All the time you spent memorizing multiplication tables（乘法表）may have made you a better mathematician, according to a new study． A team of scientists from Stanford University, in California, have shown how the brain reorganizes itself as kids learn math．
After a certain amount of time spent practicing math, kids can put away the calculator（计算器）． They don’t even need to count on their fingers． They simply know the answers to subtraction(−), addition (+), and multiplication (×) facts． The quicker kids can recall basic math facts, the easier it is for them to solve more difficult math problems．
The Stanford University researchers observed（观察）the brain activity of 28 students, ages 7 to 9, for the study． They took scans of the students’ brains as the students solved math calculations without the help of a calculator, pen or paper． A calculation—three plus four equals seven, for example—flashed on a screen． The students pushed a button to say if the answer was right or wrong． The scientists also recorded the response speed, and what parts of the brain became active as the kids pushed the button．
These observations showed a process called fact retrieval． Rather than using their fingers to count, or scrawling out equations（列算式）on a piece of paper, the students pulled the answers from memory． It’s as if the answers to basic subtraction, addition, and multiplication problems are kept in a long-term storage part in the brain． The storage part was built from repetition． “Experience really does matter,” said Dr． Kathy Mann Koepeke of the National Institutes of Health．
Children make the changefrom counting to fact retrieval when they are 8 to 9 years old, the study says． This is the time when most students are learning basic addition and subtraction． When kids have basic math facts memorized, the brain has more free space to learn more difficult math．
This process has benefits for the future． The study showed, as kids got older, their answers relied more on memory and became quicker and more correct． Less brain activity was involved in counting． Some children make this change quicker than others．
Scientists hope to use this research to develop new strategies（策略）to help kids learn math at all levels． One strategy the study suggests is for students to test themselves in different orders—solving five times three before five times two, for example． Mixing up the order keeps the brain active． Keep these trainings up, and you may be a math whiz in no time．
1.In the study, kids put away calculators because they can ______．
A．use calculators well
B．scrawl out equations
C．recalling basic math facts
D．count on their fingers
2.The process of “fact retrieval”in Paragraph 4probably means ______．
A．picking out results by working together with their partners
B．finding out answers based on practicing carefully and patiently
C．trying out ways of dealing with problems by attending training
D．working out problems according to what they have remembered
3.What can we know from the study?
A．Kids need to practice using calculators to keep their brains active．
B．Math learners should change to counting practice at the age of 8 to 9．
C．Training by mixing up the order of multiplication tables can help learn math better．
D．Less brain activity may be involved in solving difficult problems when kids get older．
4.What is the best title of the passage?
A．Math from Memory
B．Strategy Development
C．Brain Reorganization
D．Training by Repetition
Being busy can become a way of life． Our lives are always filled with emails and text messages． They make us feel wanted and important, but in a tiring and empty way． Being busy has a dangerous allure（诱惑）． If you are busy all the time, it’s hard to sit quietly with your thoughts or to really feel what you’re feeling． Whynot let everything become a choice — how we spend time, who we reply to and how much or little we write?
Many of us are busy becauseour self-worth goes up when people make demands（需求）on our time． Whydon’t we free ourselves from needing, or even wanting? Why don’t we make the best use of the time and space to be productive in a way that it best serves us? That may be consciously（主动地）keeping ourselves not busy． In fact many great discoverieswere made by people who built white space into their day．
Imagine asking “How are you?” to one of the most successful people you know like Warren Buffet． I’ve never heard anyone at that level answer “busy” though most people believe they are．
What are they doing differently?
First, they aim to project an image that things are under control． Second, they actually have things under control． They’ve had excellent staff, implemented（实施）thoughtful processes and they spend time only on critical tasks that require their attention． They make high-level strategic decisions with a large effect．
It’s time to end the glory of being busy and spend time setting up processes that make sense, rather than simply working more hours． To do this, you need to change yourway of thinking． It’s cool to say you’re busy, but it’s better to be busy helping someone carry a stroller up the subway stairs or busy finishing a book．
How to free us from the trendof being busy? Start with small steps． For one day, be mindful of every daily activity． Consider each thing a choice and decide proactively（预先）if it’s necessary or simply a habit you can get rid of or do in half the time． Next, stop saying how busy you are． Then, figure out what you want to achieve with your day and begin doing it． Put your time and energy where you want it to be．
1.What are many of us busy doing every day?
A．Sitting quietly and think actively．
B．Meeting people’s demands on our time．
C．Making great discoveries．
D．Takinghigh-level decisions．
2.Why don’t successful people like Warren Buffet answer “busy”?
A．Because they value working abilities and attitude．
B．Because they focus on attracting excellent workers．
C．Because they pay more attention to learning management．
D．Because they think well and spend more time on critical tasks．
3.The writer probably agrees that we should ______．
A．stop considering each thing a choice
B．work more hours to achieve our goals
C．answer emails and messages as soon as possible
D．be mindful where we want our time and energy to be
4.What is the writer’s purpose in writing the passage?
