Question

What is the most stressful thing in school? It is probably exams. Exams can put us under a lot of pressure. But some students do better under pressure. while others do not. So, why do some students perform better under stress?

It all comes down to dopamine(多巴胺). Dopamine is a chemical in our body that sends signals(信号) in the brain. It has many important roles: affecting memory, attention and how we learn. Our brains work best when there is a balance of dopamine--not too much or too little.

Our brains control dopamine in two ways. It either takes out dopamine quickly, or gradually. Exam success can be linked to how fast dopamine goes back to an even balance, according to new research from the University of Missouri, reported Yahoo.

What happens when we take an exam? If you become stressed, your brain will start to overload on dopamine. It is like a cup overflowing with water. The quicker you are able to go back to an even balance of dopamine, the quicker you can concentrate, helping you perform better on a test.

Scientists found that, during a test, people who slowly got back to an even balance of dopamine scored 8 percent lower. That’s the difference between a good mark and a bad mark.

But don’t fear, there is good news for every student. The study also found that the more practice you get, the less stress you’ll have.

So, it turns out that practice really does make perfect.

1.Dopamine is a chemical in our body that ______.

A.puts us under a lot of pressure

B.sends signals in the brain

C.keeps our brains working

2.Which things does dopamine play a role in?

① remembering something

②having a good rest

③paying attention to the teachers

④choosing the way we learn

A.①②③ B.①③④ C.②③④

3.What does the underlined word “overload” mean in Chinese?

A.产生 B.超载 C.下载

4.Some students do better under stress because ______.

A.they can go back to a good balance of dopamine quickly

B.they have a lot of dopamine

C.they go back to a balance of dopamine slowly

5.What can’t we learn from story?

A.Our brain either takes out dopamine quickly, or gradually.

B.The quicker you can go back to an even balance of dopamine, the better you can do on a test

C.Practice cannot help you do better under stress

Answer 1