Do you blank out, freeze up or feel so nervous in exams that you have trouble writing answers to questions that you knew just last night? If so, you likely have a case of test anxiety.

But, don’t panic. By recognizing the problem, you are taking the first step towards overcoming it.

Believe it or not, a touch of nervousness can sharpen your mind, allowing you to perform more quickly. This is because under stress, the body releases the hormone adrenaline (肾上腺素), which prepares it for something important that will happen. However, too much anxiety can result in sleeplessness, loss of appetite（食欲） before tests, and poor performances. Some people might feel shaky, hot, or even sick.

If you worry a lot or are a perfectionist, you are more likely to have trouble with test anxiety. Those who have prepared poorly for a test or have had negative experiences taking tests may also experience test anxiety.

When you feel a storm of anxiety coming on, stop what you are doing and make your mind a blank. If possible, actually tell yourself to “STOP”. This will get your mind off the stress.

Then think of being at a place of comfort and let your body relax. As you continue the test, find questions you know the answers to and answer them first. This will help restore your confidence.

Talk to yourself using positive language. Make it a habit to replace each negative thought with a logical reason. For example：“ I’ve studied hard and I know the material, so I’m ready to do the best I can.”

Another thing you can do is to learn to accept mistakes. In fact, they can be valuable learning opportunities.

Last but not least, start test preparation early---three to five days ahead of the quiz or test. After all, good study habits and skills ---for example, time management and note-taking – will give you the feeling that your are in control.

1.The first step to overcome nervousness is___ .

  A. stopping what you are doing, and make your mind a blank.

B. getting aware of your problem that you are always nervous

C. releasing a kind of body liquid.     D. making full preparations

2.___ are more likely to feel very nervous in tests.

A. People who feel a touch of nervousness in tests.

B. People who haven’t prepared very well.

C. People who require that everything must be perfect.

D. People who have recognized their problems.

3. According to the passage, which statement is TRUE?

A. Those who have ever failed in tests must feel anxious.

B. A touch of nervousness is a good thing.

C. You should answer the questions on the paper one by one.

D. Full preparation is not as important as nervousness controlling.

Some students get so nervous before a test, they do poorly even if they know the material. Sian Beilock has studied these highly anxious test-takers.
Sian Beilock: “They start worrying about the consequences. They might even start worrying about whether this exam is going to prevent them from getting into the college they want. And when we worry, it actually uses up attention and memory resources.I talk about it as your cognitive horsepower that you could otherwise be using to focus on the exam.”
Professor Beilock and another researcher, Gerardo Ramirez, have developed a possible solution. Just before an exam, highly anxious test-takers spend ten minutes writing about their worries about the test.
Sian Beilock: “what we think happens is when students put it down on paper , they think about the worst that could happen and they reappraise the situation. They might realize it’s not as had as they might think it was before and, in essence(本质上), it prevents these thoughts from popping up when they’re actually taking a test.”
The researchers tested the idea on a group of twenty anxious college students. They gave them two short math tests. After the first one, they asked the students to either sit quietly or write about their feelings about the upcoming second test.
The researchers added to the pressure. They told the students that those who did well on the second test would get money. They also told them that their performance would affect other students as part of a team effort.
Professor Beilock says those who sat quietly scored an average of twelve percent worse on the second test. But the students who had written about their fears improved their performance by an average of five percent.
Next, the researchers used younger students in a biology class. They told them before final exams either to write about their feelings or to think about things unrelated to the test.
Prefessor Beilock says highly anxious students who did the writing got an average grade of B+, compared to a B- for those who did not.
Sian Beilock: “What we showed is that for students who are highly test-anxious, who’d done our writing intervention, all of a sudden there was no relationship between test anxiety and performance. Those students most likely to worry were performing just as well as their classmates who don’t normally get nervous in these testing situations.”
But what if students do not have a chance to write about their fears immediately before an exam or presentation? Professor Beilock says students can try it themselves at home or in the library and still improve their performance. 
【小题1】What may happen if students have the problem of test anxiety?

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中有两项为多

余选项。

    1.

  Examinations are almost always stressful. Students rarely know exactly what to expect on the test, and those who suffer from exam fear or exam anxiety can see their grades suffer as a result of this stress. For some students，exam fear causes them to “ seize up ’’ and forget what they have studied.

         2.    Good study habits and learning how to relax can help students overcome exam fear.

         3.     According to Penn State University and Kids Health，proper study habits and preparation are the keys to cutting out exam fear. Avoid last-minute “cramming” for exams and actively listen while in class.

    Focus on positive thoughts, relax the night before your test and reward yourself after the test is over. Often, people who suffer from exam anxiety cannot shut out negative thoughts or emotions about the test, and this can contribute to feeling more anxiety than normal.    4.    . Keep your mind and body healthy by getting enough sleep, eating well and exercising. Healthier people who are well-rested often do better on exams.

         5.   Exam fear is normal When that anxiety severely interferes (干扰)with your ability to take the test, however, outside help might be needed. Ask your teachers and family for support and help.

A. How To Succeed in An Exam

B. How To Overcome Exam Fear

C. Develop good study habits.

D. Understand that you are not alone and ask for help if necessary.

E. Remind yourself that it’s just one test and that you can get through it

F. Battling this type of performance anxiety can be hard, but it is not impossible.

G. Remind yourself to read the instructions carefully.

1.What does the underlined word“retrieve”mean?

2.Which of the following statements is TURE?

3.When can’t the 14-year-old daughter function well?