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On what occasions do people have to do things in a hurry?

Oh, let me see. Well, I think people can often find themselves in a rush when facing a serious situation, especially when it entails a dilemma. For example, perhaps deciding if one should go out or not, you know, to say home or to head out to meet someone or go for dinner or the bar or something like that, and then when push comes to shove, and they make the decision to go out, they need to rush to get ready to go out.

I think another situation when people find themselves in a rush is when something can’t be missed, in other words, facing a deadline. I would imagine that a common scenario is one where the individual needs to catch a flight or a train, or even a bus. Of course, missing the mode of transportation could result in a substantial cost or disruption to their plans, hence, a deadline is a great motivator to get moving, without hanging around. But I’m sure there are many occasions when people have to think or act swiftly.

Another example that comes to mind is when taking an exam, since not completing an exam within the stipulated time frame could lead to adverse academic consequences.

I’d sum up by saying that the need to act in haste is often a response to the potential negative consequences that could follow if one fails to meet the demands of the situation.

• in a rush 匆忙
• a serious situation 严重的情况
• entails a dilemma 意味着两难选择
• head out 外出
• when push comes to shove 到了紧要关头
• go out 出门
• get ready 准备好
• facing a deadline 面临截止日期
• catch a flight 赶飞机
• the mode of transportation 交通方式
• result in 导致
• a substantial cost 巨大的代价
• disruption to their plans 打乱计划
• a great motivator 强大的动力
• get moving 行动起来
• without hanging around 不耽搁
• act swiftly 迅速行动
• stipulated time frame 规定的时间
• adverse 不利的
• act in haste 匆忙行事
• fails to meet the demands of 未能满足……的要求

Why do some people spend a long time on having a meal?

Haha, I’ve often wondered that myself! I find it almost unbearable how some people, especially girls, can take, like, half an hour to finish something such as McDonald’s French fries. In a way though, it’s also commendable as eating is more like a ritual, something that time should be spent doing, or as some form of relaxation, a type of downtime to relax and perhaps do something else while grazing on their food.

Definitely, there are of course those who, when dining on something delicious, like fine cuisine, may simply wish to savor the flavors, and so enjoying the taste becomes far more important than simply eating, in other words, putting pleasure before utility.

Attending a social gathering is another reason why people might dine leisurely since the meal will probably include conversation, and so communicating with your fellow diners takes precedence. Consequently, the unhurried pace allows people to not only relish the taste of their food but also to engage in a meaningful conversation, turning mealtime into an enjoyable social event.

Would people feel more satisfied if they finished doing something quickly?

I have no idea, but in saying that, it is true that in today’s world, people are far more susceptible to wanting immediate gratification. From watching a video to listening to a song, to everything that is considered a chore, and perhaps even their work, people seem to want to finish the task more quickly than before. So from that perspective, I would have to say yes, a degree of satisfaction derived from completing a task quickly is probably tangible; however, in saying that, I would also imagine it varies based on the individual’s personality traits.

What might make some people more productive than others in completing tasks?

Well, in terms of encouraging people to be more productive, I think the number one motivator has to be money. A financial reward, no matter which type of remuneration, has always been at the forefront of being able to motivate people to be more

If, however, all external influences are equal when comparing people, the reasons why one might be more productive than another is that the person might be more efficient, or more task-oriented, or more effective in their decision-making, all of which could enable that person to complete the task more quickly.  Additionally, I would say that the ability to plan and organize time effectively, in other words possessing time-management skills, also serves as a main determinant in productivity.

So I would say a financial reward, a combination of inherent traits and the acquired skill of effective time management can all contribute to being more productive than others.

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