为什么我们的大脑喜欢清单？

Why our brains love lists

常速 | 四级（偏难） | 314词| 2min12s

刘立军供稿

Part I. QUESTIONS

Listen to the passage and choose the best answer to each question you hear.

Q1. Why does writing tasks down on a list help reduce anxiety?

A. It reduces anxiety by preventing the need to rely on memory.

B. It shortens the amount of time needed to complete tasks.

C. It helps people avoid doing tasks they dislike.

D. It encourages people to work in groups.

Q2. Why are lists said to help the brain retain information better?

A. Because they increase the number of tasks a person can complete.

B. Because they present information in an organized form.

C. Because they encourage people to think more creatively.

D. Because they allow people to read information repeatedly.

Q3. In the Wake Forest University experiment, what happened to the group who were not allowed to make plans?

A. They struggled because the task remained in their memory.

B. They performed better because they had less pressure.

C. They completed the second task more efficiently.

D. They forgot about the unfinished warm-up task quickly.

Q4. What can be inferred about the Zeigarnik Effect from the passage?

A. It makes people complete tasks faster than usual.

B. It causes people to ignore tasks once they begin them.

C. It increases stress because the brain prefers finished tasks.

D. It keeps unfinished tasks in memory until they are resolved.

Q5. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Modern technology has made to-do lists unnecessary.

B. People should avoid writing down tasks and rely on memory instead.

C. To-do lists are an effective way to manage tasks and reduce stress.

D. Only people with high productivity benefit from writing lists.

Part II. TRANSCRIPT

Why our brains love lists

Productivity can be a struggle for many of us. Overflowing email inboxes, housework, social obligations – it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. However, one simple tool that can help us stay on top of everything is the to-do list. Write it down, do the tasks, and cross them off – simple!

There are three key reasons why lists are beneficial, according to psychologist and author David Cohen. (Q1) Firstly, they help to drown out the chaos and anxiety that comes with having never-ending tasks. By writing everything down, we don’t have to rely on our memory and can instead focus on the task at hand. Secondly, lists provide structure and guidance, giving us a plan to follow. (Q2) As well as this, our brains are more likely to retain information that is presented in a structured and organized manner. And finally, lists serve as proof of what we have achieved, which can help boost our sense of accomplishment and motivation.

beneficial adj. 有益的

Another possible reason our brains love lists is because of something called the ‘Zeigarnik Effect’. This is the name psychologists use for when we remember things we need to do, our unfinished tasks, better than things we have already completed. Researchers from Wake Forest University tested the interference of the Zeigarnik effect on a group of people. The experiment began with a warm-up task, though it was stopped halfway through, and only some people were allowed to make plans to finish it. (Q3) The researchers found that the group permitted to plan had reduced anxiety and performed better in the second task. (Q4) The problem was the others still had the warm-up task stuck in their active memory – an unticked list of tasks. So, once we tick something off our list, our brain forgets about it, and we can relax.

(Q5) All in all, it seems lists are a valuable tool for staying on top of life!

Part III. KEY

Q1. A.【解析】本题为细节题。题目出处为：“Firstly, they help to drown out the chaos and anxiety that comes with having never-ending tasks. By writing everything down, we do not have to rely on our memory and can instead focus on the task at hand.” 意为：“首先，清单能够帮助屏蔽因任务无穷无尽而带来的混乱和焦虑。将所有事情写下来之后，我们就无需依赖记忆，而可以专注于手头的任务。”因此答案为 A。

Q2. B.【解析】本题为细节题。题目出处为：“As well as this, our brains are more likely to retain information that is presented in a structured and organized manner.” 意为：“此外，大脑更容易记住以结构化和有条理的方式呈现的信息。”因此答案为 B。

Q3. A.【解析】本题为细节题。题目出处为：“The researchers found that the group permitted to plan had reduced anxiety and performed better in the second task. The problem was, the others still had the warm-up task stuck in their active memory – an unticked list of tasks.” 意为：“研究人员发现，被允许制定计划的小组焦虑减少，并在第二个任务中表现更好；而另一些人的脑子里仍惦记着热身任务——那个尚未完成仍被列在清单上的任务。”因此答案为 A。

Q4. D.【解析】本题为推理题。题目出处为：“The problem was, the others still had the warm-up task stuck in their active memory – an unticked list of tasks.” 意为：“问题在于，另一些人的脑子里仍惦记着热身任务——那个尚未完成仍被列在清单上的任务。”根据这句话可以推理，蔡加尼克效应使未完成的任务在我们的记忆中保持活跃状态，直到它们得到解决，因此答案为 D。

Q5. C.【解析】本题为主旨题。题目出处为：“All in all, it seems lists are a valuable tool for staying on top of life.” 意为：“总而言之，清单似乎是帮助我们掌控生活的宝贵工具。”结合全文内容，清单能够减少焦虑，提供结构化的信息，提高记忆效果，减轻蔡加尼克效应带来的负担，因此答案为C。

（本文图片来源于摄图网，版权归摄图网所有)