Daily Reading Practice · Nonfiction passage
Any word, any time — right from this page.
Have you ever planned to study or do homework but ended upend up (phrasal)To finally be in a situation you did not plan.≈ Synonym: finish up🇺🇿UZ: oxir-oqibat ...bo'lib qolmoq🇷🇺RU: в итоге оказаться watching videos or scrollingscroll (verb)Moving through content on a screen by sliding your finger or a mouse.≈ Synonym: swiping🇺🇿UZ: ekranni pastga-yuqoriga surish🇷🇺RU: пролистывание, скроллинг through your phone instead? If so, you’re not alonealone (adj)Without other people.≈ Synonym: on your own🇺🇿UZ: yolg'iz🇷🇺RU: один, одинокий. This common habithabit (noun)Something a person does often and regularly, usually without thinking.≈ Synonym: routine behaviour🇺🇿UZ: odat🇷🇺RU: привычка is called procrastinationprocrastination (noun)The act of delaying or putting off tasks, especially important ones.≈ Synonym: delaying tasks🇺🇿UZ: ishni keyinga surish🇷🇺RU: прокрастинация, откладывание дел — delayingdelay (verb)Putting off doing something until later.≈ Synonym: postponing🇺🇿UZ: kechiktirish🇷🇺RU: откладывание, задержка something even when we know it’s important. But why do we do it?
Procrastination is not just about lazinesslaziness (noun)The quality of being unwilling to work or make an effort.≈ Synonym: idleness🇺🇿UZ: dangasalik🇷🇺RU: лень. In fact, many people who procrastinate are hard-workinghard-working (adj)Putting a lot of effort and energy into work.≈ Synonym: diligent🇺🇿UZ: mehnatkash, tirishqoq🇷🇺RU: трудолюбивый in other areas of life. The real reason is often emotionalemotional (adj)Related to feelings rather than facts or logic.≈ Synonym: feelings-based🇺🇿UZ: hissiy, emotsional🇷🇺RU: эмоциональный. When we faceface (verb)To have to deal with a difficult situation or task.≈ Synonym: encounter🇺🇿UZ: duch kelmoq, ro'para bo'lmoq🇷🇺RU: сталкиваться (с чем-то) a task that feels difficult, boringboring (adj)Not interesting.≈ Synonym: dull🇺🇿UZ: zerikarli🇷🇺RU: скучный, or stressfulstressful (adj)Causing worry, pressure, or mental strain.≈ Synonym: pressuring🇺🇿UZ: stressli, asabiylashtiruvchi🇷🇺RU: напряжённый, стрессовый, our brain wants to avoidavoid (verb)To stay away from something or try not to do it.≈ Synonym: evade🇺🇿UZ: qochmoq, oldini olmoq🇷🇺RU: избегать discomfortdiscomfort (noun)A feeling of being uneasy or slightly unhappy.≈ Synonym: unease🇺🇿UZ: noqulaylik🇷🇺RU: дискомфорт. So instead of starting the task, we choose something more pleasantpleasant (adj)Enjoyable or satisfying.≈ Synonym: enjoyable🇺🇿UZ: yoqimli🇷🇺RU: приятный — like checking social media or watching a movie.
This behaviourbehaviour (noun)The way a person acts or behaves.≈ Synonym: conduct🇺🇿UZ: xulq-atvor, xatti-harakat🇷🇺RU: поведение is part of how our brain works. The prefrontal cortex, which helps us plan and control actions, is weaker than the limbic system, which controls emotions. That’s why short-term pleasureshort-term pleasureEnjoyment that lasts only for a short time.≈ Synonym: instant gratification🇺🇿UZ: qisqa muddatli zavq🇷🇺RU: кратковременное удовольствие often wins over long-term goalslong-term goalThings a person hopes to achieve over a long period of time.≈ Synonym: future objectives🇺🇿UZ: uzoq muddatli maqsadlar🇷🇺RU: долгосрочные цели.
There are different types of procrastinatorsprocrastinator (noun)A person who often delays doing things.🇺🇿UZ: ishni ortga suradigan odam🇷🇺RU: прокрастинатор. Some wait until the last minute because they believe they work better under pressurepressure (noun)A feeling that you must do something, often quickly.≈ Synonym: stress🇺🇿UZ: bosim🇷🇺RU: давление. Others feel so overwhelmedoverwhelmed (adj)Feeling that a task or situation is too much to deal with.≈ Synonym: swamped🇺🇿UZ: bosib ketilgan, ezilib qolgan🇷🇺RU: подавленный, ошеломлённый by the task that they avoid it completely. Some are perfectionistsperfectionist (noun)People who want everything to be completely correct or perfect.≈ Synonym: people who demand perfection🇺🇿UZ: perfeksionistlar, mukammallikka intiluvchilar🇷🇺RU: перфекционисты — they wait for the “perfect” time to begin or fear making mistakesmistake (noun)Something that is wrong.≈ Synonym: error🇺🇿UZ: xato🇷🇺RU: ошибка.
