Question

    Sleep is essential for a person’s wellbeing. Researchers have found that sleep loss increases a person’s risk of developing serious medical conditions. Now, a new study has found that getting enough sleep is also the key to improving academic performance.

Jeffrey Grossman, who led the research, was not trying to find the correlation (相关性) between sleep and grades when he handed out Fitbits to the students in his class. Instead, the professor hoped the popular wrist-worn electronic device (装置), which tracks a person’s activity 24/7, would show a connection between physical exercise and academic achievement.

As part of the research, a quarter of the participants chose a fitness class specially created for the study. After the school term ended, the researchers carefully analysed the data. Much to Grossman’s surprise, they found no measurable difference in test performance between the group that had been physically active and the group that had not.

However, the study presented a surprising viewpoint in the journal Science of Learning. Going through the large amount of data, Grossman noticed an interesting trend (走向) from the participants sleep patterns. There was a straight-line relationship between the average amount of sleep and his/her grade on the exams.

Besides, it was not enough for students to just head to bed early the night before a test. Grossman says: “We’ve heard the phrase ‘Get a good night’s sleep, you’ve got a big day tomorrow.’ It turns out this does not relate at all to test performance. Instead, it’s the sleep you get during the days when learning is happening that matters most.”

The time students went to bed each night was similarly important. Those who went to bed in the early hours of the morning performed poorly, even if the total sleep time was the same as a higher-performing student.

The research does not prove that sleep is the only component that helps improve academic performance. However, Grossman says the results are a strong indication that sleep really matters. Who knew getting A’s just required some extra ZZZ’s?

1.What’s Grossman’s original purpose by using Fitbits in the research?

A.To improve students sleep patterns.

B.To regulate students’ daily behavior.

C.To monitor students’ physical condition.

D.To find effects of physical exercise on grades.

2.What did Grossman think of the research result?

A.It was unexpected. B.It was changeable

C.It was unreliable. D.It was fruitless.

3.What plays a more important part in test performance?

A.Sleep in the learning stage. B.Average amount of sleep during tests.

C.Sleep quality the night before the test. D.A regular bedtime.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.Be Physically Active and Sleep More

B.Enough Sleep Benefits Our Wellbeing

C.Catch ZZZ’s for Good Test Performance

D.The More Exercise, the Better Schoolwork

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.A

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。本文主要叙述了研究发现睡眠不仅对人的身体有好处，充足的睡眠也是提高学习成绩的关键。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中Instead, the professor hoped the popular wrist-worn electronic device (装置), which tracks a person’s activity 24/7, would show a connection between physical exercise and academic achievement.相反，这位教授希望这款广受欢迎的腕式电子装置能够显示出体育锻炼和学术成就之间的联系。腕式电子装置可以全天候追踪一个人的活动。可知，格罗斯曼（Grossman）在研究中使用fitbit的最初目的是想发现体育锻炼对成绩的影响。故选D项。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段中Much to Grossman’s surprise, they found no measurable difference in test performance between the group that had been physically active and the group that had not.令格罗斯曼（Grossman）大为惊讶的是，他们发现，在运动组和非运动组之间，测试成绩并没有显著差异。可知，格罗斯曼认为研究结果是出乎意料的。故选A项。

3.细节理解题。根据第五段中Grossman says: “We’ve heard the phrase ‘Get a good night’s sleep, you’ve got a big day tomorrow.’ It turns out this does not relate at all to test performance. Instead, it’s the sleep you get during the days when learning is happening that matters most.”格罗斯曼说：“我们听过这样一句话‘睡个好觉，明天你会有重要的一天。’结果发现，这与测试成绩一点关系都没有。相反，最重要的是你在学习期间的睡眠。”可知，在学习阶段的睡眠在考试成绩中起着更重要的作用。故选A项。

4.主旨大意题。根据第一段Sleep is essential for a person’s wellbeing. Researchers have found that sleep loss increases a person’s risk of developing serious medical conditions. Now, a new study has found that getting enough sleep is also the key to improving academic performance. 睡眠对一个人的健康至关重要。研究人员发现，睡眠不足会增加一个人患上严重疾病的风险。现在，一项新的研究发现，充足的睡眠也是提高学习成绩的关键。可知，本文主要叙述了研究发现睡眠不仅对人的身体有好处，充足的睡眠也是提高学习成绩的关键。因此，本文的最佳标题应该是“充足的睡眠有益于我们的健康”。故选B项。