Perhaps you are an average student with average intelligence. You do
well enough in school, but you probably think you will never be a top stu-
dent. This is not necessarily the case, however. You can receive better
grades if you want to.Yes,even students of average intelligence can be top
5 students without additional work. Here\‘s how:
1. Plan your time carefully. Make a list of your weekly tasks. Then
make a schedule or chart of your time. Fill in committed time such as eat-
ing, sleeping, meetings, classes, etc. Then decide on good, regular times
for studying. Be sure to set aside enough time to complete your normal
10 reading and work assignments. Of course, studying shouldn\‘t occupy all of
the free time on the schedule. It\‘s important to set aside time for relax
ation, hobbies, and entertainment as well. This weekly schedule may not
solve all of your problems, but it will make you more aware of how you
spend your time. Furthermore, it will enable you to plan your activities so
that you have adequate time for both work and play.
2. Find a good place to study.Choose one place for your study area. It
may be a desk or a chair at home or in the school library, but it should be
comfortable, and it should not have distractions. When you begin to work,
you should be able to concentrate on the subject:
3. Skim before you read. This means looking over a passage quickly
before you begin to read it more carefully. As you preview the material,
you get some idea of the content and how it is orgamzed. Later when you
begin to read you will recognize less important material and you may skip
some of these portions. Skimming helps double your reading speed and im
25 proves your comprehension as well.
4. Make good use of your time in class. Listening to wliat the teacher
says in class means less work later. Sit where you can see and hear well.
Take notes to help you remember what the teacher says.
5. Study regularly. Go over your notes as soon as you can after class.
Review important points mentioned in class as well as points you remain
confused about. Read about these points in your teXtbook. If you know
what the teacher will discuss the next day, skim and read that material too.
This will help you understand the next class. If you review your notes and
textbook regularly, the material will become more meaningful and you wil
remember it longer. Regular review leads to improved performance on
tests.
6. Develop a good attitude about tests. The purpose of a test is to
show what you have learned about a subject. The world won\‘t end if you
don\‘t pass a test, so don\‘t worry excessively about a single test.Tests pro- 
 vide grades, but they also let you know what you need to spend more time
studying, and they help make your new knowledge permanent.
There are other techniques that might help you with your studying.
OnIy a few have been mentioned here. You will probably discover many
others after you have tried these. Talk with your classmates about their
study techniques. Share with them some of the techniques you have found
to be helpful. Improving your study habits will improve your grades.

New Words

average /a. ordinary 普通的；中等的
intelligence / n. ability to learn and understand 智力
necessarily / ad. inevitably 必定
case / n. what has really happened; actual condition 實(shí)情
additional/ a. added 附加的，額外的
addition n.
weekly / a. done or happening every week 每周的；一周一次的
schedule / n. timetable 時(shí)間表
chart / n. (sheet of paper with) information written or
drawn in the form of a picture 圖（表）
commit/ vt. 指定 ... 用于
aside / ad. to the side 在旁邊；到（向）一邊
etc. / (Latin, shortened form for et cetera) and other
things 等等
normal / a. usual 正常的
reading n. the act or practice of reading 閱覽
assignment / n. sth. giveri out as a task ( 布置的）作業(yè)
occupy / vt. take up 占用
relaxation / n. (sth. done for) rest and amusement 休息，娛樂
relax v.
hobby / n. what one likes to do in one\‘s free time 業(yè)余愛好
entertainment / n. show, party, etc. that people enjoy 娛樂
entertain vt.
solve / vt. find an answer to (a problem) 解決（問(wèn)題）
aware / a. having knowledge or understanding 知道的；意識(shí)到的
furthermore / ad. moreover; in addition 而且；此外
enable/ vt. make (sb.) able ( to do sth. ) 使（某人）能（做某事）
activity / n. sth. (to be) done 活動(dòng)
adequate / a. as much as one needs; enough 充分的；足夠的
distraction / n. sth. that draws away the mind or attention 分心
（或分散注意力）的事物
conceritrate (on or upon) / vi. pay close attention ( to) 全神貫注（于）
skim / vt. read quickly to get the main ideas ( of ) 略讀
preview / vt. have a general view of ( sth. ) beforehand 預(yù)習(xí)
content / n. what is written in a book, etc. 內(nèi)容
organize/ vt. form into a whole 組織
later / ad. 后來(lái)；以后
skip / vt. pass over 略過(guò)
portion / n. part;share 一部分；一份
double / v. make or become twice as great or as many ( 使 )
增加一倍
comprehension / n. the act of understanding or ability to understand
理解（力）
mention / vt. speak or write about (sth. ) in a few words 提及
confused / a. mixed up in one\‘s mind 迷惑的，混淆的
confuse vt.
textbook n. a standard book for the study of a subject 教科書；
課本
performance / n. achievement 成績(jī)
meaningful /a. having important meaning or value 富有意義的
attitude / n. what one thinks about sth. 態(tài)度，看法
purpose / n. aim 目的，意圖
excessively / ad. too much 過(guò)多地，過(guò)分地
excessive a.
permanent / a. lasting for a long time; never changing 持久的 ;
永久的
technique / n way of doing sth. 技巧，方法
helpful a. useful; providing help or willing to help 有益的；
給以幫助的，肯幫忙的

Phrases & Expressions

decide on make a choice or decision about 選定 , 決定
set aside save for a special purpose 留出
as well also; too; in addition 也 , 還 ; 同樣
be aware (of) know (sth.); know (what is happening) 知道 , 意識(shí)到
concentrate on direct one\‘s attention, efforts, etc.to 全神貫注于
look over examine (quickly) 把 ... 看一遍 , 過(guò)目
go over review 復(fù)習(xí)
lead to result in 導(dǎo)致