Every animal sleeps,but the reason for this has remained foggy.When lab rats are not allowed to sleep,they die within a month. 71
One idea is that sleep helps us strengthen new memories. 72 We know that,while awake,fresh memories are recorded by reinforeing (加强)connections between brain cells,but the memory processes that take place while we sleep have been unclear.
Support is growing for a theory that sleep evolved so that connections between neurons(神经元)in the brain can be weakened overnight,making room for fresh memories to from the next day. 73
Now we have the most direct evidence yet that he is right. 74 The synapses in the mice taken at the end of a period of sleep were 18 per cent smaller than those taken before sleep,showing that the connections between neurons weaken while sleeping.
If Tononi`s theory is right,it would explain why,when we miss a night`s,we find it harder the next day to concentrate and learn new information-our brains may have smaller room for new experences.
Their research also suggests how we may build lasting memories over time even though the synapscs become thinner.The team discovered that some synapses seem to be protected and stayed the same size. 75 "You keep what matters,"Tononi says.
A. |
We should also try to sleep well the night before. |
B. |
Ti's as if the brain is preserving its most important memories. |
C. |
Similarly, when people go for a few days without sleeping, they get sick. |
D. |
The processes take place to stop our brains becoming loaded with memories. |
E. |
That's why students do better in tests if they get a chance to sleep after learning. |
F. |
"Sleep is the price we pay for learning," says Giulio Tononi, who developed the idea. |
G. |
Tononi's team measured the size of these connections, or synapses, in the brains of 12 mice. |
The Internet has opened up a whole new online world for us to meet, chat and go where we’ve never been before.
But just as in face to face communication, there are some rules of behavior that should be followed when on line. Imagine how you’d feel if you were in the other person’s shoes.
For anything you’re about to send: ask yourself, “Would I say this to the person’s face?” If the answer is no, rewrite and reread.
If someone in the chat room is rude to you, your instinct (本能) is to fire back in the same manner. But try not to do so. If it was caused by a disagreement with another member, try to fix the situation by politely discussing it. Remember to respect the beliefs and opinions of others in the chat room.
It is not polite to ask others personal questions such as their age, sex and marital status. Unless you know the person very well, and you are both comfortable with sharing personal information, don’t ask such questions.Offer advice when asked by newcomers, as they may not be sure what to do or how to communicate. When someone makes a mistake, whether it’s a stupid question or an unnecessarily long answer, be kind about it. If it’s a small mistake, you may not need to say anything. Even if you feel strongly about it, think twice before saying anything. Having good manners yourself doesn’t give you license to correct everyone else.
At the same time, if you find you are wrong, be sure to correct yourself and apologize to those that you have offended.
A.It’s natural that there are some people who speak rudely or make mistakes online. |
B.Repeat the process till you feel sure that you’d feel comfortable saying the words to the person’s face. |
C.Everyone was new to the network once. |
D.The basic rule is simple: treat others in the same way you would want to be treated. |
E. When you send short messages to a person online, you must say something beautiful to hear.
F. You should either ignore the person, or use your chat software to block their messages.
G. If you do decide to tell someone about a mistake, point it out politely.
If I ask you, “ How do you feel about success?” What will be your answer? Most people will
say: I want more of it. I deserve it. I am working towards it. Why are those feelings so common?
When they think of succeeding they think of material comforts, they think of happiness, and they think of honor. Certainly, being successful can include all of these things and more.
Now here’s a personal question: What is success? You see, personal success comes in many different forms. If you want to be successful in your life, then the very first thing you should do is to take the time to decide exactly what that means to you. Never mind what it means to anyone else. What does it mean to you?
Society seems to base the whole idea of being successful on how much money a person earns. But many so-called successful people are very unhappy in their personal life.
So you should have a personal idea of what being successful means to you. This is the only way to make your success truly meaningful.
A.I feel great about it. |
B.Then set right goals. |
C.You will feel more successful immediately. |
D.Your idea of being successful might not be the same as mine. |
E.Think about what being successful would feel like.
F.To some people, being successful means earning a lot of money.
G.Because most of the people feel that being successful is a good thing.
To forgive is a virtue(美德), but no one has ever said it is easy. When someone has deeply hurt you, it can be extremely difficult to let go of your hate. However, forgiveness is possible, and it can be surprisingly beneficial to your physical and mental health. People who forgive show less sadness, anger and stress and more hopefulness, according to a recent research.Try the following steps:
Calm yourself. You can take a couple of breaths and think of something that gives you pleasure: a beautiful scene in nature, or someone you love.
Don’t wait for an apology. Many times the person who hurt you does not intend to apologize. They may have wanted to hurt you or they just don’t see things the same way. Keep in mind that forgiveness does not necessarily mean becoming friends again with the person who upset you.
