English Refresher

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English Refresher · CEFR C1 · Unit 7

Time, Attention & the Brain

Talk about focus and the science of attention, and master gerunds and infinitives along the way. Practice, check your answers instantly, and study the flashcards.

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Speaking

How Distracted Are You?

What to do: Work in pairs or small groups. Discuss the questions and try to use a gerund or infinitive in every answer. There is no score — just speak and listen.
Audio 1Listen to an example
Listen to someone describe how they get things done — notice the verb patterns — then describe your own habits.

Talk about it

  • What distracts you most when you're trying to focus? Do you consider yourself a good multitasker?
  • What helps you concentrate? What do you usually avoid doing when you need deep focus?
  • If you had to work in complete silence for two hours, what would help?
Use these verb patterns:
I avoid checking…I plan to…I keep getting distracted by…I've decided to…I enjoy working…I sometimes forget to…
Featured Reading

How Your Brain Manages Attention

Read the full interactive article and do the comprehension quiz.

Read it →
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Reading

The Multitasking Myth

What to do: Read this short extract from the unit article. Then answer the questions and tap Check Answers. (Read the full article using the link above!)

We like to believe we can do several things at once, but the brain disagrees. When we multitask, the prefrontal cortex — the part that handles focus — becomes overloaded, accuracy drops and stress rises. What we call multitasking is really fast task-switching, and each switch has a hidden cost.

The alternative is deep work: long, distraction-free concentration on a single demanding task. It improves memory, lowers stress, and is where the satisfying "flow" state tends to appear.

1. When we multitask, the brain's prefrontal cortex becomes ______.
2. Long, distraction-free concentration on one task is called deep ______.
3. According to the extract, a benefit of single-tasking is…
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Listening

Is Multitasking a Myth?

What to do: Listen two times. Then complete the sentences and answer the questions. Notice the gerunds and infinitives.
Audio 2Nadia and Theo discuss multitasking

Nadia: I honestly work better with five things open at once. I enjoy jumping between tasks.

Theo: Do you, though? I read that the brain can't really multitask — it just switches fast, and each switch has a cost.

Nadia: A cost?

Theo: Yeah. Every time you task-switch, you lose a bit of focus getting back in. They call it a "switching cost". It adds up to a lot of wasted time.

Nadia: Huh. So I just feel productive.

Theo: Pretty much. I decided to try single-tasking for a week, and I finished more, not less. I'd suggest giving it a go.

Nadia: Maybe. I'd need to stop checking my phone every two minutes first.

1. Theo says the brain can't really multitask; it just ______ fast.
2. Every switch has a "switching ______".
3. When Theo tried single-tasking for a week, he ______ more, not less.
4. What is Theo's main point?
5. What does Nadia admit she'd need to do first?
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Vocabulary

The Right Word

What to do: Complete each sentence with a term from the unit. Spelling counts. Tap Check Answers when you're done.
1. Writing a report while checking social media and email is ______.
2. Feeling drained and unable to think clearly after a long meeting is mental ______.
3. Being so absorbed in a task that you lose track of time is a ______ ______ (two words).
4. How long you can concentrate on one thing without losing focus is your ______ ______ (two words).
5. The total amount of mental effort in your working memory is your ______ ______ (two words).
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Grammar

Gerund or Infinitive?

What to do: Is each verb usually followed by the -ing form or by to + verb? Tap a card to move it (first box, then second box, then back), then tap Check Answers.
Followed by -ing
Followed by to + verb
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Structure

Build the Sentence

What to do: Tap the chunks in the correct order to build an advanced sentence (a gerund and a cleft). Tap a chunk in your answer to send it back. Then tap Check Answers.

1. A gerund after "suggest":

2. A cleft sentence (for emphasis):

7
Writing

My Ideal Focused Day

What to do: Write a short text (about 120–150 words) describing your ideal focused day — the habits you'd use and the distractions you'd avoid. There is no automatic score; use the checklist.
Model: "My ideal day would start with deep work before checking any messages. I'd plan to write for ninety minutes, then stop to take a real break instead of scrolling. I enjoy working in silence, so I'd avoid leaving notifications on. I keep meaning to try the Pomodoro technique — tomorrow I'll finally do it."
0 words

Did you include…

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Vocabulary

Flashcards

What to do: Tap a card to reveal the meaning and an example. These are the key terms for this unit and the reading.
cognitive loadnountap to reveal
the total mental effort in your working memory"Too many tabs increase cognitive load."
attention spannountap to reveal
how long you can focus without losing concentration"My attention span shrinks online."
multitaskingnountap to reveal
trying to do several tasks at the same time"Multitasking usually means doing each thing worse."
task-switchingnountap to reveal
moving frequently from one task to another"Task-switching has a hidden cost."
deep worknountap to reveal
long, distraction-free concentration on one task"Mornings are best for deep work."
a flow statenountap to reveal
being fully absorbed and losing track of time"I slipped into a flow state and hours passed."
mental fatiguenountap to reveal
feeling mentally exhausted or unable to concentrate"By 4 p.m. mental fatigue sets in."
a distractionnountap to reveal
anything that pulls your attention from your task"Notifications are the worst distraction."
a productivity hacknountap to reveal
a small tip that helps you work more efficiently"The Pomodoro technique is a popular productivity hack."
the attention economynountap to reveal
the business of capturing and holding our attention"Apps compete in the attention economy."

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