Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

B2-C1

Why Boredom is Good For You

Veritasium

7.3M views 8 years ago

Warm-up Questions

When do you usually feel bored, and what do you do to stop it?
Do you think boredom can ever be good for your brain? Why or why not?
How often do you spend time just relaxing and thinking (without a phone)?

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Start With: Word Definition

Order: Alphabetical Random

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Why Boredom is Good For You

Experiment: People choose pain over boredom + what boredom is (00:00 – 01:56)

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1. In the study described, what were participants given in the room?

Only a button they knew would shock them
A book of short stories
A phone with no internet connection
A set of puzzles and a timer

2. What did many participants do even though they had said they would pay to avoid it?

They fell asleep
They shocked themselves
They started meditating
They chose to leave the room early

3. According to the video, boredom is NOT mainly about having nothing to do. It is about…

being physically tired after work
having options that don’t appeal to you
not having enough time to relax
being unable to use technology

Why Boredom is Good For You

Why boredom helps: creativity, action, altruism, and planning (01:56 – 06:02)

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1. After doing a very boring task, what did participants do better in the creativity test?

They solved math problems faster
They memorized more words
They generated more ideas for uses of a plastic cup
They focused longer without distractions

2. What is described as “the paradox of boredom” in the video?

Boredom always makes people more stressed, but also more productive
Boredom happens only when you are alone, but also when you are with friends
Boredom feels sluggish and disinterested, but may spur you to action
Boredom is caused by phones, but phones also stop boredom permanently

3. What is “autobiographical planning”?

Writing your life story for a school project
Planning a vacation based on your childhood memories
Using an app to organize your daily schedule
Thinking about your life as a story and where you want it to go in the future

Why Boredom is Good For You

Conclusion + sponsor message (LastPass) (06:02 – 07:22)

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1. What does the speaker tell viewers to think carefully about before doing it?

Before downloading any social media app
Before pressing that button
Before reading the phone book
Before donating blood

2. What is LastPass described as?

A news app
A meditation program
A social media platform
A password manager

3. Which feature is mentioned as “super important” because it keeps accounts secure?

Unlimited password storage
A daily reminder to change passwords
A built-in web browser
Multi-factor authentication

Why Boredom is Good For You

Transcript will load here…

1. What is one main claim of the video about boredom?

Boredom can support creativity and better long-term thinking
Boredom is always harmful and should be eliminated
Boredom only happens to people who don’t have hobbies
Boredom is the same as depression

2. Why does the video suggest people often avoid boredom with their phones?

Because boredom only happens when you are online
Because phones force you to set long-term goals
Because phones make people more creative
Because boredom is unpleasant and phones easily relieve it

3. According to the video, what might be a hidden cost of constantly avoiding boredom?

You may stop enjoying leisure activities completely
You may lose your ability to read
You may become less creative and less likely to set goals
You may forget how to talk to people forever

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Why Boredom is Good For You

Do you agree that boredom can make people more creative? What examples from your life support or contradict this?
When you are waiting (in line, on a bus, at a traffic light), what do you usually do—use your phone or let your mind wander? Why?
The video suggests boredom can help with goal-setting. What long-term goals might you think about if you had 10 minutes with no distractions?
Should schools or workplaces build in “boredom time” (quiet time with no devices)? What could be the benefits and risks?