While five-time USA Memory champion and University of Miami (UM) lecturer Nelson Dellis says his superhuman memory can be built by anyone with practice, he’s spending this year’s National Alzheimer’s Disease (阿尔茨海默病) Awareness Month preparing to set two Guinness World Records in honor of those that have lost their own.
“When my grandmother passed away from Alzheimer’s disease, I worried myself about losing memory, and if that would happen to me when I get older,” Dellis said. “For me to show what’s possible with your memory and raise awareness of the disease is a surprising honor.”
Professor Geoff Sutcliffe has been one of Dellis’ biggest supporters. Sutcliffe met Dellis while working as a department head during Dellis’ time as a UM undergraduate. “After seeing his work morality and ability, I decided to help him secure a lecturer position he’s highly qualified for. He’s now a valuable lecturer,” Sutcliffe said. One area Sutcliffe says his memory has improved greatly from working with and learning from Dellis is in name recognition. “I had thought the memory was impossible to improve for people at my age, but Dellis inspired me to break through the limit.”
Dellis found out about the championship when doing research on brain health, improvement and techniques with Sutcliffe. “I was shocked to discover people that competed had trained their memory using practical techniques, for I’d thought memory was kind of like what you had from birth, like a terrible one or an extremely good one,” Dellis said.
First learning memorization techniques, Dellis said memorizing a set of cards was out of the question. “I did it in like 20 minutes at the time and thought, ‘Wow, I just kept them all in my mind in that time,’” Dellis said. “That seems pokey at present. In the perfect setting, I can do it in 30 seconds, just because of practice.” While his success in improving his own memory was rooted in self-interest, Dellis now emphasizes the potential benefits of memory training and says his mission is to help people improve their skills in memorization.
1. Why did Dellis start training his memory?| A．To prevent loss of memory. | B．To remember his grandmother. |
| C．To do research on brain health. | D．To raise awareness of Alzheimer’s. |
| A．Thoughtful and ambitious. | B．Generous and intelligent. |
| C．Determined and influential. | D．Motivational and capable. |
| A．It’s hard to improve memory. | B．The superhuman memory is inborn. |
| C．Practising memory is important. | D．There’s a big contrast in people’s memory. |
| A．Challenging. | B．Impressive. | C．Slow. | D．Memorable. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】At just 40 years old, hip-hop star Kasseem Dean, more popularly known as Swizz Beatz, has amassed (积累)a track record, lifestyle and nearly $ 70 million net worth that would inspire most of us to retire early. So why does Dean continue to both work extremely hard and try projects that come with the risk of rejection?
During our interview for Uncommon Drive, a video series for USA & Main that seeks to find out the motivations and magic of world-class business people, Dean provided a memorable answer: "You only have so much time - once it's gone you don't get it back. Don't focus on money; focus on building something greater than yourself. If you're not making history, you're wasting your time on Earth."
When you look at his answer, you will learn two important lessons. The first is in "making history". Doing so requires awareness. You must fully understand what has and has not been achieved in the market you've entered. Dean makes every effort with the goal of creating something important that has not been done before and will be remembered for its impact beyond his years.
The second part of his statement is just as powerful. In this interview, he never once said he is "trying" to make history. Instead, he has told himself that no matter what difficulty there is, it's just going to happen. "I'm going to make history." Dean said.
After talking to Dean for nearly 45 minutes, it was clear to me that he has removed all ego(自我)from a statement that might otherwise be misread as false pride. I believe it's a brilliant hack - rather than focus on all the reasons why a project can't be realized, he has convinced himself of the possibility.
