相关试卷

PLAY: The Age of Innocence

PRICE: $10

DISCOUNTS:

Saver: $3 off for any seat booked any time in advance for performances from Monday to Thursday. Savers are available for children under 15, people over 65 and full-time students. 

Supersaver: Half-price are available for people with disabilities and one companion. It is advisable to book in advance. There is a maximum of eight wheelchair spaces available and one wheelchair space will be held until an hour before the show. 

Standby Tickets: Best available seats are on sale for $6 from one hour before the performance for people suitable for Saver and Supersaver discounts and thirty minutes before for all other customers. 

Group Bookings: there is a ten percent discount for parties of twelve or more. 

School: School parties of ten or more can book $6 standby tickets in advance and will get every tenth ticket free. 

Please note: We are unable to exchange tickets or refund (退还) money unless a performance is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. 

BOOKING: There are three easy ways to book seats for the performance:

— In person: The Box Office is open from Monday to Saturday between 10 a. m. and 8 p. m. 

— By telephone: Dial 01324976 to reserve your tickets. 

— By post: Simply complete the booking form and return it to Global Theatre Box Office. 

Alex sat quietly at the back of his Chinese class, his eyes fixed on the textbook before him. As a shy and unnoticed student, he felt like a lone wolf, struggling against the complexities of high school life. Ms Lau, his Chinese teacher, was a light in his otherwise dark world. Her warm smile and gentle behavior made her stand out among the sea of teachers. She was the only one who seemed to understand his conservative nature, always encouraging him to step out of his comfort zone. 

One day, after class, Ms Lau approached Alex with excitement shining in her eyes. "Alex, I have an offer for you," she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "I am organizing a cultural exchange program to China, and I believe it would be a great opportunity for you to explore a new world."

Alex's heart skipped a beat, the prospect of traveling to a foreign country both exciting and terrifying. He hesitated, unsure if he had the courage to start such an adventure. But Ms Lau's firm belief in him gave him the push he needed to take a leap of faith.

Under Ms Lau's guidance, Alex began preparing for the trip. He got really interested in Chinese culture and learned about its long history and traditions. Ms Lau became his mentor(导师), teaching him not only the language but also invaluable life lessons. She taught him the importance of being confident and not giving up, reminding him that growth only happens outside one's comfort zone.

The day of departure arrived, and Alex found himself on a plane headed for China. He couldn't help but feel amazed as he stepped off the plane and into a world so different from his own. The busy streets, bright colors, and unfamiliar sounds flooded his senses. Yet, Ms Lau's comforting presence by his side provided him with the strength to face the unknown.

注意：

1. 续写词数应为150词左右；

2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

During their time in China, Alex wholeheartedly enjoyed the experience. 

Back in the United States, Alex was a changed person.

Like many young people, Jessica wants to travel the globe. Unlike most of them, this 25-year-old is doing it 1 . She and her husband have spent the last two years traveling the world, stopping everywhere from Paris to Singapore. It might sound like one long, expensive 2 , but the couple has an unusual way to make their travel 3  .

They're part of a new form of the 4 economy: an online group of house sitters. Throughout their no-cost stays in 5 homes, they feed pets and water plants in the homeowner's 6 .

It's not all sightseeing. The two travelers carefully 7 their trips, scheduling their days around the pets that are sometimes difficult to 8 . But house sitting also offers a level of 9 they can't find in a hotel. "It's like 10 at a friend's house," Jessica says.

The couple has a high 11 rate in getting accepted as house sitters and they always go beyond the homeowner's 12 . For Jessica, that means 13 plenty of pictures of happy pets, keeping the house 14 and leaving a nice small gift before heading to the next house. "You want to make the homeowner feel that they made the right 15 ," she says.

Indoor plants might look as if they just sit around not doing much, but in many ways they are the unsung heroes of the home. , but studies have shown that they can promote people's wellbeing by improving their mood (心情), reducing stress and helping their memory. What's more, indoor plants are easy to look after and are not very expensive.

What are indoor plants?

Indoor plants, also known as houseplants or pot plants, are plants that like to grow indoors. Many of these species (物种) are not ideally suited to growing outside in the UK, especially in the winter. .

Why are indoor plants good for you?

Will Spoelstra, who works at the Royal Botanic Gardens, says, ". I find during the winter months, plants around the house can really lift your mood." Several studies have backed this up and found that indoor plants can improve creativity, focus and memory. There is also research showing that pot plants can clean the air around them by removing harmful gases, such as carbon dioxide. They also remove some harmful chemicals from paints or cooking. .

