1. When do you need to be focused?

I need to stay focused whenever I?m preparing for an important test. For example, I had a big exam coming up a while ago97. I really had to buckle down and stay on task98 so I could do well.

2. What may distract you when you’re trying to stay focused?

Nowadays, there are so many distractions that can catch your eye99. Technology is probably the number one distraction. It’s hard to stay on task when my phone’s going off100. Computers can distract me too because it，s easy to open a new tab101 and just surf the internet instead of doing your work.

3. Is it difficult for you to stay focused on something?

It depends. Sometimes, when I’m really in the zone102, nothing can distract me or get in my way103. But other times, I can get bored of what I’m doing and I start to lose focus. Plus, I keep my phone on me most of the time, so sometimes when I see a message pop up on the screen104, I get distracted.

4. What do you do to help you concentrate?

I find it helpful to turn off my phone. I usually have it on me, and all the messages and notifications that pop up can be distracting. So I shut off105 my phone and put it away. As the saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind106” It really works wonders for107 concentration.

5. Can you multitask?

I think I can multitask pretty well. Being a student taught me how to juggle lots of different tasks108. Even the simple things, like taking notes while listening to a lecture, teaches you how to multitask well. But you have to stay diligent109, or else110 you’ll end up doing both tasks poorly.

97 a while ago:前段时间
98 buckle down and stay on task:倾尽全力专注在需要做的事情上面
99 catch your eye:吸引人注意（注意此处you并不是指听者）
100 going off:响起
101 openanewtab:开一个新窗口（网页）
102 I’m really in the zone:做事很投入，在状态里
103 get in my way:妨碍我做事
104 pop up on the screen:手机屏幕上弹出来（消息）
105 shut off:关掉
106 out ofsight, out of mind:眼不见心静
107 works wonders for:对…很有效
108 how to juggle lots of different tasks:如何应付不同的任务
109 stay diligent: —直很用心
110 or else:要不然