1. What is the function of the first paragraph?| A．To list an example. | B．To offer an explanation. |
| C．To lead to the main topic. | D．To make a summary. |
| A．His desire to be famous. |
| B．His wish to be wealthy. |
| C．His life goal to leave his mark on history. |
| D．His adventurous spirit and imagination. |
| A．He takes pride in his work. |
| B．He always believes in himself. |
| C．He can predict the possibility. |
| D．He gets prepared for his career. |
| A．How does Kasseem Dean face rejection? |
| B．Why doesn't Kasseem Dean want to retire? |
| C．How does Kasseem Dean make history? |
| D．What makes Kasseem Dean work hard? |
【推荐2】Miss Bianca Monica, a junior here at Marymount Manhattan College, is currently sifting( 筛选 ) her way through New York City. working towards her dream of making rock music with high quality that you only hear occasionally.
“It was a journey. I wanted to study communications and learn how things work in the music industry, " explained Monica. This is a young lady who knows what she wants and is putting in the effort to achieve it Born a Jersey girl, Monica knew she was made to be in New York.
With the overpowering support Monica receives from her hometown, it's obvious that such a backbone helps her step into the studio. At a young age of 14, Monica led a rock band. After the Robbery. The band saw huge success; they played numerous live performances around the city. Monica has also performed solo at the now closed Angels and Kings
When asked about her choice in style, her eyes light up with a great passion.
When writing my new record, we tried doing the dance route; then I realized: this is not me. Rock is in my blood. I just love music that makes you feel like your whole soul is pouring out of your body, voiced Monica
For a 21-year-old, Monica possesses the passion of someone who's been writing music forever. Her musical style, with a heavy diet in that good old rock n roll music, shares some similar features with 90s music
When the Jersey girl isn’t in her usual studio, you can find Monica hanging around, going to shows, and enjoying the beauty of inspiration all around NYC. In late spring. Monica hopes to schedule a variety of shows to promote her new EP(细碟 ). Until then, you simply cannot miss out on hearing this wonderfully talented rock star.
1. Why does Bianca Monica go to New York City?| A．To pursue her dream. | B．To enjoy a journey. |
| C．To open her own studio. | D．To work in the music industry. |
| A．The development of her band | B．The support from her hometown |
| C．The creditable success of her band | D．Her character as a Jersey girl |
| A．It is totally different from 90s music. | B．It is full of the passion of music writers. |
| C．It makes people feel heavy. | D．It has the character of good old rock n roll music. |
| A．To introduce the history of the rock music. |
| B．To encourage young people to learn from Monica |
| C．To call on the public to pay attention to Monica's music. |
| D．To search for the best way for Monica to succeed |
【推荐3】My son loves hockey (曲棍球). As his supportive fan, I watched him paying in all the matches across half of USA this year, and I’ve learned that losing maybe best for kids.
In his third season in 2022, my son’s team never lost more than three straight games. There was happiness, boasting, celebration, pizza. In short, it was a typically good youth hockey season. He improved as a player, but did not much change as a person.
However, what happened the next year added its story to the legends of sporting inability. Not only weak but prettily bad, this team lost 40 of their first 50 games, most of the defeats coming in the course of two losing streaks (倒霉的时刻). For a time, I worried that these streaks would kill my child’s love of the game.
But that’s not what happened. As bad as it got, the losing was clarifying. It kept out the kids who were in it less for the game than the glory, leaving just the die-hards behind. What started as a list of 17 of the team was cut down to 12. It was especially instructive for the kids. It taught him a great truth of the world: For everyone good, there is someone better.
What more, the kids were learning the game in a way that only losing can teach. Each player got to play everywhere, to learn and appreciate the role of every position on the ice. They kept an eye on the payers from the other team too, studying and applying the tricks of success. In an effort to break the streak, they went back to basics, accepted the intelligence of the hockey ancients: If playing like a team, they can defeat a collection of all-stars; If doing small and unimportant tasks well, they can get the goal.
This new team had personalities and could never be listed, no matter the score. They had learned the most important lesson: You can lose without being beaten. They squeaked into the state game, then made it all the way to the final, where the winner was decided in overtime (超时赛). When they lost that game and went into the handshake line, it was not as runners-up but as a team that had been made into winners in the only way that will stick — by losing.
