Question

while using other media when studying is detrimental to performance, students may not always be aware of this because they tend to overestimate their ability to multitask. for instance, one study asked participants to do either one task or two tasks at the same time. the tasks involved judging whether spoken statements are correct and counting the shapes of visual objects. although teenagers and young adults reported strong certitude in their ability to multitask, their actual performance was almost always worse compared to when they were doing just one task. overall, these results suggest that using media when studying should be limited due to the decrease in performance when multitasking. one strategy to avoid the negative effects of media multitasking is to take short “technology breaks” during which you may access the internet, but then restrict its use for the rest of your study period. other options may be to avoid using smartphones and other devices before studying is completed for the day, or to keep such technology in communal areas away from the studying space. so while you might think you can study in a busy cafe, or with the television on, or with your phone keeping you connected to the world, the chances are that you’re not as good at getting down to work as you think. by planning studying sessions in a way that mitigates external distractions, you could improve your concentration and overall performance. question 19 what is the meaning of “mitigates” as it is used in paragraph 11? a. diminishes b. manipulates c. necessitates d. tolerates

Explanation:

The word "mitigates" in the context of "mitigates external distractions" means to make something less severe, serious, or painful. Among the options, "diminishes" has a similar meaning in the sense of reducing the impact of distractions.

Answer:

A. diminishes