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.
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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. |
Mrs. Black lives on Second Avenue. New Year is coming. She wants to send (寄) a card to her friend in Toronto, but she doesn’t know where the post office is. She asks her neighbor (邻居) Mary, “ Is there a post office near here? I want to send a card.”
“The post office is not near from here,” answers Mary, “but you don’t need to go to the post office to post the card. There is a mailboxin front of the supermarket. You can put your card into the mailbox”Where does Mrs. Black live?
| A．In New York. | B．In Toronto. |
| C．On Second Avenue. | D．On Green Street. |
What does Mrs. Black want to do?
| A．She wants to go to the post office. |
| B．She wants to go to the supermarket. |
| C．She wants to send a card to Mary. |
| D．She wants to visit her friend. |
The post office is ________.
| A．next to Mary’s house |
| B．not near Mrs. Black’s house |
| C．across from the supermarket |
| D．in front of Mary’s house. |
Mrs. Black and Mary are ________.
| A．friends | B．sisters |
| C．mother and daughter | D．neighbors. |
What’s the meaning (意思) of mailbox？
| A．电子邮件 | B．信箱 | C．邮局 | D．信封 |
| Name: Julie Age: 13 I’m a student in Australia. I speak English. I want to find new friends from China. I like reading and listening to music. I want to know more about China. |
| Name: Jodie Age: 14 I’m from Paris. I like dogs, and I have three dogs. I also like playing computer games and watching action movies! I want to write to anyone with the same (相同的) likes. |
| Name: Andrew Age: 12 I want to have pen pals from the USA or Canada. I like painting, singing, and playing baseball. If you are from either (任何一个) of the two countries, please e-mail me. |
| Name: Sam Age: 13 I’m from the USA. I want to make pen pals from any country. I can write in French and English. I like sports and reading. I like history and math best at school. I often play tennis on weekends. Please write to me. Thanks. |
Julie wants to make friends from ________.
| A．Canada | B．the USA | C．China | D．Australia |
What does Jodie like doing?
| A．Singing and dancing. | B．Playing baseball. |
| C．Playing tennis. | D．Playing computer games. |
Andrew is ________ years old.
| A．14 | B．13 | C．12 | D．11 |
Sam comes from ________.
| A．America | B．Australia | C．China | D．Canada |
Sam writes to Andrew. Andrew will be (将会) ________.
| A．sorry | B．happy | C．unhappy | D．sad |
One morning, Wu Liang discovered (发现) that her classroom changed. She found that the desks were no longer in rows, but pushed together to make eight bigger desks. She was too excited about it for the first two days and she couldn’t listen to the teachers carefully. But soon she and her classmates got used to this new classroom arrangement (安排). “Now our class is quieter,” said Wu. “What’s more, we can come up with our own ideas and learn more through discussion. It’s a better way to study.”
Li Yu liked it, too. He said, “Group members first discuss, and then show ourselves in front of the whole class. It makes us believe in ourselves.” It was part of a reform (改革) at Li’s school. The school made this reform because they wanted to provide (提供) students with easier ways to study and more chances to discuss. “Our school hopes it can improve students’ abilities(能力) to study by themselves and work in groups,” said Zhang Ming, an English teacher.
However, the reform has demanded (要求) more from teachers. Now they have only 15 minutes to give the lesson which should be taught in 45 minutes before. It is difficult to teach in such a short time. The teachers have to find better ways to teach more effectively.
“The reform demands more, but I’m sure it is helpful,” added Zhang Ming.After the new classroom arrangement , it was easier for Wu Liang and her classmates to ________ in class.
| A．discuss with each other |
| B．sit in the classroom |
| C．push desks together |
| D．teach a lesson |
The school made the reform in order to provide students with ___________ to study.
| A．noisier classes | B．easier ways |
| C．more seats | D．fewer chances |
The Chinese meaning of the word “effectively” in this passage is ___________.
| A．简单的 | B．明确的 | C．有效的 | D．认真的 |
The best title of this passage may be “____________”.
| A．Students’ Friendship |
| B．Teachers’ Hope |
| C．Discussion in Class |
| D．New Look in Class |
Mike found a job in a bookstore after he finished middle school. He wouldn’t do anything but wanted to get rich.
It was a cold morning. It snowed and there was thin ice on the streets. Few people went to buy books and the young man had nothing to do. He hated to read, so he watched the traffic. Suddenly he saw a bag fall off a truck and it landed by the other side of the street.
“It is full of expensive things.” Mike said to himself. “I have to get it right now, or others will take it away.”
He went out of the bookstore and ran across the street. A driver saw him and began to whistle (鸣笛), but he didn’t hear it and went on running. The man drove to the side, hit a big tree and hurt himself in the accident. Two weeks later, Mike was taken to the court (法庭). A judge asked if he heard the whistle when he was running across the street. He said that something was wrong with his ears and he could hear nothing.
“But you heard me this time,” said the judge.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Now I can hear with one ear.”
“Cover (盖住) the ear with your hand and listen to me with your deaf (聋的) one. Well, can you hear me?”
“No, I can’t , sir.”
“You told a lie. There is nothing wrong with either of your ears,” the judge said.Mike found a job as a _____________ when he left school.
| A．driver | B．judge | C．policeman | D．bookseller |
One day he saw __________ in the street.
| A．an accident | B．a thief | C．a lost bag | D．a lot of money |
The traffic accident happened because _____________.
| A．Mike was running to the street |
| B．the driver was deaf and couldn’t hear anything |
| C．the car hit the bag in the middle of the street |
| D．the driver wanted to pick up the bag |
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．Mike didn’t do well in his work. |
| B．The judge believed Mike’s words. |
| C．Mike told a lie. |
| D．The car hit a tree beside the street. |
After a quick breakfast, I went into the lecture(讲座) hall in a hurry. A famous teacher was speaking to the students. He was holding up a $100 bill. Then he said to over 300 students, “ Who would like this $100 bill?” The students put up their hands at once. Then he said, “I am going to give this $100 bill to one of you, but first, let me do this.” He made the bill into a ball. Then he said, “Who wants it now?” The hands went back into the air. “Well,” he said, “What if I do this?” and he dropped it on the floor and stepped on it. He picked up the dirty bill and said, “Who still wants it?” Hands went back again into the air.
“My friends,” he said, “you have learned a valuable lesson today. No matter what I did to the $100 bill, you still want this bill. Many times in our life, we are dropped and stepped on. We feel as if we are worth nothing. But remember, no matter what has happened to you, you will never lose your value. You are always valuable to those people who love you. Your value doesn’t come form what you do or whom you know, but who you are.”The lecture was given _____________.
| A．in the morning | B．at noon | C．in the afternoon | D．in the evening |
How many students went to listen to the lecture?
| A．Sorry, I don’t know | B．Over 100. |
| C．Over 200. | D．Over 300. |
What did the teacher do before he said, “Who still wants it?”
| A．He did nothing. | B．He made the bill dirty. |
| C．He put the bill into a box. | D．He put up his hand. |
The lesson tells us a truth, that is____________.
| A．we should know what we do |
| B．we should know whom we know |
| C．we must know who we are |
| D．how to use money |