你是否有过这样的经历：参加会议时，在笔记本上漫不经心地乱涂乱画，却能记住会议中别人说了什么？你认为随手乱画的人都心不在焉吗？本文探究为什么随手乱画可能对你有好处。

词汇：The mind 大脑

Do you sometimes find yourself drawing random patterns and designs during meetings and lectures? Some people believe it shows you aren’t listening or paying attention. However, there are studies which claim the opposite, and that doodling might actually be beneficial.

Doodling seems to be ubiquitous. In the past it was seen as a mindless activity and a product of the absentminded.  However, in 2016, an article on the Harvard University website discussed the idea that random drawings may assist memory retention and concentration.

The article highlights that 26 of 44 American presidents were known to doodle, with Ronald Reagan famous for drawing cowboys. A 2009 study conducted by psychologist Jackie Andrade asked 40 people to listen to a ‘dull and rambling’ voice message. Half of the group were asked to doodle and shade in a picture. Those who did were able to recall 29% more of the information contained in the message.

Some experts believe that embracing your creative and artistic sides during meetings may engage your mind. Jesse Prinz, a renowned professor of philosophy, actively encourages his students to doodle. He believes that doodling is the ‘attentional sweet spot’.

And it might not just be good for your concentration. An artist known as Mr Doodle has made a career out of his scribbles. He sells his art online and also goes to people’s homes to decorate their walls.

It seems that random drawing to aid concentration might be becoming more of a thing. People like Sunni Brown, an advocate for doodling, teach adults how to sketch and scribble in the workplace. So, the next time you see someone haphazardly drawing pictures during a meeting, it might be a sign that they are listening more than you think.

词汇表

beneficial 有益的
ubiquitous 普遍存在的
mindless 盲目的
absentminded 心不在焉的
retention 保持，保留
concentration 注意力
highlight 强调
conduct 进行
rambling 杂乱无章的
recall 回想起
embrace 欣然接受
engage 使……感兴趣
renowned 有声望的
sweet spot “甜点”，最佳状态
scribble 乱涂乱画
decorate 装饰
a thing 一个潮流，一种时尚
advocate 支持者
sketch 素描，速写
haphazardly 随意地

测验与练习

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。

1. True, false or not given? To be the President of the United States, you should doodle.

2. Why does Jesse Prinz think doodling is the ‘attentional sweet spot’?

3. True, false or not given? Mr Doodle enjoys doodling on people’s walls.

4. True, false or not given? In the 2009 study, the people who doodled could remember a third more information from the message than those who didn’t.

5. True or False? According to the article, doodling is not common. 

2 . 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Mr Banks is a person of great _______.

renowned                      renown                          renow                      renowning

2. I was walking _______ when I fell over the log.

mind                             mindlessness                 mindlessly                mindless

3. I can’t _______ with all that noise!

concentrated                concentration                 concentrate              concentrates

4. _______ is a thing he loves to do to relax.

sketching                     sketcher                         sketched                   sketches

5. She’s so boring.  She just _______ on.

rambling                      ramble                            rambled                    rambles

答案

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。  

1. True, false or not given? To be the President of the United States you should doodle.
Not given. The article only mentions the majority of presidents have doodled.

2. Why does Jesse Prinz think doodling is the ‘attentional sweet spot’?
Because certain experts like him believe that doodling helps to engage the mind.

3. True, false or not given? Mr Doodle enjoys doodling on people’s walls.
Not given. The article only mentions that Mr Doodle enjoys doodling.

4. True, false or not given? In the 2009 study, the people who doodled could remember a third more information from the message than those who didn’t.
False. The people who doodled could remember 29% more – which is less than a third.

5. True or False? According to the article, doodling is not common.
False. The article states that doodling is ubiquitous.

2 .  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Mr Banks is a person of great renown.

2. I was walking mindlessly when I fell over the log.

3. I can’t concentrate with all that noise!

4. Sketching is a thing he loves to do to relax.

5. She’s so boring. She just rambles on.