Learn&Record: Why Multitasking Is Bad for You
From: TIME, Apr 20, 2017
中文文本为机器翻译并非一一对应，仅供参考
近日，#人最好不要all in做任何事情#的话题引发热议。
你同意吗？
For nearly all people, in nearly all situations, multitasking is impossible. When we think we’re multitasking, most often we aren’t really doing two things at once – but instead, individual actions in rapid succession.
对于绝大多数人来说，一心多用几乎是不可能的。当我们认为自己在进行多任务处理时，多数情况下我们并不是真的同时在完成两项任务，而只是快速地在单项任务之间切换。
multitask/ˌmʌl.tiˈtɑːsk/表示“同时做多件事”，英文解释为“to do more than one thing at a time”
举个🌰：
Young people who multitask while driving slow their reaction time to that of an 80-year-old.
年轻人如果在开车时同时做几件事情，他们的反应时间就会减慢到80岁老人的水平。
succession/səkˈseʃ.ən/表示“继任，接任；继承”，英文解释为“a process in which someone automatically takes an official position or job after someone else”
举个🌰：
His divorce will not prevent the Prince of Wales’s succession to the throne.
离婚不会影响威尔士亲王继承王位。
📍
in succession表示“接连地，连续地”，英文解释为“happening one after another”举个🌰：
This is the seventh year in succession that they’ve won the tournament.
这是他们连续第7年捧杯。
The neuroscience is clear: We are wired to be mono-taskers. One study found that just 2.5% of people are able to multitask effectively. And when the rest of us attempt to do two complex activities simultaneously, it is simply an illusion.
神经科学清楚地表明：我们天生就是单任务主义者。一项研究发现，只有2.5%的人能够有效地同时处理多项任务。而大多数人试图同时进行两项复杂任务时，其实是在自欺欺人。
neuroscience/ˈnjʊərəʊˌsaɪəns/表示“神经系统科学（对神经系统的解剖学、生理学、生物化学和药理学的研究）”，英文解释为“the study of the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology of the nervous system”
be wired to表示“与生俱来，生来……；天生，自然就会”，英文解释为“used to say that someone does or does not have a natural tendency to behave in a certain way, to like something, etc.”
2017年考研英语（二）阅读真题中有这么一句话：
Infants are wired to look at parents’ faces to try to understand their world, and if those faces are blank and
unresponsive—as they often are when absorbed in a device—it can be extremely disconcerting for the children.婴儿天生会靠观察父母的面孔来理解世界，如果父母面无表情、毫无反应——当他们沉浸于电子设备时经常会这样——这会让孩子们感到非常不安。
类似的：
📍
hard-wired表示“天生的，固有的；（能力、方法、活动类型等）基本固定的”，英文解释为“If an ability, approach, or type of activity is hardwired into the brain, it is a basic one and cannot be changed.”
举个🌰：
Others think that the rules for what is “musical” are hardwired in our brains to some degree.
其他人认为，我们的大脑对什么东西是“悦耳的”在某种程度上有其内在的标准。
This shows that the attraction to the final moments of an experience is hard wired in our brains, said the study, which was published in the Journal Of Neuroscience.
这项研究发表在《神经科学杂志》上，它表明，对经验的最后时刻的吸引在我们的大脑中是天生固有的。
monotask/ˈmɒn.əʊˌtɑːsk/表示“执行单一任务”，英文解释为“to do only one task at a time, especially in order to work more effectively”
举个🌰：
When you monotask and meditate, you will notice that you have downtime.
当你做单一任务处理和冥想时，你会注意到你有休息时间。
mono-tasker指执行单一任务的人。
simultaneously/ˌsɪm.əlˈteɪ.ni.əs.li/表示“同时地”，英文解释为“in a way that is simultaneous (= happening or being done at exactly the same time)”
举个🌰：
Two children answered the teacher’s question simultaneously.
两个孩子同时回答了老师的问题。
illusion/ɪˈluː.ʒən/表示“错误的观念；幻想；假象，错觉”，英文解释为“a false idea or belief, especially about sb or about a situation”
举个🌰：
I have no illusions about her feelings for me.
我对她跟我的感情不抱什么幻想。
We know what you’re thinking: Who cares? Multitasking. Mono-tasking. It’s all just semantics, right?
