A
We all put off things in one way or another: finishing a final paper hours before the deadline, or putting off that trip to the supermarket until the refrigerator shelves are completely empty. Psychologists call that procrastination, which is to delay doing something that you should do, usually because you don’t want to do it.
In recent years, psychologists around the world have been asking: what else is there behind procrastination? “Procrastination is based on our genetics”, says Sharad Paul, MD, author of The Genetics of Health. If you like to put things off or surf the internet instead of getting work done, you might be able to blame your ancestors.
While procrastination seems like a character weakness, it developed for a reason. “The genes progressed down generations because these people were still hidden in caves fearful of animals that fedonmeat. They were always saying,“My tools are not sharp enough. I’d better spend more time perfecting this spear.’” says Sharad Paul. “These people survived more because they avoided conflicts, and these genes were handed down to future generations.”
While it’s highly attractive to simply blame your parents, the buck stops with you. Paul says, “People think that genes determine their fate. This is only true if their actions lead in that direction.”
“Anything can be changed or improved, including our gene expressions”, says Paul, who likes to refer to the 10,000-hours theory Malcom Gladwell shares in his book The Outliers, suggesting that talent is made with practice and commitment, not a born character. The best thing to overcome procrastination is to get moving. “Start slow and keep building up perseverance levels. There are many different forms of perseverance exercise and many involve leg movements. Pick one that you like. An average of just 30 minutes a day has been shown to bebeneficial.
Paul says, “If you have the right genes, this could be perhaps a bit faster, but not by much.”Therefore, there is hope for us all.
21.Why does the author use examples in the firstparagraph?
A. To make readers familiar with themselves.
B. To introduce the topic ofprocrastination.
C. To show our bad behaviours ofprocrastination.
D. To explain why we have the habit ofprocrastination.
22.The underlined sentence in paragraph 4 probablymeans “ ”.
A. Genes from your parents are toblame.
B. Your actions make you highlyattractive.
C. You should take the responsibility foryourself.
D. You should stop throwing bucks at yourparents.
23.What’s best title of thepassage?
A. Genes: WeaknessorHope? B. Genes: Prevention orCure?
C. Procrastination: Reasonand Solution. D. Procrastination: Example andHistory.
