A strong memory depends on the health and vitality （活力） of your brain. They say that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but when it comes to the brain, scientists have discovered that this old saying simply isn't true. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

      Give your brain a workout. Memory, like muscular strength, requires you to “use it or lose it”. The more you work out your brain, the better you'll be able to process and remember information.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

        Don't skip the physical exercise. While mental exercise is important forbrain health, that doesn't mean you never need to break a sweat. Physical exercise helps your brainstay sharp. It increases oxygen to your brain and reduces the risk for disorders that lead to memory loss.

        Get enough sleep. There is a big difference between the amount of sleep you can get by on and the amount you need to function at your best.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Keep stress in check. Stress is one of the brain's worst enemies. Over time, stress destroys braincells. Studies have also linked stress to memory loss.

        Have a laugh.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} That holds true for the brain and the memory, as well as the body. Unlike emotional responses, which are limited to specificareas of the brain, laughter engages multiple regions across the whole brain.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Just as the body needs fuel, so does the brain. You probably already know that a diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, “healthy”fats and lean protein will provide lots of health benefits, but such a diet can also improve memory. For brain health, though, it's not just what you eat—it's also what you don't eat.

A. Eat a brain-boosting diet.

B. Play games with memory.

C. Laughter is the best medicine.

D. But oversleeping is not good for yourbrain.

E. Even skipping a few hours makes adifference!

F. You have to shake things up from timeto time!

G. The human brain has an astonishingability to adapt and change.

                                                                      Little－known facts about germs

    Germs are everywhere and in so many forms.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} There are some steps you can take to help prevent the spread of germs in your personal space.

    Computer keyboards can have more germs than a public toilet.Keys and spaces on a keyboard are main breeding grounds for bacterial and viral growth.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Clean your keyboard regularly with specialized wipes for electronics，and remove dust with an air duster.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} While it seems to make sense that covering your toothbrush would protect，the opposite is the case.With a cover on your brush，a more humid environment is created and more likely to encourage growth of germs.Wash your toothbrush when done，and allow it to air dry.Make sure you store it away from the toilet.

    Hand sanitizer(洗手液) does not always replace soap and water washing.Hand sanitizer is great when you're not near a sink，and need to clean your hands.But given the choice of a spritz of sanitizer or good old soap and water，choose the soap and water route.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}  Lather up and scrub hard for at least 20 seconds，and wash between your fingers and the back of your hands.Don't skimp with the hand sanitizer either—cover the same hand areas as for soap and water.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you freeze foods that you suspect might be spoiled，freezing them will not kill the germs already in the food.Freezing prevents further bacterial growth，but when you thaw it out，the bacteria continue to increase and pollute your food.

A．Freezing food does not kill germs.

B．Try not to eat outside especially in summer.

C．Exposure to germs can lead to many illnesses.

D．Toothbrush covers do not protect your brushes from bacteria.

E．There are a lot of effective ways to get rid of germs in your house.

F．Soap and water are only a better germ fighter when done properly.

G．Some reports show five times more germs on a keyboard than on a public toilet.

    Technology sometimes goes wrong. The more you use technology, the more you know it can go wrong. A connection drops. A printer will not print. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} . Tech troubles can frustrate users quickly. First reaction may be to scream, throw the device against the wall or cry. Instead, you may be able to solve the problems by yourself.

    Search the web

    Learn about your tech problem on a search website, such as Google. See what others have experienced. Find expert articles about solving the problem. If your issue is with recent tech, such as software update, be sure to look for the most recent articles, as tech tips from many years ago do not work now. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    Check connection speed

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. First, be sure to check your Internet connection speed. You may think something wrong with your device when your network is just slow. A website such as speed test @ net can help you solve the problem.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    When your computers, phones or ipads are having issues, simply switch them off. Sometimes, software of apps need your device switched off to work properly.

    Check cables（电缆）

    A loose cable can be the cause of many tech issues. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Unplug and replug cables to guarantee a secure connection. Replacing a cable might solve a problem with a lot less money than buying a new device.

