新视野大学英语视听说教程 听力材料及答案 (第(9)

How to Get Straight A's

What are the four good qualities of super-achievers mentioned in the passage? 原文1

Robert was a university student. He liked to have fun. But having fun was expensive, so he was rapidly running out of money. There was nothing to do but to try to call his mother for help.

"Hi, Mom. I certainly miss you and Dad. I... uh... got a big surprise this week in my physics course. We have to buy two new textbooks. I'm going to need $100."

"I understand," said his mother. "I'll send you the money right away. You left your calculus book here when you were home two weeks ago. Shall I mail that at the same time?" "Oh, yeah. Thanks," Robert said.

Robert's mother made up a parcel with the calculus book and two checks, and mailed it to Robert that very day. When she returned from the post office, her husband was waiting for her. "Well, how much did you give the boy this time?" asked Dad.

"I sent two checks: one for $100 and the other for $1,000," answered Mom.

"You're out of your mind," yelled Dad. "That's $1,100. He'll just spend that in a couple of weeks. He's never going to learn the value of money that way."

"Don't worry, honey," Mom said, "I taped the $100 check to the cover of his book, but I put the $1,000 one between the pages in Chapter 13!"

原文2

It is interesting to note how straight A students achieve academic excellence. Here,

according to education experts and students themselves, are the secrets of super-achievers. First, they know how to set priorities. Top students allow no intrusions on study time. Once the books are open or the computer is turned on, phone calls go unanswered, TV shows unwatched, snacks ignored. Study is business, and business comes before recreation. Also, good students can study anywhere and everywhere. Claudia Hill, an Arizona State University business professor recalls a cross-country runner who worked out every day. Hill persuaded him to use his spare time to memorize biology terms. Then he posted a list of

biology terms on the mirror in the bathroom. He learned a few terms every day while brushing his teeth. Eventually, he scored high on the final examination.

Moreover, top students schedule their time well. Study times are strictly a matter of personal preference. Some work late at night when the house is quiet. Others awake early. Still others study as soon as they come home from school when the work is fresh in their minds. All agreed, however, on the need for consistency. A student says, "Whatever I was doing, I maintained a certain period of time every day for studying."

Another important characteristic of super-achievers is that they know how to read. According to a book entitled Getting Straight A's, the secret of good reading is to be "an active reader --- one who continually asks questions that lead to a full understanding of the author's message".

Harvard University

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