1 . During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people under lockdown feel lonely and bored. “There is a loneliness epidemic,” said John Dattilo from Pennsylvania State University, US.

So he, together with an international team of researchers, studied how to reduce loneliness and increase positive feelings during the pandemic.

According to their new study, reduced loneliness has something to do with doing enjoyable activities that require both concentration and skill.

“When people are absorbed in what they are doing, they enter a state called ‘flow’,” Dattilo explained. “Flow can be achieved by doing activities that we value and that require us to concentrate fully to use our skills.”

To achieve a state of flow, there must be a balance between the challenge of the task and your skill level. For example, if you’re trying to create a complex computer program but your skill level is low, then you’re likely to feel stressed instead of achieving “flow”. On the contrary, if the task is too easy, then boredom will set in and “flow” will not appear, either.

If you have artistic skills, for example, playing the piano or painting can lead to flow. So can things like skiing, writing and storytelling, depending on who you are.

“When we enter a state of flow, we become absorbed and focused, and we experience momentary(片刻的) enjoyment,” Dattilo said. “When we leave a state of flow, we are often surprised by how much time has passed.”

However, watching television usually doesn’t help people enter flow, according to Dattilo, because there aren’t any challenges.

“People tend to grow on healthy activities and challenge,” said Dattilo. “We hope this research will help people live fuller, happier, healthier lives.”

3 . One factor that can influence consumers is their mood slate. Mood may be defined __________ a temporary and mind positive or negative feeling that is generalized and not tied __________ any particular circumstance. Moods should be ___________ from emotions which are usually more intense, __________ to specific circumstance, and often conscious. __________ a sense, the effect of a consumer’s mood can be thought of in __________ the same way as can our reactions to the __________ of our friends — when our friends are happy and “up”, that tend to influence us positively, __________ when they are “down”, that can have a __________ impact on us. Similarly, consumers operating under a __________ mood state tend to react to stimuli (刺激因素)in a direction __________ with that mood state. Thus, for example, we should expect to see __________ in a positive mood state evaluate products in more of a __________ manner than they would when not in such a state. ___________ , mood states appear capable of __________ a consumer’s memory.

Moods appear to be __________ influenced marketing techniques. For example, the rhythm, pitch and __________ of music has been shown to influence behavior such as the __________ of time spent in supermarkets or __________ to purchase products. In addition, advertising can influence consumers’ mood which, in __________ , are capable of influencing consumer’s reactions to products.