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Improve your memory

Some people often complain about their poor memory. Actually there are several ways to keep your memory sharp. This article will show you some simple tips．

1.When you say these things, you begin to plant the thought in your mind and it may become true. Tell yourself you can remember anything as long as you put your mind to the task. You will see an improvement in your memory.

2.If you have trouble remembering phone numbers or other blocks of numbers, it can be really helpful to try this method. If you remember them in smaller groups, like two or three digits(数字), it will also be much easier to remember the number.

Be sure to see a doctor if you really are losing your memory. A poor memory can be a sign that you are in low spirits．3..

Playing games also helps improve your memory. Any type of games that involves remembering things is wonderful.4.. Try and remember it when you have nothing better to do. A useful tip for anyone interested in games is too often work on solving word puzzles and similar types of games.5.Not only will your memory probably improve, you will also have a great deal of fun.

A.Take a right attitude.

B.Remember numbers in small groups.

C.Stop telling yourself you have a weak memory.

D.If you don’t know your condition, you won't go to hospital.

E.If you don't like games, you can go over a list of “to-do things”.

F.If so, treating it could be the key to getting your memory back.

G.Such games use the same skills needed to remember facts and help keep the mind sharp.

    Organic food, grown without artificial chemicals, is increasingly popular nowadays. Consumers have been willing to pay up to twice as much for goods with organic labels. However, if you think paying a little more for organic food gets you a more nutritious and safer product, then you'd better save your money. A study led by researchers at Stanford University says that organic products aren't necessarily more nutritious, and they're no less likely to suffer from disease-causing bacteria, either.

For their new study, Smith-Spangler and her colleagues conducted a review of two categories of research,  including 17 studies that compared health outcomes between consumers of organic against traditional food products, and 223 studies that analyzed the nutritional content of the foods, including key vitamins, minerals and fats.

While the researchers found little difference in nutritional content, they did find that organic fruit and vegetables were 20% less likely to have chemicals remaining on the surfaces. Neither organic nor traditional foods showed levels of chemicals high enough to go beyond food safety standards. And both organic and traditional meats, such as chicken and pork, were equally likely to be harmed by bacteria at very low rates. The researchers did find that organic milk and chicken contained higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy fat also found in fish that can reduce the risk of heart disease. However, these nutritional differences were too small, and the researchers were unwilling to make much of them until further studies confirm the trends.

Organic food is produced with fewer chemicals and more natural-growing practices, but that doesn't always translate into a more nutritious or healthier product. The U. S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) states that “whether you buy organic or not, finding the freshest foods available may have the biggest effect on taste.” Fresh food is at least as good as anything marketed as organic.

1.What does the underlined sentence in the first paragraph mean? ______

A.Organic food helps you save money. B.Organic food contains much more nutrients.

C.Organic food is worth the high price. D.Organic food is not always nutritious.

2.Smith-Spangler and her colleagues found that ______ ．

A.organic food could reduce the risk of heart disease

B.traditional food was grown with more natural methods

C.both organic and traditional food they examined were safe

D.there was not a presence of any forms of bacteria in organic food

3.Which of the following is relatively healthier according to the passage?

A.Organic chicken and pork B.Organic milk and chicken

C.Traditional chicken and pork D.Traditional fruit and vegetables

4.What is the author's attitude toward organic food？ ______

A.Doubtful B.Unconcerned C.Positive D.Supportive

    Computers are very important to modern life．Many people think that in the future computers will be used in lots of everyday life．It is thought that we won’t have to go shopping because we will be able to get most things which are sold in shops on the Internet．There will be no more books because we will be able to get all texts from computers．The Internet will be used to play games, see films and buy food．Most telephone calls will be made by computers, too．

Some people are glad about those new ways of shopping and communicating．Others do not think that computers will replace our old ways．

Some people think that one day we will not read books made of paper. Instead, we will buy and read books using computers, which will keep many different books in them at the same time．We won’t need to turn lots of pages and paper will be saved．Computerized books will be used more and more．

While many people say it is a pleasure to go into shops and look at things you want to buy．It is also unlikely that many people will want to read large texts on our computers. Because paper books will perhaps be more friendly．Maybe computers won’t change these two habits．

1.Which is the main idea of this passage?

A.People like going shopping. B.Reading books is important.

C.Computers are important. D.Computer can be used to play games.

2.There will be no more books because________.

A.There is no paper in the future. B.People don’t like reading books.

C.They are very expensive. D.We can read passages from computers.

3.Which of the following is TRUE?

A.We can see films by computers.

B.People all like to go shopping by computers.

C.We can buy anything using computers.

D.All the people like reading books from computers.

4.Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?

A.Computers can help us e-mail our friends.

B.We can chat by using computers.

C.Computers can help us make telephone calls.

D.We can listen to the music by computers.

When milk arrived on the doorstep

When I was a boy growing up in New Jersey in the 1960s, we had a milkman delivering milk to our doorstep. His name was Mr. Basille. He wore a white cap and drove a white truck. As a 5-year-old boy, I couldn’t take my eyes off the coin changer fixed to his belt. He noticed this one day during a delivery and gave me a quarter out of his coin changer.

Of course, he delivered more than milk. There was cheese, eggs and so on. If we needed to change our order, my mother would pen a note-“Please add a bottle of buttermilk next delivery”-and place it in the box along with the empty bottles. And then, the buttermilk would magically appear.

All of this was about more than convenience. There existed a close relationship between families and their milkmen. Mr. Basille even had a key to our house, for those times when it was so cold outside that we put the box indoors, so that the milk wouldn’t freeze. And I remember Mr. Basille from time to time taking a break at our kitchen table, having a cup of tea and telling stories about his delivery.

There is sadly no home milk delivery today. Big companies allowed the production of cheaper milk, thus making it difficult for milkmen to compete. Besides, milk is for sale everywhere, and it may just not have been practical to have a delivery service.

Recently, an old milk box in the countryside I saw brought back my childhood memories. I took it home and planted it on the back porch （门廊）. Every so often my son’s friends will ask what it is. So I start telling stories of my boyhood, and of the milkman who brought us friendship along with his milk.

1.Mr Basille gave the boy a quarter out of his coin changer____.

A.to show his magical power. B.to pay for the delivery

C.to satisfy his curiosity. D.to please his mother.

2.What can be inferred from the fact that the milkman had the key to the boy’s house?

A.He wanted to have tea there.

B.He was a respectable person.

C.He was treated as a family member.

D.He was fully trusted by the family.

3.Why does home milk delivery no longer exist?

A.Nobody wants to be a milkman now.

B.It has been driven out of the market.

C.Its service is getting poor.

D.It is forbidden by law.

4.Why did the author bring back home an old milk box?

A.He missed the good old days.

B.He wanted to tell interesting stories.

C.He missed it for his milk bottles.

D.He planted flowers in it.

1.What number may you call if you and your friends want to enjoy the sunshine at the seaside?

A.67538293. B.63986432. C.64639818. D.63875629.

2.Sam wants to stay in Hunter Valley with his wife, his five-year-old daughter and his seven-year-old son. How much will it cost?

A.$25. B.$50. C.$100. D.$150.

3.David loves sports. He will take his holiday from May 7 to May 15.What activity will he probably take part in?

A.Hiking in the mountains. B.Fishing in the country.

C.Watching plants at night. D.Swimming in the sea.