Question

Getting a high grade in an exam depends partly on how much you can remember. So, improving memory is important to success in studying. But is there anything that we can do about it? One way might be walking backwards. According to a new study, walking backwards, whether doing it really or just imagining it, can improve the memory in the short term.

In the study, 114 volunteers were asked to watch a video. In the video a woman had her bag stolen. Then they answered 20 questions about the details shown in the video. Ten minutes later, the volunteers were divided into three groups. The first two groups were told to move forwards or backwards 10 meters while the third group was asked to stay still on the same point. The researchers found that the backwards-walking group got two more correct answers on average (平均) than the other two groups.

This suggests that a relationship between time and space is basic to the way our minds form memories. When we walk backwards, everything we learn becomes strange to us. “This forces the brain to think in a different way—the brain needs to match all the things again and changes the focus(关注点),” the researcher Christine Weber said. It almost always means that our brain needs to be more active in the short time. Naturally, our short-term memory will be improved.

Backward walking also plays an important role in physical health, especially fitness. A study published in Journal of Biomechanics in 2012 found that there is less pain in the knees.

Moreover, backward walking, compared to forward walking, is more challenging. It requires you to use muscles(肌肉) and movements that you probably seldom use, making it a perfect way to change your exercise habit for greater fitness gains. At the same time, by making people put in extra effort, it naturally burns more fat and calories.

1.Backward walking can________ according to the passage.

A. improve the memory in the long term B. improve the memory in the short term

C. cause much more pain in our knees D. force the brain to think in the same way

2.Which one is the correct order of the following according to the passage?

①The backwards-walking group got two more correct answers on average.

②The volunteers answered 20 questions about the details shown in the video.

③The volunteers were divided into 3 groups and 1 group moved backward 10 meters.

④The volunteers watched a video in which a woman’s bag was stolen.

A. ④②③① B. ④③①② C. ④②①③ D. ③④②①

3.What does the underlines word It in Paragraph 5 refer to__________?

A. Short-term memory B. Physical health

C. Forward walking D. Backward walking

4.In which part of the newspaper can we read this passage?

A. Youth Voice B. Star Stories C. Our World D. Science Study

Answer 1