1.     If you use it often and in the right ways, you will become a more skilled thinker and your ability to focus will increase. But if you never use your brain, or abuse it with harmful chemicals, your ability to think and learn will decrease. Here are some simple ways that may help you.

    2.    

Don’t you feel drained(劳累) after a couple of hours of watching TV? Your eyes are sore and tired of being focused on the light box for so long. When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If you’re too tired, listen to some music. When you’re with your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a conversation. All of these things use your mind more than television and allow you to relax.

Exercise.

I used to think that I’d learn more by not exercising and using the time to read a book instead.     3.     It improves productivity(生产力) during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy. Afterwards, you can concentrate(专注) more easily.

Read challenging books.

If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability, you should read books that make you focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world and will make you think in more elegant English.    4.     Re-read it when necessary, and you’ll soon grow accustomed(习惯) to the author’s style.

Early to bed, early to rise.

     5.     You’ll be the most energetic if you go to bed early and don’t sleep for more than 8 hours. In my experience the early morning hours are the most productive. If you have the opportunity, take a 10-20 minute nap(小憩) when you are hit with a wave of drowsiness(睡意).

A. Take a time to reflect.

B. Reduce television watching.

C. Spending some time alone will be helpful.

D. Your brain needs exercise just like a muscle (肌肉).

E. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if you don’t know it.

F. Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than sleep loss.

G. But I realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater learning.

完型填空（共20小题，满分30分）

Our three-year-old daughter Becky wanted a dog.But we were too busy to buy one.One day, Becky ran in, shouting, “Mom! Come to see my dog!” Her face was red with   36 .

　　I followed her to the bush and found a   37 ! He was hurt.Seeing me, he stood up   38 ! I could see his teeth! God! My mouth felt dry.“Don’t be afraid.That’s Mom.She  39 you, too.” Becky said.Then he became friendly.It was  40 !

　　I   41  to find my husband and told him about the wolf.We should have  42  the wolf, but Becky loved him.Besides, he was gentle(温柔的) to Becky.So we called the vet finally.

　　Becky named the wolf (狼) Ralph ,  43  she carried food to him every day.Later, Ralph got well.They played together in the daytime.At night, Ralph would return to the mountains.Sometimes he   44  but came back several days later.

　　On Becky’s first day of school, we could see Ralph’s   45 .After the school bus left, Ralph lay by the side of the road and   46  .When Becky returned, he got happy again.This    47  throughout Becky’s school years.

　　Twelve   48  passed.

　　One day we heard that a she-wolf was killed.The other wolf was hurt and ran away.We were   49  about Ralph.That night, Ralph returned with a wound (伤).Fifteen-year-old Becky held his head and   50  him.We hope he could come through.However, he   51 .

　　Becky cried.I noticed something strange in the bush — two little yellow eyes! Ralph’s  52 ! Before he died, Ralph   53  his child to us! He knew he would be  54  here, as he had been.Ralph, Ralph...I was   55 .

　　“Don’t be afraid, little ...Ralphie.That’s Mom.She loves you, too.”

1.                A．encouragement  B．entertainment    C．agreement    D．excitement

2.                A．dog            B．fox            C．wolf D．tiger

3.                A．lovely          B．finally          C．suddenly  D．patiently

4.                A．hurts          B．loves           C．kills  D．hates

5.                A．wonderful      B．unhappy        C．unbelievable   D．normal

6.                A．prepared       B．rushed         C．pretended D．wanted

7.                A．loved          B．found          C．damaged  D．killed

8.                A．and            B．but            C．so   D．or

9.                A．disappeared     B．turned         C．passed   D．came

10.               A．sadness        B．dream         C．understanding  D．anger

11.               A．slept           B．left            C．sang  D．waited

12.               A．stopped        B．joined          C．lived  D．continued

13.               A．days           B．weeks          C．months    D．years

14.               A．surprised       B．puzzled         C．worried   D．careful

15.               A．comforted      B．beat           C．washed   D．amused

16.               A．succeeded      B．died           C．cried D．woke

17.               A．mother         B．father          C．wife  D．child

18.               A．posted         B．brought        C．sold  D．threw

19.               A．safe           B．happy          C．warm D．friendly

20.               A．confused       B．disappointed    C．moved    D．frightened

I recently heard a story about a famous research scientist who had made several very important medical breakthroughs. What set him so far apart from others?
He【小题1】that, in his opinion, it all came from an【小题2】from his mother that happened when he was about 2 years old. He had been trying to【小题3】a bottle of milk from the refrigerator when he lost his 【小题4】on the slippery(光滑的) bottle and it 【小题5】, making its contents pouring all over the kitchen floor.
When his mother came into the kitchen, instead of【小题6】at him, giving him a lecture, or punishing him, she said: “Robert, what an(a)【小题7】and wonderful mess you have made! I have【小题8】seen such a huge pool of milk. Well, the damage has already been done. Would you like to【小题9】down and play in the milk for a few【小题10】before we clean it up?”
Indeed, he did. After a few minutes, his mother said: “You know, Robert,【小题11】you make a mess like this, you have to clean it up at last and restore everything to its proper【小题12】. So, how would you like to do that? We could use a sponge, a towel, or a mop. Which do you【小题13】?” He chose the sponge and together they【小题14】up the milk.
His mother then said: “You know, what happened just now is a【小题15】experiment in how effectively to carry a big milk bottle with two tiny hands. Let’s【小题16】out in the back yard and fill the bottle with water and see if you can【小题17】a way to carry it without dropping it.” The little boy【小题18】that if he held the bottle at the top near the lip with both hands, he could carry it without dropping it.
This scientist then【小题19】that it was at that moment that he knew he didn’t need to be afraid to make【小题20】.
Wouldn’t it be great if all parents would respond the way Robert’s mother responded to him?

