Performing better under pressure

What is the most stressful thing in school? It is probably exams．1.．??????? But some students succeed under pressure，while others struggle．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．2.．???????

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 a balance，according to new research from the University of Missouri，reported Yahoo．

???? 3.．?????? If you become stressed，your brain will start to overload （起负荷） on dopamine．It is like a cup overflowing with water．The quicker you are able to go back to a balance of dopamine，the quicker you can concentrate．4.．??????

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

??? But don't fear，there is good news for every student．5.．???? So，it turns out that practice really makes perfect．

根据短文内容，从下面五个选项中选出能填入文中空缺处的最佳选项，使短文意思通顺、内容完整，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

A．This will help you perform better on a test．

B．Exams can put us under a lot of pressure．

C．The study also found that the more practice you get，the less stressed you’ll be．

D．What happens when we take an exam?

E．Our brains work best when there is a balance of dopamine—not too much or too little．

Read the passage and fill in the blanks with proper words. (14分)

         You know that eating a sensible diet and getting plenty of exercise help make your body healthy and strong. But do you know that there are ways to make your brain healthier and smarter? Here are seven steps toward a smarter brain.

Limit your TV viewing

Never spend too much time on TV viewing, for it n__1.__ very little brain activities. Your brain will become weak just as your muscles do. If you do watch TV, choose something educational and meaningful.

Travel

Travelling to a____2.__ country forces you to see and do things in a fresh way, bringing stimulation to the brain. Learn a new language

Learning a new language involves different learning methods. Learning a language sharpens your brain and helps prevent memory p___3.___ that you may meet in later years.

Read often

As you read, take the time to look up people or places that aren’t familiar. Reading makes your vocabulary much l___4.__ if you always search for words and definitions that you don’t know. Each week, choose an animal, a bird or fish, and read everything you can about it. Stretch your brain as you become an expert on the subject.

Calculate w_____5.___ you shop

As you put things in your grocery cart, total everything in your head. See how close you get to the actual total.

Use your non-dominant（不占优势的）hand

If you are right-handed, use your left hand for everyday activities, or use your right hand if you are left-handed. Doing familiar things in a different way will make your brain c____6.__ new neural （神经）networks.

Wechat（微信）!

Read messages from people who has different interests. And some say that learning to express y____7.___ in just 100 words is a great brain challenge.

Have a try and do these every day. Little by little you can get into the habit of challenging your brain, and make your brain smarter!

Sitting on a chair all day in school can make anyone want to move around. So, more and more teachers are letting students have a ball. By sitting on exercise balls instead of chairs, teachers find students' posture (姿势) and attention improve.

Dottie Pownall, a fifth-grade teacher in West Virginia, USA, has been using balls as chairs since December 2008. "The students love them", she says. Pownall took a survey of her students. She found that 80% of the students thought sitting on the balls helped them pay more attention to what they were learning.

The teacher, Pisa Witt, felt so strongly about the use of balls as chairs, she started Witt Fitt. This company encourages the use of the balls. And the company educates not only teachers but also students on how to use them. "Our products are used in 24 states, three provinces in Canada, Puerto Rico ('波多黎各) and Japan," says Witt. "Research shows that sitting on the balls makes them sit up straighter. You can slouch (低头垂肩地坐) on a ball," says Witt, "but it feels awful." Because the students are moving, their blood (血液) increases. That carries more oxygen (氧气 to the brain (大脑), so the kids have more energy and can focus longer.

"Furthermore, they're fun." says Pownali.

1. What will happen if a student sits on a chair all day in school? The student will _________.

A. pay more attention to his lessons                B. be fun

C. like to move around                         D. sit up straighter

2. How long has Dottie Pownall used the balls?

A. About three years.                       B. Only one year.

C. In 2008.                                 D. Since he was a fifth-grade teacher.

3. In how many countries are the balls used as the students' chairs?

A. Four.        B. Three.           C. Two.         D. One.

4.Teachers choose balls instead of chairs because sitting on balls helps the kids___________.

A. improve the students' posture and attention         B. slouch on the chairs

C. have fun                                    D. Both A and C are correct answers.

5.Which is better for kids to study in class, sitting on a chair or sitting on a ball?

 A. Sitting on a chair.     B. Sitting on a ball.

C. They are the same.    D. We don't know.