Boost your Memory
When trying to memorize new material, it’s easy to assume that the more work you put in, the better you will perform.
Although it’s known that we should pace our studies, new research suggests that we should aim for “minimal distraction” during these breaks.
The memory-boosting benefits of undisturbed rest were documented in 1900. In one experiment, the researcher first asked the participants to learn a list of syllables. Following a short period, half the group was immediately given a second list to learn, while the rest were given a six-minute break before continuing.
In the early 2000s, two other researchers led several follow-up studies. In healthy participants, they have found that short periods of rest can also improve our memory of places. More crucially, this advantage stays a week after the original learning task and it seems to benefit young and old people alike.
The exact mechanism is still unknown. It is now accepted that once memories are initially encoded, they pass through a period of consolidation (巩固) that bond them in long-term storage.
| A．Our memory is easily distracted by new information. |
| B．This was once thought to happen primarily during sleep. |
| C．We tend to avoid activities contradictory to memory tasks. |
| D．Yet doing nothing occasionally maybe exactly what you need. |
| E．So don’t check your emails, or surf the web on your smartphone. |
| F．When tested one hour later, both groups showed strikingly different patterns of recall. |
| G．They have also found similar benefits for people in the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s disease. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】When should you worry about your teens? Many parents feel alarmed about how much their teen has changed, practically overnight, from their sweet, innocent child to a moody, rough teenager.
It can be hard to tell what to worry about, but first, know what is normal. Adaptation, for example, can be challenging for everyone. Starting high school and graduating are natural points for stress.
Anxiety doesn’t always look like what you’d expect.
Finally, know that treatment is very effective for practical anxiety management.
| A．In fact, this is typically normal. |
| B．It never hurts to consult a professional. |
| C．These changes may bring on some anxiety. |
| D．Try to find out how it affects a teen’s functioning. |
| E．You may feel painful watching your child struggle. |
| F．Managing devices and social media is another challenge. |
| G．It can be a lot of worrying and questioning about things which are safe. |
We often hear about the negative aspects of anxiety, but could there be any advantages or benefits that come from living with anxiety? Anxiety is a feeling that is often characterized by intense fear and worry.
Many individuals with anxiety describe it as a feeling of nervousness and fear that can be distracting and all-consuming. It is typically experienced on many levels, affecting one’s emotions and leading to uncomfortable physical sensations, and negative thoughts. However, have you ever considered some of the possible positive effects that may come with having anxiety? Scientists have learned that some degree of stress or anxiety isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Good stress, something now referred to as eustress, keeps us motivated and excited about life. It appears that some degree of anxiety may have similar “silver linings”.
Anxiety may be just the warning sign you need to bring awareness to your current situation and make some necessary changes in your life. For example, you may find that you have a friendship that is no longer working, or perhaps your job is causing a great deal of stress. Your anxiety can be difficult to manage, but exploring and coping with your anxiety can be a real opportunity for self-growth.
Anxiety may help you feel more motivated and prepared when faced with challenges. Research has shown that students and athletes who experienced some anxiety actually performed better on tests or in competitive sports. For instance, perhaps your anxiety assists you in putting extra effort into work or personal tasks, making a good impression, or moving towards your goals.
People who have dealt with anxiety may be more sympathetic and understanding to the problems that others face. Having gone through personal struggles yourself, you may be more sensitive, loving, and accepting when friends and family members are dealing with personal challenges.
Even though there can be some potential benefits to experiencing anxiety, it is worthwhile to point that it can also become a real challenge to many aspects of your life. If anxiety is preventing you from living the life you desire, then it may be time to get professional help.
1. What is anxiety according to the passage?2. Why can students with some anxiety perform better on tests?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Since there can be some potential benefits to experiencing anxiety, people should work hard to beat it, whatever anxiety they meet.4. How will you deal with anxiety in your life? (In about 40 words)
【推荐3】Tips on COVID-19 (新冠肺炎) prevention at the workplace
As COVID-19 has become a big threat against our health and seriously affects our normal life, effective prevention from the disease matters a lot. But do you really know how to keep yourself safe from COVID-19 at your workplace?
Wear a mask
If you take public transport to the workplace, keep as much distance as possible from one another. And if the workplace is not far away from your house, it will be a better choice to go to work by bike or on foot. And when it comes to meetings or conferences, use online communication tools to hold video conferences instead of gathering in a single room to have face-to-face communication.
Keep hands clean at all times
Everybody knows the importance of washing hands in our daily lives, especially before meals or after using the toilet.
| A．But that is not enough during work |
| B．That’s why you need to keep your hands clean |
| C．Some people may think it ridiculous if a person with no health problem does this |
| D．Keep your distance from people |
| E．Avoid social gathering |
| F．Here are some low-cost measures that will help protect you from infection at your workplace |
| G．Wearing a mask can protect us from cold |
【推荐1】
A dog named Rico recognizes the names of about 200 objects, say researchers in Germany.
