Most of us seem to reach our peak of alertness (警觉) around noon. Soon after that, alertness declines, and sleepiness may set in by mid-afternoon.

Your short-term memory is best during the morning—in fact, about 15 percent more efficient than at any other time of day. So, students, take notice: when you are faced with a morning exam, it really does pay to review your notes right before the test is given.

However, long-term memory is different. Afternoon is the best time for learning materials that you want to recall days, weeks or months later. Politicians, business executives or others who must learn speeches would be smart to do their memorizing during that time of day. You should try to do most of your studying in the afternoon, rather than late at night. Many students believe they memorize better while burning the midnight oil because their short-term recall is better during the early hours of the morning than in the afternoon. But short-term memory won’t help them much several days later, when they face the exam.

By contrast, we tend to do best on tasks related to the process of knowing, understanding, and learning numbers during the morning hours.

What about sports? During afternoon and early evening, you’re able to react the quickest to an outside stimulus—like a baseball speeding toward you. Studies have also shown that late in the day, when your body temperature is peaking, you will consider PE easier and less tiring—whether it actually is or not. That means you are more likely to work harder during a late afternoon or early evening workout, and therefore benefit more from it.  

In fact, all of your senses—taste, sight, hearing, touch and smell—may be at their keenest during late afternoon and early evening. That could be why dinner usually tastes better to us than breakfast.

While all of us follow the same general pattern of ups and downs, the exact timing varies from person to person. It all depends on how your “biological” day is structured. Each of us can increase our knowledge about our individual rhythms. Learn how to listen to the inner beats of your body; let them set the pace of your day. You will live a healthier and happier life.

1.What does the underlined “it really does pay” mean?

A．It will cost a lot.                         B．It requires price.

C．It is very painful.                        D．It is worthwhile.

2.If there is an English exam two weeks later, you should go over English ____________ for days before that.

A．in the afternoon                        B．in the late evening

C．in the early morning                     D．right before the exam

3.From the passage, it can be inferred that ______________.

A．we eat more food at noon

B．we feel most tired if we exercise in the evening

C．it is a good choice to study math in the morning

D．we feel most sleepy before noon

4.Which would be the best title for the passage?

A．What’s Your Best Time of the Day for Different Tasks

B．How to Live a Healthier and Happier Life

C．How to Study Efficiently

D．How to Keep Your Best State of Learning

用括号内所给动词的正确形式填空

1.I can hardly wait for my daughter ___________ (return) from abroad.

2.Everyone is ________ (starve) for a peaceful and happy life.

3.Though they tried their best, the project was far from _____________ (satisfy).

4.To go to the talks, we are allowed to choose _________ (not have) Art, Class Meeting, PE or Self-study.

5.He’s the only one of his family who _________ (pass) the driving test so far, isn’t he?

6.Those who’d like to attend the lecture, __________ (sign) up here.

7.A big surprise to see you! I ________ (think) you were not supposed to come back until tomorrow.

8.Forty-two years later, a tunnel was actually begun.If, at the time, the British had not feared invasion, it______________(complete).

9.Firemen___________(fight) the forest fire for nearly three weeks before they could get it under control.

10.This would solve the problem of ventilation, for if a train ________(enter) this tunnel, it would draw in fresh air behind it.

I thought my luck had run out at the end of the summer holiday. It was not the   31  of the new term that did it, but the   32  military training. My   33  nightmare(噩梦) had finally come true.
The weather was   34  hot when we were training. Sweat dropped from every part of my body. I   35  as if my mouth was going to catch fire.   36  was the only thing I could think about. It was the first time in my life that I have ever really felt   37 .
However, we had to stand completely   38  all day. The drill-master(教官) were very strict with us. They only   39  us to sit directly on the ground for a few minutes. My heels ached and I had a blister(水泡) on my   40 .
Believe me, this was not the most   41  part. What I couldn’t   42  most of all was the smell of the toilets. It left such a deep impression on me that I can almost smell it right now.I guess most of the other students   43  the same experience that I had. I often thought of giving up and going back home.   44 , I didn’t.
One day, our PE teacher came to watch our   45  for a while. Then he  46  to join the national flag squad(队). “You movement is the best of all,” he praised me. It was so   47 ! I almost couldn’t believe my ears. It was a great honor to be chosen for the squad.
From that day on, I worked much harder than before because I knew I was going to   48  the national flag. Every Monday, thousands of eyes would be   49  on me. Now military training has finished and I have become a flag protector in my school. Every time I raise the flag, I know all my hard work has   50  .

