New research shows how kids’ brains reorganiz...

New research shows how kids’ brains reorganize as they learn math.

All the time you spent memorizing multiplication tables(乘法表)may have made you a better mathematician, according to a new study. A team of scientists from Stanford University, in California, have shown how the brain reorganizes itself as kids learn math.

After a certain amount of time spent practicing math, kids can put away the calculator(计算器). They don’t even need to count on their fingers. They simply know the answers to subtraction(减法), addition, and multiplication facts. The quicker kids can recall basic math facts, the easier it is for them to solve more complicated math problems.

The Stanford University researchers observed the brain activity of 28 students aged 7to 9 for the study. They took scans of the students’ brains as the students solved math calculations without the help of a calculator, pen or paper. A calculation—three plus four equals seven, for example—flashed on a screen. The students pushed a button to say if the answer was right or wrong. The scientists also recorded the response speed, and what parts of the brain became active as the kids pushed the button.

These observations showed a process called fact retrieval(事实检索). Rather than using their fingers to count, or writing out answers on a piece of paper, the students pulled the answers from memory. It’s as if the answers to basic math problems are kept in a long-term storage area in the brain, which was built from repetition. “Experience really does matter,” said Dr. Kathy Mann Koepeke.

Children make the shift(转换)from counting to fact retrieval when they are 8 to 9 years old, the study shows. This is the time when most students are learning basic addition and subtraction. When kids have basic math facts memorized, the brain has more free space to learn more complicated math.

This process has benefits for the future. The study shows as kids grow older, their answers rely more on memory and become quicker and more accurate. Less brain activity is devoted to counting. Some children make this shift quicker than others.

1.What did the researchers do when students worked out the given problems?

A. They recorded the students’ brain activities.

B. They pushed a button linked to the students.

C. They noticed whether they used a calculator.

D. They found out who responded most quickly.

2. Fact retrieval is a process when the students________.

A. calculate answers using pens

B. use their fingers to count out

C. repeat the answers they remember

D. find the answers from their memory

3.What plays a key role in solving a math problem?

A. Intelligence　　　　 B. Experience

C. Learning method　　 D. Constant practice

4.What happens to kids when they are 8 to 9 years old?

A. Their brains are more active than before.

B. They depend on fact retrieval for answers.

C. They become more interested in learning math.

D. They work out complicated problems more quickly.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

New research shows sheep are clever

People often make jokes about how dull sheep are, but new research shows they may be cleverer than we think. Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that Welsh mountain sheep have brainpower that equals rodents (啮齿动物). Tests found that the sheep can map the area they live in, and some may even be able to plan ahead.

Young fish prefer noisy neighbors

A new study has shown that young fish like to live on reefs with noisy neighbors! Researchers from the universities of Auckland and Bristol found that young fish looking for a home choose areas where other noisy fish live. The scientists produced all kinds of sounds which had been recorded in different natural environments. The young fish seemed to prefer the sounds of natural reefs, complete with noisy animals! The scientists compared the choice to a music fan wandering around at a music festival, choosing to set up a tent closest to the music they like best!

Butterflies are disappearing

A new study has shown that 17 species (物种) of butterfly found in Europe have dropped by 70% in the last 20 years. The information collected from 3,000 sites across 15 countries shows it may be caused by the loss (减少) of grasslands covered with flowers. You can encourage butterflies to come into your garden by planting flowers.

1.What is the passage mainly about?

2. According to the first paragraph, we may infer that sheep _____.

3. Which seems to have to do with the number of butterflies?

4.In which part of a newspaper can we most probably read the passage?

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

New research shows sheep are clever

People often make jokes about how dull sheep are, but new research shows they may be cleverer than we think. Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that Welsh mountain sheep have brainpower that equals rodents (啮齿动物). Tests found that the sheep can map the area they live in, and some may even be able to plan ahead.

Young fish prefer noisy neighbors

A new study has shown that young fish like to live on reefs with noisy neighbors! Researchers from the universities of Auckland and Bristol found that young fish looking for a home choose areas where other noisy fish live. The scientists produced all kinds of sounds which had been recorded in different natural environments. The young fish seemed to prefer the sounds of natural reefs, complete with noisy animals! The scientists compared the choice to a music fan wandering around at a music festival, choosing to set up a tent closest to the music they like best!

Butterflies are disappearing

A new study has shown that 17 species (物种) of butterfly found in Europe have dropped by 70% in the last 20 years. The information collected from 3,000 sites across 15 countries shows it may be caused by the loss (减少) of grasslands covered with flowers. You can encourage butterflies to come into your garden by planting flowers.