Which plants can you grow?

Aloe vera, peace lilies and spider plants are some of the species that are easy to grow indoors. You can buy plants from supermarkets, garden centres or online. Younger plants are often cheaper than fully grown ones, and you get to care for them as they mature — which is part of the joy of owning plants. "," Spoelstra says. "It can bring a new interest and focus into people's lives and help to make the link between home and nature."

A．All plants are different

B．Not only do they look beautiful

C．There are many benefits to growing plants indoors

D．Instead, they grow better inside, where it is warmer

E．Plants like peace lilies and devil's ivy are among the best

F．Changing the pot of your plant from time to time will also help

G．Learning about the requirements of each plant can be very rewarding

I was about 13 when an uncle gave me a copy of Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World. It was full of ideas that were new to me, so I spent the summer with my head in and out of that book. It spoke to me and brought me into a world of philosophy (哲学).

That love for philosophy lasted until I got to college. Nothing kills the love for philosophy faster than people who think they understand Foucault, Baudrillard, or Confucius better than you — and then try to explain them.

Eric Weiner's The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers reawakened my love for philosophy. It is not an explanation, but an invitation to think and experience philosophy.

Weiner starts each chapter with a scene on a train ride between cities and then frames each philosopher's work in the context (背景) of one thing they can help us do better. The end result is a read in which we learn to wonder like Socrates, see like Thoreau, listen like Schopenhauer, and have no regrets like Nietzsche. This, more than a book about understanding philosophy, is a book about learning to use philosophy to improve a life.

He makes philosophical thought an appealing exercise that improves the quality of our experiences, and he does so with plenty of humor. Weiner enters into conversation with some of the most important philosophers in history, and he becomes part of that crowd in the process by decoding (解读) their messages and adding his own interpretation.

The Socrates Express is a fun, sharp book that draws readers in with its apparent simplicity and gradually pulls them in deeper thoughts on desire, loneliness, and aging. The invitation is clear: Weiner wants you to pick up a coffee or tea and sit down with this book. I encourage you to take his offer. It's worth your time, even if time is something we don't have a lot of.

 Terri Bolton is a dab hand when it comes to DIY (do-it-yourself). Skilled at putting up shelves and piecing together furniture, she never pays someone else to do a job she can do herself.

She credits these skills to her late grandfather and builder Derek Lloyd. From the age of six, Terri, now 26, accompanied Derek to work during her school holidays. A day's work was rewarded with £5 in pocket money. She says: "I'm sure I wasn't much of a help to start with, painting the rooms and putting down the flooring throughout the house. It took weeks and it was backbreaking work, but I know he was proud of my skills."

Terri, who now rents a house with friends in Wandsworth, South West London, says DIY also saves her from losing any deposit when a tenancy (租期) comes to an end. She adds: "I've moved house many times and I always like to personalise my room and put up pictures, so, it's been useful to know how to cover up holes and repaint a room to avoid any charges when I've moved out."

With millions of people likely to take on DIY projects over that coming weeks, new research shows that more than half of people are planning to make the most of the long, warm summer days to get jobs done. The average spend per project will be around £

823. Two thirds of people aim to improve their comfort while at home. Two fifths wish to increase the value of their house. Though DIY has traditionally been seen as male hobby, the research shows it is women now leading the charge.

Where to Eat in Bangkok

Bangkok is a highly desirable destination for food lovers. It has a seemingly bottomless well of dining options. Here are some suggestions on where to start your Bangkok eating adventure.

Nahm

Offering Thai fine dining. Nahm provides the best of Bangkok culinary (烹饪的) experiences. It's the only Thai restaurant that ranks among the top 10 of the world's 50 best restaurants list. Head Chef David Thompson, who received a Michelin star for his London-based Thai restaurant of the same name, opened this branch in the Metropolitan Hotel in

2010.

Issaya Siamese Club

Issaya Siamese Club is internationally known Thai chef Ian Kittichai's first flagship Bangkok restaurant. The menu in this beautiful colonial house includes traditional Thai cuisine combined with modern cooking methods.

Bo.lan

Bo.lan has been making waves in Bangkok's culinary scene since it opened in

2009. Serving hard-to-find Thai dishes in an elegant atmosphere, the restaurant is true to Thai cuisine's roots, yet still manages to add a special twist. This place is good for a candle-lit dinner or a work meeting with colleagues who appreciate fine food. For those extremely hungry, there's a large set menu.

