UNIT

Exam Time I

Getting Ready
Discuss the following questions with a partner.
1 How often do students take tests in your country? What kinds of tests do they
take?
2 What kinds of tests do adults take? Which of these tests have you taken?
3 Are you good at taking tests? How do you prepare for them?

11
 UNIT 1 CHAPTER 1 For Better Grades­
Use Your Brain!

Before You Read A Think about answers to the following questions.

Do you remember?
1 · Do you think you have a good memory? Why, or why not?
2 What do you do when you need to remember something important?
3 How do you usually study for a test?

B Discuss your answers with a partner.

Reading Skill A Read the third paragraph of the article on the next page. Write the three
Describing a Process kinds of memory described.

1
Some articles tell us
2
how to do something.
You can draw a diagram 3
to help you understand
things that are in a B Decide which diagram below is best for organizing the information above.
certain order. Rrst, find Explain your answer to a partner.
the steps. Then, decide
how best to arrange the . ·· b
steps in a diagram.

C Read the entire passage carefully. Then answer the questions on

page 14.

Motivational Tip: I love reading-do you? When I remember how much I like to read,
it helps me stay positive, even when I have to read things that are not of my choice (like a textbook). Reading
becomes much easier when you have a positive attitude.

12 UNIT 1 Chapter 1
 For Better
Grades-Use
Your Brain!
If you're like most students, you probably started this new academic year with a resolution to study
harder. Now, science can help you keep your resolution. Recent discoveries in brain research point to
''
· b�tter ways to learn.
How does the brain save new information? Thi.nk of the last time someone told you their phone
number. could you remember that number five minutes later? Probably not! That's .because it was in
your short-term memory. '
Our memory actually has three component's. Sensory memory takes in infor[Jlation from o.ur five
senses an·d is stored for,jlfst a few seconds while our brain processes it'. Short-term memory wor�s
like a "hold_ing area" for new information.-:that's where you keep. the phone. rjumber while you dial
·. 10 it. But if1 you can put the phone·numbe(into /ohg-term memory, you'll rem,ember that same phone
number next week. Thls part of your memory holds everything from irregular verbs to the.names of all
your cousins.
When you.study, you transfer new information into long-term memory. Every time we learn something
new, the structure of the brain actually changes as we build new connections to information that we
�15 already know. When there are more connections to the new information, it's ec3sier to find it again.
Brain researchers have discovered four key points for effective study.
:· 8, Make:·an efl'.ort The brain remembers better when we are interested in the subject, already
know a little about it, and know we will need the information in the future.
f) Find the most important informati9n and organize it. Your brain can process only a limited
20 amount of information at one time, so don't try to remember every detail. When studying a
�extbook, look for titles, headings, and illustrations to ,show you the main ideas.
8 Make the new brain connections stronger. One;techri_iq4e i� to recite1 the ideas out loud in your own.
words. This is the mostpowerful way to transfer informat1pnJrom.short-te.r m to long-term memory.
at'
· Another:'method is drawing a picture the informatio.n to'activat�;the visual'part'of the brain.
2s O Give the new material time to soak in-your brain has to build new physical connections. For this
reason, it's better to study for several short sessions than one long one.. And cramming2 the night
before a big test doesn't help.
By understanding how the brain works, and following these four tips, you can make this your most
successful academic year ever.

1 When you recite something, you say it aloud after practising or memorizing it.
2 When you cram for an exam, you try to study for it in a short space of time.

For Better Grades-Use Your Brain! 13

Reading A Choose the correct answers for the following questions.
Comprehension 1 Which topic is NOT discussed in the passage?
Check Your Understanding a. short and long-term memory
b how to study for tests better
c why some people are very smart
2 According to the passage, what does drawing a picture do?
a It puts information into short-term memory.
b It shows people you are trying to learn.
c It makes the connections in the brain stronger.
3 Which sentence is most likely to be true?
a Reciting ideas out loud is better than drawing them.
b Brain researchers understand short-term memory best.
c It's better to have information in your long-term memory when doing
a test.

B Read the following sentences. Check (II') true (7} or false (F).

T F '
{
1 When we learn new fc;3.cts, we savE them in our long-term memory.
2 You remember better if you start studying'a long time. before a test
,· · <
I, '

3 Our brains change physical�y when we learn new inforrriation.

4 Saying new information out 'loud is a good wa/to remember it:
•
· ., ; ,i • . • • ,.• ,

, 11. ,. , rp,:1 \•:, ,:.,.

5 You don't haveJ<?. memorizeievery small detail to learn a subject.

Critical Thinking C Discuss the following questions \\#ith a partner.·

1 Which study techniques sound useful and which do not? Why? Have you
tried any of them?
2 What other ideas do you have for .how to study better?

Vocabulary A Choose the bes,t answer� The wo'rds in b,lue are from the passage.
,
Comprehension 1 . Some compor,ents of a healthy life are _____
Words in Context· ' a .. exercise ..and a good diet . b more· energ� and better skin
2 Whi�h ,af these are' long-term plans?
a having a family b going on holiday
3 "You can transfer money _____
a at the bank b in your wallet

14 UNIT 1 Chapter 1
 4 You need to make an effort if a task is _____
a easy b difficult
5 If you use effective ways to study, your grades will get _____
a better b worse
,.; 6 The structure of something is how it is _____
a used b organized
7 One tec�riique for remembering new English words is--�--
a writing them in a notebook b taking an exam
8 Which of these is an academic skill?
a writing an essay b baking a cake

B Answer the following questions, then discuss your answers with a

partner. The words in blue are from the passage.

1 What are the main components of a computer?

2 What is a useful technique for taking good notes in class?
3 What do you think is the most effective way to manage stress?
4 What are your long-term goals when it comes to learning English?

A Look at the word web below. Are there other words you can think of .to_ Vocab�Uuy Skill
add to this web? Explain your diagram to a partner. �ow do your ideas Word Webs
connect to each other?
On� helpful strategy ,.
,,r.1,
...r·�ttiat you can. use
. to memorize new
vo.cabulary ·,� to .,
create a wbrd web.·
Word webs can help .
you remember the
meaning of new
. vocabulary and relate
this vocabulary to other
words you know.

B On a sheet of paper, create a wordweb usi11g one_ of the categorie.s· in

the box below (or one of your own). See how many branches and words
you can add. Share your ideas with a partner.

( travel music the future food)

For Better Grades-Use Your Brain! 15