1.What is the passage mainly about?

A．Some new studies about animals.           B．People’s wrong ideas about animals.

C．Why the number of animals has dropped.     D．The importance of protecting animals.

2.According to the first paragraph, we may infer that sheep _____.

A．are less clever than rodents               B．can find their home

C．can read maps                          D．are good planners

3.Which seems to have to do with the number of butterflies?

A．The species of grass in grasslands.                                          B．The species of trees in grasslands.

C．The number of flowers in grasslands.

D．The number of animals in grasslands.

4.In which part of a newspaper can we most probably read the passage?

A．Geography.        B．Culture.           C．Travel.            D．Nature.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

As a recent research shows that the more teenagers watch television, the more likely they are to develop depression（抑郁症）as young adults.

The researchers used a nationwide long-term survey of adolescent（青少年的） healthy to investigate（调查）the relationship between media use and depression. They based their findings on more than four thousand adolescents who were not depressed when the survey began in 2000.

As part of the survey, the young people were asked how many hours of television or videos they watched daily. They were also asked how often they played computer games and listened to the radio. Media use totaled an average of five and one-half hours a day. More than two hours of that was spent watching TV.

Seven years later, in 2007, more than seven percent of the young people had signs of depression. The average age at that time was twenty one.

The researchers say they did not find any such relationship with the use of other media such as movies, video games or radio etc. But the study did find that every extra hour of television meant an eight percent increase in the chances of developing signs of depression. Young men were more likely than young women to develop depression given the same amount of media use.

The study didn’t explore if watching TV causes depression. But one possibility is that it was taking time away from activities that could help prevent depression.

Last December, the journal Social Indicators Research published a study of activities that help lead to happy lives. Sociologists from the University of Maryland found that people who describe themselves as happy spend less time watching television than unhappy people. The study found that happy people are more likely to be socially active, to read, attend religious services and to vote.

1.What is the best title of this passage?

A. Media Use is Harmful to Adolescents

B. Men Develop Depression Easier than Women

C. Teens, Television and Depression

D. Take Great care of Teenager’s depression

2.The result of the research seems to indicate　　　　 .

A. teenagers are more likely to develop depression than adults

B. other media uses do no harm to adolescents

C. those who watch no TV will not develop depression

D. TV probably causes teenagers to grow up with depression

3.It can be inferred from the passage that　　　　　 .

A. longer use of media other than TV doesn’t increase the chance of depression

B. every extra hour of media use increases the chance of depression

C. depression is related to the use of other media other than TV

D. the influence of movies, video games and radio on depression varies

高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

An interesting study posted on Facebook recently shows how men and women develop new interests as they mature(成熟).

While women tend to take exercise seriously from the age of 34, men will wait until their 45th birthdays before working hard to get in shape.

The average woman spends more time talking about sports, politics, career and money as she gets older.

Women’s interest in books reaches its peak(顶峰) at the age of 22, while that of men does so when they are in their 50s.

Men start to change their focus from the workplace to other things after age 30, while women do not do so until eight years later. Both, however, care most about fashion at age 16.

The research used anonymous(匿名的) data donated by thousands of Facebook users, recording the statuses, ‘likes’ and ‘interests’ they had posted on their profiles.

It found the average woman talks about television most at 44, while men peak much younger, at age 31.

Men are also most likely to see a film in a cinema at age 31, while women go out to see films most when they are only 19.

Men are most interested in travel at 29, women at 27, while women talk most about food and drink at 35, and men at 38.

And if you are middle aged, a safe topic for any audience is the weather, which is a key interest for many as they approach 60.

Stephen Wolfram, the British scientist who carried out the research, says, “It’s almost shocking how much this tells us about the changes of people’s typical interests.

“People talk less about video games as they get older, and more about politics.”

1. When do women love books best?

A. At the age of 22. B. At the age of 50.

C. At the age of 30. D. At the age of 15.

2.Men tend to ______ once they are 30.

A. gain more and more weight

B. be less interested in their jobs

C. do more exercise

D. pay more attention to their appearance

3. What are men and women both interested in when they are 16?

A. Getting in shape.

B. Going to the cinema.

C. Popular style of clothing.

D. Food and drink.

4.What does Stephen Wolfram think about the result of the research?

A. People’s interests are different from each other.

B. People’s interests change greatly with age.

C. It is normal for people to change their interests.

D. It is not good for people to change their interests.

高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Grown­ups are often surprised by how well they remember something they learned as children but have never practiced ever since. A man who has not had a chance to go swimming for years can still swim as well as ever when he gets back in the water. He can get on a bicycle after many years and still ride away. He can play catch and hit a ball as well as his son. A mother who has not thought about the words for years can teach her daughter the poem that begins “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” or remember the story of Cinderella or Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

One explanation is the law of overlearning, which can be stated as follows: Once we have learned something, additional learning trials(尝试)increase the length of time we will remember it.

