Recent studies in cognitive psychology have challenged the traditional view that multitasking enhances productivity. Researchers found that when individuals attempt to perform two tasks simultaneously, their brains rapidly switch attention between tasks rather than processing them in parallel. This switching incurs a cognitive cost, often referred to as 'task-switching penalty,' which reduces overall efficiency and increases error rates. Moreover, habitual multitaskers tend to perform worse on tests of sustained attention compared to those who focus on one task at a time. These findings suggest that the human brain is not optimized for concurrent processing, and that what is often perceived as multitasking is actually rapid sequential attention shifts. Consequently, in academic and professional settings, prioritizing single-tasking may lead to higher quality outcomes and better time management.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 멀티태스킹이 효율성을 떨어뜨리는 주된 이유는 무엇인가?
A. A. 뇌는 여러 작업을 동시에 처리하여 과부하를 초래한다.
B. B. 뇌는 주의를 빠르게 전환하며, 이로 인해 인지적 비용이 발생한다.
C. C. 멀티태스커들은 지속적인 주의력을 유지하는 데 필요한 기술이 부족하다.
D. D. 학업 환경은 멀티태스킹을 권장하지 않으며, 이는 스트레스를 유발한다.
✅ 正确答案
B. The brain switches attention rapidly, incurring a cognitive penalty.
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
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