1. What does the author think about his son’s team in the third season in 2022?| A．The team succeeded as a result of good luck. |
| B．The team had an extremely impressive performance. |
| C．The team didn’t live up to the author’s expectations. |
| D．The team behaved rather badly in three straight games. |
| A．The losing improved their teamwork. |
| B．The losing made them better understand hockey. |
| C．The losing helped them learn a great truth of the world. |
| D．The losing kept true players instead of those for the glory. |
| A．They became the winner finally. |
| B．They didn’t start their training as beginners. |
| C．They have personalities that can be counted. |
| D．They applied themselves to improving their skill. |
| A．Falls seven times, stand up eight. |
| B．The hardest fight is to fight oneself. |
| C．God helps those who help themselves. |
| D．Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. |
【推荐1】Frequent goodbyes to her family come hand-in-hand with Wang Yaping’s intensive training. This time, however, her goodbye has sparked joy in her 5-year-old daughter’s eyes as she is “shooting for the stars.”
Known for broadcasting a 40-minute live lesson during her first space trip, she is very likely to draw global attention again during her second space mission.
Wang was born in 1980 to a rural family in Shandong Province. “When I was young, my world was small,” Wang recalled. “My dream was much more simple: to go beyond the village and to pay back all that my parents had given me.”
Her space dream started in 2003 when China sent Yang Liwei into space. “I watched the bright rocket flame on TV, and an idea flashed through my mind: China now has a male taikonaut, when will there be a female one?” Wang said. After racking up safe flights for 1,600 hours over nine years, Wang became a strong candidate (候选人) for China’s first flight by a female taikonaut. However, she did not pass her final tests. Wang did not lose heart but pushed forward even harder. She always ran three laps more than others in physical courses; she volunteered to be held to the same standards as her male partners during desert survival training, and she asked to train in the pressure chamber for an extra 30 minutes each time. “You can’t catch a break simply for being a woman,” she said.
Her efforts were not in vain. Wang became a crew member of the Shenzhou-10 space mission in 2013. And more notably, she earned the title of China’s first space teacher after giving a lecture to students from an orbit more than 300 km above the Earth’s surface.
Liu Cixin, China’s famous sci-fi writer and Hugo Award winner, said Wang’s lesson was like a “brush,” which painted a space world for children that is different from Earth.
1. What do we know about Wang Yaping?| A．She is the first Chinese woman to enter space. |
| B．She went to space just for a lecture in 2013. |
| C．She is the first Chinese to give a lesson in space. |
| D．She dreamed to pay back her hometown as a child. |
| A．She was puzzled about her future for a period. |
| B．She felt down completely under great pressure. |
| C．She volunteered for heavier tasks than men. |
| D．She strengthened herself through hard practice. |
| A．Learned and generous. | B．Wise and cooperative. |
| C．Honest and ambitious. | D．Determined and hard-working. |
| A．Simile. | B．Quote. |
| C．Repetition. | D．Personification. |
【推荐2】Cecilia Chiang, named the “mother of Chinese food in American”, a famed restauranteur who helped introduce real Chinese food to America in the 1960s, died on October 28, 2020 at the age of 100. Opened in 1961, Cecilia’ legendary San Francisco restaurant, the Mandarin, was arguably the best Chinese restaurant in the US for over 30 years. She challenged the American idea of Chinese food and transformed their appreciation for authentic Chinese cuisine.
Ms. Chiang was born in Wuxi in 1920 as the seventh daughter in a wealthy family. After her parents died, Cecilia managed the businesses’ finances while still in her teens.
Ms. Chiang came to San Francisco in 1959. Once in San Francisco, she met two acquaintances who wanted to open a restaurant. Ms. Chiang agreed to put up a huge deposit. But when the two women quit, Ms. Chiang found to her horror that the deposit was not refundable. She decided to open the restaurant herself. “I began to think that if I could create a restaurant with Western-style service and the dishes that I was most familiar with—the delicious food of northern China—maybe my little restaurant would succeed,” she wrote in her book.
