Lesson 2 The Power of Good Habits
Wake Up Your Lazy Brain!
Hello, ____! Welcome to Science Report. I’m your host, Alvin Stuart.
We all know how important it is for us to ____ our bodies.
But what about our ____?
Did you know that it’s important to ____ out your mind, too?
Dr. ____ Yoon, a professor of neuroscience at Central University, is here with us today to talk about how we can become better thinkers.
Thank ____ for joining us, Dr. Yoon!
Doctor, what is the secret to ____ a better thinker?
Well, I want to begin by asking the audience a ____.
Suppose you go into a ____ to purchase a notebook and a pen.
The total price is $1.10, and the ____ costs $1 more than the pen.
____ is the price of the pen?
____ your hand if “$0.10” was the first thing that came to mind.
Host: That’s what popped into my head.
The correct ____ is “$0.05.” Now, think again. Do you see the error in your calculation?
If the price of the pen was $0.10, then the notebook ____ cost $1.10.
That would make the total ____ $1.20.
It seems like an easy ____ now.
If you pause, take your time, and carefully think about it, you will ____ your mistake.
This simple question reveals the fundamental way that our brains ____.
They actually ____ two different systems that they can utilize: System 1 and System 2.
System 1 is based on instinct, and it works ____ our conscious control.
Our brains naturally apply this ____ in countless everyday situations, such as when we hear simple sentences, see large words on advertisements, or encounter easy questions like “2+2=?”.
This system works very quickly, because it needs to ____ process enormous amounts of information coming in through our senses.
If ____ initially came up with the answer “$0.10” to the question I asked earlier, that was the automatic response of System 1.
Host: That is fascinating!
So if System 1 produces these rapid, ____ responses to situations we regularly encounter in daily life, what is the role of System 2?
System 2 is responsible for our reasoning and ____ decision-making processes.
Our brains use this system when we compare the prices and features of products, ____ the validity of an argument, or encounter difficult questions like “238×79×451=?”.
It controls ____ mental activities when we need to focus or make careful choices.
____, while System 2 is more reliable, its application requires time and effort.
If you got the right answer to the notebook and pen question after taking a few seconds to ____, then your brain used System 2 to check System 1’s initial response.
However, our brains tend to rely heavily on taking ____ shortcuts with System 1.
That is why it’s common for people to answer the ____ incorrectly at first.
So, Doctor, ____ do we rely on these mental shortcuts when System 1 is not as dependable as System 2?
Well, we make about 35,000 ____ every day without realizing it, and it is impossible to make every one of these consciously.
So it’s quite reasonable and effective for the brain to be a bit lazy ____.
____ a lazy brain allows us to save energy for critical tasks that require our focus and attention.
However, it is dangerous when this becomes a ____.
If your brain ____ too reliant on System 1, it will not be able to apply System 2 when you confront a problem that requires intense concentration.
System 2 is essential for exercising human intelligence, so the less you ____ it, the more likely you are to become a lazy thinker.
Those who have an overly lazy brain frequently make errors and bad ____.
They can also develop a habit of accepting things to be true even though they have never ____ proven.
Therefore, it ____ be harmful to develop lazy brain habits.
Host: So how can we resist these lazy brain habits?
We can make a deliberate effort to practice thinking deeply with ____ 2 more often.
Here are some tips: First, reconsider your initial thoughts instead of accepting ____ right away.
Keep generating more ideas and ____ compare the available options before making a decision.
Ask yourself if the information you have ____ supports your original conclusion. If not, then think again.
Next, make use of your natural ____.
Curiosity can ____ us to investigate unfamiliar topics and ideas.
It encourages us to ____ deeper into a subject and explore it from multiple angles.
Therefore, it can serve as a foundation for building deeper ____ habits.
Finally, learn something new in order to stimulate your brain and become ____ intelligent.
Learning a language or a musical instrument might not be easy, but these new activities ____ create new paths that allow information to flow through your brain more efficiently.
That sounds like ____ advice, Doctor. Do you have any final words for our audience?
____. We are creatures of habit, so it is vitally important that we develop well-balanced thinking habits.
We should remain alert so that we do not fall into the ____ of making careless decisions.
We should invest ____ into learning how to think deeply in order to use both System 1 and System 2 harmoniously.
That way, instead of ____ a habit of relying too much on a lazy brain, you can exercise your intelligence and reinforce your mental capabilities.
Okay, Dr. ____. Thanks for the great advice! Please give her a big hand!