Recent studies in cognitive psychology have challenged the traditional view that multitasking enhances productivity. Researchers such as Rubinstein and colleagues (2001) demonstrated that task-switching incurs a cognitive cost, as the brain requires time to refocus attention after each interruption. This phenomenon, termed 'attention residue', suggests that even brief diversions can impair performance on complex tasks. Furthermore, neuroimaging data indicate that the prefrontal cortex, responsible for executive control, shows reduced efficiency when processing multiple streams of information simultaneously. These findings imply that in academic or professional settings, prioritizing sequential focus over concurrent task management may lead to higher quality outcomes and fewer errors.
❓ 文章によると、「注意の残渣」がタスクパフォーマンスに与える主な影響は何か？
A. A. マルチタスクは情報を同時に処理できるようにすることで効率を向上させる。
B. B. 複雑なタスクにおけるパフォーマンスは、認知の再集中に要する時間のために、短い中断によって悪影響を受ける可能性がある。
C. C. 前頭前皮質は、複数のタスクを同時に処理する際により効率的になる。
D. D. エラーを減らすにおいて、逐次的な集中はマルチタスクよりも効果が低い。
✅ 正确答案
B. Brief interruptions can negatively affect performance on complex tasks due to cognitive refocusing time.
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