1 . We’ve all been there — staring at a pile of books, desperately hoping that what we study will stick in our mind. Many of us have probably asked if there’s any way that we can get better at remembering things.     1    

Every student who has made flashcards knows that it can be helpful to go back over what they’ve studied before. The Learning Scientists, a group of cognitive scientists, have made a new discovery.    2     They say that trying to retrieve (找回) something from your memory after you have had some time to forget it will make it easier to remember in future.

    3     The Learning Scientists say this can help you build links between different ideas. Now, linking ideas and relating them to each other or to images are often suggested as good ways to memorise something. Former world memory champion Jonathan Hancock highlights how picturing pieces of information in different physical locations or linking them to memorable images makes them easier to remember. Linking new information to things that are easier to remember is a technique that many people use.    4    

There are also more general things that we can do to improve our memory. Hancock says that being generally organised makes things easier for your brain, while many other experts also recommend avoiding stress, alcohol and smoking, and that we should get a lot of rest and exercise.    5    

A．We don’t know exactly why this happens.

B．It’s important to the long-term memory.

C．So, why don’t we look at what memory experts say about this?

D．Another study tip is to change between different topics as you study.

E．It could be making letter patterns into words, or by sorting things into categories.

F．According to them, we can learn things better if we wait for some time before trying to study them again.

G．So, while it may be hard, improving our memory is something we can control.

2 . Figuring out what a company is like before you actually work there can be challenging. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to determine whether or not a company is a good fit for you.

First of all, know what you want.     1     So before you can determine whether you and a specific company would be compatible (兼容的) together, it’s important to understand what exactly you want from your employer. Many of us have an easier time identifying the things that we absolutely don’t want. That’s a good place to start.

    2     Now comes the part when you put on your detective hat and do a little digging. The Internet will be your best friend when you’re trying to familiarize yourself with a company’s culture before ever walking through their office doors. And where exactly should you look for these culture clues? Start with the most obvious place first: the company’s website.     3     Do they use formal, direct language? Or is it conversational, and maybe even a little humorous? This can be a big indicator of what sort of culture the company is trying to create.

Finally, you can never fail with personal connections.     4     Ask if they would be willing to have a quick conversation with you about the organization in general. If you get a yes to your request for a chat, you’ll be armed with some pretty powerful and helpful information heading into your interview!

Keep these tips in mind to figure out whether you and a potential employer are a perfect match or just a recipe for disaster.     5    

A．Learn more by asking questions.

B．Read through their copy and blog.

C．Then make sure to do your research.

D．Next, turn your attention toward their announcements.

E．After all, it’s a good thing to know before actually accepting an offer.

F．Send a quick message to a current or previous company employee by email.

G．It’s hard to make any decisions when you don’t really know what you’re looking for.

3 . Have you ever set a goal for yourself, like getting fit, making honor roll, or being picked for a team? Like lots of people, maybe you started out doing great, but then lost some of that drive. Don’t worry.     1     Here are some approaches that you can adopt.

First, write down your major goal. Your major goal is the ultimate thing you’d like to see happen. For example, “I want to make honor roll,” or “I want to get fit enough to make the cross-country team” are all major goals because they’re the final thing you want to see happen.     2     You just have to remember that the bigger the goal, the more work it takes to get there.

Make it specific. It’s easier to plan for and master a specific goal than a vague (模糊的) one. Let’s say your goal is to get fit. That’s pretty vague. Make it specific by defining what you want to achieve (such as muscle tone and definition or endurance), why you want to get fit, and by when.     3    

Make it realistic.     4     Let’s say you want to run a marathon. If you try to run the entire distance of 26.2 miles tomorrow without any training, you’re unlikely to succeed. It takes the average person 4 months of training to run that far! But the bigger risk is that you’ll get so disappointed that you’ll give up your marathon dreams.

    5     Visualize yourself achieving your goal. Say you score the winning soccer goal or you make the honor roll because you work hard. It helps you keep what you’re trying to accomplish in mind. It helps you believe it’s possible. You can also call up your mental picture when willpower and motivation are low. These can boost your attitude and motivation.

A．It’s OK to dream big.

B．Keep a stick-to-it attitude.

C．Break a big goal into small steps.

D．This helps you make a plan to reach your goal.

E．You can stay motivated by writing down your goals.

F．Everyone struggles with staying motivated and reaching their goals.

G．People often abandon their goals because their expectations are unreasonable.

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The first step of ice     1     (fish) is getting the net, which is usually over two kilometers long, ready to put under the ice. Then the workers will put the net down at a     2     (choose) spot, and take it up in the distance of the vast lake.

