High 2 · Reading series
Lesson 16 · The Recommendation I Almost Trusted
Audio track 16
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A video app recommended a study method that promised perfect concentration in three days. It resembled clips I had watched before, so I nearly saved it without thinking. Then I noticed a small label saying that the creator was paid to promote a product.
The method might still have been useful, but the recommendation had two different causes: my viewing history and someone's advertising goal. I searched for the original explanation of the method and found that it suggested testing different study intervals, not buying a special timer.
I tried two intervals during a week of ordinary homework and wrote down when I lost focus. Neither was perfect. On some evenings, a short break helped; on others, the problem was simply that I needed sleep.
The app had correctly guessed what interested me. It could not know what would work in my life. A recommendation can open a question, but it should not close the investigation for me.
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After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
视频应用推荐了一种学习方法，声称三天就能获得完美的专注力。它和我过去看过的短片很像，我差点不加思索地收藏。随后，我注意到一行小字：创作者收钱推广某种产品。
方法本身也许有用，但这条推荐有两个不同来源：我的观看记录，以及别人的广告目的。我查找原始方法说明，发现它建议尝试不同长度的学习间隔，并没有要求买一只特别的计时器。
我在一周的日常作业中试了两种间隔，记录自己何时走神。两种都不完美。有些晚上，短暂休息确实有帮助；另一些晚上，真正的问题只是我需要睡觉。
应用准确猜到了我对什么感兴趣，却无法知道哪种做法适合我的生活。推荐能帮我开启一个问题，但不能替我结束调查。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- recommended
- 推荐；应用推送学习方法。
- promised
- 承诺；声称三天能完美专注。
- resembled
- 相似；内容像看过的短片。
- promote
- 推广；创作者因产品收款。
- viewing history
- 观看记录；推荐的一个依据。
- advertising
- 广告；另一方有销售目的。
- intervals
- 间隔；原方法建议试不同长度。
- ordinary
- 平常的；在普通作业中试验。
- investigation
- 调查；推荐不能代替核查。
- concentration
- 专注力；广告作出夸张承诺。
Background notes (Chinese)
个性化推荐既受观看历史影响，也可能包含付费推广。主人公查原始说明，自己小规模尝试，并把睡眠等生活条件纳入判断。