Most people hope to have a memory which helps them succeed in study, work and life. Can memory be improved? Luckily, hundreds of studies in the past 50 years have already given us a definite answer.

A healthy lifestyle keeps your brain young and memory sharp. First of all, it is necessary to have a healthy diet. Eating more food rich in Vitamin B and Vitamin E, such as vegetables and lean meat, helps you have a better memory. Doing exercise can keep your brain alive, too. Proper exercise provides much needed oxygen for the brain. Running, riding a bike, swimming and even walking two or three times a week are helpful. Moreover, getting enough sleep is important. Only when your brain gets a good rest, can it work well. The healthier your lifestyle is, the better your memory will become, but do not expect a sudden change — it takes a long time to make a difference.

Memory skills help you remember things better. The following three are the most widely used. Chunking is a way of remembering a piece of information by cutting it into smaller ones. For example, to memorize a ten-digit telephone number 2127983630, you can divide the digits into three groups: first 212, then 798, and lastly 3630. This method is far more effective than remembering a string of 10 digits. Organization means organizing information into groups of the same kind. For example, trees, grass and flowers are plants; tigers, pandas, horses and cows are animals. Imagery is remembering newly learnt information by us ing your imagination and connecting it with something that you are familiar with.

However, memory skills will hardly work if you don’t understand the information. Only a regular review can make the memory last long. That is why students are always advised to go over what they have learnt after one day and then after three days, and then use it as regularly as possible.

Human brains are like muscles that need nutrients and exercise to become stronger. If you make a few lifestyle changes and try some memory skills, you can certainly improve your memory.

【1】Can memory be improved according to the passage?

【2】What does proper exercise provide?

【3】How can you remember the newly learnt information?

【4】Why are students always advised to go over what they have learnt?

【5】What is the passage mainly about?

Persuasion is a very important skill nowadays. It is fulfilling everywhere, every time. In many ways, persuasion combines art and science. It’s an art in that it requires the ability to establish trust and strong communication skills. It’s a science in that it centers on the disciplined collection and analysis of information and solidly researched principles (原则) of human behavior.

Persuasion is everywhere, but the effect is very different.

When we persuade, first we should be believable. If someone is an expert in a certain field, his or her speech will be convincing when he or she expresses opinions about this field. It is interesting that if someone’s aim is not to affect your opinions, and he or she has no benefit from your decision, this person seems to be more trustful. What’s more, we need to be attractive. If we like someone, we will be affected by him or her on some unimportant topics. Even if this person tells us he or she wants to affect, maybe we will also be affected.

The methods of persuasion are necessary too. First you should think wise for choosing your topic. A good topic is a big impact to catch your audience. Then when you have done selecting topics, now it’s time to brainstorm how you will have a deep conversation with your audience to give them more ideas about your topics. And think about who your listener is and what they want to know. How will you catch their attention to become more interested in your subject? Next, understanding your audience can help you deliver the right information that is valuable to them. To get your audience, try to add some personal experience in your topics. The way you talk to them expresses your feelings and knowledge, and it really works.

Everyone is trying to persuade someone and being persuaded. So next time you listen to a speech, watch an advertisement, think of persuasion.

【1】In Paragraph 2, the writer thinks persuasion is an art because________.

A.they both have the same topicB.they both need skills to achieve

C.they both make the audience laughD.they both deliver the right information

【2】Paragraph 3 is mainly about________.

A.the meaning of persuasionB.the methods of persuaders

C.the importance of persuasionD.the characteristics of persuaders

【3】Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A..Are Advertisements Worth Trusting?B.Persuasion — The Effects are Different

C.Are Good Topics Important for Persuasion?D.Persuasion — An Important Social Skill

Which one would you like to choose for your summer holiday?

【1】Which country is the first one to start a new day?

A.Fiji.B.Papua New Guinea.C.Kingdom of Tonga.D.The Republic of Vanuatu.

【2】People go to Fiji for their holidays mainly because .

A.things there are well worth seeingB.the underwater post office is exciting

C.they want to stay in the Royal PalaceD.it is the largest Pacific Island country

【3】Which language is spoken in all the four Pacific Island countries?

A.Tok Pisin.B.Bislama.C.French.D.English.

【4】What is the purpose of the text?

A..To ask for some help.B.To offer holiday choices.

C.To answer a question.D.To introduce some languages.