Gaggan

Earning first place on the latest "Asia's 50 best restaurants" list, progressive Indian restaurant Gaggan is one of the most exciting venues (场所) to arrive in Bangkok in recent years. The best table in this two-story colonial Thai home offers a window right into the kitchen, where you can see chef Gaggan and his staff in action. Culinary theater at its best.

Thomas watched the irrigation canal (灌溉渠) for a sign of water. It looked as dry as he felt inside. Thomas's thoughts were interrupted as his younger sister, Maggie, came skipping across the field.

"What are you giving Mama for her birthday?" she asked.

Thomas felt his stomach turn. He had forgotten that Mama's birthday, the first since they left their hometown, was tomorrow. "It's a surprise, Maggie," he answered. It was the truth.

Even he would be surprised.

Thomas would wish to be back in the mountains of their hometown. Surely Mama would want the same. At least it rained there. Each time it did, Mama, Thomas, and Maggie would sit on the front porch and watch for a rainbow. Then each of them picked out a favorite color in the rainbow. Mama always gave the same answer. "Turquoise (蓝绿色，绿松石)," she would finally say with a dreamy smile, pointing at the sky. "Squeezed in tight, between the blue and green. Close your eyes and you can see it. If you could touch it, it would feel cool, like a breeze blowing across the stream."

Thomas was discouraged. The sun would be setting soon, and he still had nothing to give his mother. What he saw around were rocks and sand. He picked up a large, flat rock, scooped up the dirt and watched it fall to the ground. Suddenly, something caught his eye. A speck of color peeked through the dirt.

"Hey, what's this?" he asked.

"Let's find out," Maggie yelled. Thomas and Maggie dug with their fingers and uncovered a small, round stone. In the center, there was a tiny hole.

"That's just a turquoise bead (珠子)," Thomas exclaimed. "My friend Jack's sister has a jar full of them."

"Let's see if there are more," Maggie got excited.

注意：

1.续写词数应为150左右:

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

"I have an idea," Thomas said cheerfully. 

Early the next morning, Thomas and Maggie set a small package on the table.

注意：

1.词数100左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Protecting Wild Animals

Jen is a 39-year old community dancer with Down's Syndrome(唐氏综合征). She is the founder of Dance Syndrome, a nonprofit organization that brings together 1 dancers and make them feel equal to everyone.

Dancing has always been in her veins. As a young girl, Jen seized every opportunity to dance with full  2  both in the morning and during her 10 minutes of  3   before bedtime. The dynamic workout would keep her 4  all day long.

Life hasn't been straightforward for Jen. She was 5 by a number of dance clubs in primary school and encountered numerous 6 while pursuing her passion for dance. Despite these challenges, her ambition to share her love for dance and 7 disabled individuals in the art grew stronger.

After leaving school at 18, Jen spent over 10 years searching 8   for opportunities to be trained as a dance leader. Eventually, she had to give up and decided to try her own way, not knowing where it might lead!

Despite the 9  , Dance Syndrome was established in 2009. Jen and her fellow disabled dance leaders took  10   of the charitable organization, working alongside non-disabled dance artists who helped them work more professionally.

Over the decade, Dance Syndrome has 11 thousands of disabled dancers, cultivating an environment where every person is recognized as equal, 12 and accepted for who they are. The year 2019 witnessed Jen 13 for the third time as a member of Shaw T rust's Disability Power 100. She is a living proof that 14 can come from unexpected places and that disabled individuals can 15 society in extraordinary ways.

If you've spent any time online in the first few weeks of 2023, you may have already picked up on the buzz surrounding ChatGPT. But what exactly is it?

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot from OpenAI. It enables users to "converse" with it in a way that's meant to copy natural conversation. The easy-to-understand, easy-to-use, and free tool has already gained popularity as both an alternative to traditional search engines and as a tool for Al writing, among other things.

What does GPT stand for?

 While older AI chatbots could answer questions with detailed responses, ChatGPT uses a dialog format, which allows it to answer follow-up and clarifying questions, as well as recognize and reject inappropriate or dangerous requests (such as questions about illegal activity).

How to use ChatGPT to increase your work?

 Knowing how to effectively communicate with ChatGPT, or any generative AI model, is called prompt engineering. You can either include ChatGPT in your day-to-day work to conduct a research or to help you get started on a writing project while staring at a blank page.