In one experiment, the researchers took all 200 items that Rico is supposed to know and divided them into 20 groups of 10 objects.
In another experiment, the scientists took one toy that Rico had never seen before and put it in a room with seven toys whose names the dog already knew.
| A．The owner then told Rico to fetch the object, using a word the dog had never heard before. |
| B．Do dogs more understand us than some friends? |
| C．It's hard to know if all dogs understand at least some of the words we say. |
| D．Be careful what you say around your dog. |
| E．The dog also appears to be able to learn new words. |
| F．Then the owner told the dog to go and fetch one of the items and bring it back. |
| G．Rico is thought to be smarter than the average dog. |
【推荐2】If you think English means endless new words, difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation, you are wrong. Haven’t you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language?
According to a new study by a British university, learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power. Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter. This is the area of the brain which processes information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles (肌肉).
The study also found the younger people learn a second language, the greater the effect is. A team led by Dr. Andrea Mechelli, from University College London (UCL), took a group of Britons who only spoke English. They were compared with a group of “early bilinguals” who had learnt a second language before the age of five, as well as a number of later learners. Scans showed that grey matter density (密度) in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language. But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference was. “Our findings suggest that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language,” said the scientists.
It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn. Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales, has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills. “Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible(灵活的).” he said. “You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas.”
The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learnt English as a second language between the ages of two and thirty-four. Reading, writing, and comprehension were all tested. The results showed that the younger they started to learn, the better. “Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world,” explained the scientists.
1. What is mainly talked about in this passage?| A．Man has a great ability of learning a second language. |
| B．Language learning is closely connected with maths study. |
| C．The study done by the researchers from UCL is very successful. |
| D．Studying a foreign language can improve man’s ability to think. |
| A．To suggest language learning is also a kind of physical labor. |
| B．To make people believe language learning helps grey matter work well. |
| C．To prove that one needs more practice when he/she is learning a language. |
| D．To show the significance of using the language when you learn a language. |
| A．An active foreign language learner. |
| B．A person who can speak two languages. |
| C．A researcher on foreign language learning. |
| D．A person who is good at learning foreign languages. |
| A．The ability of learning a second language is changing all the time. |
| B．The experience of learning a second language has a bad effect on brain. |
| C．The earlier you start to learn a second language, the higher the grey matter density is. |
| D．There is no difference between a later second language learner and one without a second language. |
【推荐3】Research has revealed many benefits to being in the presence of nature, whether that’s walking in a forest, having a small garden or keeping a few household plants.
“One study showed that patients in a hospital who had plants in their rooms reported less pain, lower blood pressure, less tiredness and less anxiety than patients without plants in their rooms,” says Jenny Seham, founder and director of AIM (Arts and Integrative Medicine) in New York. She explains,“Cortisol (皮质醇)，the stress hormone, has been shown to lower with plant interaction, lowering tiredness and blood pressure. Gardening and caring for plants can help turn people away from negative thoughts or emotions.”
Houseplant collections have become a popular social media trend. Jamie Keaton Jones, a psychologist, says, “For many people, tending to plants has become a hobby. This hobby enables them to experience greater comfort and beauty from the presence of living things sharing their space.”
“Plants and exposure to greenery have been found to have many mental health benefits, such as lowering stress, decreasing feelings of depression, increasing sociability, restoring focus, improving cognitive performance, improving mood and increasing self- confidence,” says Jones.
Studies have also shown that plants and gardening increase productivity and levels of serotonin (血清素), which is responsible for uplifting mood.
“Rather than focusing on the past or worrying about the future, plant care helps one concentrate on the present moment and provides a feeling of accomplishment,” says Gayle Weill, another psychologist in Washington.
Like any new skill or hobby, taking care of houseplants comes with a learning process. Anyone starting to care for plants should be patient and allow themselves time to learn the basics, leaving room for a little trial and error.
1. Where can the passage be found?| A．In a science magazine. | B．In a novel. |
| C．In a history book. | D．Ina biography. |
| A．Many hospitals keep plants in the patients’ rooms. |
| B．Doctors will use plants to cure the patients’ illness. |
| C．Keeping a few plants can get u out of tiredness. |
| D．Caring for plants can keep us away from bad mood. |
| A．Houseplant collections are not popular in recent days. |
| B．Keeping plants has many physical health benefits. |
| C．Studies have proved that plants are beneficial for uplifting mood. |
| D．For many of us, plant care is difficult and takes time. |
| A．Benefits of Keeping Houseplants | B．Research on Keeping Houseplants |
| C．Ways to Take Care of Houseplants | D．Opinions About Caring About Plants |