你可能会想：谁在乎呢？多任务处理和单任务处理，不都只是说法问题吗？
semantics/sɪˈmæn.tɪks/1）表示“语义学”，英文解释为“the study of meanings in a language”
举个🌰：
Syntax describes the rules by which words can be combined into sentences, while semantics describes what they mean.
句法描述单词组成句子的规则，而语义学则描述它们的意义。
2）表示“（单词、短语或其他符号系统的）含义”，英文解释为“the meaning of words, phrases or systems”
Wrong.
并不是这样。
Trying more than one thing at a time — especially anything potentially dangerous, like texting while driving — seriously compromises our ability to complete the tasks safely and well. Equally important, repeatedly switching back and forth from project to project, like a hummingbird darting from flower to flower and then back to the original flower, can impair our ability to function at our finest.
尝试同时做多件事情，尤其是像边开车边发短信这样有潜在危险的事情，会严重影响我们安全且高效地完成任务。同样重要的是，反复在不同任务之间来回切换，就像蜂鸟从一朵花飞到另一朵花，然后又飞回原来的那朵花一样，会削弱我们的最佳工作状态。
compromise/ˈkɒm.prə.maɪz/1）表示“妥协；折中；让步”，英文解释为“to accept that you will reduce your demands or change your opinion in order to reach an agreement with someone”
举个🌰：
Well, you want $400 and I say $300, so let’s compromise at/on $350.
好吧，你要价400美元，我说300美元，那我们就来个折中价350美元。
2）表示“损害，伤害，危及”，英文解释为“to risk having a harmful effect on something”
举个🌰：
We would never compromise the safety of our passengers.
我们永远不会做有损乘客安全的事。
3）表示“放弃；背离，违背；降低”，英文解释为“to allow your principles to be less strong or your standards or morals to be lower”
举个🌰：
Don’t compromise your beliefs/principles for the sake of being accepted.
不要为了得到别人的认同就放弃了你自己的信仰/原则。
区分：
📍
comprise表示“包含；由…组成”，英文解释为“If you say that something comprises or is comprised of a number of things or people, you mean it has them as its parts or members.”
举个🌰：
The class is comprised mainly of Chinese and Japanese students.
这个班主要由中国和日本学生组成。
🎬电影《拉瑞·克劳》（Larry Crowne）中的台词提到：They comprise 20% of the world’s fresh surface water supply.
它们提供了地球表面百分之二十的淡水。
hummingbird/ˈhʌm.ɪŋ.bɜːd/ 表示“蜂鸟”，英文解释为“a very small, brightly coloured bird with a long, thin beak, whose wings move very fast and make a humming noise”
dart/dɑːt/ 表示“飞奔，猛冲”，英文解释为“a quick, sudden movement”举个🌰：
I darted behind the sofa and hid.
我冲到沙发后藏了起来。
📍
dart a glance/look at sb/sth=dart a glance/look somewhere表示“（朝…猛然）看一眼，瞥一眼”举个🌰：
She darted an angry look at me.
她狠狠地瞪了我一眼。
impair/ɪmˈpeər/表示“损害；削弱，损伤”，英文解释为“If something impairs something such as an ability or the way something works, it damages it or makes it worse.”
举个🌰：
The illness had impaired his ability to think and concentrate.
这种疾病损害了他的思维能力和注意力。
Remember this the next time you’re tackling two tough tasks simultaneously.
下次你同时处理两项难事时，请记住这一点。
While we should strive to center on singular tasks, we have technological devices and resources that foster the multitasking myth. Smartphone in hand, earbuds in place, we feel empowered to tackle the day’s assignments all at once or to stay connected constantly.
虽然我们应该努力专注于单一任务，但我们拥有的电子设备和资源却助长了多任务处理的神话。手持智能手机，戴着耳机，我们觉得自己有能力一次性完成当天所有任务，或者时刻保持联系。
singular/ˈsɪŋ.ɡjə.lər/1）表示“单数（的）”，英文解释为“of or relating to the form of a word used when talking or writing about one thing”
如：
a singular ending/form/noun/verb
单数词尾/形式/名词/动词。
2）表示“特别的；引人注意的；特别的，奇特的”，英文解释为“of an unusual quality or standard; noticeable；unusual or strange; not ordinary”
举个🌰：
It was a building of singular grace and beauty.
这座建筑物非常雅致、漂亮。
foster/ˈfɒs.tər/作动词，表示“鼓励；促进；培养”，英文解释为“to encourage the development or growth of ideas or feelings”
举个🌰：
I’m trying to foster an interest in classical music in my children.