ChatGPT uses natural language processing (NLP), an AI technology that deals with understanding, analyzing, and generating human-like language. It analyzes sample texts from the internet and conversations provided by real humans, and then ranks outputs based on the quality of the response. Providing occasional feedback from humans is a technique that can help fine-tune the output by improving both safety and reliability.

A. As a user, you can ask questions or make requests, and ChatGPT will respond.

B. ChatGPT has become a powerful tool to save time and energy.

C. In this article, you can find all you need to know about ChatGPT.

D. ChatGPT represents the future of all chatbots without doubt.

E. The "GPT" in ChatGPT is short for generative pre-trained transformer.

F. How does ChatGPT work?

G. The technique to apply when using ChatGPT.

D

In school, we learned the periodic table and were told to recite the alphabet, but nobody forced us to take a class on what emotions are and how they work before we entered the big world. And for many of us, that means understanding how we feel and why can be incredibly difficult.

Yet, research shows that being aware of your emotions is hugely beneficial and people with high emotional awareness have better social and emotional functioning. In layman's terms, that can translate as being able to predict your emotions and develop coping mechanisms in advance, becoming wise to unhealthy behavior patterns, and even being more in tune with the needs of others.

"Emotional awareness is being able to identify and make sense of not only our own emotions but those of others. It's absolutely essential in maintaining good mental health," explains Rachel Vora, psychotherapist and founder of CYP Wellbeing. "When we are able to identify and reflect on our emotional responses, we can understand how this influences our behaviors and in turn, change the way we respond to challenging situations."

Of course, pinpointing how we feel can often prove difficult. It's the very reason we turn to general phrases like "I feel blue" or "I'm not myself today". Vora says this is often because on some level we don't want to know how we really feel. "We can often try to numb (使麻木), suppress or avoid emotions because they feel overwhelming or distressing and this can often lead to a lack of emotional awareness as we feel disconnected from ourselves," she explains.

Without emotional awareness, we can also develop emotional blind spots: unhealthy thoughts, behaviors and coping mechanisms that are hidden from our view. Perhaps you may feel self-doubt when you receive negative feedback. Unless you take time for introspection (反省), you'll remain unaware of these habits. Vora says tuning into your emotions and honestly reflecting on how you feel is key. "By identifying our emotional blind spots, we can feel more in control of our emotions, how to improve our mood and also how we respond in challenging situations."

C

A new outdoor fabric (织物) stores energy by day and then lights up at night. Being tested in a city park, this totally "cool" fabric has attracted interest for its many urban uses.

This is the invention of Anai Green, an industrial and product designer based in Tel Aviv, Israel. She designed a fabric that includes organic and solar photovoltaic cells (光伏电池). The cells capture sunlight and store the energy in strips with LEDs. This allows the fabric to shade public space by day. When night falls, these strips light up. Green said, "We use LumiWeave to light public space without carbon emissions, making the lighting all-natural. And we spread light in the area we want to light only."

The system was designed to adapt to all weather conditions and can continue to provide lighting even after three days without sunlight. In addition, you simply put LumiWeave up and the sun will do the work. This in itself saves 50 percent of the cost of building standard lighting, and it saves 100 percent on the electricity bills. This is great news for cities. Tel Aviv, Green's hometown, is trying out LumiWeave in AtidimPark.

The mayor of Tel Aviv, Ron Huldai, is making efforts to address climate change. "LumiWeave will turn out to be a groundbreaking project," Huldai said. The mayor added that LumiWeave is especially important as it solves the issue of shading urban areas and uses clean energy.

The new fabric can be fixed atop bike paths, in children's parks and in walking areas. Many big cities in Israel are planning on adopting LumiWeave. As there is also use for the fabric in outdoor sitting areas of restaurants and hotels, Green has developed a LumiWeave parasol (大遮阳伞). "We are now developing the possibility of controlling it from the phone — we're creating an application," Green said. LumiWeave provides an ideal solution for urban parks and gardens. We hope that it will soon be lighting up night skies around the world.

B

I still remember that busy autumn evening as I hurried with my eldest daughter, Athena, to get to her classroom on time for the parent-teacher night. We walked in and all eyes were on me. A few adults quickly quieted their kids' whispers. A classmate yelled to my daughter, "What's wrong with your mom's face?" Shocked, I started to explain my condition, but my six-year-old daughter looked at him and said, "It's my mom's birthmark! Don't be rude!" I was extremely proud of how she handled that situation.