A．To advise us to be freedfrom the trend of being busy．
B．To warn us about the danger of leading a busy life．
C．To show us ways to feel good about being busy．
D．To tell us how to fit into the busy modern life．
When I was four years old, I wanted nothing more in life than to play the piano． My best friend Betty had a piano． But Betty hardly played it at all． She would rather play hide-and-seek． It didn’t seem fair．
One day my mother came to pick me up from Betty’s house． “Watch this!” I told her． Then I ran to play a song I had learned that morning． I was so proud of what I’d learned． “That’s nice, Jenny,” she said． “But we can’t afford a piano．”
When I turned six, my mother bought me a recorder（直笛）． The problem was that I didn’t love the recorder． When I played the recorder, I didn’t feel anything special inside． I asked my mother if we could have a piano． “We still can’t afford one,” she said． “One day, I promise．”
In the sixth grade, my mother traded in the recorder for a real clarinet（黑管）． I like the clarinet more, but it still wasn’t a piano． It wasn’t the music that was inside of me．
One day, when I was in the seventh grade, my mother cut an ad out of the newspaper． We drove to a stranger’s home in Providence, Rhode Island． The woman had a beautiful, dark wood piano from Russia． It was called an upright piano because it was tall． It was so shiny that it looked like it was wet． “We’ll take it,” my mother said． “It has a nice sound．”
After that, I played the piano every single day．When I left for school in the morning, I would leave the sheet music open on the piano． When I got home, I would walk straight to the piano and sit down and start playing the sheet music． I even played if I stayed home sick． I had finally found the music inside of me．
Do you struggle with music? Have you been given an instrument to play, but you just can’t play it? Maybe you think you’re just no good or that you don’t have any musical talent． Don’t get discouraged． It’s not true! We all have music inside of us, even if it’s just what we listen to． Now it’s up to you to find the right way to set that music free．
1.What did Jenny get when she was six?
A．A clarinet．
B．A recorder．
C．A violin．
D．A guitar．
2.How did Jenny get her piano?
A．Betty gave it to her．
B．She traded in the clarinet for it．
C．She got it from her uncle．
D．Her mother bought it from a stranger．
3.Which of the following is TRUE?
A．Betty was more interested in playing the piano．
B．An old woman sent Jenny a clarinet from Russia．
C．Jenny enjoyed playing music with the right instrument．
D．Jenny’s mother borrowed a recorder in her seventh grade．
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A．How Jenny found the music inside of her．
B．What benefits Jenny got from making music．
C．How Jenny learned to play musical instruments．
D．What trouble Jenny had taking up music as a hobby．
What do you want to do later in life? Here are 4 teenagers talking about their hometowns and their dreams．
Albert, age 11, Ontario
I come from Ontario．I love how different each season is． In winter, I go skiing with my family and cousins．
I’ve played soccer since I was three． I’ve made great friends and learned a lot of new skills． When I’m a professional soccer player, I want to work with kids, helping and encouraging them．
Sara, age 12, Washington
I live in Washington． It’s so pretty and green． I can go camping and hunting, and we have the best rivers to fish in．
I want to make a difference in the world． I’ve started making a change by leading my school’s Drug Abuse Prevention Club． I’ve also helped raise money for children who live with wars．
Madison, age 10, Maine
I live in Maine．I like living in a small townbecause it’s easy to get outside with friends．
I’m not sure what I am planning for my future, but I have lots of ideas! I like to think outside of the box and experience new things, so as I go through life I’m sure I’ll have even more ideas!
Brittany, age 11, New Jersey
I live in New Jersey． I love going to Six Flags Great Adventure and playing with my dad．
I have been a member of a public speaking organizationsince I was seven． I really enjoy going to my speaking classes and competing against other teams． My dream is to be a lawyer．
1.Who is going to be a soccer player?
A．Albert．
B．Sara．
C．Madison．
D．Brittany．
2.How did Sara help the children who live with wars?
A．By encouraging them．
B．By raising money．
C．By planning for their future．
D．By giving speeches．
3.Madison likes living in a small townin Maine because ______．
A．each season isdifferent there
B．he can go camping and hunting
C．it’s easy to get outside with friends
D．it’s fun to go to Six Flags Great Adventure
完形填空
Ever since I was very young, I have looked to my parents and grandparents, friends and teachers for guidance． I ask them for answersto everything． Afraid to make a , I’ve asked countless times, “What should I do?”
Maybe I was to take my first baby step on my own． I decided I only wanted to do things the “right” way, even if it meant not doing something．
Sometime during my high school years, I ． Maybe it was when I decided to try for the lead in “Beauty and the Beast”． Never mind that I would have to memorize lines and movements, I would take the chance that I might fail． The day of tryouts my heart was beating wildly． My hands were badly when I got up to sing．
But something happened． When I opened my mouth to sing, the sound was loud, powerful and sweet． I reached for the high notes that sometimes were beyond my reach． With no break in my voice, I was trying to do my best even though I might ． But I didn’t． I realized that if I wanted to live life to the fullest, I had to take chances．
Now, I do take these chances with baby steps every day, my opinions in class discussions or debates, performing in other school plays．
I have finally learned to myself． I’m taking a tough science course right now． Some of my friends are talking about auditing（旁听）the class so a low grade won’t affect their opportunities for college． I’m taking the chance that if I try enough, I’ll get a good grade so that it won’t lower my strong grades in other subjects．
I have come to realize that even though my parents and grandparents, friends and teachers don’t always have the to “What should I do?”, they will be there to support me when I try．
“Life is learning to deal with Plan B,” my mother told me． But I now know that the Plan A I make for my life will become easier with every I take．
1.A．wish B．mistake C．noise D．promise
2.A．afraid B．ready C．happy D．lazy
3.A．travelled B．regretted C．changed D．waited
4.A．knocking B．moving C．aching D．shaking
5.A．miss B．doubt C．turn D．fail
6.A．hiding B．voicing C．choosing D．guessing
7.A．comfort B．excuse C．push D．enjoy
8.A．fast B．hard C．early D．well
9.A．answer B．plan C．letter D．hope
10.A．break B．minute C．chance D．class
—Do you know______?
—It’s Lucy’s．
A．whose bag is it B．whose bag it is
C．whose bag was it D．whose bag it was