我正努力培养我的孩子们对古典音乐的兴趣。
作形容词，表示“（在有限的一段时间内）（所）收养的，（所）代养的”，英文解释为“used to refer to someone or something connected with the care of children, usually for a limited time, by someone who is not the child’s legal parent”
如：
a foster care/home/child/mother
非亲代养/寄养家庭/代养的孩子/养母。
myth/mɪθ/1）表示“神话”，英文解释为“an ancient story or set of stories, especially explaining the early history of a group of people or about natural events and facts”
如：
ancient myths
古代神话。
2）表示“普遍但却错误的看法，无根据的观念”，英文解释为“a commonly believed but false idea”
举个🌰：
Statistics disprove the myth that women are worse drivers than men.
统计数据证明，女人驾车技术比男人差的观念是错误的。
earbuds/ˈɪə.bʌdz/表示“耳塞；微型耳机”，英文解释为“very small headphones that you wear in your ears”
empower/ɪmˈpaʊər/作动词，表示“给（某人）做…的权力；授权；使自主；增加（某人的）自主权；使控制局势”，英文解释为“to give someone official authority or the freedom to do something”
举个🌰：
This amendment empowers the president to declare an emergency for a wide range of reasons.
这一修正案授权总统可在一系列情形下宣布进入紧急状态。
empowered/ɪmˈpaʊ.əd/形容词，表示“自信的，可掌控自己命运的”，英文解释为“confident and in control of your life”
举个🌰：
It’s important that girls feel empowered and in control of what happens to them.
重要的是，女孩子要感到自己有能力并能控制自己的命运。
The concern among neuroscientists studying the workings of the brain is that our tendency to divide our attention, rather than focus, is hampering our ability to perform even simple tasks. This can have an extremely negative impact on:
研究大脑工作原理的神经科学家担心，我们倾向于分散注意力，而不是集中注意力，会妨碍我们完成简单任务的能力。这会对以下方面产生极其负面的影响：
hamper/ˈhæm.pər/表示“阻碍，妨碍”，英文解释为“to prevent someone doing something easily”
举个🌰：
Fierce storms have been hampering rescue efforts.
猛烈的暴风雨妨碍了救援工作的进行。
🎬电影《降临》（Arrival）中的台词提到：Trying to answer this in any meaningful way is hampered by the fact that…
试图从任何有意义的角度来回答 都困难重重，
Attentiveness. Those regulations against using your cell phone while driving are based on scientific data. Dual tasking (doing a linguistic or auditory task during a driving simulation) is associated with reduced activity in regions of the brain important for attention, as well as poorer driving performance. Several studies have proposed that individuals who are heavy media multitaskers adopt a style of attention control that favors parallel processing of multiple information sources over focus on one primary task. Another study compared the performances of heavy versus light media multitaskers. Surprisingly, heavy media multitaskers performed worse on tests of task-switching ability, possibly due to greater difficulties filtering out irrelevant information.
注意力。禁止在开车时使用手机的规定是有科学依据的。在驾驶模拟过程中进行语言或听觉任务的双重任务处理，会导致大脑中与注意力相关的区域活动减少，同时驾驶表现也会变差。有几项研究提出，重度媒体多任务处理者的注意力控制方式倾向于并行处理多个信息源，而不是专注于一项主要任务。另一项研究比较了重度媒体多任务者和轻度媒体多任务者的表现。令人惊讶的是，重度媒体多任务者在任务切换能力测试中表现较差，这可能是由于他们更难过滤掉无关信息。
linguistic/lɪŋˈɡwɪs.tɪk/表示“语言的；语言学的”，英文解释为“connected with language or the study of language”
举个🌰：
I’m particularly interested in the linguistic development of young children.
我对幼儿语言能力的发展尤其感兴趣。
auditory/ˈɔː.dɪ.tər.i/表示“听的；听觉的”，英文解释为“of or about hearing”
举个🌰：
It’s an artificial device that stimulates the auditory areas of the brain.
这个人工装置是用来刺激大脑听觉区域的。
simulation/ˌsɪm.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/表示“模拟，模仿”，英文解释为“a model of a set of problems or events that can be used to teach someone how to do something, or the process of making such a model”
举个🌰：
The manager prepared a computer simulation of likely sales performance for the rest of the year.
