1. Why do people get bored?

I suppose that people get bored when they have nothing to do. When a schedule remains wide open280, the person doesn,t have any hobbies they want to pursue, and no distraction is working, then boredom sets in281. Or, a person could get bored if they are doing something really repetitive, like filing the same set of forms a million times, or if there5 s just no change in their lifestyle. It can cause a lot of discomfort because then the person feels unsatisfied and suffocated by their routine.

2. What people usually do when they feel bored?

If the person has time and the energy, usually they shake things up282 in their schedule. They might go meet a friend or do something unexpected like take a day off and go out somewhere with family. On the other hand, someone who is bored might just play video games or switch the TV on and distract themselves with TV shows or movies283. Pursuing a hobby is another easy way to get rid of boredom.

3. Do you think boring jobs will be replaced by robots?

Well, if by boring we are referring to jobs like factory line jobs, then yes, I do think that those jobs will be replaced by robots. In fact, those jobs are already being replaced by robots. Machinery like rollers are now taking the place of284 factory line workers who would previously have to hand-roll dough285 or prints. There are now machines that make bricks, which are replacing thousands of jobs that used to belong to people.

4. Does technology have a positive influence or negative influence on people9 s lives?

I think it’s a mix of both286. On the one hand, technology allows people to become connected globally.
For the first time, we are able to get news from across the world and actually participate in it. Connecting with family has never been easier. Even if you’re across the world，you can connect with them literally in seconds287. On the other hand，technology can be addictive，and can also isolate you from the rest of the world. For example，lots of young guys can’t put down their phone. Some of them avoid or are even afraid of social interactions288.

5. What kind of jobs do you think are boring?

It seems to me that jobs that are really repetitive，like factory lines or office work，can be really boring.

It’s the mindless289, unchallenging tasks that can really cause boredom because you don’t have to even think about what you’re doing. It can make time pass by really slowly. A lot of the time，doing the same task over and over again can make you feel unsatisfied or as if you’re wasting your potential.

280 a schedule remains wide open:日程完全是开放的（意思是没有特别的安排，比较闲）
281 set in:开始，到来
282 shake things up:改变，重新安排
283 distract with…:用…分散注意力（这里指打发时间）
284 take the place of:替代
285 hand-roll dough:手工/手动做面团
286 it’s a mix of both:两者都有（很多Part3的问题回答都不会很绝对，所以这样的表达方式很适合使用）
287 in seconds:在短时间内
288 social interactions：社交
289 mindless:机械简单的