The problem is that procrastination can create a cyclecycle (noun)A series of events that repeat again and again in the same order.≈ Synonym: repeating pattern🇺🇿UZ: aylanma jarayon, tsikl🇷🇺RU: цикл. At first, we feel reliefrelief (noun)A feeling of comfort after something stressful stops or is avoided.≈ Synonym: comfort🇺🇿UZ: yengillik hissi🇷🇺RU: облегчение by avoiding the task. But later, we feel stress, guiltguilt (noun)A feeling of having done something wrong.≈ Synonym: remorse🇺🇿UZ: aybdorlik hissi🇷🇺RU: чувство вины, or panicpanic (noun)A sudden, strong feeling of fear or anxiety.≈ Synonym: alarm🇺🇿UZ: vahima, qo'rquv🇷🇺RU: паника. This stress makes it harder to focusfocus (verb)To give all your attention to something.≈ Synonym: concentrate🇺🇿UZ: diqqatni jamlamoq🇷🇺RU: сосредоточиться, so we procrastinate again. Over time, this can damage our confidenceconfidence (noun)A feeling of trust in one's own abilities.≈ Synonym: self-belief🇺🇿UZ: o'ziga ishonch🇷🇺RU: уверенность and performanceperformance (noun)How well someone does a task or job.≈ Synonym: results🇺🇿UZ: samaradorlik, ko'rsatkich🇷🇺RU: успеваемость, результативность.
So how can we stop procrastinating? One useful methodmethod (noun)A particular way of doing something.≈ Synonym: technique🇺🇿UZ: usul, metod🇷🇺RU: метод is to break the task into smaller stepsstep (noun)Individual actions taken as part of a larger process.≈ Synonym: stages🇺🇿UZ: qadamlar, bosqichlar🇷🇺RU: шаги, этапы. A big task can feel scaryscary (adj)Causing fear.≈ Synonym: frightening🇺🇿UZ: qo'rqinchli🇷🇺RU: пугающий, but a small action — like writing one sentence or studying for five minutes — is easier to begin. Once we start, it often becomes easier to keep goingkeep going (phrasal)To continue doing something.≈ Synonym: carry on🇺🇿UZ: davom etmoq🇷🇺RU: продолжать.
Another tiptip (noun)A useful piece of advice.≈ Synonym: hint🇺🇿UZ: maslahat🇷🇺RU: совет is to set a timer. Try the Pomodoro Technique — work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. This makes studying feel more manageablemanageable (adj)Able to be dealt with or controlled without too much difficulty.≈ Synonym: doable🇺🇿UZ: boshqarsa bo'ladigan, qulay🇷🇺RU: посильный, управляемый and helps train the brain to focus.
It also helps to remove distractionsdistraction (noun)Things that take your attention away from what you should be doing.≈ Synonym: interruptions🇺🇿UZ: chalg'ituvchi omillar🇷🇺RU: отвлекающие факторы. Keep your phone in another room, block websites that wastewaste (verb)To use something badly or when it is not needed.≈ Synonym: squander🇺🇿UZ: behuda sarflamoq🇷🇺RU: тратить впустую your time, and create a clean study space. Making it easier to start — and harder to avoid — is key.
Finally, be kind to yourself. Everyone procrastinates sometimes. What matters is learning how to understand the feeling and take small steps to overcomeovercome (verb)To successfully deal with or defeat a problem.≈ Synonym: conquer🇺🇿UZ: yengib o'tmoq🇷🇺RU: преодолевать it. Disciplinediscipline (noun)The ability to control your own behaviour and keep working toward a goal.≈ Synonym: self-control🇺🇿UZ: intizom, o'z-o'zini boshqarish🇷🇺RU: дисциплина doesn’t mean being perfect — it means trying again, even after we’ve delayed.
In your own words, write a short summary of what you just read (70–100 words). Don't copy sentences — explain the main ideas.
