If you do not use your arms or your legs for some time, they become weak; when you start using them again, they slowly become strong again. Everybody knows that. Yet many people do not seem to know that memory works in the same way.
     When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice by using it. When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong.
     If a friend says that his arms and legs are weak, we know that it is his own fault (过错). But if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents are to blame (受责备), and few of us know that it is just his own fault.
     Have you ever found that some people can’t read or write but usually they have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write them down in a little notebook. They have to remember days, names, songs and stories; so their memory is the whole time being exercised.
     So if you want to have a good memory, learn from the people: practice remembering.

　　1.The main reason for one’s poor memory is that _________.
　　A.his father or mother may have a poor memory
　　B.he does not use his arms or legs for some time
　　C.his memory is not often used
　　D.he can’t read or write

　　2.If you do not use your arms or legs for some time, ______.
　　A. you can’t use them any more
　　B. they will become stronger
　　C. they become weak but they slowly become strong again
　　D. they become weak and won’t become strong until you use them again

　　3.Which of the following in NOT true?
　　A.Don’t learn how to read and write if you want to have a better memory.
　　B.Your memory, like your arms or legs, becomes weak if you don’t give it enough chance for practice.
　　C.Your memory works in the same way as your arms or legs.
　　D.A good memory comes from more practice.

　　4.Some people can’t read or write, but they usually have better memories, because ______.
　　A. they have saved much trouble
　　B. they have saved much time to remember things
　　C. they have to use their memories all the time
　　D. they can’t write everything in a little notebook

　　5.The best title for this passage _________.
　　A.Don’t Stop Using Your Arms Or Legs
　　B.How To Have A Good Memory
　　C.Strong Arms And Good Memory
　　D.Learn From The People

　　【答案与解析】

　　如果某个人的记忆力不好，大部分人会认为这是受其父母遗传的影响。其实这是他自己的过错。他应该拿出更多的机会锻炼自己的记忆力。本文告诉我们这样一个道理：“用则进，不用则废。”
　　1.C  答案就在“…he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong.”中。
　　2.D  “…when you start using them again, they slowly become strong again.”一句是解题的依据。
　　3.A  B、C、D三个选项的意思在文中都有明确的说明。
　　4.C  根据倒数第二段的论述，可知那些不会读和写的人只好去记诸如日期、名字、故事等之类的东西。他们的记忆力自然是始终能得到锻炼。
　　5.B  整篇文章都是围绕如何有一个好的记忆力来写的。结尾一段，点明主旨，也是本题的题眼。