You have waited 45 minutes for the valuable 10 minutes’ break between classes. But when the bell for the next class rings, you can’t believe how ___36__ time has passed.
If you are ___37___ with this scene, you’ll know how time flies when you are having fun and __38__ when you are bored. Now scientists have ___39___ a reason why this is the case.
Scans have shown that patterns of activity in the brain ___40___ according to how we focus on a task. When we are ___41___ , we concentrate more on how time is passing. And ____42___ makes our brains think the clock is ticking more slowly.
In an experiment ____43___ by a French laboratory, 12 volunteers watched an image ___44___ researchers monitored their brain activity.
The volunteers were told to __45____ concentrate on how long an image appeared for, then ____46___ the color of the image, and thirdly, study both duration and color. The results showed that ___47__ was more active when the volunteers paid attention to ___48__ subjects.
It is thought __49____ if the brain is focusing on many aspects of a task, it has to ___50__ its resources, and pays less attention to the clock. ____51__ , time passes without us really __52___ it, and seems to go quickly. If the brain is not so active, it concentrates its ___53____ energies on monitoring the passing of time. __54__ , time seems to drag.
Next time you feel bored ___55___ , perhaps you should pay more attention to what the teacher is saying!
36. A. slowly B. quickly
C. terribly D. foolishly
37. A. disappointed B. satisfied
C. familiar D. similar
38. A. drags B. stops C. goes D. backs
39. A. thought over B. made up
C. suggested with D. come up with
40. A. change B. develop C. grow D. slow
41. A. sleepy B. bored C. excited D. active
42. A. which B. we C. this D. what
43. A. produced B. carried out C. tried D. did
44. A. where B. when C. while D. as
45. A. partly B. quickly C. how D. first
46. A. familiar with B. focus on
C. make out D. tell apart
47. A. the researchers B. the experiment
C. the clock D. the brain
48. A. no B. less C. some D. more
49. A. when B. which C. that D. where
50. A. fix B. gather C. reach D. spread
51. A. However B. Furthermore C. Therefore D. Finally
52. A. recognizing B. watching C. noticing D. counting
53. A. enough B. full C. right D. proper
54. A. In fact B. As a result C. For example D. Instead
55. A. in class B. with work C. in mind D. of lessons
36—40 BCADA 41—45 BCBCD
46—50 BDDCD 51—55 CCBBA