A. Restart.

B. Install again

C. They can never be too latest

D. We're into the latest articles published recently

E. Check to make sure everything is where it should be

F. Maybe you find it'll take a long while to stream, download and update

G. An app crashes, updating is slow or a cellphone battery drains too fast

    Before there was the written word, there was the language of dance. Dance expresses love and hate, joy and sorrow, life and death, and everything else in between.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} We dance from Florida to Alaska, from north to south and sea to sea. We dance at weddings, birthdays, office parties and just to fill the time.

    "I adore dancing," says Lester Bridges, the owner of a dance studio in Iowa. "I can't imagine doing anything else with my life." Bridges runs dance classes for all ages. "Teaching dance is wonderful. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's great to watch them. For many of them, it's a way of meeting people and having a social life."

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} "I can tell you about one young couple," says Bridges. "They're learning to do traditional dances. They arrive at the class in low spirits and they leave with a smile. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}"

    So, do we dance in order to make ourselves feel better, calmer, healthier? Andrea Hillier says, "Dance, like the pattern of a beating heart, is life. Even after all these years, I want to get better and better. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} I find it hard to stop! Dancing reminds me I'm alive."

A. So why do we dance?

B. Dance in the U.S. is everywhere.

C .My older students say it makes them feel young.

D. If you like dancing outdoors, come to America.

E. Dancing seems to change their feeling completely.

F. I keep practicing even when I'm extremely tired.

G. They stayed up all night long singing and dancing.

How to improve your studies—scientifically

Our brain can possibly memorize 2. 5 petabytes（千兆）of information. In order to use some of that surprising capacity（能力）a little more effectively when you learn, here are some tips that are based on widely-accepted research by learning experts.

{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Some enjoy watching videos over reading books, others study with friends, and some like sitting in silence among a million books. Everybody is different.

Hard things first

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} , so do the things that are difficult first. Once you are done with the hard things, you will feel better for the rest of the day, and probably more motivated to get other things done.

    Space（分隔开）your studies

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} . Facts or vocabularies, for example, are best learned if you review them the first time one to two days after the study, and then again after one week, and after one month.

    Instant self-test

    After your study, finish up with a quick quiz. Immediate recall in the form of a test or a short summary on what you've just learned can increase retention（记忆力）by as much as 30%. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, that extra effort creates deeper traces（痕迹）in your memory.

    Don't force it

    Motivation is like hunger. You cannot force yourself to be motivated, just like you can't tell someone else to be hungry. So, if you are not hungry right now, don't worry. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. Take fun seriously

B. Find your own style

C. Take a break, and do something else

D. Good memory can grow your brain's potential

E. Because it's much harder for your brain to remember than to read

F. Like most people you have the strongest willpower in the morning.

C. to remember things for a longer time, repeat the material after taking several breaks

    Research suggests that at least 64% of people now spend up to four hours daily of spare time in front of a screen. Just as TV watching has been linked to higher chances of being fat and getting diseases, this extra sedentary (久坐不动) time is bad news for our health. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

⒈Choose outdoor activities over technology

    When you're at home, make it a rule that you can't be online if the sun is shining. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Then, after taking these healthy physical activities, you can pull out your phone or tablet, or take a seat at the computer. This rule should be fit for everyone in your family.

⒉Limit social media use

    According to some experts, the effect of technology on human relationships is worrying as technology has become a substitute for face-to-face human relationships. And social networks have changed computer and mobile use for people of all ages.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Avoid aimless browsing (浏览) and give your time online a purpose: research holidays or catch up on the news of the day. Then log off.

⒊{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Challenge yourself to read at least 30 pages of a great book before you check your computer or mobile phone. Pick the right reading material and you'll soon find you've discovered an enjoyable pastime.

⒋Create projects for yourself

    It's amazing how much you can achieve when you're not glued to (长时间盯着) a screen.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.Some suggestions are organizing kitchen cupboards, and cleaning your bedroom. Then try doing one each evening.

A. Set aside reading time

B. Choose the suitable reading materials

C. Make a list of one-hour evening projects

D. Here are some ways to stop technology addiction

E. Whether it's Facebook or Twitter, limit the time online

F. The following are some ways to make better use of leisure time

G. Instead, you have to go for a walk, ride a bike, or swim at least an hour