提早開始復習功課做準備，把做練習的間隔時間距離拉開等都可以提高備考復習的效率和質量。本期《隨身英語》和你分享一些備考小貼士。

課文內容

詞匯: study 學習

So, it's exam time again – have you done the necessary work to get good marks? Sleeping with the textbook under the pillow in the hope that knowledge will be magically absorbed into your brain as you sleep doesn't work. The best strategy is to space your practice out, rather than cram it all together. It means hit the books early!

In an article in the British newspaper The Guardian, Tom Stafford, a lecturer in psychology and cognitive science at the University of Sheffield, UK, advises: "If you organise five hours of study into one hour a day, you'll remember more than if you study for five hours on one day."

Don't rely on memory alone – get pen and paper and start working. Students who can test themselves in advance will be better at retrieving material from their memory and learn that material in the long run. John Dunlosky, Professor of Psychology at Kent State University in the US, suggests that "you start by reading a textbook using your favourite highlighter and favourite colours, but then you go back and make flashcards of all the critical concepts and instead of just rereading those, you basically try to test yourselves on them."

Good revision should give you confidence, but if you are still anxious, there's no harm in indulging in a personal ritual. In Japan, it seems to be a tradition for students to eat Katsudon before a test. This is a warm bowl of rice topped with egg and a deep-fried pork cutlet. The name of the dish reminds people of the word 'katsu', meaning 'winning'.

For some students in South Korea, the key to success is not washing their hair before sitting an exam because they believe they could wash all the knowledge out of their head. And in different parts of the world there are always those who swear by their 'lucky underwear'.

The bottom line is that you need to study, sleep well on the eve of the test, eat a nutritious meal, drink plenty of water and believe that your efforts will pay off. Good luck in your exam!

詞匯表

mark  分數
textbook  課本，教科書
strategy  策略，行動計劃
space your practice out  把做練習的間隔時間距離拉開
cram  （考前）突擊學習，死記硬背
hit the books  學習，做功課
lecturer  講師
cognitive science  認知科學
retrieve  搜索、獲取
highlighter  熒光筆
flashcard  抽任卡
critical concept  關鍵概念
ritual  老規矩，儀式，習慣
sit an exam  參加考試
nutritious  營養豐富的
pay off  取得成功，取得好結果

測驗與練習 

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. True or false? If you study all the material two days before the test you're likely to get a good mark.

2. What's the benefit of testing yourself before the exam?

3. Who avoids washing their hair before an exam?

4. Which adjective describes someone who is worried and apprehensive? 

2.  請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處 。

1. The __________ line is that if you don't study you won't get good marks.

top     side     highlight     bottom

2. Oh dear! My computer has frozen and I can't __________ the document I've just saved.

retrieve     remind     cram     pay off

3. Mary's mother is very conservative. For her it was an important __________ to see her daughter wearing a white dress on her wedding day.

strategy     tradition     ritual     psychology

4. Avoiding partying every night to study might sound like a big sacrifice, but in the long __________ it will help you pass your exams with top marks.

walk     time     end     run

5. The CEO of the company asked his secretary to __________ him of the meeting on Tuesday.

remember     retrieve     remind     rely

答案

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. True or false? If you study all the material two days before the test you're likely to get a good mark.
False. Experts say the best strategy is to space your practice out, rather than cram it all together.

2. What's the benefit of testing yourself before the exam?
It will make it easier for you to practise retrieving material from your memory rather than just struggling to remember it.

3. Who avoids washing their hair before an exam?
Some South Korean students are known for doing that.

4. Which adjective describes someone who is worried and apprehensive?
Anxious.

2.  請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處 。

1. The bottom line is that if you don't study you won't get good marks.

2. Oh dear! My computer has frozen and I can't retrieve the document I've just saved.

3. Mary's mother is very conservative. For her it was an important tradition to see her daughter wearing a white dress on her wedding day.

4. Avoiding partying every night to study might sound like a big sacrifice, but in the long run it will help you pass your exams with top marks.

5. The CEO of the company asked his secretary to remind him of the meeting on Tuesday.