Passage 1
Some people think I'm extra organized because I always enter notes in my iPhone. The truth is that I have the world's worst memory. I can remember faces, not names, and directions, not addresses. Over the years, I've taken a few steps to try to improve my memory or at least fake that I have a better memory than I do. By using the simple strategies below, I'm able to finish projects on time, avoid annoying friends and clients, and remember important dates.
Consider these four steps tips for improving your memory. First, add an attachment to your e-mail before you write your message. Have you had to send a follow-up e-mail after you forgot to include an attachment? I have. By adding the attachment before I write the message, I don't have to send the follow-up message. The best part is that my friends and clients have stopped sending me e-mails—some of them in an annoying tone—asking about attachments I was supposed to include.
Secondly, use a timer. Set a timer on your smartphone—or a simple kitchen timer will do—one to two hours before you need to leave for an appointment. When you enter appointments (both personal and business) in your smartphone, use the 2-hour and l-hour reminder. If you forget to check your schedule first thing in the morning, you won't forget appointments you've set for later on that day. I use the timer on my iPhone to remind me to get ready early so that I'm not scrambling to leave my home in time.
Thirdly, give yourself a two-day cushion for deadlines. You know that sinking feeling when you realize a deadline is minutes away and you still haven't finished the project? If you plan ahead, you can do a better job of scheduling your time, and you can avoid missed deadlines. In addition, you can keep your stress level under control. Keep in mind that projects take twice as much time as you think, and sometimes twice as much money.
Finally, make remembering dates easy Have you ever called someone who thanks you for remembering his or her birthday—that's not why you called, because you forgot—then you quickly enter the date in your calendar for next year? I have, but I'm not going to admit which friend I've done that to.
At the beginning of the year, enter birthdays and other special occasions in whatever planning system you use.Several greeting card companies including Blue Mountain offer free, online reminder programs so you can send e-cards at the last minute.
Whether you have a perfect memory or a memory as bad as mine, take the strain off your memory whenever you can.
The main purpose of the passage is ________ .
根据文章首段末尾最后一句话， 文章探讨怎样增强人们的记忆力。 全文总共介绍了四种增强记忆力的方法。故选 A。
It can be inferred from the passage that ________ .
由本文第二段最后一句话可知作者曾经收到朋友和客户的质询邮件， 询问邮件里的附件去哪了， 有些还是生气的语气。 本题说“人们曾因作者忘记发附件而跟她生气” 符合原文表达。 故选 A。
What does the word “cushion” in the sentence “...give yourself a two-day cushion for deadlines” mean?
根据原文第四段大意可知， 作者建议人们在截止日期前要先设置两天缓冲期， 因为工作量很有可能比我们预想的要大， 所花的时间也会更长。 本题说“cushion 此处是比喻义， 用来指人们应在截止日期前两天就完成工作， 来帮助自己缓解焦虑” 符合原文表达。 故选 D。
How to make remembering dates easy according to the author?
原文第七段第一句提到作者建议大家在年初便在自己的规划中标记出亲友的生日和一些重要场合。 本题说“预先确认日期” 符合原文表达。 故选 B。
In the passage, a timer can remind you of the following things except ________ .
由“timer” 定位至原文第四段。 第四段倒数第二句说到“If you forget to check your schedule first thing in the morning, you won‟t forget appointments you‟ve set for later on that day.” 如果你忘记早晨起来确认日程， 那么闹钟可以帮助你想起那些约定。 因此闹钟起的功能并不是在早晨起来帮忙确认日程， 而是在你快要出发的时候提醒你不要忘记会面。 故选 A。