    3     this is actually achieved is an interesting process. First up, a series of holes are drilled into the ice of about a meter and a half thick. They drill a hole every 50 meters or so and they’ll keep doing that until they’ve drilled the holes the entire way around a circle with a diameter (直径) of two kilometers. Meanwhile, another team gets to work,     4     (extend) the main hole using a     5     (tradition) ice pick. Eventually, a long piece of bamboo will     6     (employ) to thread the rope of the net into the next hole they have drilled 50 meters away. And these guys will continue like that around the entire outside of the circle until the rope     7     (reach) the other side of the circle two kilometers away. At the same time, back at the mother hole, the net is being lowered slowly     8     surely, meter by meter until it’s     9     (complete) submerged under the ice. In the distance, the diggers have reached the other side of the circle and are now working on digging the hole that the net will eventually come out     10    .

5 . Parents everywhere praise their kids. Jenn Berman, author of The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy, Confident Kids, says, “We’ve gone to the opposite extreme of a few decades ago when parents tended to be more strict.” By giving kids a lot of praise, parents think they’re building their children’s confidence, when, in fact, it may be just the opposite.     1    

Still, don’t go too far in the other direction.     2     Kids will feel like they’re not good enough or that you don’t care and, as a result, may see no point in trying hard for their accomplishments.

So what is the right amount of praise?     3     If praise is focused on the effort not the outcome, you can give it as often as your kid does something deserving a verbal (口头的) reward. For example, when a kid comes home excited with a great mark, say, “You deserve it! Your devotion and perseverance paid off.”     4    

Besides, remember to praise sincerely. Kids are more perceptive (有感知力的) than many adults realize, and they often can tell the difference between sincere and insincere praise. When kids sense your praise insincere, they assume you feel sorry for them or don’t understand them.     5    

A．By highlighting their hard work, we are teaching them that effort matters.

B．If this is the case, they will dismiss the praise, making it ineffective.

C．Not giving enough praise can be just as damaging as giving too much.

D．Too much praise can backfire and even make kids afraid to try new things.

E．Experts say that the quality of praise is more important than the quantity.

F．If so, they will be convinced that sincere praise is truly vital for their growth.

G．Verbally praising kids can boost their confidence and encourage positive behaviors.

6 . You might know what to do if a human needs first aid, but what if your dog gets a bite or your cat eats something poisonous? Dr. Liam Donaldson, clinical director at Greencross Vet (兽医) Hospital at the University of Melbourne, says it’s important that pet owners understand basic first aid. Here, he shares his tips for dealing with common accidents and injuries.

Cuts & wounds

You don’t need to worry about disinfecting the injury site, but you do need to stop the bleeding, says Dr. Donaldson. “If there’s uncontrollable bleeding, apply pressure — even if it’s just using a T-shirt. Once you have applied pressure to reduce bleeding, take your pet immediately to a vet for assessment.” he advises.

Snake bites

Snakes have very small teeth, so their bite marks can be difficult to spot — and you might not see the bite happen. But if your pet shows signs of snake bite poisoning — sudden weakness and collapse, dilated pupils, vomiting, paralysis and shaking or twitching of muscles — get them to a vet without delay.

Tick bites

It’s a good idea to have a pair of tick-removal tweezers (镊子) on hand in case you need to remove a tick from your pet. “There’s often a lot of concern about whether you have to get all of the tick or not, but as long as you get the body of the tick off, generally the head will just remove itself over time,” says Dr. Donaldson. He recommends keeping the tick so that if your pet becomes ill, your vet can identify whether they were bitten by a paralysis tick (the type that can be deadly).

Poisoning

Cats eating ivy and dogs eating sago palm or macadamia nuts are some of the most common poisonings Dr. Donaldson sees. “If it’s a macadamia nut, I would just keep a very close eye on them. If they start to show any gastrointestinal signs — if they go off their food, if they become sore in any of their legs — get them checked over by a vet,” he says. “If it was lilies or sago palm, I would recommend getting them to a vet, even if they’re not showing signs of illness, just because that can typically be life-threatening.”

1. If your pet dog gets seriously injured, what is the best solution?

A．To seek medical assistance.	B．To disinfect the injury site.​
C．To apply pressure to reduce bleeding.​	D．To use a T-shirt to stop bleeding.