In childhood we usually continue to practice such skills as swimming, bicycle riding, and playing baseball long after we have learned them. We continue to listen to and remind ourselves of words such as “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” and childhood tales such as Cinderella and Goldilocks. We not only learn but overlearn.

The multiplication tables(乘法口诀表)are an exception to the general rule that we forget rather quickly the things that we learn in school, because they are another of the things we overlearn in childhood.

The law of overlearning explains why cramming(突击学习)for an examination, though it may result in a passing grade, is not a satisfactory way to learn a college course. By cramming, a student may learn the subject well enough to get by on the examination, but he is likely soon to forget almost everything he learned. A little overlearning, on the other hand, is really necessary for one's future development.

1.What is the main idea of Paragraph 1?

A．People remember well what they learned in childhood.

B．Children have a better memory than grown­ups.

C．Poem reading is a good way to learn words.

D．Stories for children arc easy to remember.

2.The author explains the law of overlearning by______.

A．presenting research findings

B．selling down general rules

C．making a comparison

D．using examples

3.What does the word “they” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A．Commonly accepted rules.

B．The multiplication tables.

C．Things easily forgotten.

D．School subjects.

4.What is the author's opinion on cramming?

A．It leads to failure in college exams.

B．It's helpful only in a limited way.

C．It's possible to result in poor memory.

D．It increases students' learning interest.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Grown-ups are often surprised by how well they remember something they learned as children but have never practiced ever since. A man who has not had a chance to go swimming for years can still swim as well as even when he gets back in the water. He can get on a bicycle after many years and still ride away. He can play catch and hit a ball as well as his son. A mother who has not thought about the words for years can teach her daughter the poem that begins "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" or remember the story of Cinderella or Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

One explanation is the law of overlearning, which can be stated as follows: Once we have learned something, additional learning trials(尝试) increase the length of time we will remember it.

In childhood we usually continue to practice such skills as swimming, bicycle riding, and playing baseball long after we have learned them. We continue to listen to and remind ourselves of words such as "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" and childhood tales such as Cinderella and Goldilocks. We not only learn but overlearn.

The multiplication tables(乘法口诀表) are an exception(例外) to the general rule that we forget rather quickly the things that we learn in school, because they are another of the things we overlearn in childhood.

The law of overlearning explains why cramming(突击学习)for an examination, though it may result in a passing grade, is not a satisfactory way to learn a college course. By cramming, a student may learn the subject well enough to get by on the examination, but he is likely soon to forget almost everything he learned. A little overlearning, on the other hand, is really necessary for one's future development.

1.What is the main idea of paragraph 1?

A. Poem reading is a good way to learn words.

B. Children have a better memory than grown-ups.

C. People remember well what they learned in childhood.

D. Stories for children are easy to remember.

2.The author explains the law of overlearning by_________.

A. presenting research findings　　 B. setting down general rules

C. making a comparison　　 D. using examples

3.According to the author, being able to use multiplication tables is_______.

A. a result of overlearning　　 B. a special case of cramming

C. a skill to deal with math problems　　 D. a basic step towards advanced studies

4.What is the author's opinion on cramming?

A. It leads to failure in college exams.　　 B. It's helpful only in a limited way.

C. It's possible to result in poor memory.　　 D. It increases students' learning interest.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Grown-ups are often surprised by how well they remember something they learned as children but have never practiced ever since. A man who has not had a chance to go swimming for years can still swim as well as ever when he gets back in the water. He can get on a bicycle after many years and still ride away. A mother who has not thought about the words for years can teach her daughter the poem that begins "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" or remember the story of Cinderella or Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

One explanation is the law of overlearning, which can be stated as follows: Once we have learned something, extra learning attempts or tries to increase the length of time we will remember it.

In childhood we usually continue to practice such skills as swimming, and bicycle riding long after we have learned them. We continue to listen to and remind ourselves of words such as "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" and childhood tales such as Cinderella and Goldilocks. We not only learn but overlearn.

The multiplication tables(乘法口诀表) are an exception（例外） to the general rule that we forget rather quickly the things that we learn in school, because they are another of the things we overlearn in childhood.

The law of overlearning explains why cramming(突击学习)for an examination, though it may result in a passing grade, is not a satisfactory way to learn a college course. By cramming, a student may learn the subject well enough to pass the examination, but he is likely soon to forget almost everything he learned. A little overlearning, on the other hand, is really necessary for one's future development.

