This recent piece from American Scientist: Multitasking to Distraction, draws attention to the dangers of attempting to multitask (to do more than one thing at the same time), a common habit in our generation of high-speed internet access, cellphones, and wifi technology.
This article is about on par with what you would find on the Academic Reading portion of the IELTS exam. You probably will not be able to fully comprehend the passage easily, but you should be able to glean a general understanding.
- Do you consider youself a multitasker? How so? What things do you tend to do at the same time?
- We obviously choose to multitask for a reason. In what ways can multitasking be beneficial?
- Have you ever considered the dangers of multitasking? Has multitasking ever impeded on your efficiency?
“Of all the senses, sight must be the most delightful.”
- Helen Keller, a famous American author, teacher, and political activist, was the first deafblind person to receive a university degree.
“Not the senses I have, but what I do with them is my kingdom.”
Filed under: articles
Kids’ Smiles Predict Their Future Marriage Success
from Scientific American
A recent pair of studies done in California have shown a correlation between the intensity of a child or student’s smile and their future marital success. The article does not provide much information about the people who took part in the study, as it describes neither the number of participants nor their cultural or socioeconomic backgrounds, but it is still a very interesting relationship to think about.
- Did you have a big smile as a child? Do you smile a lot today?
- Do you really think there is a link between the strength of an child’s smile and the quality of his or her future relationships? Why or why not?
- What do you think of these types of “popular science” articles? What are some of their qualities and/or shortcomings of this genre of writing?
^—- A future divorcee?
The marshmallow test is a famous experiment originally conducted at Stanford University in the 1960s. The experiment was designed to test our ability as humans to delay (or defer) gratification, to wait in order to acquire something we want. Children were given one marshmallow and were then promised another, as long as they could wait for 20 minutes before eating the first. Some children were able to wait while others could not. The researches kept track of the children as they aged and found that those who were able to wait went on to have significantly higher SAT scores and supposedly found more success in later life.
An interesting (though quite challenging) article about the marshmallow test is available here if you are interested in learning more.
Qustions to consider:
- Why do you think the children who could wait for more marshmallows were more successful adults?
- Do you think you would have passed the test when you were a child? Do you consider yourself a patient person today?
- Can you remember a time when you needed to defer gratification?
You can find more information and a gallery of paintings on her official site. Another nice article, where Camilla is described as an “art factory” can be found here. A final, comprehensive interview is offered here if you’re still interested in learning more about her work.
Questions to Consider
-What do you think of her paintings? Is there one you particularly like?
-D’errico’s artwork has a very distinct style quite reminiscent of manga. Are you a fan of manga, or any other types of graphic literature? Do you know someone who is?
-What’s your opinion on manga, comic books, or this style of art? Why do you think manga is so popular today?
Today is September 9th, 2009. That means that the date today, in European and North American styles of date notation, is 9/9/09. Not only is the number nine considered lucky in many cultures, but this is actually the last set of single-digit dates that we’ll see for almost a century — until January 1st, 2101. Oh, and we won’t see another 09/09/09 for another 999 years!
People are celebrating this special date in a number of ways. Check out this article at The Telegraph or this one at LiveScience to learn more.
Things to consider:
-Discuss something that has occurred because of this special date. Use the link above or mention something else that you have heard about.
-Do you believe numbers or dates have any special significance? Does anyone else you know believe in numerology?
-Do you or anyone you know have other superstitious beliefs? About what?
-Do you have any thoughts or opinions on superstition in general?
