Listening to music can help me focus better. Since I discovered it two years ago，I've used music to get through boring work or to focus creatively. I've found that it can make even the dullest jobs enjoyable and help clear mental blocks to creativity.

I first noticed the good effects of music while playing video games. It was a few days before Christmas in 2005 and I was playing online video games. My parents had just given me a new MP3，so I decided to listen to music through the headphones while I played. After a few minutes I noticed a great change in my style of play. I was playing more naturally. The music relaxed me，and，to a certain extent，distracted me from the game，allowing my subconscious(潜意识的)talent to come through. The music also helped me block out the outside world. With those headphones on I was like a machine，moving from one task to the next without unnecessary thoughts or actions.  

Music can also have a great effect on mood. If I'm in a bad mood at work，I'll listen to some of Bob Marley's and get down to business. It always takes my mind off what I'm doing and makes me a happier person. The same is true for classic rock. One summer，I did a boring job collecting bottle openers by hand. Without a radio playing classic rock in the background，I would have hated life.

Listening to music with relaxing rhythms and a positive message helps you forget your work and think happy thoughts. But the results you see will depend heavily on your personal tastes. Experiment with the types of music you listen to during certain tasks. By trial and error you'll finally discover your best choice.

I'm always looking for new concentration aids，so I'd love to know what type of music works best for me.

1.We can infer that the passage was written in ________.

2.The author first discovered the effects of music ________.

3.The author mentions the experience of collecting bottle openers in Paragraph 3 to ________.

When my oldest son was in high school, he planned to attend a Christian contemporary concert with the youth group from our church. To my    36  , Aaron invited me to go along.  I    37   accepted; however, by the time the date of the concert arrived, my youngest son had been ill, and I was    38  about him. My husband    39   me to attend the concert, promising he would take care of our youngest. I hesitated.
Finally, it    40   me. Aaron was sixteen years old. How many    41   would I have to do something fun with him    42   he went away to college? And how many youth actually    43   their mothers to attend a concert with them that was clearly for teens?  The   44  was made. I would not miss this opportunity.
At the concert, I sat with Aaron in the third row, stuffing (填塞) cotton in my ears to block out the    45  , ear-splitting music of the first performer. I stood when the kids stood, clapped when they clapped, and never let anyone know how  46   I was to feel the floor vibrate (震动) beneath my feet. Aaron and his friends were  47   at my enthusiasm.
By the time we left the concert, my ears were ringing, but it quickly passed.  48   did my son’s teenage years.   49  he was in college and away from home. I missed him more than I could say. On days when I was especially  50  for his ready smile and his teasing manner, I would think back to the concert we attended and be thankful once again that I didn’t  51  an opportunity to spend time with my son.
Aaron is now grown and has a family of his own, but we are still very  __52 __ . Some days he calls just to __53__ and tell me about his day. I drop everything and   54  the moment, knowing these times too shall    55  .

All people need to sleep. Sleep is a necessary process that promotes proper body functioning and can improve the quality of your life. Not only is the quantity of sleep important, but also the quality of sleep.
Your bedroom should be shaped to your taste and allow you to sleep in a peaceful environment. One of the biggest mistakes people make in their sleep is to use their bedroom for activities other than sleep. If your bedroom also functions as a command station for your life and work, the likelihood（可能性）of your sleeping being poor is rather high. Bedrooms should be designed, decorated and used for sleep mainly.TVs, computers and other things should not be in your bedroom if at all possible.
Establishing regular sleeping and waking times can help improve the quality of your sleep especially for those suffering from sleeplessness. Avoid hot food, caffeine, sugar and alcohol at least 4 to 6 hours before your sleep time.Develop a regular exercise program.Proper exercise and nutrition will help improve sleeping patterns. However, avoid exercising 2 hours before sleeping, since this may stimulate（刺激）your body and make sleeping more difficult.
Establish a pre-bedtime rule that will help you focus on sleep. You can try meditation (沉思), reading or deep breathing and relaxation. Your bedtime rule should be yours. Do not worry about it fitting into a specific category（种类）.Do what is best for you.
Things such as room temperature, noise and light levels and even your bed mattress（垫子） can have a lot of effect on the quality of sleep that you experience. Block out distracting（使人分心的） noises and lights. You are in your bedroom to sleep and not be distracted by environmental interferences (干扰).
【小题1】Which of the following is the best title for the text?