The Mandarin, which was opened in 1961 as a small restaurant, introduced customers to mainly Sichuan, Shanghai and Canton dishes. The early days were especially tough. But little by little, Chinese diners, and a few Americans came regularly. Overnight, the tables filled and became a huge success.
Ms. Chiang enjoyed many extraordinary honors. In 2013, when she was 93, she received the long overdue Lifetime Achievement Award from the James Beard Awards, known as the “Culinary Oscars” at New York’s Lincoln Center. Cecilia considered it her legacy to have redefined what Americans know about Chinese food and culture. In her acceptance speech, Cecilia said, “This is an incredible honor. James Beard was one of my close personal friends, so this award holds a special place in my heart.”
1. What is Cecilia’s early life in San Francisco?| A．She transferred her family business to San Francisco. |
| B．She opened her restaurant because the deposit was non-refundable. |
| C．She met two classmates who cheated her out of money. |
| D．She obtained the help of two acquaintances. |
| A．It was an overnight hit through accumulation. |
| B．It is easy to survive the early days. |
| C．It has typical Western-style dishes. |
| D．It got help from a distinguished person. |
| A．It completely changed American’s eating habits. |
| B．It brought Oscars to the food world. |
| C．It showed Americans the charm of Chinese food. |
| D．It brought memories of the old era to Americans. |
| A．Describe something that had always been desired. |
| B．Describe something that took place unexpectedly. |
| C．Describe something that had turned up by chance. |
| D．Describe something that should have happened before. |
【推荐3】By incorporating dance moves and Chinese cultural elements into the art of single bamboo drifting, a national intangible cultural heritage, a 24-year-old woman from Zunyi in southwest China’s Guizhou Province has brought new vitality (活力) to this traditional art form.
Yang Liu is an inheritor of the art form that resembles kung fu. According to her, single bamboo drifting originated in the Chishui River Basin in Guizhou. Nowadays, it has evolved into a competitive sport and a kind of performing art. Performers need to stand upright on a nine-meter-long bamboo pole while drifting on a river, a skill that is very hard to learn due to the difficulty involved in balancing on the bamboo pole while on water. Yang learned the techniques from her grandmother when she was only seven years old. To gain a better command of the skills, she had to practice difficult movements on a bamboo pole while enduring all the physical pain that came with mastering the motions.
Inspired by her grandmother, Yang later tried to apply her own dancing skills to the art form. She was finally able to perform dance moves, including doing the splits (劈叉), while drifting on a bamboo pole on a river at the age of 15. To make single bamboo drifting more attractive to the public, she began dancing on a bamboo pole while wearing opera costumes and traditional Chinese attire, including hanfu.
Yang has also shared videos of herself performing single bamboo drifting on the Internet in recent years. She has attracted about 1 million followers on short-video platforms, and her elegant and innovative performances have won high praise from viewers both at home and abroad.
Nothing is more important than carrying forward Chinese traditional culture, Yang says. She is dedicated to promoting single bamboo drifting through more creative performances, hoping to let more people appreciate and admire this intangible cultural heritage and help tourists learn more about local history and culture.
1. Single bamboo drifting is very hard to learn because _____.| A．it has evolved into a competitive sport |
| B．the bamboo pole on water is nine meters long |
| C．it can cause some physical pain to performers |
| D．performers need to balance on the bamboo pole |
| A．She learned the techniques from her grandmother. |
| B．She tried to practice some difficult dance movements. |
| C．She won praise from viewers both at home and abroad. |
| D．She wore hanfu to perform and shared her videos online. |
| A．Confident. | B．Creative. | C．Diligent. | D．Brave. |
| A．A Traditional Art Form: Originating in Zunyi, Guizhou Province |
| B．Single Bamboo Drifting: A National Intangible Cultural Heritage |
| C．An Innovative Inheritor: Yang Liu and her Performances on Water |
| D．Chinese Cultural Elements: Incorporated into Single Bamboo Drifting |