I didn’t like it but I had to wear the newspaper hat until bedtime. My father could not hear, but he learned how to speak with his hands. Sometimes my father felt _________________about the way he was treated by his fellow workers who could hear. Because they couldn’t talk to him with their hands, they seemed to ignore him. But my father did not lack friends because there were other deaf printers in the factory who had also learned to talk with their hands.

One day, while the huge presses (印刷机) ran, with their noises_______________out all other sound, my father noticed a fire flickering in a far corner of the pressroom. The fire was spreading quickly and silently. Suddenly the wood floor burst into flames (火焰).

My father knew he had to tell everyone. He jumped onto an ink drum and _______________his arms excitedly. Luckily he caught the attention of a fellow printer who also couldn’t hear. My father ’s hands shouted through the terrible noise of the printing presses, FIRE! FIRE!TELL EVERYONE TO GET OUT! TELL THE HEARING ONES!

His friend ran to fellow workers who could hear, then he _______________to the fire, which had now spread to the wall next to the only exit. Everybody saw the fire and went out quickly.

My father didn’t escape until all the workers got out. They were happy to be_______________.

When my father went back to the work, his co-workers gathered around him. They presented him with a hat made of the freshly printed newspaper and my father put it on his head. All the printers who could hear did something ______________. They told him THANK YOU with their hands.

That night, my father placed the newspaper hat that his fellow painters had given him gently on my head. I didn’t take off my hat, but wore carefully to bed. I _______________I was standing next to my father on the printing press floor, turning lead-type letters into words and sentences.

【1】A.dugB.brokeC.foldedD.burned

【2】A.sadB.happyC.relaxedD.scared

【3】A.givingB.pickingC.turningD.shutting

【4】A.liftedB.wavedC.touchedD.protected

【5】A.movedB.lookedC.shoutedD.pointed

【6】A.aloneB.aliveC.awakeD.asleep

【7】A.surprisingB.interestingC.frighteningD.disappointing

【8】A.guessedB.wonderedC.imaginedD.believed

Confidence(自信) is very important in daily life. It can help you develop a healthy attitude(态度). A study shows that the people who are more confident are much happier. They can have more chances to make themselves successful. But how to be more confident? Here are some suggestions:

● ________ ________When you are not confident, you can’t do well in what you want to do. You speak in a voice so low that other people can hardly hear you. Try to speak in a loud voice so that people can hear you clearly. The high voice can help you become more confident.

●Play sports Physical exercise makes you tired but completely relaxed. A strong body helps you be full of confidence.

●Encourage yourself Write down a list of things you did during the day to see how many things you have done well. Did you finish your homework? Did you tell a joke that made everybody laugh? Give yourself praise for the good things you’ve done.

●Get rid of(消除)fear　Fear comes along with failure(失败). But if you know that failure is part of your life, it’s easy to get over it. Don’t hide your head just because you said something stupid last time. Try to start again and believe you can do better.

●Pick up a hobby　If you like singing, sing as much as you can. In some ways, a hobby can make you outstanding. And it will make you happy and confident.

【1】根据短文内容完成句子(每空限填一个单词)。

The first paragraph tells us ________ confidence is _________.

【2】根据第二段内容和其他带有段落标题的格式, 在第二段的开头写出本段的标题(每空限填一个单词)。________ ________

【3】将文中画线的句子译成汉语。

____________________________________________________

【4】根据短文内容回答问题。Why do you need to pick up a hobby?

____________________________________________________

【5】根据短文内容回答问题(限10个词以内)。What is the passage mainly talking about?

____________________________________________________

American schools have their own rules. For example, in Morton High School, students are not allowed to choose their own clothes. They must get to school or leave school on time. Food or drinks or snacks shouldn’t be taken into the classroom. They must wear sports shoes in gym class. They are supposed to keep quiet in the school bus. In America, the students can have part-time jobs in their free time.

【1】If you are a student in some Asian countries, ________ .

A.you can wear earringsB.you must wear sports shoes in gym class

C.you may be allowed to wear your own clothesD.you are allowed to have part-time jobs

【2】What does the underlined word “require” mean?

A.禁止B.要求, 命令C.批准, 允许D.奖励

【3】Which is the same rule in some Asian countries and in Morton High School?

A.The students can have part-time jobs in their free time.

