Could boredom be good for you? A Harvard professor says we should abandon our centuries-old hatred for feeling bored. He claims that boredom is what helps us to realise what is missing in our lives.
Embrace doing nothing, says professor
Uncomfortable thoughts: When we have nothing to occupy our brains, we are left with the wanderings of our minds. Comprehension quiz
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The word fulfilling most nearly means:
A: Making someone feel happy and satisfied
B: Making someone feel tired and sleepy
C: Making someone feel angry and frustrated
D: Making someone feel hungry
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Which word is the closest synonym for eliminate?
A: Increase
B: Understand
C: Get rid of
D: Create
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Please add the correct punctuation to the sentence below:
why is boredom so bad he asks
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According to the article, which writer gave us a character who suffered from boredom in 1853?
A: Arthur C Brooks
B: An Ancient Greek monk
C: Annie Dillard
D: Charles Dickens
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What is one positive thing that Professor Arthur C Brooks says can come from being bored?
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According to the article, why does Professor Brooks believe that so many people experience depression and anxiety today?
Answers
Tap to reveal
1. A 2. C 3. “Why is boredom so bad?” he asks. 4. D 5. Any one of the following: it can unlock our creativity, or it can reduce our chances of being depressed. It can also help you think about the big questions and lead a fulfilling life. 6. He believes it is because people don’t know the meaning of their lives.
Glossary
Charles Dickens - The Victorian novelist is credited with inventing Christmas as we know it today through the warm descriptions of it in his books.
Aristocratic - Belonging to the highest levels of society — the top of the upper classes.
Eliminate - Completely put an end to.
Embrace - Hug someone, or welcome an idea.
Fulfilling - Making you feel happy and satisfied.
Depressed - Depression is low mood that affects someone's daily life, and can last for weeks or months.
Anxiety - A feeling of unease or worry. It can be mild or very severe.
Annie Dillard - An American author born in 1945, who won the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.