Napping(小睡) after learning something new could help improve your memory--- as long as you dream, scientists say.
They found people who dream about a new task do it better on waking than those who do not sleep or do not dream.
Volunteers were asked to learn the layout(布局，设计) of a 3D computer maze(迷宫) so they could find their way several hours later. Those allowed to take a pap and who also remembered dreaming of the task, found their way to a landmark quicker.
The researchers think the dreams are a sign that unconscious(无意识的) parts of the brain are working hard to process information about the task..
Dr. Robert Stickgold of Harvard Medical School, said dreams may be a marker that the brain is working on the same problem at many levels.
Study tips
Co-author Dr. Erin Wamsley said the study suggests our non-conscious brain works on the things that it deem(认为) are the most important.
“Every day we are gathering lots of information and new experiences,” she said. “It would seem that our dreams are asking the question, “How do I use this information to inform(影响) my life?”
The scientists say there may be ways to use this phenomenon(现象) for improving learning and memory. For example, students might be better studying hard before bedtime, or taking a nap after a period of afternoon study. Scientists say ______ could help improve your memory.
| A．dream | B．nap | C．nap and dream | D．nap without dream |
What were volunteers asked to do?
| A．Take a nap. | B．Dream a task. | C．Learn about 3D computer. | D．Find their way out of a maze. |
Which is right about dreams?
| A．They are a sign that parts of the brain is unconscious. |
| B．They can help us fall asleep and improve learning and memory. |
| C．They tell us how to use this information to inform our life. |
| D．They may be a marker that the brain is working on the same problem. |
When is the best time for study?
| A．Before bedtime. | B．After bedtime. | C．Before taking a nap. | D．In the afternoon. |
Linda Evans was my best friend—like the sister I never had. We did everything together: piano lessons, movies, swimming, horseback riding.
When I was 13, my family moved away. Linda and I kept in touch through letters, and we saw each other on special time—like my wedding (婚礼) and Linda’s. Soon we were busy with children and moving to new homes, and we wrote less often. One day a card that I sent came back, stamped “Address (地址) Unknown. ” I had no idea how to find Linda.
Over the years, I missed Linda very much. I wanted to share (分享) happiness of my children and then grandchildren. And I needed to share my sadness when my brother and then mother died. There was an empty place in my heart that only a friend like Linda could fill.
One day I was reading a newspaper when I noticed a photo of a young woman who looked very much like Linda and whose last name was Wagman — Linda’s married name. “There must be thousands of Wagmans,” I thought, but J still wrote to her.
She called as soon as she got my letter. “Mrs Tobin!” she said excitedly, “Linda Evans Wagman is my mother. ”
Minutes later I heard a voice that I knew very much, even after 40 years, laughed and cried and caught up on each other’s lives. Now the empty place in my heart is filled. And there’s one thing that Linda and I know for sure: We won’t lose each other again!
根据以上短文内容，然后从每题所给的四个选项中选择最佳选项。The writer went to piano lessons with Linda Evans _______.
| A．at the age of 13 |
| B．before she got married |
| C．after they moved to new homes |
| D．before the writer’s family moved away |
They didn’t often write to each other because they _______.
| A．got married |
| B．had little time to do so |
| C．didn’t like writing letters |
| D．could see each other on special time |
The writer was happy when she _______.
| A．read the newspaper |
| B．heard Linda’s voice on the phone |
| C．met a young woman who looked a lot like Linda |
| D．wrote to the woman whose last name was Wagman |
They haven’t kept in touch _______.
| A．for about 40 years |
| B．for about 27 years |
| C．since they got married |
| D．since the writer’s family moved away |
What do you usually do after school? Playing football? Watching TV? Come on, we need something new! Let’s see how kids in foreign countries spend their free time!
Mess Around with Dress-up
Do your parents have any old clothes? See if you get an old box and start collecting hats, shoes and clothes now! Then, when your friends come over after school, you can play dress-up. See if you can make yourself into a doctor，or a cowboy, or even a spaceman! Use glitter paint and old material to decorate the clothes the way you like them.
If you are really clever, you could even put on a show for your family! Let your imagination run wild!
Want to learn new things after school? Want to make new friends who aren’t in your class? You can get both of them in clubs. In other countries, schools, there are usually all kinds of clubs for kids to join. There is French club，student government, theater, choir (合唱队）and photography club.
Take photography club as an example. One may learn all the necessary skills about taking photos. For example, you will learn how to choose a camera，how to use the light and how to develop pictures. Sounds cool, right?
But that’s not all. One can also make a lot of friends in clubs. It’s always good to enjoy your spare time with friends，isn’t it?What is the best title for _____？
| A．Start a Club | B．Learn a Club |
| C．An Important Club | D．A Photography Club |
From the first paragraph we know________.
| A．foreign kids don’t like watching TV |
| B．Chinese kids like playing football with foreign kids |
| C．playing football is not popular with foreign kids |
| D．foreign kids have some different ways to spend their free time |
When you join a photography club，you cannot________.
| A．enjoy your free time | B．get a camera for free |
| C．make some new friends | D．learn to take pictures |
The text mainly talks about________.
| A．how to take a good picture |
| B．how to join a photography club |
| C．after-class activities in foreign countries |
| D．putting on a show in foreign schools |
Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks (前震) and a larger earthquake might occur. Reduce your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place.
