Preschool-aged children who can focus on a particular task for an extended period of time have a 50 percent greater chance of graduating from college, according to a new study from Oregon State University. Observing 430 preschoolers, researchers asked parents to rate their children based on social and behavioral skills, such as "plays with a single toy for long periods of time" or "child gives up easily when difficulties are encountered." Additionally, in order to find out the changes happening on them, the children's reading and math skills were assessed at age 7 and again at age 21. What researchers discovered was that the ability to pay attention and follow directions may be more critical than academic abilities to overall academic success. "There is a big push now to teach children early academic skills at the preschool level," said Megan McClelland, an early child development researcher at Oregon State and lead author of the study, in a news release. "Our study shows that the biggest predictor of college completion wasn't math or reading skills, but whether or not they were able to pay attention and finish tasks at age 4." Parents whose children rated higher on attention span and persistence at the age of 4 had a nearly 50 percent greater chance of completing their college degree by age 25, according to the study. Fortunately, as McClelland noted in the news release, these social and behavioral skills can be taught, and the earlier adults step in to guide the student, the greater chances a child has to succeed academically. "Academic ability carries you a long way, but these other skills are also important," McClelland said. "Increasingly, we see that the ability to listen, pay attention, and complete important tasks is _ for success later in life." From the passage we know _ . A) preschool children can focus on things for a long time. B) preschool children's performance can reflect their future. C) the more preschoolers play toys, the more likely they are to succeed. D) hard working preschoolers are more likely to be admitted into college.
B
The most common problem that worries all of us today is the fear of insecurity. _ With every new turn of events our self-confidence takes a blow. _ There are several reasons that affect a person's self-confidence. The most important reason is lack of success. Not being able to succeed affects one's self-confidence greatly. This is when one begins to doubt his own ability. In many cases one's self-confidence is low when he feels rejected by society. For example, a person who loses his job _ other people for fear of being questioned about his work. However, this isn't right at all. One needs to think along positive lines in spite of failures. After all it is your life and you have every right to live your life as you wish. The challenge lies in not allowing your self-confidence to decrease. _ When success doesn't come to you, you should not allow your self-belief to be affected. Always keep in mind that success is sure to come in time. So, there is nothing wrong with your ability. Whenever lack of success causes you to doubt your ability, don't forget to remind yourself that quick success does not last long. Also remember not to compare yourself to others. These tips will do a world of good to your confidence. In order to be self-confident, you need to have a lifestyle that is right for you. Create one and live a life as you want to. Leave others to themselves. In the author's opinion, it's important that one _ . A) should not forget his failures B) should follow others' advice C) should not lose heart D) should believe life
C
Q: Phantom vibrations-the phenomenon where you think your phone is vibrating but it's not-have been around since the mobile age. Today, they're so common that researchers have devoted studies to them. For Valerie Kusler, who works on a cattle farm, the feeling is complicated by the cows"The cows'moo is very muffled, it kinda sounds like...errrr,"she says."So that's very similar to what my phone sounds like when it vibrates on my desk or in my purse." Other people may not confuse cows for their phones, but research shows phantom vibration symptom is a near-universal experience for people with smartphones. Nearly 90 percent of college undergraduates in a 2012 study said they felt phantom vibrations. The number was just as high for a survey of hospital workers, who reported feeling phantom vibrations on either a weekly or monthly basis. "Something in your brain is being triggered that's different than what was triggered just a few short years ago," says Dr Larry Rosen, a research psychologist who studies how technology affects our minds. "If you'd asked me 10 years ago, or maybe even five years ago if I- felt an itch beneath where my pocket of my jeans was, and asked me what I would do, I'd reach down and scratch it because it was probably a little itch caused by the neurons firing ,"he says. Now, of course, the itch triggers him to reach for his phone. Rosen says it's an example of how our devices are changing how our brains process information. "we're seeing a lot of what looks like obsessive behavior. People who are constantly picking up their phone look like they have an obsession. They don't look much different from someone who's constantly washing their hands. I'm not saying that it is an obsession, but I'm saying that it could turn into one, very easily," Rosen says. While 9 out of 10 participants in the study of college students said the vibration feeling bothered them only a little or not at all, Rosen still recommends backing away from our phones every once in a while to keep our anxiety levels down. "One... According to the article, phantom vibrations _ . A) are mainly caused by neurons firing B) affect people mostly working on farms C) help our brains better process information D) started troubling people in recent years
A: D
Q: How would you like to brush a crocodile's teeth? Or give a shark a bath? Cats are well-known for the way they keep themselves clean by licking , but other animals have their own ways to stay clean as well. And tidiness can be important for their survival. Even cockroaches have to keep their feelers clean to help them into food. Many animals in the wild, such as deer, wolves and bears, have an automatic cleaning system. Insects like to attach themselves to animals to feed on the skin or blood. These parasites can be unhealthy. But their "host" animals are constantly dropping skin and fur by a natural process. They also like to rub up against trees or rocks to comfort themselves, and this removes additional skin and fur. Along with old fur goes the dirt and parasites living in the fur. While these animals may sometimes take a bath when they enter or cross a river or lake, they don't need the water to stay clean. They don't get sweaty, because they don't have sweat glands all over their bodies the way people do. Growing new skin and fur is enough to keep them clean. Some animals and birds use dust to get clean. Chinchillas, a kind of small animal that lives in the mountains of South America, have a very fine fur. (They are raised for their fur, in fact.) If they took water baths, they might get too cold. So, instead, they roll around in fine dust, raising quite a cloud as they "bathe". The dust helps to keep their fur and skin dry. This protects them from bacteria and parasites that enjoy warm and wet places. And the fine dust doesn't stick in their fur for long. It falls off or blows away. As for lions and tigers, their rough tongues act like combs and can remove dirt and loose fur. Why is it important for them to stay clean and smooth? It helps them stay cool in very hot summer or feel warm in cold winter. It can be inferred from the passage that the way some animals stay clean_. A) is decided by their physical conditions B) is better than the way people do C) keeps them away from parasites all the time D) helps them survive any danger in the wild
A: A