B.The students are allowed to wear their own clothes.

C.The students must get to school on time.

D.The students should keep the hair black.

【4】We can infer(推断)from the passage that ________ .

A.the students must wear uniforms in Morton High School

B.the students can’t dye their hair

C.the students often make noises in the school bus

D.the students can’t make money in the free time

【5】Which sentence is RIGHT about the article?

A.The students can eat things in class in America.

B.Different countries have different school rules.

C.The school gate is open when the classes begin.

D.The students can’t get freedom if there are rules in school.

Is it possible to be born shy? Many scientists say yes. They say 15 to 20 percent of babies act shyly. These babies are a little quieter and more watchful(小心提防的) than other babies. Interestingly, these shy babies usually have shy parents. As a result, scientists think that some shyness is genetic.

Family size might lead people to be shy as well. Growing up alone, they often play by themselves. They are not able to learn the same social skills as children from big families.

You may also be shy because of where you were born. When scientists studied shyness in different countries, they found surprising differences. In Japan, most people said they were shy. But in Israel, only one of three people said so. What explains the differences? One scientist says the Japanese and many Israelis have different opinions of failure. In Japan, when people do not succeed, they feel bad about themselves. They blame(责备) themselves for their failure. In Israel, the opposite is true. Israelis often blame failure on outside reasons, such as family, teachers, friends or bad luck. In Israel, freedom of opinion and risk taking are strongly supported. This may be why Israelis worry less about failure and are less shy.

For shy people, it can be difficult to make friends, speak in class, and even get a good job. But scientists say you can get over your shyness. They suggest trying new things and practicing conversation. And don’t forget, if you are shy, you are not the only one.

【1】What’s the main idea of Paragraph 1?

A.Scientists think if you are shy, you are alone.

B.Scientists want to know why there are so many shy people.

C.Scientists find many shy people have interesting ideas.

D.Scientists are trying to understand each other better.

【2】What does the word “genetic” in Paragraph 2 most probably mean in Chinese?

A.怪异的B.无尽的C.遗传的D.古老的

【3】From Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3, we can know that________ .

A.it’s possible to be born shy

B.20% of babies are not as watchful as other babies

C.shy children are from big families

D.family size mainly leads people to be shy

【4】According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

A.More than 50 percent of people feel shy at some point in their lives.

B.Scientists studied and found place of birth can not lead people to be shy.

C.Israelis strongly support freedom of opinion and risk taking.

D.It can be difficult for shy people to make friends and even get a good job.

【5】Which would be the best title of the passage?

A.Only shy people can succeedB.The Japanese are less shy

C.Everyone is born shyD.Why are we shy?

your, interest, less, things, say, careful, better, study, place, other

Maybe you are more【1】in sports than in history. You probably think you will never be a top student. In fact, anyone can become a【2】student if he or she wants to. If you can use your time well, you may improve your study. Here’s how:

Plan your time【3】. When you plan your week time, you should make a list of【4】that you have to do. First write down the time for eating, sleeping, dressing, etc. Then decide on a good time for studying. Of course,【5】shouldn’t take all of your time. Don’t forget to leave your enough time for hobbies. Find a good place to study. Look around the house for a good study【6】. Keep this space, which may be a desk or just a corner of 【7】room. No games, radio, or television! When you sit down to work, think only about the subject!

Make good use of your time in class. Listen carefully to what the teacher【8】. Careful listening in class means【9】work later. You also need to take notes in class, because it can make it easier for you to learn well.

There are only a few ways mentioned here to help you with your studying. I believe you can find many【10】ways besides these.

【1】At first I r___________ the same word over and over again to pronounce it well.

【2】Mr. Li is very p__________. He never gets tired of explaining things to the students.

【3】Mr White has gone to Hangzhou on b__________.

【4】The police p_______the driver because he drank too much wine when he was drinking.

【5】Please tell me if it is c__________for you to play basketball with us now!

【6】I like collecting __________(邮票) and old coins.

【7】Many people come to visit the place because it’s ________(迷人的).

【8】We should know the ________(重要) of sharing and giving love and joy to people around us.

【9】I’m planning to visit one of my _________(亲戚) next week.

【10】The boy is good at _________(记忆) the names of songs.

—Maybe at midnight again.

A.if will he stop workingB.if he will stop working

C.when will he stop workingD.when he will stop working