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(设计) of a 3D computer maze(迷宫) so they could find their way several hours later. Those allowed to take a nap and who also remembered dreaming of the task, found their way to a landmark (地标) 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. |
To us, it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains. But in fact the umbrella was not invented as protection against the rain. Its first use was as a shade(遮蔽)against the sun.
Nobody knows who first invented it, but the umbrella was used in very ancient times. Probably the first to use it were the Chinese, back in the eleventh century BC.
We know that the umbrella was used in ancient Egypt and Babylon as a sunshade. And there was a strange thing connected with its use : it became a symbol of honor and power(权力). In the Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by those in high office or by royal people such as the kings or queens.
In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade. The umbrella was in common use in ancient Greece, but it is believed that the first people in Europe to use the umbrella as protection against the rain were the ancient Romans. During the middle ages in Europe, the use of the umbrella almost disappeared. Then it appeared again in Italy in the late sixteenth century. And again it became a symbol of power.
Umbrellas have not changed much in style during all this time, though they have become much lighter in weight. It wasn't until the twentieth century that the umbrellas for women began to be made in all kinds of colors.
| A．China | B．Egypt | C．Greece | D．Rome |
| A．No one exactly knows who the inventor of the umbrella was |
| B．The umbrella was first invented to be used as protection against the sun. |
| C．The umbrella changed much in style in the eighteenth century |
| D．In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade. |
| A．protection against rain |
| B．a symbol of honor and power |
| C．a shade against the sun |
| D．women’s decoration |
| A．during the Middle Ages | B．in Rome |
| C．by the 18th | D．in Greece |
| A．when and how the umbrella was invented |
| B．why the umbrella was so popular in Europe |
| C．the development of the umbrella |
| D．The history and use of the umbrella |
There was a boy and his family was very rich. One day his father took him on a trip to a place. He wanted to show his son how poor people were there. They spent several days on a farm. There were many poor families living on the farm.
On their way home, the father asked the son, “How was the trip?” “It was great, Dad,” the son answered. “Did you notice how poor people were there?” asked his father. “Oh, yes,” said the son. “So, tell me,” said his father. The son said, “Well, we have one dog and they have four. We have a pool in our garden, while they have a river that has no end. We have expensive lanterns (灯), but they have stars above their heads at night. We have only a small piece of land to live on, while they have the endless fields. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have high walls around our houses to protect us, but they don’t need walls, because their friends will protect them.”
The father had nothing to say. Then the boy added, “Thank you, Dad, for letting me see how poor we are.”
| A．how people on the farm worked |
| B．how poor people were on the farm |
| C．how beautiful the farm was |
| D．how far it was from the city to the farm |
| A．Once a week. | B．Twice a month. |
| C．Every year. | D．The writer doesn’t tell us. |
| A．great | B．tiring | C．terrible | D．boring |
| A．expensive lanterns | B．a lot of cars |
| C．stars above their heads | D．many horses |
| A．The boy was from a very poor family. |
| B．The father and the son spent several weeks on a farm. |
| C．People on the farm have high walls around their houses. |
| D．The boy thought that people on the farm lived a happy life. |
It is well known that everyone has his own dream as well as his own future. But do you know what future really is? I have to say that future is now. That is to say we must treasure every minute now. If we want to have a bright future, we should know how important time is and use it well.
There is an old English saying: “Gain time, gain life.” Then what's time? Time is something that we can’t see or touch, but we can feel it passing by. Time is always with us. When we are at table, time passes; when we play, time goes by unnoticeable. We always say “Time is money”, but time is even more precious (珍贵的) than money, because when money is spent, we can earn it back. But if time is gone away, it will never return. So, some of us even say time is priceless (无价的).
We should always remember: future is now. For us students, we should try our best to work hard in order to create a great future of our own. We should make the best use of every hour and be the master of today.We should do everything before us as well as possible. And never put off what can be done today till tomorrow.