1.What is the main idea of paragraph 1?

A. People remember well what they learned in childhood.

B. Children have a better memory than grown-ups.

C. Poem reading is a good way to learn words.

D. Stories for children are easy to remember.

2.The author tells the experience in childhood in order to __________.

A. remember the good old days

B. let readers follow the example

C. explain the law of overlearning

D. help readers understand the importance of knowledge

3.According to the author, being able to use multiplication tables is__________.

A. a step towards studies　　 B. a result of overlearning

C. a special case of cramming　　 D. a skill to deal with math problems

4.What is the author's opinion on cramming?

A. It's helpful only in a limited way.　　 B. It causes failure in college exams.

C. It's possible to result in poor memory.　　 D. It increases students' learning interest.

高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Grown-ups are often surprised by how well they remember something they learned as children but have never practiced ever since. A man who has not had a chance to go swimming for years can still swim as well as ever when he gets back in the water. He can get on a bicycle after many years and still ride away. He can play catch and hit a ball as well as his son. A mother who has not thought about the words for years can teach her daughter the poem that begins "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" or remember the story of Cinderella or Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

One explanation is the law of overlearning, which can be stated as follows: Once we have learned something, additional learning trials increase the length of time we will remember it.

In childhood we usually continue to practice such skills as swimming, bicycle riding, and playing baseball long after we have learned them. We continue to listen to and remind ourselves of words such as "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" and childhood tales such as Cinderella and Goldilocks. We not only learn but overlearn.

The multiplication tables(乘法口诀表) are an exception to the general rule that we forget rather quickly the things that we learn in school, because they are another of the things we overlearn in childhood. The law of overlearning explains why cramming (突击学习) for an examination, though it may result in a passing grade, is not a satisfactory way to learn a college course. By cramming, a student may learn the subject well enough to get by on the examination, but he is likely soon to forget almost everything he learned. A little overlearning, on the other hand, is really necessary for one's future development.

1.What’s the main idea of Paragraph 1?

A. Children have a better memory than grown-ups.

B. People remember well what they learned in childhood.

C. Poem reading is a good way to learn words.

D. Stories for children are easy to remember.

2.The author explains the law of overlearning by ________.

A. presenting research findings

B. setting down general rules

C. using examples

D. making a comparison

3.According to the author, being able to use multiplication tables is ________.

A. a result of overlearning

B. a special case of cramming

C. a skill to deal with math problems

D. a basic step towards advanced studies

4.What is the author's opinion on cramming?

A. It leads to failure in college exams.

B. It increases students' learning interest.

C. It's possible to result in poor memory.

D. It's helpful only in a limited way.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Grown-ups are often surprised by how well they remember something they learned as children but have never practiced ever since. A man who has not had a chance to go swimming for years can still swim as well as ever when he gets back in the water. He can get on a bicycle after many years and still ride away. He can play catch and hit a ball as well as his son. A mother who has not thought about the words for years can teach her daughter the poem that begins "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" or remember the story of Cinderella or Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

One explanation is the law of overlearning, which can be stated as follows: Once we have learned something, additional learning trials increase the length of time we will remember it.

In childhood we usually continue to practice such skills as swimming, bicycle riding, and playing baseball long after we have learned them. We continue to listen to and remind ourselves of words such as "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" and childhood tales such as Cinderella and Goldilocks. We not only learn but overlearn.

The multiplication tables(乘法口诀表)are an exception to the general rule. that we forget rather quickly the things that we learn in school, because they are another of the things we overlearn in childhood. The law of overlearning explains why cramming (突击学习)for an examination, though it may result in a passing grade, is not a satisfactory way to learn a college course. By cramming, a student may learn the subject well enough to get by on the examination, but he is likely soon to forget almost everything he learned. A little overlearning, on the other hand, is really necessary for one's future development

1.What’s the main idea of Paragraph 1

A．Children have a better memory than grown-ups.

B．People remember well what they learned in childhood.

C．Poem reading is a good way to learn words.“

D．Stories for children are easy to remember

2.The author explains the law of overlearning by

A．presenting research findings

B．setting down general rules

C．using examples

D．making a comparison

3.According to the author, being able to use multiplication tables is

A．a result of overlearning

B．a special case of cramming

C．a skill to deal with math problems

D．a basic step towards advanced studies

4.What is the author's opinion on cramming?

A．It leads to failure in college exams.

B．It increases students' learning interest.

C．It's possible to result in poor memory.

D．It's helpful only in a limited way.

高一英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析