经理准备对该年度剩余时间内可能的销售业绩进行计算模拟分析。
Heavy media multitaskers和light media multitaskers在多任务处理研究中被广泛使用。它们指的是在媒体多任务处理方面的不同类型用户：
Heavy media multitaskers：指那些经常同时处理多种媒体任务的人，例如一边看电视、一边用手机、一边听音乐等。
Light media multitaskers：指那些很少同时处理多种媒体任务的人，通常一次只专注于一项媒体活动。
英式
favour美式favor/ˈfeɪ.vər/作动词，表示“优惠；偏袒；特别照顾”，英文解释为“to give an advantage to someone or something, in an unfair way”
举个🌰：
A strong wind will favour the bigger boats.
强风对大船有利。
作名词，
1）表示“特别照顾，优惠；偏袒”，英文解释为“an advantage that you give to someone, such as money or a good job, especially when this is unfair”
举个🌰：
Several politicians were accused of dispensing favours to people who voted for them.
几名政客被指责向投票支持他们的人提供好处。
2）表示“赞同；较喜欢”，英文解释为“to support or prefer one particular possibility”
举个🌰：
These are the running shoes favoured by marathon runners.
这些是马拉松选手喜爱的跑鞋。
parallel/ˈpær.ə.lel/1）表示“平行的”，英文解释为“If two or more lines, streets, etc. are parallel, the distance between them is the same all along their length”
如：
a pair of parallel lines
两条平行线；
2）表示“同时发生的；相同的，类似的”，英文解释为“used to describe an event or situation that happens at the same time as
and/or is similar to another one”如：a parallel example 类似的例子，举个🌰：
Parallel experiments are being conducted in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing.
类似的试验正在上海、杭州和北京同时进行。
作名词，表示“可相比拟的事物；相似之处”，英文解释为“something very similar to something else, or a similarity between two things”
举个🌰：
I’m trying to see if there are any obvious parallels between the two cases.
我正试图寻找这两起案件中有没有明显的相似之处。
versus/ˈvɜːsəs/ 经常看到缩写vs，vs.或者是单单一个v，就是指的versus，表示“（比较两种不同想法、选择等）与…相对，与…相比”，英文解释为“used to compare two different ideas, choices, etc.”如：private education versus state education 私立教育与公共教育相比，举个🌰：
It is France versus Brazil in the final.
决赛是法国队对巴西队。
filter/ˈfɪl.tər/ 作动词，表示“过滤”，英文解释为“to remove solids from liquids or gases, or to remove particular types
of light, using special equipment”举个🌰：
The water is filtered to remove any impurities.
这种水经过滤以去除杂质。
作名词：
1）表示“筛选（过滤）程序”，英文解释为“a program that stops certain types of electronic information, email, etc. being sent to a computer.”
2）表示“滤器；过滤器”，英文解释为“a device containing paper, sand, chemicals, etc. that a liquid or gas is passed through in order to remove any materials that are not wanted”
3）此前在尴尬！视频会议忘关摄像头…
文中介绍有公司主管在线会议时，误开滤镜特效，会议全程整个人变成土豆头🥔，就提到：she could not figure out how to remove the
filter. 主管一直搞不清要怎么关掉滤镜。filter指的就是滤镜。
Learning. A 1700s adage states: “There is time enough for everything in the course of the day, if you do but one thing at once. But there is not enough in the year, if you will do two things at a time.” In essence, the more we multitask the less we are able to accomplish, because we slowly lose our ability to focus enough to learn. Attention is essential to learning. If we attempt from an early age to multitask constantly, we do not practice how to tune out the rest of the world, to engage in deeper processing and learning. Empirical research has demonstrated that multitasking with technology (such as texting, listening to music, checking emails) negatively impacts studying, doing homework, learning and grades.
学习。18世纪有一句谚语是这么说的：“如果你一次只做一件事，一天的时间足够了。但如果你同时做两件事，一年都不够。”本质上，我们越是多任务处理，就越难完成任务，因为我们逐渐失去专注学习的能力。注意力对学习至关重要。如果我们从小就试图不断地处理多项任务，我们就无法练习如何屏蔽外界，进行深入处理和学习。实证研究表明，利用科技进行多任务处理（比如发短信、听音乐、查收邮件）会对学习、做作业、学习和成绩产生负面影响。
adage/ˈædɪdʒ/表示“谚语；格言”，英文解释为“a wise saying”
举个🌰：
He remembered the old adage “Look before you leap”.
