在工作和生活中，人們需要解決各類問題、對不同的情況做出預測並應對大大小小的挑戰。換位思考、靈活變通可能會讓看似棘手的問題迎刃而解。“彈性思維” 指的就是根據當前的狀況來調整自己的想法、行動和感受的思維方式。人們可以通過激發想象力、嘗試新事物和接觸新體驗來提高自己的變通能力。本期 “隨身英語” 節目探討日常工作中的 “彈性思維”。
詞匯：work 工作
Does work ever leave you feeling stuck in a rut with limited opportunities to be creative? To thrive, you might want to increase your brain’s flexibility. But is this even possible, and if so, how?
Most jobs require the ability to problem-solve and cope with challenges, at least to a certain extent. Imagine a teacher who has a new and very nervous student in their class. If that teacher is a flexible thinker, they will be able to adapt their classroom management, even if they haven’t seen this situation before. According to Leonard Mlodinow, author of Elastic, flexible thinkers rely on idea generation and imagination – they are willing to experiment and take risks. “Elastic thinking is what you need when the circumstances change, and you are dealing with something new. It’s not about following rules.” Therefore, instead of following the typical procedure for inducting a new student, the teacher might come up with a tailored response, based on prediction and previous experience.
So, how can you become a more flexible thinker? According to Dr Lisa Feldman Barrett, it’s all about exercising the brain. One way of doing this, she says, is through exposure to a variety of experiences which make it easier to adjust to new situations. A lot of companies now consider flexible thinking in the workplace, especially when it comes to design. Workspaces may have couches where workers can lie down and relax, giving them the space to come up with and process new ideas. Mlodinow says it’s very important to take time to daydream, listen to ideas and concepts you disagree with and spend time doing activities outside of your comfort zone. This will help you understand multiple points of view and therefore blossom in many different aspects of your career.
So, if you want to make a change, you can become a flexible thinker too, with a little practice.
詞匯表
stuck in a rut 一成不變
flexibility 靈活性
problem-solve 解決問題
cope with 應對
adapt 適應
idea generation 創意生成
imagination 想象力
experiment 實踐，嘗試
circumstance （客觀）環境，狀況
typical 典型的
come up with 想出，提出
tailored 特制的，有針對性的
prediction 預測
exposure 接觸
adjust 適應
daydream 白日做夢，幻想
concept 觀念，概念
comfort zone 舒適區
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. What do flexible thinkers rely on, according to Leonard Mlodinow?
2. True or false? A flexible teacher will follow the typical procedure for inducting a new student.
3. How can you exercise your brain, according to Dr Lisa Feldman Barrett?
4. Why do some workspaces have couches?
5. According to Mlodinow, why is it important to daydream and do activities outside of your comfort zone?
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. We are _______ with different flavour combinations for the cafe.
adapting experimenting daydreaming adjusting
2. Can you make a _______ about what happens next?
imagination circumstance prediction comfort zone
3. I find it difficult to _______ the pressure of exams.
alter come up with problem-solve cope with
4. After working in the same job for ten years, Osama felt stuck in _______.
concept exposure idea generation a rut
5. Zainab only buys _______ suits. That’s why they fit her so well.
typical tailored flexible nervous
答案
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. What do flexible thinkers rely on, according to Leonard Mlodinow?
Flexible thinkers rely on idea generation and imagination, they are willing to experiment and take risks.
2. True or false? A flexible teacher will follow the typical procedure for inducting a new student.
False. Instead of following the typical procedure for inducting a new student, the teacher might come up with a tailored response.
3.How can you exercise your brain, according to Dr Lisa Feldman Barrett?
According to Dr Lisa Feldman Barrett, one way is through exposure to a variety of experiences which makes it easier to adjust to new situations.
4. Why do some workspaces have couches?
Because this means workers can lie down and relax, giving them the space to come up with and process new ideas.
5. According to Mlodinow, why is it important to daydream and do activities outside of your comfort zone?
Because this will help you understand multiple points of view and therefore blossom in many different aspects of your career.
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. We are experimenting with different flavour combinations for the cafe.
2. Can you make a prediction about what happens next?
3. I find it difficult to cope with the pressure of exams.
4. After working in the same job for ten years, Osama felt stuck in a rut.
5. Zainab only buys tailored suits. That’s why they fit her so well.
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