（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）

　　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。

51  Many things can become distractions (分散注意力). Your ability to focus your mind, emotions, and physical movements will directly influence your success. Staying focused on the task at hand can be easier said than done. Here are some powerful techniques that can help you improve your ability to focus.

    For physical control, it helps to have a constant exercise schedule.   52   Exercising helps you gain better command of your body, and even goes beyond the body, giving you more flexibility not just physically but also emotionally and mentally.  When you feel more comfortable in your body, you increase your self-confidence, which helps you feel more relaxed.

For mental control, meditation (沉思；冥想) does the task.     53     It' s easy to get distracted by things in your background, but in order to perform well you have to maintain a high degree of focus. When you relax your thoughts it trains your mind to deal effectively with outside distractions so you can stay centered on what matters most at the moment.

54   It prevents you from overreaction and also from overacting. When your emotions settle down, you gain greater awareness of the environment you' re in, and feel calm and in control.

  55   The good thing is that self-control can be developed.  Start exercising frequently, get yourself into meditation, and start to feel positive changes in your career and your life in general.

A. In short, focus requires self-control.

B. There are many benefits of exercising.

C. Generally speaking, you need to practise a lot.

D. There are still some disadvantages of exercises.

E. Your emotions are well served by meditation as well.

F. Focus is an important part of success and achievement in general.

G. It helps block out all the noise and activities that are going on around you.

When my oldest son was in high school, he planned to attend a Christian contemporary concert with the youth group from our church. To my    36   , Aaron invited me to go along.  I    37    accepted; however, by the time the date of the concert arrived, my youngest son had been ill, and I was    38   about him. My husband    39    me to attend the concert, promising he would take care of our youngest. I hesitated.

Finally, it    40    me. Aaron was sixteen years old. How many    41    would I have to do something fun with him    42    he went away to college? And how many youth actually    43     their mothers to attend a concert with them that was clearly for  teens?  The    44    was made. I would not miss this opportunity.

At the concert, I sat with Aaron in the third row, stuffing (填塞) cotton in my ears to block out the    45   , ear-splitting music of the first performer. I stood when the kids stood, clapped when they clapped, and never let anyone know how    46    I was to feel  the  floor  vibrate (震动) beneath my feet. Aaron and his friends were    47    at my enthusiasm.

By the time we left the concert, my ears were ringing, but it quickly passed.    48    did my son's teenage years.    49    he was in college and away from home. I missed him more than I could say. On days when I was especially    50    for his ready smile and his teasing manner, I would think back to the concert we attended and be thankful once again  that  I  didn't    51    an opportunity to spend time with my son.

Aaron is now grown and has a family of his own, but we are still very    52   . Some days he calls just to    53    and tell me about his day. I drop everything and    54   the moment, knowing these times too shall    55   .

1.A. amazement      B. agreement        C. argument     D. disappointment    

2.A. hardly         B. suddenly     C. readily          D. rapidly    

3.A. crazy          B. merciful     C. patient      D. concerned   

4.A. prevented      B. encouraged       C. stopped      D. refused   

5.A. determined     B. hit          C. controlled       D. annoyed   

6. A. opportunities     B. years            C. festivals        D. moments   

7.A. after          B. since            C. when         D. before   

8.A. invited            B. advised      C. allowed      D. promised  

9.A. invitation     B. design           C. demand       D. decision  

10. A. silly            B. pleasant     C. loud         D. sweet    

11. A. excited          B. nervous      C. curious      D. surprised  

12. A. puzzled          B. annoyed      C. amused       D. disappointed   

13.A. Such          B. Neither      C. So           D. Either   

14.A. In no time        B. In time      C. At a time        D. At the time  

15.A. tired         B. worried      C. upset            D. lonely   

16. A. have         B. miss         C. obtain           D. grasp   

17. A. close            B. open         C. young            D. positive   

18.A. talk          B. speak            C. chat         D. communicate  

19. A. wait         B. spend            C. listen           D. enjoy   

20.A. pass          B. gain         C. lose         D. keep