As we all know, “Time and tide wait for no man.” If you waste today, you will regret tomorrow. So from now on, work hard. Tomorrow will be better, and your future will be brighter. Remember: “No pains, no gains.”Today’s hard work is the cause of tomorrow’s harvest.
阅读以上信息，用恰当的词完成下面表格，每空一词。
| Opinions |
Supporting details |
| Future is now. |
Everyone has his own dream as well as his own future. If we want to have a bright future, we should know the |
| __ |
Time is money, but time is even more valuable than money, because when money is spent, we can earn it back. But missing time will never |
| Be masters of today |
Today’s hard work As students, we should never put off what can be done today till tomorrow and we should try our |
Wearable gadgets (可穿戴设备) are usually high-tech equipment, which are so small that people can wear on heads or wrists.
Google Glasses is such kind of wearable gadget. It has attracted the world’s attention since being tested this year. Users can take videos and broadcast live on the Internet. There is also a GPS system in the glasses. So if you get lost you can say “OK，Glasses, where am I?” Then it will tell you where you need to go. It sounds cool, doesn’t it?
Don’t forget Galaxy Gear from Samsung, a Korean company. It is just the tip of the iceberg. This smart watch looks like a normal watch but much lighter. But Galaxy Gear needs to connect with a Samsung Smartphone or tablet (平板电脑). Its short battery life of 25 hours also disappoints (使…失望) users.
With all kinds of wearable gadgets coming into real life, it seems that wearable equipment is becoming more modern and popular. Indeed, unlike smart phones, wearable gadgets are more convenient (方便的). Their biggest advantage is that they can do most of the same things as smart phones, yet they are hands-free.
However, wearable gadgets also have their own problems. Some people are not sure whether wearing a gadget is cool. Unless you know about it, you may just think there are many crazy people talking to their wrists.
Perhaps only time will tell how these gadgets will change our lives.
阅读短文，用恰当的词完成下面的信息。
Wearable gadgets can be on heads or wrists. Google Glasses and Galaxy Gear are some of them. People can make calls or take pictures, or even receive e-mails without
their hands more. So they can
young people’s attention. Galaxy Gear is
to a normal watch but much lighter. Some people may not be
with it not only because of its short 25-hour battery life, but also because it needs a connection with a Samsung Smartphone or tablet.
Think stars don’t move? Think again! When you look at the sky at night, the stars may appear to stay in the same place. But stars are always on the move—they are just so far away that the movement is hard to see.
But some stars move in ways that appear to be strange to be real. In 2005, astronomer Warren Brown found one of these space oddities(奇特). It was located on the outer edge of the Milky Way, the galaxy(星系) we live in. The star was speeding away like nothing he’d ever seen. “It seemed unbelievable. No star in the galaxy has a speed like that,” Brown remembers. “I thought, oh my goodness, I have something kind of special here.”
No one had ever seen a star like this one. What does a scientist do when the results don’t make sense?
Brown didn’t give up. Instead, he kept looking. And he kept finding more of these strange and speedy stars, called hypervelocity stars. Hyper means “above” and velocity has to do with speed. He and his team just found six more of these “above speed” stars, bringing to the total of 16. And, he says, he’s found even more, and is just waiting for the scientific community to confirm them.In 2005, astronomer Warren Brown found___________.
| A．a star was speeding away very fast. |
| B．a stars was moving away very slowly. |
| C．some stars were not real. |
| D．some stars were not in the Milky Way. |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．Stars never move at all. |
| B．No star in the galaxy has a fast speed. |
| C．It’s hard to see the stars moving. |
| D．Brown has never seen something special. |
The underlined word “hypervelocity” in the last paragraph probably means”_____”.
| A．匀速的 | B．超速的 | C．超重的 | D．超常的 |
The writer writes this passage to tell us____________.
| A．something about an astronomer. |
| B．where the Milky Way is |
| C．something about the speedy stars. |
| D．how scientists do their research |