Every highlighted word from this story with its meaning in Uzbek 🇺🇿 and Russian 🇷🇺, and an example. Tap 🇬🇧 or 🇺🇸 to hear the word or the sentence in a British or American accent.
| # | 🇬🇧 | 🇺🇿 | 🇷🇺 | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | end upphrasal verb | oxir-oqibat ...bo'lib qolmoq | в итоге оказаться | We got lost and ended up in a different village. |
| 2 | scrollverb | ekranni pastga-yuqoriga surish | пролистывание, скроллинг | I spent an hour scrolling through photos last night. |
| 3 | aloneadjective | yolg'iz | один, одинокий | She lives alone in a small flat. |
| 4 | habitnoun | odat | привычка | Biting your nails is a bad habit. |
| 5 | procrastinationnoun | ishni keyinga surish | прокрастинация, откладывание дел | Procrastination is the enemy of good grades. |
| 6 | delayverb | kechiktirish | откладывание, задержка | Don't delay — send your application today. |
| 7 | lazinessnoun | dangasalik | лень | His laziness cost him his job. |
| 8 | hard-workingadjective | mehnatkash, tirishqoq | трудолюбивый | My mother is the most hard-working person I know. |
| 9 | emotionaladjective | hissiy, emotsional | эмоциональный | The wedding was a very emotional day for everyone. |
| 10 | faceverb | duch kelmoq, ro'para bo'lmoq | сталкиваться (с чем-то) | Every new student faces some difficulties at first. |
| 11 | boringadjective | zerikarli | скучный | The film was so boring that I fell asleep. |
| 12 | stressfuladjective | stressli, asabiylashtiruvchi | напряжённый, стрессовый | Exam week is always stressful. |
| 13 | avoidverb | qochmoq, oldini olmoq | избегать | I try to avoid the city centre at rush hour. |
| 14 | discomfortnoun | noqulaylik | дискомфорт | You may feel some discomfort after the injection. |
| 15 | pleasantadjective | yoqimli | приятный | The weather in spring is very pleasant. |
| 16 | behaviournoun | xulq-atvor, xatti-harakat | поведение | The teacher was pleased with the class's behaviour. |
| 17 | short-term pleasure | qisqa muddatli zavq | кратковременное удовольствие | Junk food gives short-term pleasure but long-term problems. |
| 18 | long-term goal | uzoq muddatli maqsadlar | долгосрочные цели | My long-term goal is to study medicine abroad. |
| 19 | procrastinatornoun | ishni ortga suradigan odam | прокрастинатор | I'm a terrible procrastinator — I always start my essays the night before. |
| 20 | pressurenoun | bosim | давление | Some students work well under pressure. |
| 21 | overwhelmedadjective | bosib ketilgan, ezilib qolgan | подавленный, ошеломлённый | I felt overwhelmed by all the work on my first day. |
| 22 | perfectionistnoun | perfeksionistlar, mukammallikka intiluvchilar | перфекционисты | As a perfectionist, she checks everything three times. |
| 23 | mistakenoun | xato | ошибка | Everyone makes mistakes when they learn a language. |
| 24 | cyclenoun | aylanma jarayon, tsikl | цикл | Poverty can be a difficult cycle to break. |
| 25 | reliefnoun | yengillik hissi | облегчение | It was a huge relief to finish the exam. |
| 26 | guiltnoun | aybdorlik hissi | чувство вины | He felt guilt for not calling his grandmother. |
| 27 | panicnoun | vahima, qo'rquv | паника | Don't panic — we still have plenty of time. |
| 28 | focusverb | diqqatni jamlamoq | сосредоточиться | I can't focus when the TV is on. |
| 29 | confidencenoun | o'ziga ishonch | уверенность | Speaking clubs helped me gain confidence in English. |
| 30 | performancenoun | samaradorlik, ko'rsatkich | успеваемость, результативность | His performance at school has improved this term. |
| 31 | methodnoun | usul, metod | метод | This method of learning words really works. |
| 32 | stepnoun | qadamlar, bosqichlar | шаги, этапы | Writing a plan is the first step. |
| 33 | scaryadjective | qo'rqinchli | пугающий | The first day at a new job can be scary. |
| 34 | keep goingphrasal verb | davom etmoq | продолжать | It's hard, but keep going — you're almost there! |
| 35 | tipnoun | maslahat | совет | Here's a tip: learn new words in sentences. |
| 36 | manageableadjective | boshqarsa bo'ladigan, qulay | посильный, управляемый | If you break it into parts, the work becomes manageable. |
| 37 | distractionnoun | chalg'ituvchi omillar | отвлекающие факторы | My little brother is a big distraction when I study. |
| 38 | wasteverb | behuda sarflamoq | тратить впустую | Don't waste your money on things you don't need. |
| 39 | overcomeverb | yengib o'tmoq | преодолевать | She overcame her fear of flying. |
| 40 | disciplinenoun | intizom, o'z-o'zini boshqarish | дисциплина | Learning a language takes discipline and patience. |