The hazards of multitasking
Read The hazards of multitasking and check the IELTS Reading answers. You arrive at the office, review your to-do list and start to feel a headache coming on. You resolve to tackle the items as quickly as possible. While you return calls, you sort e-mail and other letters. You begin keying in slide…
Passage preview
You arrive at the office, review your to-do list and start to feel a headache coming on. You resolve to tackle the items as quickly as possible. While you return calls, you sort e-mail and other letters. You begin keying in slides for tomorrow's presentation. Then your manager comes in wanting an immediate update on sales figures. You have just opened the spreadsheet when a very important customer calls. With the receiver held between your shoulder and your ear, you continue adding up the sales totals until, 15 minutes later, you finally manage, politely, to get rid of the client. You've been multitasking again.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- common wisdom noun
A generally accepted theory, belief, or opinion that most people consider to be true or factual.
Modern psychological research directly challenges the common wisdom that multitasking enhances productivity.
- hippocampus noun
A complex brain structure located in the temporal lobe that is essential for memory formation.
Chronic stress from multitasking can damage cells in the hippocampus, hindering skill acquisition.
- interference noun
The disruption or blockage of one cognitive process or task by the operation of another concurrent activity.
Attending to a sudden phone call creates significant cognitive interference with academic writing.
- neural resources noun
The cognitive and biological brain capacities allocated to processing specific cognitive functions or mental operations.
Rapid task switching rapidly depletes limited neural resources, leading to mental exhaustion.
- phenomenon noun
A remarkable development, fact, or situation whose cause or explanation is a subject of investigation.
Cognitive interference is a well-documented phenomenon that limits our ability to multitask efficiently.
- prefrontal cortex noun
The front portion of the brain responsible for executive functions, decision-making, and goal management.
High stress levels can severely impair the prefrontal cortex's capacity to prioritize competing workplace tasks.
- quantify verb
To express, measure, or evaluate the precise quantity or numerical value of a specific variable.
Psychologists conducted controlled laboratory experiments to accurately quantify the time lost during task switching.
- sequentially adverb
In a manner that follows a logical, numerical, or chronological order or continuous sequence.
Executing tasks sequentially rather than simultaneously can drastically reduce error rates in high-stress jobs.
- simultaneously adverb
Happening, existing, or done at precisely the same time; concurrently operating across multiple channels.
Attempting to process multiple data streams simultaneously places an immense burden on human working memory.
- suppress verb
Forcibly put an end to, inhibit, or prevent the development, expression, or realization of something.
The brain must suppress automated responses to successfully focus on complex new learning tasks.
Answers with explanations
- 27. B
The statement claims that **less attention** is paid when doing multiple tasks at once. **Ernst Pöppel** argues that it is impossible to perform multiple tasks simultaneously with the **same degree of concentration**, matching statement 27.
- 28. C
The theory focuses on the brain taking **a while to adjust** after repeated **changes of task**. **David E. Meyer** explains that each switchover means the brain needs **time to shut off the rules for one task** and turn on others. Thus, option C is the correct match.
- 29. A
The theory suggests that **skills required for one task** make another difficult. **John Ridley Stroop** found that automatic skills (like reading) can cause **interference** with a second task that needs concentration (like naming colours). Option A perfectly aligns with this.
- 30. B
The theory states that the brain focuses on single tasks for **very short periods**. **Ernst Pöppel** introduces the concept of the brain processing information in short **'three-second windows'**. This matches option B.
- 31. D
The statement links multitasking to a **medical problem**. **Edward Hallowell and John Ratey** state that it can cause a **brain condition** that creates difficulties in concentrating. This directly supports option D.
- 32. B
The opening paragraph describes a worker facing a huge to-do list, feeling a **headache coming on**, and desperately trying to juggle multiple pressing tasks like emails, spreadsheets, and difficult clients simultaneously. This clearly suggests he feels **overwhelmed by his workload**, pointing to option B.
- 33. D
The passage brings up drivers and air-traffic controllers to highlight the **possible dangers of divided attention** and how multitasking can result in **mistakes**. In their roles, they are handling machinery where mistakes are dangerous, meaning they **cannot afford to make mistakes**. This supports option D.
- 34. C
Stroop's experiment required participants to look at a word printed in an ink color that didn't match the word itself (e.g., the word 'green' printed in red ink). Participants had **difficulty saying the name of the colour** (red) instead of just reading the word. Therefore, option C is correct.
- 35. forehead
The summary describes the location of the prefrontal cortex. The text explicitly states it is **located behind the forehead**, which directly aligns with being found to the rear of the **forehead**.
- 36. mental resources
We need to identify what the brain allocates after prioritizing tasks. The text notes the prefrontal cortex will **assign** (allocate) **mental resources**. The phrase 'mental resources' fits the two-word limit perfectly.
- 37. cells
The summary shifts to discussing how stress affects the hippocampus. The text specifies that this stress can affect **brain cells** in that region. The word **cells** fits correctly into the sentence structure provided.
- 38. new memories
The question asks what people have problems storing when the hippocampus is affected. The text says the hippocampus is important for **forming new memories**. 'Storing' acts as a synonym for 'forming/retaining', so the answer is **new memories**.
- 39. new skills
The sentence notes that hippocampus damage affects learning something. The passage confirms that damage makes it difficult to **acquire** (learn) **new skills**. Therefore, 'new skills' is the correct answer.
- 40. B
Throughout the passage, the author questions the popular belief that multitasking is an efficient way to work. By referencing multiple scientific studies that prove multitasking is inefficient, stressful, and causes mistakes, the main aim is clearly to **challenge widely held opinions** on the subject. Option B is the best description of this overall intent.