If you want to increase your vocabulary, the best way to do it might be to pick up a guitar, or learn the violin. A new study shows that learning to play a musical instrument makes the brain more able to remember words.

“Grown-ups with music training in their childhood can have better memory for words,” said Dr Agnes Chan of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who did the research. “They can remember things that you tell them better than those who did not have music training when they were young.”

It seems that one can remember spoken words because his brain has a special part. “That part of the brain is larger in musicians than in non-musicians,” Dr Chan told BBC. “If that part of the brain is larger, it may be better developed and so this explains very nicely our results.”

Dr Chan and her workmates came to their conclusion after studying students. Their research is reported in the latest edition of the journal(杂志) Nature. “We did the experiment with 60 girl college students from our university and 30 of them have at least six years training with one western musical instrument (such as the violin and the piano) before the age of 12. The other 30 had received no music training. We tested their memory by reading them some words and asking them to remember these words—a very common test for memory. We found that people who have had music training can remember about 70% more information than those who have not had any music training.”

Dr Chan thinks the process(过程) of learning is more important than the actual instrument used. She also believes if one is able to remember words through learning to play instruments, he or she could have some very real benefits. Dr Chan thinks this could be developed into a medical way for patients who are suffering from memory loss.

1. According to the writer, learning to play a musical instrument helps to ______.

2.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

3.How many students took part in Dr Chan’s research?

How do successful people think? What drives them? Interviews and investigations indicate that there are several keys to success that successful people share.

First of all, successful people never blame someone or something outside of themselves for their failure to go ahead. They realize that their future lies in their own hands. They understand that they cannot control things in life, such as nature, the past and other people. But in the meantime, they are well aware that they can control their own thoughts and actions. They take responsibility for their life and regard this as one of the most empowering things they can do. Perhaps what most separates successful people from others is that they live life “on purpose”— they are doing what they believe they are put here to do. In their opinion , having a purpose in their life is the most important element（因素） that enables them to become fully functioning people. They hold that when they live their life on purpose, their main concern is to do the job right. They love what they do—and it shows. People want to do business with them because of their commitment(忠诚). To live their life on purpose, successful people find a cause they believe in and create a business around it. Besides, they never easily give up. Once they have set up goals in their life, they are willing to work hard whatever it takes to achieve their goals. Top achievers always bear in mind what they don’t have.

Rather than be negative or depressing, they use the knowledge to encourage themselves on and go after what they want energetically and passionately.

1.The underlined word “it (in Paragraph 2)” refers to “______”.

2.By living life “on purpose”, successful people can do the following EXCEPT ______.

3.Successful people know that ____.

TIPPING

How much and who on your cruise(乘船旅游) should be tipped? When and how should tips be given? Generally, you should plan to tip your room steward (服务员) $3.00 to $3.50 per person, per day, and plan an equal amount for your dining room waiter, and half of that for the busboy（餐厅侍者助手）.

On most ships, tip the maitre d’(侍者总管) or dining room captain only if you ask for special favors or table-side service; $5 to $10 is normal. Barmen and wine stewards are tipped 10 to 15 percent, but many cruise lines will add this tip to your bar or drink bill. Check the bill to see how it is handled. Also, tips for special services such as salon && spa treatments and room service are left to the guest, depending on services offered. Sometimes tips are placed in envelopes from your cabin’s stationery supply. Generally, passengers on cruises of 10 days or less will tip at the end of the cruise； on longer voyages, tipping weekly.

As part of a new trend that seems likely to grow, Carnival, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess and Cunard now charge tips to your account (账). Norwegian, for example, charges $10 per day, per guest, to cover service in the various dining rooms and your room steward. If you feel this amount needs to be increased or decreased, arrangements can be made onboard the ship, generally at the end of your cruise.

A few lines do not encourage tipping, including Radisson Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea and Windstar. Crew members are reportedly higher paid and not tip dependent. Many passengers tip anyway for outstanding service or special favors and give them tips face to face immediately they get serviced.

Tips on Tipping

Cabin steward

$3.00 to $3.50 per person per day

Waiter

$3.00 to $3.50 per person per day

Assistant waiter

$1.50 to $2.00 per person per day

Bartender, wine and deck stewards

10-15% of the bill

Maitre d’

$5.00 to $10.00 tip for each special service

1.According to the passage, if your bill for bartender and wine is $50, you will probably tip the steward ______.

2.How many ways does the passage mention on how to tip the waiters?

3. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

4.The passage is written mainly for the readers who are ______.

句子填空（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）

Dear Nicolaus Copernicus,

I am a s______1. studying astronomy and I would very much like to read your new theory about the solar s_____2.

I hope you will p______3.it for several reasons.

I understand the problems with the present theory. The way the plants move is not what you would expect if the earth was the center of the u_______4.. It is also odd that the brightness of some s____5.seems to change. So I agree with you that we need a new theory.

I know your observations have been very carefully c_____6.out over many years. Now you must have the courage to publish them. S______ 7.can never advance unless people have the courage of their beliefs. I know you worry about what will h_____8. if you publish your new theory. No m_______ 9.how people oppose it, time will show w_____10.your ideas are right or wrong.

So I hope you will feel you can publish your new theory.

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

I wish you _____ go to the art gallery with us. If there _____ enough

tickets, I’d let you know.

It is ______ to rain this afternoon.

English is not easy _____.

I do hope so because I want you to live ________ as I have.

Some poems tell a story or describe something in a way ______ will

give the reader a strong impression.

He will keep ________ new ideas so he can help farmers around

China.