Our three-year-old daughter Becky wanted a dog. But we were too busy to buy one. One day, Becky ran in, shouting, “Mom! Come to see my dog!” Her face was red with   36 .
　　I followed her to the bush and found a   37 ! He was hurt. Seeing me, he stood up   38 ! I could see his teeth! God! My mouth felt dry. “Don’t be afraid. That’s Mom. She  39 you, too.” Becky said. Then he became friendly. It was  40 !
　　I   41  to find my husband and told him about the wolf. We should have 42  the wolf, but Becky loved him. Besides, he was gentle(温柔的) to Becky. So we called the vet finally.
　　Becky named the wolf (狼) Ralph ,  43  she carried food to him every day. Later, Ralph got well. They played together in the daytime. At night, Ralph would return to the mountains. Sometimes he   44  but came back several days later.
　　On Becky’s first day of school, we could see Ralph’s   45 . After the school bus left, Ralph lay by the side of the road and   46  . When Becky returned, he got happy again. This    47  throughout Becky’s school years.
　　Twelve   48  passed.
　　One day we heard that a she-wolf was killed. The other wolf was hurt and ran away. We were   49  about Ralph. That night, Ralph returned with a wound (伤). Fifteen-year-old Becky held his head and   50  him. We hope he could come through. However, he   51 .
　　Becky cried. I noticed something strange in the bush — two little yellow eyes! Ralph’s  52 ! Before he died, Ralph   53  his child to us! He knew he would be  54  here, as he had been. Ralph, Ralph... I was   55 .
“Don’t be afraid, little ... Ralphie. That’s Mom. She loves you, too.”

Our three-year-old daughter Becky wanted a dog. But we were too busy to buy one. One day, Becky ran in, shouting, “Mom! Come to see my dog!” Her face was red with   36 .

　　I followed her to the bush and found a   37 ! He was hurt. Seeing me, he stood up   38 ! I could see his teeth! God! My mouth felt dry. “Don’t be afraid. That’s Mom. She  39 you, too.” Becky said. Then he became friendly. It was  40 !

　　I   41  to find my husband and told him about the wolf. We should have 42  the wolf, but Becky loved him. Besides, he was gentle(温柔的) to Becky. So we called the vet finally.

　　Becky named the wolf (狼) Ralph ,  43  she carried food to him every day. Later, Ralph got well. They played together in the daytime. At night, Ralph would return to the mountains. Sometimes he   44  but came back several days later.

　　On Becky’s first day of school, we could see Ralph’s   45 . After the school bus left, Ralph lay by the side of the road and   46  . When Becky returned, he got happy again. This    47  throughout Becky’s school years.

　　Twelve   48  passed.

　　One day we heard that a she-wolf was killed. The other wolf was hurt and ran away. We were   49  about Ralph. That night, Ralph returned with a wound (伤). Fifteen-year-old Becky held his head and   50  him. We hope he could come through. However, he   51 .

　　Becky cried. I noticed something strange in the bush — two little yellow eyes! Ralph’s  52 ! Before he died, Ralph   53  his child to us! He knew he would be  54  here, as he had been. Ralph, Ralph... I was   55 .

“Don’t be afraid, little ... Ralphie. That’s Mom. She loves you, too.”

1.                A．encouragement  B．entertainment    C．agreement    D．excitement

2.                A．dog            B．fox            C．wolf D．tiger

3.                A．lovely          B．finally          C．suddenly  D．patiently

4.                A．hurts          B．loves           C．kills  D．hates

5.                A．wonderful      B．unhappy        C．unbelievable   D．normal

6.                A．prepared       B．rushed         C．pretended D．wanted

7.                A．loved          B．found          C．damaged  D．killed

8.                A．and            B．but            C．so   D．or

9.                A．disappeared     B．turned         C．passed   D．came

10.               A．sadness        B．dream         C．understanding  D．anger

11.               A．slept           B．left            C．sang  D．waited

12.               A．stopped        B．joined          C．lived  D．continued

13.               A．days           B．weeks          C．months    D．years

14.               A．surprised       B．puzzled         C．worried   D．careful

15.               A．comforted      B．beat           C．washed   D．amused

16.               A．succeeded      B．died           C．cried D．woke

17.               A．mother         B．father          C．wife  D．child

18.               A．posted         B．brought        C．sold  D．threw

19.               A．safe           B．happy          C．warm D．friendly

20.               A．confused       B．disappointed    C．moved    D．frightened