Were you constantly bored as a child? Maybe that helped you to develop your ability to be creative.
Boredom can be a good thing for children, according to Dr Teresa Belton, researcher at the University of East Anglia’s School of Education and Lifelong Learning. After interviewing authors, artists and scientists in Britain, she’s reached the conclusion that cultural expectations that children should be constantly active could block the development of their imagination.
British actress and writer Meera Syal grew up in a small mining village with few distractions. The researcher said: “Lack of things to do urged her to talk to people she wouldn’t otherwise have engaged with and try activities she wouldn’t, under other circumstances, have experienced, such as talking to elderly neighbors and learning to bake cakes.”
Belton added: “Boredom made her write. Meera Syal kept a diary from a young age, filling it with observations, short stories, poems. ”
The researcher didn’t ignore the old saying the devil finds work for idle hands, though. Belton pointed out that young people who don’t have the interior resources to deal with boredom creatively may end up smashing up bus shelters or taking cars out for a joyride.
How about watching TV and videos on the computer? The researcher believes that nothing replaces standing and staring at things and observing your surroundings.
It’s the sort of thing that stimulates the imagination, she said, while the screen “tends to short circuit that process and the development of creative capacity. ”
Dr Belton concluded: “For the sake of creativity, perhaps we need to slow down and stay offline from time to time. ”
1.Dr Teresa Belton did her research by_______.
A.studying cultural differences
B.interviewing professionals
C.keeping a diary
D.observing the surroundings
2.Which of the following best describes the village where Meera Syal grew up?
A.Modern and open
B. Tiny and unexciting
C. Poor and underdevelopment
D. Remote and violent
3.The expression “the devil finds work for idle hands” probably means that people are more likely to_____?
A.do what they should not do if they meet devils.
B.achieve nothing if they work with devils
C.do more work if they didn’t work hard when they were young.
D.get involved in trouble if they have nothing to do with their time.
4.What is Dr Belton’s advice for youngsters?
A.Observe the world around them.
B.Get information online from time to time.
C.Remain constantly active.
D.Read as many books as possible.
5.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.Deal with boredom wisely.
B.Learn from a young age.
C.Enjoy village life.
D.Forget old sayings.
【答案解析】
1.【答案】B。
解析:细节题。根据第二段“After interviewing authors, artists and scientists in Britain, she’s reached the conclusion that...”一句可知,她做研究的主要方式是 interviewing(访谈), 而访谈的对象是 authors(作家), artists(艺术家)and scientists(科学家),这些人可概括为 professionals(专业或职 业人士),因此 B 为正确答案。
2.【答案】B。
解析:细节题。此题正确选项 B 也用了同义替换的命题方式。B 项中的“tiny”替代了第二段第一句中的“small”一词, “unexciting(平淡 单调的)” 替代了“with few distractions(鲜有消遣娱乐)”。
3. 【答案】D。
解析:句子语义题。第五段紧跟 “the devil finds work for idle hands”的是“...young people who don’t have the...cars out for a joyride.”这一句,大意是说,“若没有创造性的心理途径打发无聊的时光,年轻人往往会打砸公交候车亭或偷车去兜风”。选项 D“不知如何打发时间的人往往会惹是生非”能很好地概括原文这一句的意思。
4. 【答案】A。
解析:细节题。根据倒数第三段最后一句“The researcher believes that nothing replaces standing and staring at things and observing your surroundings.”可知,对年轻人来说,“没有什么可以替代静立并细察周围事 物的了”,因此 A 为正确选项。请注意,选项 A 是对原文的反话正说,这也 是常用的命题手段之一。
5. 【答案】A。
解析:主旨题。这题不难,综观全文可知本文主要想说,只要正 确对待,无聊也可能是创造力的源泉。因此A“正确对待无聊”为正确答案。








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