Recent studies in cognitive neuroscience have revealed that the human brain's capacity for multitasking is largely illusory. When individuals attempt to perform two complex tasks simultaneously, the prefrontal cortex rapidly switches between them rather than processing them in parallel. This switching incurs a 'cognitive cost,' manifesting as reduced accuracy and increased reaction time. Furthermore, research indicates that habitual multitaskers perform worse on tests of sustained attention and memory retrieval compared to those who focus on single tasks sequentially. These findings challenge the popular assumption that multitasking enhances productivity, suggesting instead that it impairs higher-order cognitive functions. Consequently, experts advocate for 'monotasking' in educational and professional settings to optimize performance and neural efficiency.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 두 가지 복잡한 작업을 동시에 수행하려고 할 때의 주요 영향은 무엇인가?
A. 이는 뇌가 정보를 더 효율적으로 처리할 수 있게 해줍니다.
B. 이는 정확도 저하와 응답 시간 지연으로 이어집니다.
C. 지속적 주의력과 기억 회상을 향상시킵니다.
D. 전두엽 피질에서 병렬 처리를 활성화합니다.
✅ 正确答案
It leads to a decline in accuracy and slower response times.
IELTS Reading Tips
Skim the questions first, underline keywords, then locate in the passage
Watch for paraphrasing; correct answers are often reworded
Be wary of absolute statements (all, always, never) — usually wrong
Pay attention to content after transition words (however, but, yet)
Manage time: about 20 minutes per passage; skip difficult questions first