Tips for Staying Sharp

It’s not abnormal to feel out of it from time to time or perhaps you’re feeling a bit sluggish(迟钝的)when it comes to remembering things. If you’re worried about your forgetfulness, try out these five tips to stay sharp.

1.

You’ve probably heard the term “you are what you eat.” If you decide to eat sugary foods that are heavy with fats then expect to feel lazy and have no energy. But if you decide to eat fruits, vegetables and make other healthy eating decisions you’ll find that you’re full of energy.

Never stop learning

Challenge yourself constantly---whether it is puzzles, reading, cooking or other tasks that will keep your mind working. If your mind is always learning new things and active, you’ll realize that it’s much easier for you to learn new things and to function.2.

Stay fit

Being in good health and staying in shape is a big part of staying sharp.3.If you choose to be lazy then your body is not going to give you the energy that requires remembering things and completing tasks. However, if you put forth the effort into being health then your body will expel(释放)the energy you need to achieve your goals.

Ensure enough sleep

Be sure to get the necessary amount of sleep that your body needs to function on a daily basis.4.It also helps your body build up an energy reserve so you can improve your ability to focus and avoid distractions.

Socialize more

5. Social interaction will help you develop multitasking, problem solving and other skills that are necessary in life to keep your mind sharp.

A. Feed your brain

B. Avoid eating too much

C. Your body will only give you what you put into it

D. Lack of sleep contributes to tiredness and slow reaction

E. Conversations require individuals to stay aware and active

F. According to studies, sleep helps strengthen and recover your memories

G. Remember you brain is a muscle and if you want to get the most out of it, you must use it

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, who is better known all over the world as Mark Twain, left school when he was twelve. He had little school education. However, he still became the most famous writer of his time. He made millions of dollars by writing.

Mark Twain was born in 1835 and he was not a healthy baby. In fact, he was not expected(期望) to live through the first winter. But with his mother’ s care, he managed to survive. As a boy, he caused much trouble for his parents. He used to play jokes on all his friends and neighbors. He didn’t like to go to school, and he often ran away from home. He always went in the direction of the nearby Mississippi. He was nearly drowned(淹没)nine times.

After his father’s death, Mark Twain began to work for a printer(印刷厂), who only provided him with food and clothing. Then, he worked as a printer, a river-boat pilot(引航员)and later joined the army. But soon after that he became a miner. During this period, he started to write short stories. Afterwards(后来) he became a full-time writer.

In 1870, Mark Twain got married. In the years that followed he wrote many books including Tom Sawyer in 1876, and Huckleberry Finn in 1884, which made him famous, and brought him great fortune.

Unfortunately, Mark Twain got into debts in bad investments(投资) and he had to write large numbers of stories to pay these debts. In 1904, his wife died, and then three of his children passed away.

At the age of 70, his hair was completely white. He bought many white suits and neckties(领带). He wore only white from head to foot until his death on April 21, 1910.

1.Which of the following shows the right order about Mark Twain?

a. He became a miner.              

b. He worked as a printer.

c. He got into debts.                    

d. His father died.

e. He became a full-time writer. 

f. He joined the army.

A. a—d—b—c—e—f B. d—b—f—a—e—c

C. d—a—f—e—b—c D. c—b—d—f—e—a

2.In order to make a living, Mark Twain _______.

A. always worked as a printer

B. did many kinds of work

C. wrote stories in the beginning

D. joined the army after he worked in a mine

3.From the passage we can see that Mark Twain _______.

A. had a happy childhood

B. was a good boy and always did what he was asked

C. was very naughty(淘气的)when he was young

D. lived a pleasant life

One of the greatest stories of rags to riches success is that of Andrew Carnegie,who started life in Poverty but became the richest man in the world.

Carnegie was born in Scotland in 1837,the son of a weaver.In 1848,the.family moved to the United States and at 13 Carnegie began work in a cotton mill,earning $1.5 per week.About three years later,he found a better job as a telegraph messenger boy.At work,his superiors were impressed by his abilities and willingness to work hard.In 1853, he gained an office job at the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.This was his first big break.He continued to impress and rose rapidly through the company,gaining more and more responsibility.At the same time,Carnegie loved reading very much and made use of every opportunity to visit the library.He rend widely on all subjects,particularly literature.

Carnegie now began to save a little money and,with the help of his employer,began to make some successful investments(投资).He invested in the iron industry and eventually set up in business himself,owning several iron and steel plants.This was where he made his fortune.By the 1890s,the Carnegie Steel Company was the biggest and most successful business in the world.

Carnegie had always believed that the pursuit(追求)of wealth was never an end in itself.In his view,successful, wealthy people should give away their wealth for the benefit of everyone in society.True to his word,in 1901,at the age of 66,he retired from business and devoted the rest of his life to charity work.

