8 . Make Your Brain Smarter
You know that eating sensible diet and getting plenty of exercise help make your body healthy and strong. But did you know that there are ways to make your brain healthier and smarter? Studies show that when the brain is forced to do something new, it creates new neural pathways.
◆ Limit Your TV Viewing
Watching an average TV show requires very little brain power and brings the same result as neglecting physical exercise.
◆ Use Your Non-dominant (不占优势的) Hand
If you are right-handed, use your left hand for everyday activities, or use your right hand if you are left-handed. Doing familiar things in a new way will cause your brain to create new neural networks. Brushing our teeth is something most of us do daily. We really don’t put that much thought into it -- but maybe we should. Experts suggest that we can stimulate this right brain by changing things up and working with our non-dominant hand. So the next time you brush your teeth, open the tube, apply your toothpaste and brush with the opposite hand.
◆Shower with Your Eyes Closed
◆
Can playing “Chopsticks” on the piano make you smarter? Well, according to a study published in The Journal of Neuroscience, it can. Kids who received at least three years of instrumental music training outperformed children without training in fine motor skills (精细运动技能), vocabulary and non-verbal- reasoning skills. Apparently, people who are better able to move to a beat show more consistent brain responses to speech than those with less rhythm. The study findings suggest that musical training might sharpen the brain’s response to language -- making you a little smarter.
| A．Learn a New Language |
| B．Move to the Beat of Your Own Drum |
| C．Your brain will become weak just as your muscles do. |
| D．Walking for exercise requires little time and brings the same result as running. |
| E．Hop in the shower and shut your eyes. |
| F．The more pathways you have, the faster you can think and the better memory you will have. |
9 . The Beatles were a British rock group, led by the song writing team of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. They had a profound (深远的的) effect on the course of popular culture in the1960s, Their innovation (创新) led to revolution in pop music, fashion, and youth culture.
The group came together in Liverpool, England in the late 1950s, and soon found an enthusiastic audience. Then, in Hamburg, Germany, they developed their own song writing style.
In 1962, Ringo Starr joined the Beatles on the drums. They released Please, Please, Me, the first of many number one hits. In 1964. this phenomenon crossed the Atlantic. The Beatles appeared on a popular TV show in the US, and at first only young men watched their performances.
They recorded a variety of different styles of songs, from the simple Yellow Submarine to songs expressing political ideas. In their songs, their political activism and social ideas were reflected. It is said that the US government once sought to have Lennon deported(驱逐出境).
The Beatles made pioneering use of the modern recording studio, and released an album that is considered their best. After this album, however, the members pursued separate interests, and ended in breaking up. The group dissolved (解散) in 1971. John Lennon was murdered by a fan on the street in 1980. Fans around the world mourned his loss.
1. The Beatles had a great effect on the _________ of popular culture in the 1960s.| A．development | B．subject | C．matter | D．idea |
| A．found their sponsor | B．was set up | C．was found | D．was not noticed |
| A．became a hit | B．was enjoyed by both sexes |
| C．appeared | D．began to appear on the stage |
| A．the sadness in their hearts | B．complaints about society |
| C．their happiness | D．their social ideas |
10 . There is plenty of entertainment on Sundays in New york.
If the weather is bad you might turn to the Entertainment Section of a newspaper to see what movies are on. Sunday afternoon is good time for seeing film, but movies are rather expensive in New York, so making good choice may take time and care. Read the movie reviews to discover what the critics(批评家) have to say. No one wants to make an expensive mistake, nor does anyone want to stand in line a long time, which is very possible if the movie is new and gets good reviews. If you’re not sure that there is a movie interesting enough for you, look at the museum listings to see what exhibitions are on in town. Some museums are free, others are not.
But if the weather is good, you might glance through the section which lists outdoor activities. Almost every Sunday in the springtime some residential neighborhoods (居民区) will request permission from the Police Department to close off street for “street fairs”.There will be food for sale made by local residents or restaurants, handicrafts (工艺品) for sale, music provided by local band (often high school kids) and perhaps dancing. If the fair is in Little Italy you can expect to find tasty Italian food, pizza in cafes, imported Italian leather goods and traditional Italian music and performances. If the fair is in Chinatown, you can expect to find egg rolls, music played on the erhu (二胡) and dragon dances.
1. People are fond of going to the movies __________ when the weather is bad.| A．during the weekdays | B．on Sunday afternoons |
| C．on Sunday evenings | D．in the afternoon |
| A．is easy | B．is a piece of cake |
| C．takes time and much thinking | D．is of great fun |
| A．go to visit a museum | B．go to an exhibition |
| C．go abroad | D．join in local outdoor activities |
| A．all traffic | B．walking | C．shopping | D．entertainment |