I was quite young when I realized I looked different because of my large facial birthmark. I always thought I would be alone because of it. Being compared to Batman's evil Two-Face made me believe I could never find love. But I was lucky enough to meet my husband, who saw me for who I am inside. When I had my first daughter, I was overjoyed, but I began to worry if the world would judge my children. I always worried I might pass my condition onto my children; I didn't want them to grow up feeling judged. Unfortunately, my facial difference has impacted my children. My daughters get disinvited from birthday parties or sleepovers, or I learn certain kids are no longer friends with mine after their parents saw me at school.

When my kids were young, I explained how my special purple skin was rare and we talked about acceptance and never judging others on how they look. When my girls kiss my purple-skinned cheek, I feel "normal" around them and their unconditional love. With time going by, both my daughters have become my strongest supporters. Thanks to them, I've begun to feel more self-confident as I try to be a good role model.

Their worldviews are similar to mine. We see the world a little differently and with a kinder, more accepting heart. As the saying goes, your daughters will grow up to be your best friends. I know that will be the case for me!

A

FAMOUS CHINESE PAINTINGS, ARTISTIC TREASURES

With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the most culturally unique nations. Over many centuries, Chinese artists have created paintings that are now in the hearts of more than a billion people.

Nymph of the Luo River—Gu Kaizhi

The legend has it that Cao Zhi, a prince of the state of Cao Wei, fell in love with the governor's daughter. However, she married his brother, Cao Pi, and the prince became upset. Later, he composed an emotional poem about the love between the goddess and common people. In the 4th century, Gu Kaizhi, a Chinese artist, was moved by the story and illustrated the poem.

Court Ladies Adorning Their Hair with Flowers—Zhou Fang

During the Tang Dynasty, China had a prosperous economy and flourishing culture. In this period, the genre of "beautiful women painting" enjoyed popularity. Coming from a noble background, Zhou Fang, a Chinese artist, created artworks in this genre. In his painting, the ladies stand as though they are fashion models, but one of them is entertaining herself by teasing a cute dog.

Along the River During the Qingming Festival—Zhang Zeduan

Zhang Zeduan depicted the landscape in his work Along the River During the Qingming Festival. However, instead of concentrating on the vastness of nature, he captured the daily life of the people of Bianjing, present-day Kaifeng. His work shows much about life in the Northern Song Dynasty.

A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains—Wang Ximeng

Not only did officials and scholars enjoy listening to music, but they also found pleasure in depicting nature. One such painter was Wang Ximeng. He was a prodigy. Wang Ximeng painted A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains when he was only seventeen years old. He died several years later, but he left one of the largest and most beautiful paintings in Chinese history.

John and Nancy were left with their grandmother Linda after their mom was hospitalized for illness. They were curious about when they could finally see their mom.

"The hospital won't allow her to leave until all of her medical bills are settled. I have given your mom all I could, but there's still a large amount that we need to pay off," Linda explained. John and Nancy missed their mom a lot and wanted her to come back home as soon as possible.

"What if we put up a lemonade stand (摊位) John?" Nancy asked her older brother.

"We can pick the lemons from the garden and make fresh juice out of them," she suggested. Her brother smiled, "That's a great idea, Nancy!" From then on, John and Nancy stayed outside the entire afternoon after school selling lemonade. A week went by, they only managed to earn ten dollars.

On Saturday morning, they sat on the side of the yard, looking worried. After a couple of seconds, their silent pondering (沉思) was interrupted by loud police sirens. "Hey, fellas!" one of the policemen greeted. "My colleague Jacob said that his neighbor had a lemonade stand in front of their yard." The two children nodded. "I'm sorry, officer. But I didn't think there would be anything wrong with that. Besides, we didn't earn a lot," John tried to explain.

"Don't worry. You're not in trouble. I bought a cup of it from you two the other day, remember? I asked why you were selling lemonade, and you told me it was to raise funds to get your mom out of the hospital," Jacob interrupted upon seeing John and Nancy looked nervous.

"I told my friends over here, and we decided we wanted to help. Come to the back of the police car, and we have something to show you," Jacob told the kids. They slowly made their way to the back of one of the police cars and saw a nicely-painted wooden lemonade stand. "That's beautiful!" Nancy said in surprise.

注意：

1.续写词数应为150左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

"There's a big food festival downtown today, and we got you a stand." Jacob said. "Why not go there and give it a shot?"

There was a large crowd eager to buy lemonade.

1. 比赛目的及过程；

2. 你的感受。

注意： 

1. 词数80左右； 

2. 请在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Morley Safer has worked in television news for 61 years. He's spent 46 of those years on his broadcast, longer than anyone else. As a (travel), he holds some sort of record, (take) planes, trains, boats, even bicycles to the ends of the Earth.