Carnegie's lack of formal education and his poor family background clearly didn't influence his success.His rapid rise from poverty to wealth was due to his willingness to work hard,his intelligence and good business sense, and his talent for making things happen.He died in 1919 at the age of 83.

1.What can be learnt from the text?

A. Carnegie was highly thought of by his employers.

B. Carnegie made his investments independently.

C. Carnegie believed that money was everything.

D. Carnegie could have been more successful if he had been formally educated.

2.What does "gaining more and more responsibility" in the second paragraph most probably mean?

A. Becoming more and more intelligent. B. Being put to higher positions.

C. Having a better sense of confidence. D. Reading more and more books.

3.How did Carnegie finally make a big fortune?.

A. His employer helped him. B. He was much paid when working.

C. He set up his own business. D. He saved money year by year.

4.Which of the followings will be the suitable title for the text?

A. Andrew Carnegie: A Wealthy Man

B. Steel & Iron: The Most Profitable Business

C. From Rags to Riches: The Story of Andrew Carnegie

D. Intelligence and Good Business Sense: Two Factors in Becoming Rich

“Heaven (天堂) is where the police are English, the cooks are French, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian and everything is organized by the Swiss. Hell (地狱) is where the police are German, the cooks are English, the mechanics are French, the lovers are Swiss, and everything is organized by the Italians.”

Obviously the national stereotypes (模式化的思想) in this old joke are generalizations (普遍化), but such stereotypes are often said to “exist for a reason”. Is there actually a sliver (裂片) of truth in them? Not likely, an international research team now says.

“National and cultural stereotypes do play an important role in how people see themselves and others, and being aware that these are not dependable is a useful thing,” said study author Robert McCrae of the National Institute on Aging. “These are in fact unfounded stereotypes. They don’t come from looking around you,” McCrae said.

If national stereotypes aren’t rooted in real experiences, then where do they come from? One possibility is that they reflect national values, which may become known from historical events. For example, many historians have argued that the spirit of American individualism (个人主义) has its origins in the experiences of the pioneers on the Old West.

Social scientists such as psychologist Richard Robins have given several other possible explanations for stereotypes and why they may be incorrect. Robins notes that some stereotypes may have been correct at one point in history and then remained unchanged while the culture changed.

We may be “hard-wired”, to some degree, to keep incorrect stereotypes, since we are less likely to notice and remember information that is different from our stereotypes. Generally, according to Robins, when we meet people who are different from our stereotypes, we see them as unique individuals rather than typical national or cultural groups.

1.The stereotype about Italians is ________.

A. romantic but disorganized

B. friendly and good-tempered

C. dreamy and impractical

D. strict but thoughtful

2.National stereotypes are not always correct because ________.

A. they are formed by individual historians

B. what was true in the past may not be true at the present

C. generalizations are made through personal experience

D. people tend to have false idea about other cultures

3.According to the research team led by McCrae, national stereotypes are ________.

A. interestingB. harmfulC. humorousD. unreliable

4.The underlined word “hard-wired” in the last paragraph probably means ________.

A. forgetfulB. anxiousC. fixedD. helpless

How Can I Fight Laziness?

Lazy people will never amount to anything in life.However,laziness can be defeated once a few changes have been made in your mind.

1. Many people lack sleep constantly,since they stay up too late and get up too early to prepare for work.These people have little motivation once they arrive home.Laziness works hand in hand with a lack of motivation and a tendency to put off things.By adjusting your sleep schedule to provide a few more hours of meaningful rest,you can fight laziness throughout the day.

Another way to fight laziness is to change your mind from passive to active.Some people treat their lives as if they were pushed from task to task.Others take a more proactive approach,viewing each task as a challenge they must overcome alone.2.

Some people fight laziness by removing the temptations that surround them.A television in the living room may provide entertainment,but watching too much TV often contributes to laziness.3. Complete a few tasks and reward yourself with what you enjoy,such as a good dinner or a film.

Laziness can also be a lasting problem at home.Couples and children may all have different energy levels,but laziness can be spread if not dealt with immediately.4. Be the first to collect and wash dishes after a meal.Others in the home may eventually follow your example and perform their own task.It is difficult to practice laziness when you are surrounded by motivated people.

5. Enough exercise and a balanced diet can help you to develop a healthy lifestyle,thus enabling you to have more energy and help lift your spirits.

A.To fight family laziness,set an example.

B.Knowing how to fight laziness is important.

C.One way to fight laziness is to get enough sleep.

D.Finally,taking exercise regularly can help you fight laziness.

E.With strong determination,you will be able to achieve your goal.

F.Laziness sets in when you no longer feel in charge of your own life.

G.Create a reward system for yourself,just as parents do for the children.

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