If you are indoors, do “duck，cover and hold”. Duck or drop down to the floor, under something strong, such as a table or a desk，cover your head and face with your arms and hands and hold on to that table or desk so that it does not move away from you as the ground shakes. Do this until the shaking stops and it is safe to move. Stay inside to avoid being injured by falling glass or building parts. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch(捲缩）in an inside comer of the building.
Stay clear of windows，fireplaces, and heavy furniture that may fall over. Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
If you are outside, get into the open and stay there. Move away from trees，buildings, signs and power lines. Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits and alongside exterior walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties (伤亡) result from collapsing walls, flying glasses, and falling objects.
If you are driving, you may not realize what is going on at first because the car may feel like it is going to blow up. Stop the car in as clear and open an area as possible and stay in it until the shaking stops. If it is a really bad quake, turn on the radio to find an emergency channel to get information. Follow the directions of people directing traffic.
If you are in a mountainous area, watch out for falling rock and other debris that could be loosened by the earthquake.
If you are at the beach, move quickly to higher ground or several hundred yards inland.Which of the following pictures means “duck，cover and hold”？
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?
| A．Ground movement during an earthquake is the main reason of death. |
| B．You should keep your windows, fireplaces and heavy furniture clear. |
| C．Stop your car in the clear area and get out of it if an earthquake happens. |
| D．Run away from the beach as quickly as possible if an earthquake happens. |
The passage is mainly about________ during the earthquake.
| A．ways of keeping you safe |
| B．the importance of keeping safe |
| C．ways of finding safe places |
| D．researches on how to keep safe |
It was near Christmas during my first term teaching at a new school. I loved my small special class more than any group I had taught in the past. They were hungry for knowledge and I was enjoying teaching.
Other teachers had told me that our children were from poor families and not to expect any child to bring a Christmas gift. In fact, I wasn’t expecting any gifts.
Imagine my surprise when every child brought me a gift on the day before our holiday break. First, I got a much-loved toy monkey from a shy girl. I was told, “He is my favorite, but I love you and I want him to be with you, Miss Taylor.” How thrilled I was!
Next came a new set of Christmas tree lights that was “missing” from a mother’s cupboard(碗橱).
Finally, I came to one little boy’s gift which I had never received. It was an old, dirty and broken Christmas storybook. Just when I wanted to show my happiness, I was interrupted(打断) by the giver, “And see, it is new! It still has the price tag（标签）.”
When other children laughed at him, I stopped them and said, “Oh, books are good in that way. The story is always new if you have not read it before. Now, Let’s read one together.” Everyone listened quietly as I read the most wonderful Christmas story of my life.
I still keep those Christmas gifts. They always remind me of my lovely kids. Miss Taylor loved her small special class so much because______________.
| A．this was her first term teaching at a new school |
| B．these little kids were from rich families |
| C．the students studied very hard and she enjoyed teaching them |
| D．she didn’t get any Christmas gifts |
____________ brought Miss Taylor a Christmas gift.
| A．Every child | B．Most of the children | C．Only three children | D．No one |
Miss Taylor felt __________ when she got the gifts from the children.
| A．sad | B．scared | C．thrilled | D．tired |
Many gifts were mentioned (被提及) in the article except____________.
| A．a toy monkey | B．an old storybook |
| C．a set of Christmas tree lights | D．a Christmas card |
Clothes are very important in our life. Different people wear different clothes. Now let’s listen to some people in France talking about clothes.
Hello, I’m Betty. I started working this year, so I’m able to get new clothes more often than before. I think what I look like is really important to me, so I spent much money on clothes. I like to wear bright colors and always dress up when I go to parties. I often buy all kinds of clothes and try to follow the latest fashion.
Hi, I’m Jack. I don’t have much to say about clothes. They aren’t the thing I’m interested in. I know little about the way of dressing. In summer, I always wear a T-shirt or something else.
My name is Alice. I would like to say that clothes must be comfortable and feel easy to put on. Sometimes I buy clothes in some small street markets — they are cheap there. I change the look of my clothes quite often — put some flowers on them or use different buttons, just for a change. They’ll look good all the time. I go shopping for clothes about once a month. I see something comfortable and fashionable and it fits me well, I would go for it and then…How many people are talking about clothes?
| A．Three. | B．Five. | C．Four. | D．Two. |
What does the underlined word in the sentence “ They aren’t the thing I’m interested in.” refer to (指的是）?
| A．Summers | B．Shopping | C．Colors | D．Clothes |
Which is TRUE from the passage?
| A．Betty only buys clothes in bright colors. |
| B．Alice likes comfortable clothes and changes her clothes often. |
| C．The boy, Jack shows the most interest in clothes. |
| D．Jack knows a lot about fashion and he always wears different clothes. |