When he was 24, a door opened that would change his life. He was hired a television news writer at the CBC, Canada's premier broadcasting network. And soon enough, he was foreign correspondent(记者), the job he'd dreamed of. His passport filled up quickly. In late 1963, Morley caught the eye of the American network leaders, hired him to join the great CBS bureau in London. From his base in London, he covered shooting wars in Algeria and Cyprus.

By the time he was 35, he (cover) news in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. It's fair (say) that nobody alive today has seen as much and reported on it as (brilliant) as Morley. Simply by example, he's made the rest of us better journalists. His writing (consider) the best in the business. His toughness and kindness and sense of humor are legendary.

In a business that's fast-moving and sometimes competitive, he survived and prospered, either outworking outliving everyone else, trying to get to the bottom of things.

Traffic Regulation and Accident Prevention

We live in a remarkable time, and many of the once fatal diseases can now be cured with modern medicine and surgery.  Expectations of life have greatly increased. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the incredible killing of men, women and children on the roads. Man fights against the motor-car. It is a never-ending battle which man is losing.  

Nothing can seriously increase your risk of potentially fatal car accidents other than speeding and failing to pay due attention to weather conditions. There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a man's very worst qualities. Usually quiet and pleasant people, when they are behind the steering wheel, will become unrecognizable. They are impolite, aggressive, self-willed like two-year-old, completely selfish. All their hidden frustrations, disappointments, and jealousy seem to be caused by driving.

It's all for his own convenience. Due to a serious tragedy, the city is almost uninhabitable and the huge parking lot makes the town ugly. The destruction of rural areas and the annual mass killings are just a statistic, easily forgotten. With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are not strict and even the strictest are not strict enough.

Traffic rules are for everyone to follow under any circumstances, and no one can make an exception unless you make a joke of your own life. Universally accepted standards can only have a significant beneficial on the incidence of accidents. Governments should develop safety codes for manufacturers.  These measures may sound cruel. However, if these measures result in a reduction in the loss of life every year, they should certainly not be considered serious. After all, the world belongs to humans, not cars.

A. There are five reasons for the accident and you are guilty.

B. Every year thousands of people are horribly killed, and we sit still and let it happen.

C. Surprisingly, society should smile at the driver and forgive him.

D. Someone has rightly said that when a person is sitting behind the steering wheel, his car becomes an extension of his personality.

E. All advertisements that emphasize power and performance should be banned.

F. It is time to develop a universal norm to reduce this senseless waste of human life.

G. It is almost certain that one day a cure will be found for the rest of the diseases.

D

No one likes interruption. We are born to seek balance and order. No matter what it is that you are doing, being interrupted involves a forceful stop midway and then having to re-enter your previous state, sometimes with great difficulty.

Popular belief has it that interruption breaks the flow of your thinking and affects productivity negatively, and so it is advisable that you have an uninterrupted session of intensive work before your next break.

However, a Russian psychologist, Bluma Zeigarnik, might tell you otherwise.

The connection between interruption and memory came to her attention when she was dining in a restaurant. She noticed how the waitresses had an amazing memory of the detailed orders yet to be paid for but scarce memory of the orders that were already completed.

Back in her laboratory, she conducted studies in which subjects were required to complete various puzzles. Some of the subjects were interrupted during the tasks. All the subjects were then asked to describe what tasks they had done. It turns out that adults remembered the interrupted tasks 90% better than the completed tasks, and that children were even more likely to recall the uncompleted tasks. In other words, uncompleted tasks will stay on your mind until you finish them!

In comparison to tasks that were already finished and ones that we haven't even started, half-done projects are given the priority in the mental to-do list our brains sketch out for us. Zeigarnik described this finding in her doctoral thesis (论文) in the late 1920s, which was later called Zeigarnik effect.

One possible explanation is that with interrupted tasks, we are desperate for their closure to reclaim a sense of balance. Finishing them also means that we can finally clear up the mental backlog (积压的工作) and give the space to more upcoming tasks.

Zeigarnik's effect can be found everywhere, especially used in media and advertising. Have you ever wondered why cliffhangers work so well or why you just can't get yourself to stop watching that series on Netflix?

Ernest Hemingway once said about writing a novel, "It is the wait until the next day that is hard to get through." So next time, when you are interrupted, appreciate it and take advantage of it to promote your productivity.