Take the control away from your offender(冒犯者). Rethinking about your hurt gives power to the person who causes you pain. Instead of focusing on your wounded feelings, learn to look for the love, beauty and kindness around you.If you understand your offender, you may realize that he or she was acting out of unawareness, fear, and even love. You may want to write a letter to yourself from your offender’s point of view.
Don’t forget to forgive yourself. But it can rob you of your self-confidence if you don’t do it.
A.Why should you forgive? |
B.How should you start to forgive? |
C.Recognize the benefits of forgiveness. |
D.Try to see things from your offender’s angle(角度). |
E. For some people, forgiving themselves is the biggest challenge.
F. To make your anger die away, try a simple stress-management technique.
G. If you wait for people to apologize, you could be waiting an awfully long time.
阅读下列应用文及相关信息,并按照要求匹配信息,将答案填涂在答题卷的相应位置。
下面文章中有5个段落需要添加首句(第1~5 题)。请从以下选项(A、B、C、D、E 和 F)中选出适合各段落的首句,并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。选项中有一项是多余选项。
A. Get to know yourself.
B. Take care of your body.
C. Practice basic respect towards yourself.
D. Be honest with yourself and with others.
E. Think about what it means to respect someone.
F. Recognize when people disrespect you and take steps to stop it.
How to Respect Yourself
A lack of self-respect can prevent you from fulfilling your potential and developing healthy relationships. Here are some steps to help you know how to respect yourself. __________ The qualities that we respect vary from person to person, and the way we express it varies from culture to culture. Generally, we respect people who have more experience and are more accomplished than ourselves. But there is also a basic level of respect that most people will agree is a right, and does not need to be earned. So think about what it means to respect others. Here are some widely agreed-upon signals of respect: You don’t steal from, harm, or insult them; you are honest with them; you listen to what they say, consider their opinions, and avoid interrupting them.
__________ We often do things for ourselves that we would never dream of doing for someone we care about. Whatever you believe to be respectful, apply it to yourself. Don’t harm yourself. Don’t insult yourself. Don’t steal from yourself. Be honest with yourself. Develop your own opinions and don’t be afraid to stand by them.
__________ A person with self-respect doesn’t allow others to treat them badly, and would rather not be around someone who is disrespectful. This might seem obvious, but there are many times when we accept being treated badly. When someone doesn’t give you basic respect, you need to be able to say, in one way or another, “You just disrespected me and that’s not acceptable! If you don’t respect me, I won’t spend time with you any more.” Can you say that, and mean it?
Can you turn your back on someone who’s clearly shown that they don’t respect you? Once you do, you’ll feel your sense of self-respect go up. __________ When you make an effort to keep your body in good working order, you’ll not only feel better physically, but also feel a sense of pride. Respecting your body also means not insulting it for what it is, naturally. Make an effort to get fit and stay healthy. Focus on the things you can change and improve, and do them because it feels good.
__________ The more you know about yourself, the more you’ll see and appreciate how unique you really are. And you’ll respect yourself more. Discover your principles, personality, and talents. Stop waiting for other people’s approval and start developing your own standards.
Develop a unique and original way of expressing your opinions while at the same time being a good listener.
Travel tips that are no longer true
We all love an inside trip, but some of the classic tips for travelers no longer hold true.
1. Book a plane ticket far in advance to save money.
This myth may have been true back in the 1960s, when flights were less common than they are today. Back then, the demand for a flight would naturally increase as the date approached, there being few other options. According to recent studies, the best time to buy a domestic ticket was between six and seven weeks before.
2.
Don’t ignore the benefits of going straight to the hotel to negotiate (商谈) a good deal on a room. Many hotel chains offer rate guarantees and encourage customers to book directly. Hotels also frequently have discounts or some offers that third-party websites don’t know. Apart from this, hotels give the upgrades, not the booking agents.
3. Avoid street food.If this means standing up at a cheap street stall (摊位), then follow the crowd. Don’t sit down at a restaurant and spend four times more, on the simple assumption that it’s the only safe option. Can you see what’s going on in the kitchen?
4. Carry your money in a special pocket or pouch.
This is the fastest way to stand out from locals — who will have their money in a wallet or purse. Only take what you need when you leave your hotel room.
A.When in Rome, do what the Romans do. |
B.And make sure to put your wallet in a front pocket. |
C.This is only true if you are buying products that are heavily taxed. |
D.Let yourself relax in a warm room for one or two people in single beds. |
E. Check the updates on these tall tales (说大话) to save cash and add experience to your trip.
F. These days, many alternatives for the most popular routes mean that demand stays steady.
G. The best hotel prices are on travel websites.