Most of us seem to reach our peak of alertness (警觉) around noon. Soon after that, alertness declines, and sleepiness may set in by mid-afternoon.
Your short-term memory is best during the morning—in fact, about 15 percent more efficient than at any other time of day. So, students, take notice: when you are faced with a morning exam, it really does pay to review your notes right before the test is given.
However, long-term memory is different. Afternoon is the best time for learning materials that you want to recall days, weeks or months later. Politicians, business executives or others who must learn speeches would be smart to do their memorizing during that time of day. You should try to do most of your studying in the afternoon, rather than late at night. Many students believe they memorize better while burning the midnight oil because their short-term recall is better during the early hours of the morning than in the afternoon. But short-term memory won’t help them much several days later, when they face the exam.
By contrast, we tend to do best on tasks related to the process of knowing, understanding, and learning numbers during the morning hours.
What about sports? During afternoon and early evening, you’re able to react the quickest to an outside stimulus—like a baseball speeding toward you. Studies have also shown that late in the day, when your body temperature is peaking, you will consider PE easier and less tiring—whether it actually is or not. That means you are more likely to work harder during a late afternoon or early evening workout, and therefore benefit more from it.  
In fact, all of your senses—taste, sight, hearing, touch and smell—may be at their keenest during late afternoon and early evening. That could be why dinner usually tastes better to us than breakfast.
While all of us follow the same general pattern of ups and downs, the exact timing varies from person to person. It all depends on how your “biological” day is structured. Each of us can increase our knowledge about our individual rhythms. Learn how to listen to the inner beats of your body; let them set the pace of your day. You will live a healthier and happier life.
【小题1】What does the underlined “it really does pay” mean?

Every time I passed boys who were playing basketball, I stopped to silently watch them. I really envied them. But as a girl, I once thought that I could  16  play basketball.

I like playing basketball though I'm not good at it. I've had a basketball 17  I was a child. At first, I could play freely because no one  18  when I was just a kid. But as I grew up it seemed harder and harder for me to enjoy basketball.

At school, it was always the boys who played basketball during PE classes. The girls were 19  allowed to play volleyball or badminton.

My parents did not  20  me play basketball at home. "Basketball is not fit for girls," they said.   21  I went to play basketball with my friends, boys  22   at me on the court as if I were an alien.

I was feeling  23  and had lost hope of playing basketball. 24 , something changed the first day of high school. I made some friends who also enjoyed playing basketball. They  25  me to get back on the court.

One of them told me with a smile, "Go your own  26 , let others talk." This girl would always play basketball with me. Even the boy who sat next to me in class talked about  27  with me almost every day.

I was inspired by them. Confidence and passion  28 to my heart. I am ready to stand up and play. I will play as well as I can,  29  for me, even the sky is boundless (无垠的).

Basketball has become an important part of my  30 . I am interested in it. I watch matches and enjoy playing almost every day. Through basketball, not only do I feel happy and confident, but also 31  a lot.

I've heard the NBA star Tracy McGrady say, "Nothing is impossible." It is from an advertisement on TV. I have  32  to realize that life is just like playing basketball. You should have an  33 . After that, just be confident and  34  going. Never give up and you'll make it sooner or later.

I love the motto of the NBA. It can 35  my strong feelings for basketball, "I love this game!"

1.                A．ever           B．often           C．never    D．always

2.                A．when          B．before         C．after D．since

3.                A．struggled       B．cared          C．enjoyed  D．joined

4.                A．only           B．almost          C．hardly    D．not

5.                A．encourage      B．agree          C．let   D．permit

6.                A．Still            B．Yet            C．Just  D．Even

7.                A．looked         B．glared          C．glanced   D．stared

8.                A．up            B．down          C．excited   D．satisfied

9.                A．Unluckily       B．Naturally        C．Unexpectedly  D．Clearly

10.               A．encouraged     B．forbade        C．ensured   D．explored

11.               A．effort          B．way           C．business   D．direction

12.               A．basketball       B．sports          C．interests   D．dreams

13.               A．stuck          B．referred        C．turned    D．returned

14.               A．but            B．though         C．and  D．however

15.               A．wish           B．life            C．work D．study

16.               A．experience     B．grow           C．learn D．play

17.               A．come          B．turned         C．refused   D．happened

18.               A．idea           B．aim            C．opinion   D．effort

19.               A．insist          B．remain         C．keep D．last

20.               A．inform         B．express        C．ignore D．connect