Most of us seem to reach our peak of alertness (警觉) around noon. Soon after that, alertness declines, and sleepiness may set in by mid-afternoon.
Your short-term memory is best during the morning—in fact, about 15 percent more efficient than at any other time of day. So, students, take notice: when you are faced with a morning exam, it really does pay to review your notes right before the test is given.
However, long-term memory is different. Afternoon is the best time for learning materials that you want to recall days, weeks or months later. Politicians, business executives or others who must learn speeches would be smart to do their memorizing during that time of day. You should try to do most of your studying in the afternoon, rather than late at night. Many students believe they memorize better while burning the midnight oil because their short-term recall is better during the early hours of the morning than in the afternoon. But short-term memory won’t help them much several days later, when they face the exam.
By contrast, we tend to do best on tasks related to the process of knowing, understanding, and learning numbers during the morning hours.
What about sports? During afternoon and early evening, you’re able to react the quickest to an outside stimulus—like a baseball speeding toward you. Studies have also shown that late in the day, when your body temperature is peaking, you will consider PE easier and less tiring—whether it actually is or not. That means you are more likely to work harder during a late afternoon or early evening workout, and therefore benefit more from it.
In fact, all of your senses—taste, sight, hearing, touch and smell—may be at their keenest during late afternoon and early evening. That could be why dinner usually tastes better to us than breakfast.
While all of us follow the same general pattern of ups and downs, the exact timing varies from person to person. It all depends on how your “biological” day is structured. Each of us can increase our knowledge about our individual rhythms. Learn how to listen to the inner beats of your body; let them set the pace of your day. You will live a healthier and happier life.
【小题1】What does the underlined “it really does pay” mean? A．It will cost a lot.B．It requires price. C．It is very painful. D．It is worthwhile.【小题2】If there is an English exam two weeks later, you should go over English for days before that. A．in the afternoonB．in the late eveningC．in the early morningD．right before the exam【小题3】From the passage, it can be inferred that . A．we eat more food at noonB．we feel most tired if we exercise in the eveningC．it is a good choice to study math in the morningD．we feel most sleepy before noon【小题4】Which would be the best title for the passage? A．What’s Your Best Time of the Day for Different TasksB．How to Live a Healthier and Happier LifeC．How to Study EfficientlyD．How to Keep Your Best State of LearningD
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(答案→)D
解析：本文主要讲述了在每天的不同的时间适合完成不同的任务的效果是不一样的，早晨适合短时记忆，下午适合长时记忆。
【小题1】D 推理题。根据第二段1,2行Your short-term memory is best during the morning—in fact, about 15 percent more efficient than at any other time of day.说明早早晨短时记忆的效果较好，那么在考试之前的这个时候复习功课是值得。故D项正确。
【小题2】A 推理题。根据第三段1,2行However, long-term memory is different. Afternoon is the best time for learning materials that you want to recall days, weeks or months later.说明长时记忆在下午的效果比较好，所以你两天后又考试在下午复习效果较好。故A项正确。
【小题3】C 细节题。根据第四段By contrast, we tend to do best on tasks related to the process of knowing, understanding, and learning numbers during the morning hours.说明在早晨学一些与数字有关的内容是合适的，故C项正确。
【小题4】A 主旨大意题。本文主要讲述了在每天的不同的时间适合完成不同的任务的效果是不一样的，早晨适合短时记忆，下午适合长时记忆，故A项说法正确。