Grown-ups are often surprised by how well they remember something they learned as children but have never practiced ever since. A man who has not had a chance to go swimming for years can still swim as well as ever when he gets back in the water. He can get on a bicycle after many years and still ride away. He can play catch and hit a ball as well as his son. A mother who has not thought about the words for years can teach her daughter the poem that begins “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” or remember the story of Cinderella or Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
One explanation is the law of overlearning, which can be stated as follows: Once we have learned something, additional learning trials will help strengthen the related knowledge and skills.
In childhood we usually continue to practice such skills as swimming, bicycle riding, and playing baseball long after we have learned them. We continue to listen to and remind ourselves of words such as “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” and childhood tales such as Cinderella and Goldilocks. We not only learn but overlearn.
The multiplication tables (乘法口诀表) are also an exception to the general rule that we forget rather quickly the things that we learn in school, because they are another of the things we overlearn in childhood.
The law of overlearning explains why cramming for an examination, though it may result in a passing grade, is not a satisfactory way to learn a college course. By cramming, a student may learn the subject well enough to get by on the examination, but he is likely soon to forget almost everything he learned. A little overlearning, on the other hand, is really necessary for one’s future development.
1. What’s the main idea of Paragraph 1?| A．People remember well what they learned in childhood. |
| B．Children have a better memory than grown-ups. |
| C．Poem reading is a good way to learn words. |
| D．Stories for children are easy to remember. |
| A．presenting research findings | B．analysing statistics |
| C．making a comparison | D．using examples |
| A．a result of overlearning |
| B．a special case of cramming |
| C．a skill to deal with math problems |
| D．a basic step towards advanced studies |
| A．A way which leads to failure in college exams. |
| B．A study method only helpful in a limited way. |
| C．A way that will result in good memory. |
| D．An approach to increasing students’ learning interest. |
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【推荐1】The mission of the National Park Service is to preserve and protect the natural and cultural resources “for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations". Want to help them achieve their mission? Here’s how:
Donate: The national parks are always short on finds (资金). You can donate items to the park bookstore, support a particular program at your favorite national park, or send funds to the National Park Foundation.
Volunteer: If you can’t donate money, consider donating your time. National park service volunteers help build paths, answer visitors’ questions and maintain (维修) buildings. Check out its site to find out more ways you can volunteer in your favorite national park.
Share scientific skills: If you have a background in science, the NPS might be able to use your skills at one of its Research Learning Centers. From collecting and analyzing samples to maintaining equipment and databases, there’s plenty to do to help preserve and protect the natural and cultural resources of our national parks.
Create art: Many national parks have artist-in-residence programs that give artists an opportunity to close to their favorite inspirational settings. You can stay at a remote cabin in Denali National Park or get an in-depth look at the history at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. The art you create can help inspire future generations to work for the national parks.
Go visit: There’s no better way to show your favorite national park some love than going there to see it. Bring a friend and take in some history and culture. It will remind you why our national parks are really “America’s Best Idea”. Oh, while you’re there, be sure to thank the park workers for all they do to support our national parks.
1. What can volunteers do to help the NPS achieve their mission?| A．Ask visitors some questions. |
| B．Set up a particular program. |
| C．Advertise their works of art. |
| D．Look after park constructions. |
| A．Good scientific skills. |
| B．Great appreciation of the arts. |
| C．A good educational background. |
| D．Much knowledge of history and culture. |
| A．To have a good time. |
| B．To make more friends. |
| C．To help the park workers. |
| D．To show your care for them. |
【推荐2】How to Start Gardening
If you are feeling the itch(渴望) to get a green thumb and start gardening, we cannot blame you.
The first step is to come up with an idea of what you want to grow. If you are going to grow a crop, make sure it is something you will eat. You also need to make sure your area has the right climate, and that you are planting at the right time. Most plants will require planting in spring, but sometime planting in the fall,so make sure you know the life cycle of a plant and when you should plant it.
After you have chosen what you want to grow, picture your garden or even draw up a plan. Look at what will go where depending on how much sun it needs.
Testing your soil is necessary.
| A．Choose the right seeds and then plant them. |
| B．It has so many benefits and it is hard to resist. |
| C．You should also look up a seeding calendar as well. |
| D．Consider the sun in the sky above your garden as well. |
| E．And keep the kids’ play area away from the planting areas. |
| F．Many green hands to the gardening scene do not know this. |
| G．It is also worth looking into what grows well in your local area and what doesn’t. |
【推荐3】Life isn’t fair. Some people just seem blessed with the ability to effortlessly charm (吸引) anyone they meet. Well, it might seem like a magical power, but in fact there are a number of factors at work.
But first, the bad news. People at first judge each other according to physical appearance. With just a glimpse of a face, people make quick judgements about each other’s likeability, trustworthiness and confidence. How should we deal with this?
What other tricks might we have?
So we’ve looked at body language, but of course what you say is hugely important too, unless you want to just stand there smiling foolishly. The golden rule of friendship is if you make people feel good about themselves, they’re going to like you. In other words, you should not talk about yourself and all your wonderful achievements.
Finally, finding common ground helps form a connection. Charming people are particularly skilled at seeking out shared interests or experiences to bond with others.
| A．Instead, you need to show interest in them. |
| B．So, can you learn to develop superhuman charm? |
| C．There’s one surprisingly simple tool: your smile. |
| D．Shared interests are the key to making connections with others. |
| E．Asking where someone’s from allows you to find areas in common. |
| F．Our brains often survey the environment for friend or enemy signals. |
| G．What good tricks might we take advantage of to become charming? |
