| A．I purposely didn’t want to accept it from the salesman |
| B．the salesman purposely didn’t want to pass it to me |
| C．I was slower to accept it than the salesman to give it to me |
| D．the salesman was slower to give it to me than I could accept it |
The man on whose feet I stepped apologized to me because ____ .
| A．the escalator is a public place |
| B．the man was very afraid of me |
| C．the “sorry” said to me was for everyone |
| D．there wasn’t enough room to get my feet in |
In this passage , the author seems to feel _____ the Americans’ “sorry”.
| A．angry with | B．disappointed with | C．interested in | D．approving of |
In some urban centers, workholism is so common that people do not consider it unusual: they accept the lifestyle as normal. Government workers in Washington D. C., for example, frequently work sixty to seventy hours a week. They don’t do this because they have to; they do it because they want to.
Workholism can be a serious problem. Because true workaholics (工作狂) would rather work than do anything else, they probably don’t know how to relax.
Is workholism always dangerous? Perhaps not. There are, certainly, people who work well under stress. Some studies show that many workaholics have great energy and interest in life. Their work is so pleasurable that they are actually very happy. For most workaholics, work and entertainment keep them busy and creative.
Why do workaholics enjoy their jobs so much? There are several advantages to work. Of course, it provides people with paychecks, and this is important. But it offers more than financial security. It provides people with self-confidence; they have a feeling of satisfaction when they’ve produced a challenging piece of work and are able to say, “I made that.” Psychologists claim that work gives people an identity through participation in work, they get a sense of self and individualism. In addition, most jobs provide people with a socially acceptable way to meet others. Perhaps some people are compulsive about their work, but their addiction seems to be a safe-even an advantageous-one.The passage indicates that workaholics ______.
| A．just know work but nothing else |
| B．are willing to work hard for long hours without pay |
| C．find their work provide them more satisfaction and self-confidence than how much they are paid |
| D．has the work with more responsibility than others |
One of the reasons that some people are not willing to quit their jobs even in their eighties and nineties is that ______.
A. they are in the need of financial security
B. they would rather work than be disturbed by domestic affairs
C. they long for a sense of identity and being accomplished
C. they may have health problems from sheer boresomThis passage is mainly about ______.
| A．workaholics are usually successful people, but their lives are in a mess |
| B．workholism can lead to serious problems but it can also create a joyful life |
| C．people who are absorbed in their work may enjoy movies, sports and other kinds of entertainment |
| D．those who work even under difficult conditions may be very happy |
It can be inferred from the passage that ______.
| A．in the eyes of all the common people workaholics are peculiar |
| B．to workaholics, work is the sole source of happiness |
| C．a piece of challenging work may provide the workaholics a sense of satisfaction |
| D．workaholics are as addicted to their job as other people are to drugs or alcohol |
There is no doubt about it. The best way to learn new words is to do it unconsciously. I don’t mean while you’re unconscious. I mean while you are unconscious of the fact that it is sinking in.
That is how I learnt the 30,000 words in my vocabulary by living in an English-speaking world, mother tongue. I just pick them up. But some of them may be misunderstood. Now, to misunderstand does not mean not to understand. To misunderstand is to understand but incorrectly.
The 5% mislearnt of all the words we “know” will be the least frequently used words, as the more frequently used words are less likely to be mislearnt. Some of the misunderstanding may live with all our lives, without knowing that we got them wrong.
Many English teachers think that this natural method of learning words in one’s own mother tongue can be used for a second language learning. They teach their students how to play the Guessing Game. “There is no time to look up in your dictionaries all the new words you come across,” they will say. “You have to practice guessing what the word means from the context.”
This method of guessing in a second language learning does not work. It may succeed in many cases, but results in hundreds or thousands of wrongly-guessed meanings of words.
And what’s more, there are more separate meanings than there are words themselves. Our learners’ dictionaries usually have many meanings. A good dictionary is what makes self-learning possible.
Don’t guess! Look it up! It is certain that the best way to learn new words is ______.
| A．to learn them by oneself |
| B．to learn by living in an English-speaking world and using them frequently |
| C．to guess them from the context |
| D．to get more separate meanings of each word |
The underlined word “them” in Paragraph 2 refers to ______.
| A．the 30, 000 words |
| B．English teachers |
| C．misunderstood words |
| D．frequently used words |
Which of the following is most likely NOT true?
| A．Some of the words the writer knows must have been misunderstood. |
| B．Most of the 30, 000 words the writer learned are frequently used ones. |
| C．How many words the writer got wrong are not known. |
| D．All the words the writer knows were learned by reading them. |
It can be inferred that ______.
| A．when somebody is conscious, he or she usually can’t learn new words by heart |
| B．we must use the words as often as possible in order to master them |
| C．it’s the best way to learn new words that one should only guess their meanings from the context |
| D．only dictionaries can help us learn language well. |
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