填空题

Study Styles
You know whether you’re a morning person or a night owl. You know whether you’re a picky eater or a human garbage pail. But do you know if you learn better by reading or by hearing … if you’ve survived school so far, you already have some sort of study routine—for better or for worse. We asked students all over the country for the lowdown on their methods of operations, and also collected some hard-won advice. See if you can recognize your own personal study method on the list below and learn how to study effectively.
The Dreamer
You may say you’re studying. You may even look like you’re studying. But your mind is in the clouds. Your test performance seldom reflects those long hours you spend at your desk, almost studying. Kim, from Montreal, says, "When I get to the library, I end up sitting there and people-watching." Cindy, from Lafayette, Pennsylvania, says: "Personally, I tend to write everything down on flash cards so I can quiz myself later. Everyone else thinks that I’ll ace(成绩为A) the exam, but sometimes I find myself spending so much time writing down every little detail that I don’t have time to actually study. "
Warning: If you spend all day pretending studying, you’ll pay all night cramming for real. (What a waste of socializing time!) This year’s resolution: Stay on target by setting goals (Like four chapters by Wednesday) and asking your friends to test you. Also, tune in to your interests: If you find yourself drawing elaborate doodles in the margins when you’re supposed to be analyzing Shakespeare, take drawing classes and snap out of your day dream.
The Grind
One looking at your sock drawer, meticulously(非常细心地) arranged in rainbow order, suggests control-freak tendencies. You never fail to do a fixed amount of studying each evening—and your good grades show it. You cautiously plot a course to conquer an unruly assignment, and you rarely break your routine. Gretchen, from Chicago, describes her hard-core method: "I completely organize all of my notes. Then, before I do anything else, I plan out exactly how many hours I’m going to study and how long I am going to take breaks. This way, I always stay on task. I read through my notes and then highlight the things I don’t know well, to commit them to memory." But she’s not done yet! "Then I read my assignments again and take notes and study these notes the same way I studied my class notes." Whew, Sarah, from Scarsdale, New York, also considers herself a worker bee. "I plan my work so that there’s something I have to do every night of the week. But when there’s a test, I’ll do all my assignments before trying to do an overview. Studying comes last because I’ll wait until the last minute to even try to concentrate on something with so little structure."
Warning: While your self-discipline will serve you well in college (or the military), you might want to add more inspiration to your perspiration. No amount of memorization, or color coding your notebooks will help you write an original, opinionated essay—and you’ll be writing plenty. This year’s resolution: Vary your routine and think about your own insights more. After reading an assignment, try closing your eyes and recalling what you found interesting before buckling down with your impeccable notes. And if you’ve got a half hour to spare in your study schedule, try something messy and creative, like writing a poem.
The Social Studier
You’re the kind who learns out loud. You make your way to enlightenment, so study buddies are a must. In school, you remember more from hearing the lectures than from doing the reading. Roberta, from Princeton, New Jersey, says: "I went to a study counselor to find out that I learn best by listening. It’s true: Until I hear something out loud, it’s not really real to me. When I’m studying and I don’t understand something in our textbook, I’ll call my friends to get the scoop." Amy, from East Lansing, Michigan, says: "Sometimes a bunch of us go to the library after school. It’s a lot more fun in a group, and when it’s fun, it helps me stay on track. If I’m too bored, chances are I won’t learn anything."
Warning: Set ground rules for your study party so you don’t use your friends as excuses not to study. Limit your group to friends who know this is more than a chatfest. (Your slacker pals will be more fun to party with post-exam than to struggle with pre-test.)
The Crammer
You slack off for weeks, until the night before tile exam. Then you still find reasons to dawdle: Gotta brew a pot of coffee, and—Wait! Your favorite mug is missing! Finally the adrenaline starts pumping. Time to study triple-time. When you’re startled awake at 4 a. m. with textbook crease (皱折) marks on your face, you resolve to do it differently next time. But next time rolls around, and you’re in the same lame situation. Sara, from Hammonton, New Jersey, is a classic crammer: "My study habits are terrible! I usually start studying about 11 p.m. and go until my eyes are sealed shut. Then I Wake up panickedly and whip out my notebook again on the bus. "Christina, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, says: "I’ll always wait until the last minute to study. It’s like I need to get myself into panic mode to buckle (扣住) down. Otherwise I stare into space with my book in my lap. But as soon as I start studying, I realize that I could have done really well, if only I had more time…" Too late.
Warning: The hours after midnight aren’t enough time to get all your work done or study a semester’s worth of stuff. And getting ready for "Reserve" readings, where you and the whole class have to share one book on hold at the library. You won’t have the option of doing it ALAP (as late as possible). This year’s resolution: Improve your grades by adding casual study sessions before you hit high-stress mode. Bring your books outside or to your favorite care and skim the material. You may still get the most done when the pressure’s on, but at least you’ll know where to turn to make your cramming more efficient.
The Grade-Grubber (孜孜不倦的人)
Have you no dignity Don’t you hear the snickers behind your back every time you ask, "But will it be on the test" Maybe your fear of failing is stronger than your love of learning, and that’s why you try to psych out the teacher or downright cheat. Katie, from Cold Spring Harbor, New York, says: "I knew plenty of kids who relied on old exams from people who’d taken that class before. Not to incriminate myself, but once I made photocopies of the teacher’s answer when he was absent. The test was taken—home, so I shared the answer key with the whole class, and we each changed one or two answers to make it a little less suspicious. I don’t know what I was thinking. Had I been caught, it could have been grounds for dismissal."
Warning: College classes are not the place to grade-grub. You’ll waste your time if you’re focused on pleasing the professor, not learning the stuff. Besides, your college instructors will want to hear you brilliantly expound on the material, not parrot her words back. This year’s resolution: Grow out of it. Put your common sense to work and decide what’s the most important material. That’s probably what’s on the test.
The Dreamer type never spends long hours in front of a desk.