We often think how fast we learn something depends on how smart we are. If your brain is taking in material quickly, you’re clever; if not, well, that doesn’t say great things about your IQ. But science shows context (上下文) and technique (技術(shù)) actually play a big role in how fast we learn, and even small changes – like the way you use to read – can make a big difference.

Audio (音頻的) books have plenty of advantages: you can enjoy them anywhere, even in the car, and not printing books saves trees. Poor readers also often find them more interesting. But according to the latest research, if your goal isn’t to pass the time in traffic, but instead to learn something difficult, you should choose a physical book.

In a recent opinion piece in the New York Times, psychology (心理學(xué)) professor Daniel T.Willingham mentioned a 2010 study where 48 students either read or listened to an article about child psychology. Although the students spent the same amount of time with their material and did about the same number of distracting (分散注意力) activities while they absorbed the information, they scored very differently on a 10-item quiz later. Generally, the readers scored 81 percent but while the listeners scored 59 percent. Why does listening vs reading material have such a great effect on learning?

Willingham explains that first, most of us read more slowly than we listen (especially when pausing and rereading), and when you’re trying to absorb new information, slower seems to be better. “About 10 to 15 percent of eye movements during reading are actually regressive – meaning the eyes are going back and re-checking,” he explains to TIME. “This happens very quickly…”

Second, books offer visual cues (可視線索) that help our brains organize and understand new information. Things like chapter breaks, subheadings, and lists help us in making sense of the material and understanding how it fits together. You lose all that when you go the audio way.

The bottom line is simple: Don’t feel shame about passing your time in traffic with an audio book. However, be aware of audio’s limitations when it comes to studying, and seriously consider choosing good old-fashioned reading instead.

【1】According to the writer, you should choose to read a book to ______.

A.take in the informationB.pass the time in traffic

C.learn something difficultD.organize new information

【2】A “physical book” in Paragraph 2 probably means “______”.

A.an audio bookB.a book about physics

C.a book about computerD.a book made of paper or cloth

【3】What can we learn from the passage?

A.To read a book is better than to listen to it.

B.Readers are cleverer than listeners.

C.Reading books is a good way to pass time.

D.How fast we learn depends on how smart we are.

A. as; much careful B. so; more careful

C. as; much more careful D. so; very careful

A. between; and B. from; to C. on; and D. in; or

people in wheelchairs.

A、clearly B、specially C、simply

—Differences? Oh, no. They look quite ______.

A. different B. similar C. strange D. interesting

【題目】

When my daughter was in primary school, one day she brought home 4 tiny trees, which were given to the students by the school to plant. None of them looked very strong but with a hope for the future.

I planted them in our backyard. Over the years an accident brought an end to three of them. All that was left was a weak tree. It grew very slowly and never got very tall. I noticed a few years ago that it was starting to die. The needles on the branches had turned brown. Only the top third of the tree was still green.

Last summer I did my best to save it but it was useless. This morning I went out and looked at it again. I was deciding on whether it would be better to just cut it down.

As I walked over to take a closer look at it, however, I noticed something moving within the needles. It was a bird patiently building a nest in the top branches.

I smiled when I looked at it and decided that maybe this old tree had some life and usefulness left in it yet. It may not be healthy or pretty but it was still giving a bird a home and oxygen (氧氣) to this world.

This tree reminded me of something too. All of our lives have purpose. All of our lives have meaning. It doesn’t matter if we are young and strong or old and sickly. Until our last breath there are things for us to do, love for us to give, and joy for us to share. Until our last moment here we can help to make this world a better and more beautiful place.

【1】None of the tiny trees looked ______.

A.shortB.tallC.weakD.strong

【2】A few years later, ______ of the trees still grew slowly in the backyard.

A.oneB.twoC.threeD.four

【3】The writer did not cut down the tree because ______.

A.it was still a young treeB.it was giving a bird home

C.it was growing very wellD.it was an old and big tree

A. a hard-working

B. more hard-working

C. the most hard-working

D. hard-working

A. What B. How much C. How many D. How

A、to invite; for B、to invite; to C、invite; for

A. has B. have C. had