他想起了那句老话“三思而后行”。
tune (sb/sth) out表示“不理睬，对…置之不理”，英文解释为“to ignore someone or not give your attention to something or to what is happening around you”
举个🌰：
Most of what the company says is such garbage that I just tune it out.
公司讲的全是废话，所以我干脆不去理睬。
empirical/ɪmˈpɪr.ɪ.kəl/表示“以经验（或实验）为依据的；经验主义的；来自经验（或观察）的”，英文解释为“based on what is experienced or seen rather than on theory”
举个🌰：
This theory needs to be backed up with solid empirical data/evidence.
这个理论需要翔实的实验数据/实践经验来支持。
demonstrate/ˈdem.ən.streɪt/表示“显示；表明”，英文解释为“to show or make something clear”
举个🌰：
Research has demonstrated that babies can recognize their mother’s voice very soon after birth.
研究表明，婴儿出生后很快就能辨识母亲的声音。
Mindfulness. Those who are mindful are able to do more than just pay attention; they do so on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally. This is perhaps the most advanced form of attentiveness, and it can result in decision-making made in a stress-free and less reactive environment. Indeed, many therapies based on mindfulness assist patients suffering from depression, anxiety, chronic pain, substance abuse, ADHD and other conditions.
正念。那些具有正念的人不仅能够专注，而且能够有意地在当下、不加评判地保持专注。这也许是保持注意力的最高级形式，它能让人在没有压力、反应性较低的环境中做出决策。事实上，许多基于正念的疗法都能帮助抑郁症、焦虑症、慢性疼痛、药物滥用、多动症等疾病的患者。
mindfulness/ˈmaɪnd.fəl.nəs/表示“正念认知”，英文解释为“the practice of being aware of your body, mind, and feelings in the present moment, thought to create a feeling of calm”
举个🌰：
Mindfulness can be used to alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression.
正念认知可以用来排除焦虑和抑郁。
📍词根“mind”表示“心智”，后缀“-fulness”表示“充满”。想象通过“专注于当下”来充满心智，有助于减少压力和改善心理健康。
近义词：awareness（意识），
同根词：mindful（留心的），常用短语：practice mindfulness（练习正念）
chronic/ˈkrɒnɪk/1）表示“（疾病）慢性的，长期的”，英文解释为“a chronic disease or illness is one that continues for a long time and cannot be cured”
如：
chronic arthritis
表示“慢性关节炎”。
2）表示“（问题）长期的”，英文解释为“a chronic problem is one that continues for a long time and cannot easily be solved”
举个🌰：
There is a chronic shortage of teachers.
长期存在师资短缺的问题。
3）还有一种解释是用来形容人“积习难改”，如“长期酗酒/沉迷赌博等的人”我们就可以用chronic alcoholic/gambler表示。
To isolate out of the multitasking world brings many benefits, in all walks of life and in any setting, including the workplace. It certainly has been an essential aspect of our careers.
在包括工作场所在内的各行各业和任何环境中，从多任务世界中脱离出来都会带来很多好处。当然，这无疑是我们职业生涯中的一个重要方面。
walk of life表示“各行各业；各个社会阶层”，英文解释为“When people talk about walk(s) of life, they are referring to different types of jobs and different levels of society.”
举个🌰：
Members of the gym include lawyers, teachers, plumbers, and hairdressers - people from all (different) walks of life.
我们这个俱乐部里有律师，有教师，有建筑工人，有理发师——各行各业的人都有。
词汇盘点
multitask、 succession、 neuroscience、 be wired to、 mono-tasker、 simultaneously、 illusion、 semantics、compromise、hummingbird、 dart、 impair、 singular、 foster、 myth、 earbuds、 empowered、 hamper、 linguistic、 auditory、 simulation、 heavy media multitaskers、 favor、 parallel、 versus、 filter、 adage、 tune (sb/sth) out、empirical、 demonstrate、 mindfulness、chronic、 walk of life
词汇助记 By ChatGPT
Neuroscience debunks the multitask myth, demonstrating that heavy media multitaskers, like hummingbirds darting about,
impair their focus. Empirical studies favor mono-taskers who, unlike those wired to multitask, can filter distractions, tune out noises, and foster mindfulness. This adage holds true across every walk of life, from linguistic to auditory tasks, challenging the illusion of productive parallel processing.
Summary
