文都：2008年12月英語四級全真預(yù)測試卷(五)

　　Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic The Value of Time. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below in Chinese:

　　1. 時間就是金錢。

　　2. 浪費時間的現(xiàn)象。

　　3. 應(yīng)該養(yǎng)成節(jié)約時間的習(xí)慣。

　　The Value of Time

　　Part IIReading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)(15 minutes)

　　Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the question on Answer Sheet 1.

　　For questions 1-7, mark

　　Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;

　　N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;

　　NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.

　　For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.

　　Dreams

　　Our dreams combine verbal, visual and emotional stimuli into a sometimes broken, nonsensical but often entertaining story line. We can sometimes even solve problems in our sleep. Or can we? Many experts disagree on exactly what the purpose of our dreams might be. Are they strictly random brain impulses, or are our brains actually working through issues from our daily life while we sleep�瞐s a sort of coping mechanism? Should we even bother to interpret our dreams? Many say yes, that we have a great deal to learn from our dreams.

　　Why do we Dream?

　　For centuries, we�饁e tried to figure out just why our brains play these nightly shows for us. Early civilizations thought dream worlds were real, physical worlds that they could enter only from their dream state. Researchers continue to toss around many theories about dreaming. Those theories essentially fall into two categories:

　　The idea that dreams are only physiological stimulations

　　The idea that dreams are psychologically necessary

　　Physiological theories are based on the idea that we dream in order to exercise various neural connections that some researchers believe affect certain types of learning. Psychological theories are based on the idea that dreaming allows us to sort through problems, events of the day or things that are requiring a lot of our attention. Some of these theorists think dreams might be prophetic. Many researchers and scientists also believe that perhaps it is a combination of the two theories.

　　Dreaming and the Brain

　　When we sleep, we go through five sleep stages. The first stage is a very light sleep from which it is easy to wake up. The second stage moves into a slightly deeper sleep, and stages three and four represent our deepest sleep. Our brain activity throughout these stages is gradually slowing down so that by deep sleep, we experience nothing but delta brain waves—the slowest brain waves. About 90 minutes after we go to sleep and after the fourth sleep stage, we begin REM sleep.

　　Rapid eye movement (REM) was discovered in 1953 by University of Chicago researchers Eugene Aserinsky, a graduate student in physiology, and Nathaniel Kleitman, Ph.D., chair of physiology. REM sleep is primarily characterized by movements of the eyes and is the fifth stage of sleep.

　　How to Improve Your Dream Recall

　　It is said that five minutes after the end of a dream, we have forgotten 50 percent of the dream�餾 content. Ten minutes later, we�饁e forgotten 90 percent of its content. Why is that? We don�餿 forget our daily actions that quickly. The fact that they are so hard to remember makes their importance seem less.

　　There are many resources both on the Web and in print that will give you tips on how to improve your recall of dreams. Those who believe we have a lot to learn about ourselves from our dreams are big proponents of dream journals. Here are some steps you can take to increase your dream recall:

　　When you go to bed, tell yourself you will remember your dreams.

　　Set your alarm to go off every hour and half so you�餷l wake up around the times that you leave REM sleep—when you�餽e most likely to remember your dreams. (Or, drink a lot of water before you go to bed to ensure you have to wake up at least once in the middle of the night!)

　　Keep a pad and pencil next to your bed.

　　Try to wake up slowly to remain within the “mood” of your last dream.

　　Common Dream Themes and Their Interpretations