Multitasking People who multitask all the time may be the worst at doing two thi

Multitasking

People who multitask all the time may be the worst at doing two things at once, a new research suggests. The findings, based on performances and self-evaluation by about 275 college students, indicate that many people multitask not out of a desire to increase productivity, but because they are easily distracted (分心) and can’t focus on one activity. And “those people turn out to be the worst at handling different things,” said David Sanbonmatsu, a psychologist at the University of Utah.

Sanbonmatsu and his colleagues gave the students a set of tests and asked them to report how often they multitasked, how good they thought they were at it, and how sensation-seeking (寻求刺激) or imperative (冲动) they were. They then evaluated the participants’ multitasking ability with a tricky mental task that required the students to do simple mathematical calculations while remembering a set of letters.

Not surprisingly, the scientists said, most people thought they were better than average at multitasking, and those who thought they were better at it were more likely to report using a cellphone while driving or viewing multiple kinds of media at once. But those who frequently deal with many things at the same time were found to perform the worst at the actual multitasking test. They also were more likely to admit to sensation-seeking and impulsive behavior, which connects with how easily people get bored and distracted.

“People multitask not because it’s going to lead to greater productivity, but because they’re distractible, and they get sucked into things that are not as important.” Sanbonmatsu said.

Adam Gazzaley, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not a member of the research group, said one limitation of the study was that it couldn’t find out whether people who start out less focused  toward multitasking or whether people’s recognizing and understanding abilities change as a result of multitasking.

The findings do suggest, however, why the sensation-seeker who multitask the most may enjoy risky distracted driving. “People who are multitasking are generally less sensitive to risky situations.” said Paul Atchley, another researcher not in the group. “This may partly explain why people go in for these situations even though they’re dangerous.”

67. The research led by Sanbonmatsu indicates that people who multitask ______.

A. seek high productivity constantly

B. prefer handling different things when getting bored

C. are more focused when doing many things at a time

D. have the poorest results in doing various things at the same time

68. When Sanbonmatsu and his colleagues conducted their research, they ______.

A. assessed the multitasking ability of the students

B. evaluated the academic achievements of the students

C. analyzed the effects of the participants’ tricky mental tasks

D. measured the changes of the students’ understanding ability

69. According to Sanbonmatsu, people multitask because of their ______.

A. limited power in calculation

B. interests in doing things differently

C. inability to concentrate on one task

D. impulsive desire to try new things

70. From the last paragraph, we can learn that multitaskers usually ______.

A. drive very skillfully

B. go in for different tasks

C. fail to react quickly to potential dangers

D. refuse to explain the reasons for their behavior

试题答案

【语篇解读】本文是一篇研究报告。Sanbonmatsu和他的同事通过对275名高校生进行的多任务试验，根据参与者的表现和自我评估，发现：当一心多用的人同时做两件事时，表现最不如人意。因为他们容易分心，无法专注于一个活动。另外，那些一心多用者对于危险情况不很敏感。

段落	关键词、句	大意推测
第一部分（Para. 1）	People who multitask all the time may be the worst at doing two things at once, a new research suggests. they are easily distracted (分心) and can’t focus on one activity.	当一心多用的人同时做两件事时，表现最不如人意。因为他们容易分心，无法专注于一个活动。
第二部分（Para. 2）	a set of tests; report ...; evaluated; . But …perform the worst; more likely to admit to sensation-seeking and impulsive behavior; how easily people get bored and distracted.	实验过程：给参与者一组测试，要求他们报告数据，然后他们通过一个微妙的心理任务评估参与者的多任务处理能力。
第三部分（Para. 3）	found to perform the worst ；to admit to sensation-seeking and impulsive behavior, which connects with…; one limitation …was that it couldn’t find out whether people who start out less focused   toward multitasking or whether people’s recognizing and understanding abilities change as a result of multitasking，  less sensitive to risky situations。	实验结果: 那些自认为有较好的多任务执行力的参与者在实际多任务操作时表现最糟糕，他们承认自己的行为是寻求刺激和冲动, 这与他们容易感觉无聊和分心的有关。 试验的一个局限性：无法得知参与者是否对多任务操作关注不多，人们是否会因为多任务操作的结果而改变认识能力和理解能力。 研究表明：那些一心多用者对于危险情况不很敏感。

【解析】

67. D。细节判断题。难度：中等。题干关键词为The research …indicates，定位第一段。People who multitask all the time may be the worst at doing two things at once, a new research suggests.可知：同一时间做多个任务的人表现最糟糕。故D.正确。

68. D。细节判断题。难度：中等。由题干可知，此题考查试验过程的内容，定位在第二段。第二句中They then evaluated the participants’ multitasking ability with a tricky mental task …，可知：该团队用一个微妙的心理任务来评估参与者的多任务操作能力。第一段的第二句The findings, based on performances and self-evaluation by about 275 college students,…。可知：这些参与者是275名高校生。故正确答案为A。

69. C。细节判断题。难度：中等  根据题干，定位第四段：“People multitask not because it’s going to lead to greater productivity, but because they’re distractible, and they get sucked into things that are not as important.” 人们一心多用不是因为这样做会大大提高生产效率，而是因为他们分心，他们做的事不是那么重要。inability to concentrate on one task意为：无法集中精力在一个任务。故选C。

70. C。推理判断题。难度：中等。由题干定位最后一段，People who are multitasking are generally less sensitive to risky situations，可知：一心多用者对于危险情况不很敏感，可推断他们有时无法对潜在的危险做出快速反应，C正确。