2. A cat or dog should be sent to hospital immediately it eats _________.

A．Ivy.	B．Sago palm.​
C．A macadamia nut.	D．A common poisoning.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A medical journal.              ​	B．A biology textbook.​
C．A hospital advertisement.	D．An animal care guide.​

7 . Do you feel like you’re always dealing with problems when it comes to work, relationships, health, or finances? Are you tired of feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and like your problems never seem to go away?     1     With the world developing faster than ever, finding the right mix of habits can keep you on your toes and ahead of your game.

Manage Your Time Wisely

Make the most of your 24 hours without feeling like you’re in a never-ending race against the clock. In order to take control of your time and use it wisely, you need to start prioritizing your tasks. Determine what needs your immediate attention and what can wait.     2     Minimize distractions like social media, unnecessary meetings, and pointless busy work.

Develop a Solution-focused Mindset

    3     But don’t let it take center stage. Focus on taking action and being constructive. For example, if you have a conflict with a friend, instead of stewing in hurt feelings, reflect on how you can communicate better.

Practice Assertiveness (果断)

Being assertive means having the courage to speak your truth, share your opinions, and defend your needs while equally valuing the perspectives and needs of others.     4     It’s essential for resolving misunderstandings and building strong, transparent relationships. Don’t be afraid to say “no” when something isn’t in line with your priorities or values.

Adopt a Comprehensive Approach to Wellness

Look at your well-being from a 360 perspective: mind, body, and spirit.     5     Each one plays a vital role in your overall health. Nourish your body with foods that energize you. Exercise regularly in a way that you enjoy. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep to recharge.

A．Acknowledge the problem.

B．Lengthen your working hours.

C．Life throws challenges as well as opportunities to you.

D．It’s recognized that these elements are interconnected.

E．This habit encourages open and honest communication.

F．Identify activities that consume time but deliver low value.

G．Most people underestimate how much power they have to fix problems.

9 . How to overcome travel anxiety

Stress and anxiety around documents and procedures of travel is common. Here are some tips from experts on how to overcome travel anxiety and enjoy your holiday or trip.

    1     To be able to best cope with your travel anxiety, you need to have a good understanding of the things that actually cause it. Once you understand what triggers your anxiety, you can plan ahead for the best ways to handle it.

Plan out your trip details. One of the reasons for your travel anxiety is that you’re being taken out of your comfort zone and won’t have full control over everything.     2     That will give you a sense of control. However, it’s equally important to think of alternative plans for anything that could potentially not go as planned.

Make use of different relaxation techniques.     3     Another useful way to calm your mind is by meditating. To make sure you find the mindfulness technique that works best for you, try out a few different ones beforehand and use the most efficient one during your trip to set your mind at ease.

Have things with you that bring you joy. These can include physical item s like a book to read, or a game to play. It can be extremely useful in distracting you from your negative feelings. Alternatively, you can create a playlist of songs you love or have your favourite TV show with you.     4    

Don’t forget your physical health. Being physically active is a great way to reduce feelings of anxiety and stress.     5     Going outside and connecting with nature can have a positive effect on your physical and mental wellbeing, which in turn will help reduce your anxious thoughts.

A．Brainstorm various kinds of anxiety.

B．Understand where your anxiety originates.

C．Frankly speaking, negative feelings can’t be avoided.

D．Make sure to incorporate physical activity in your days.

E．Deep breathing is a technique proven to help reduce stress.

F．They will keep your mind occupied, decreasing your feelings of anxiety.

G．To help ease that anxious feeling, try to plan out your trip in as much detail as possible.

10 . Finding friends that share your interests does not have to be difficult.     1    , and they want friends who enjoy the same sports, activities, social events and music. It can be as easy as attending one social event or going online and meeting people on friend seeking (寻找) websites. Learn how to find friends that share the same interests as you.

    2    . Some people may have moved to a different place and some people may want to make new friends within the town they have been living in for years.

Check out online friend seeking websites like friend finder.com, wayn.com or Facebook.    3    , and even do a search for certain qualities that you like in a new friend.

Go to social events in your area-maybe they support a cause you love or include a band that you enjoy. As soon as you meet someone at one of these events,you will know you already have an interest that you share.

Join a sports team at your community center.     4    , and you can start from there.

Meet new friends through friends you already have.     5    . If you and your old friend have things in common, then most likely (可能的) you will have things in common with their other friends.

A．Join a class in your community

B．Many people are looking for friends

C．Decide why you want to meet new people

D．Friends come and go throughout one’s lifetime

E．You will find people with the same interest in sports

F．Sometimes we can find a connection through a friend

G．You can meet friends that share the same interests on these websites