Text 2. Doing your homework.

Task 1. Read the text in task 4 quickly to find out what it is about. Choose the best title for the text. 1. There is no success without effort. 2. How to do your homework without effort. 3. How to become a perfect student. Task 2. Read paragraphs 1-3 in the text carefully. Choose the correct answer: a, b or с 1. What is paragraph 1 about? a) The necessity to plan your work. b) The best place to do homework. с) Creating the best working conditions. 2. What is paragraph 2 about? a) Buying school materials. b) Making notes. с) Keeping your papers in order. 3. What does paragraph 3 tell you? a) When to do homework. b) Where to do it. с) How to do it. 3 Now read paragraphs 4-8. Underline each sentence that contains a piece of advice.

Task 4. Read this leaflet giving advice on doing your homework. Match headings A-I to paragraphs 1-8. There is one heading you will not need to use. 1. …………………………. It’s possible to get your homework done even if you have a busy schedule – if you decide in advance what you have to do. On Sunday or Monday, jot down your activities for the upcoming week in a notebook and then include a time for homework for each day. 2. …………………………. Buy a folder for each of your classes. Divide it into three sections: notes, homework, and tests. Always put papers in the correct section. 3. …………………………. Forget about doing your homework in front of the TV. Find a quiet place that's well-lit, where you can concentrate without getting distracted. 4. You won't get any work done if you're hungry. Your brain needs energy to work effectively! Drink plenty of water, and snack on some fruit or cookies to get more strength. 5. …………………………. Begin with your best subject. Your success will give you a feeling of satisfaction that will help you deal with your weaker subjects later. 6. …………………………. If you've started your Science homework, finish it! Don't leave one part of your homework unfinished to start another - you may not remember all those Chemistry formulas when you come back. 7. …………………………. Take at least a five-minute break when you feel tired. The rest will re-energise you so you'll be able to finish your work. 8. …………………………. Homework is rarely an exciting thing to do. But it's your top priority, and you have to get it done. Accepting this fact will help you deal with homework effectively. A Start strong В Complete each task С Plan ahead D Eat for energy E Just do it! F Keep things in order G Talk to an expert H Take a break I Find the right place

Text 3. How to Boost Your Memory.

Task 1. Fill in the gaps in the text choosing the correct answers given below.

Are you forgetful? There's a tremendous range of meth­ods to boost your memory.

Your memory is like a brilliant, but ...1... computer storing a vast amount of information. In fact the memory's capac­ity is theoretically unlimited. ...2... only about 20 per cent of our daily experience is registered, and of that only a tiny proportion is loaded into long-term memory.

Normal healthy people can improve their memories easily. First of all learn to relax if you are trying to memorize something. You may ...3... important items if your mind is on something else or if you weren't paying attention because of anxiety. Try to combine study with exercise. Keep your mind fit ...4... your body by doing mental workouts. Cross­words, scrabbles and quizzes all help to keep the mind in shape. You can also train your memory in certain ...5.... The ancient Greeks invented memory systems called mnemon­ics, and they still work today. Most systems involve associating the things you want to remember with something you already have safely stored in your head. For example, if you want to remember numbers try to make associations be­tween numbers in sequence – think of people's ages, special dates, whether they're odd or even.

1. a) unreliable b) expensive с) reasonable d) powerful

2. a) Besides b) Moreover c) Likewise d) Nevertheless

3. a) catch b) pickup c) miss d) get

4. a) alike b) as well as c) well as d) or

5. a) ways b) tricks c) methods d) schemes

Task 2. Choose the one best answer to each question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the text.

1. Which of the following is not true?

a) Unbounded ability of people's memory can be de­veloped or trained.

b) Memory's capacity is theoretically unlimited but practically it is restricted to 20% of what is loaded into long-term memory.

c) People's memory can be compared with a computer storing information.

d) To get rid of forgetfulness one can use a series of methods.

2. Relaxation may:

a) be helpful when memorizing something.

b) be an important item if your mind is on something else.

c) keep your body fit for scrabbles, crosswords and quizzes.

d) combine study with exercise.

3. What are memory systems mostly based on?

a) Sequence of numbers. b) Mnemonics. c) Associations. d) Safe storage of information.

4. What title could you give to the story?

a) Memorial systems of ancient Greeks still at work.

b) How to boost your memory.

c) Long life to long-term memory.

d) Forget-me-not: unlimited capacity of memory.

5. The word capacity means:

a) a feature of forgetful people.

b) an ability to receive, hold or absorb.

c) characteristics of memorabilia.

d) horizons of unlimited memory.