1. 初中基础 (2258 期 20150522) 4-5 版 Wish to improve your math skills? Zap your brain!

2. Pre-reading 1.Which subjects are you good at? What do you usually do to make more progress in these subjects?

3. 2.How are your math skills? Do you believe zapping ( 击中 ) your brain with electricity will improve your math skills? Why or why not?

4. While reading  Complete the summary with the information from the article. Scientists from Oxford University made a(n) ____1____ to find out how to ____2____ people ’ s math skills. Fifteen students took part in and were ____3____ into three groups. It was ____4____ that the math skills of one group of students were improved greatly. Do you know what the scientists did to them? Their right brains were zapped with ____5____ before the test! experimentimprove dividedsurprising electricity

5. Language study  Replace the underlined parts with the words from the article. 1.She moved past me without saying anything. 2.He got an award for bravery from the police. 3.A new bank opened across the street only a short time ago. 4.Can you find an answer to this math problem? 5.The weather got less pleasant during the day. passed received recently solve worse

6. Grammar focus  They wanted to test if the brain could work better with numbers after being zapped with electricity.  if 引导条件状语从句，意为 “ 如果 ” ，时态遵循 “ 主将 从现，主过从过 ” 。  if 引导宾语从句，意为 “ 是否 ” ，在部分情况下可与 whether 互换，时态根据实际情况确定。

7.  Fill in the blanks with the verbs in their proper forms. 1.We are not sure if she ________ (leave) for New York tomorrow. 2.If she ________ (leave) for New York tomorrow, please contact me at once. 3.He told me if he ________ (have) time, he would go with me. 4.I don ’ t know if they ___________ (have) a meeting in the room now. will leave leaves had are having

8. After reading  If the research finding is true, would you like to try being zapped to improve your math skills? Why or why not?