Recent studies in cognitive psychology have challenged the traditional view that multitasking enhances productivity. Researchers found that when individuals attempt to perform two complex tasks simultaneously, their brains rapidly switch between the tasks rather than processing them in parallel. This switching incurs a cognitive cost, known as 'task-set reconfiguration,' which leads to slower reaction times and increased error rates. Moreover, frequent multitasking has been linked to reduced working memory capacity and diminished ability to filter out irrelevant information. While some argue that certain individuals, termed 'supertaskers,' are immune to these deficits, the majority of the population experiences significant performance degradation. These findings suggest that in academic and professional settings, focusing on single tasks sequentially may yield higher quality outcomes than attempting to juggle multiple responsibilities at once.
❓ Согласно тексту, какова основная причина того, что многозадачность снижает производительность?
A. A) Мозг обрабатывает задачи параллельно, что приводит к перестимуляции.
B. B) Переключение между задачами требует когнитивной адаптации, которая замедляет выполнение.
C. C) Многозадачность увеличивает объём рабочей памяти, вызывая путаницу.
D. D) Суперзадачники — единственные, кто может эффективно выполнять несколько задач одновременно.
✅ 正确答案
B) Switching between tasks requires a cognitive adjustment that slows performance.
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