We know, we know, it's not our favorite time of year, either.

我們都了解，我們也不喜歡每年的這個時期。

Upcoming tests mean long nights of studying, stress and probably some nightmares that involve either sleeping through your English exam or walking into class naked.

即將來臨的考試意味著數個夜晚的苦讀，考試的壓力以及那些睡過頭而錯過英文考試或是你一絲不掛地走進教室的惡夢。

This week on WellCast, we took another viewer suggestion, this one by Sambarsalsa on getting up to par.

這周的 Wellcast，我們採納了網友 Sambarsalsa 的建議，決定教大家如何讓自己的 K 書能力達到標準。

We're not gonna make you sit through any statistics or studies today though,

我們不會讓你今天一整天都乾坐著看什麼統計數字或是研究資料，

this is just going to be three exercises, so you can put into practice how to become a better test taker. Are you ready?

只是要提供三個可以讓你實際演練的訓練，以讓你成為一個更優秀的考生，準備好了嗎?

Oaky, pause and print this week's tips on our handy WellCast worksheet.

現在可以暫停影片並到 Wellcast 網站上的練習題區將這禮拜教導的秘訣列印下來。

Step one: Ace your essay with the Black-Red-Green method.

祕訣一：用黑紅綠法則來解決你的作文題。

This exercise comes from the Royal Literary Fund, and it's a great trick to use when you're tackling a difficult essay question.

這個練習是來自於皇家文藝基金會，也是一個用來對付難纏作文題目的好方法。

First, make sure you've got three colored pens—you guessed it, one black, one red and one green.

首先，確定你有三種顏色的筆—你猜對了，一隻黑色，一隻紅色，還有一隻綠色的。

You're gonna use these three pens to underline different parts of the essay question.

你將運用這三種顏色的筆來劃記作文題目的不同區塊。

By the end, everything will be underlined so you won't miss anything important.

到了最後，整個題目都會被劃起來，這樣你就不會漏看任何重要的部分。

Let's say this is your essay question:

假設這是你的作文題目：

"In The Great Gatsby, how does Gatsby represent the American dream in the 1920s?

「在大亨小傳中，主角 Gatsby 是如何闡述二零年代的美國夢?

Reference two quotes from the novel as well as one secondary source. Be sure to refer to specific symbolism throughout the novel, including the green light and T.J. Eckleburg."

請引述小說中的兩個例子並加上一個來自二次文獻的資料來解答，並確認有寫出整個小說中的明確象徵，包含劇情中提及的綠燈以及 T.J. Eckleburg 這號人物」

First, take out your black pen. Black stands for Blatant instructions, something the question requires you to answer to receive full marks.

首先，拿出你的黑筆，黑色代表明確的指示，那些題目中明確要求你要寫出來才能得分的部分。

Next, take out your REd pen, this will be used for underlining any REference points you've been asked to hit.

接著，拿出你的紅筆，用來劃記所有你必須提及的部分。

Finally, take out your green pen. This one's easy: The green pen underlines a "green light" which is, a hint that the question gives on how to proceed.

最後，拿出你的綠筆。這個比較簡單：用綠筆劃記「綠燈」，也就是在這個範例題目裡所給予的提示的部分。

By now, this essay question should be looking like a Christmas tree and that's how you know you've hit and understood every part of the prompt.

現在，這個作文題目看起來應該像是棵聖誕樹了吧，這就代表你已經了解了這個題目的全部！

You're ready to rock the answer!

你可以開始寫答案了！

Step two: Mnemonic devices are your best friend.

祕訣二：縮頭字會是你的好夥伴。

Basically, a mnemonic device turns a long string of information into something short, interesting and above all, memorable.

常常會用到這個詞。基本上，縮頭字就是將一行字或是一段訊息化長為短，這樣不但有趣，最重要的是，不容易忘記。

The best mnemonic devices have one thing in common: They create a striking visual image in your mind.

好的縮頭字都有一個特徵:這些字會在你腦中形成一個強烈鮮明的視覺影像。

For example, a common mnemonic device is the sentence "Each Good Bird Does Fly."

比方說，一個普通的縮頭字是由一段句子轉化而成，像是 Each Good Bird Does Fly (鳥在飛)

That's one way to remember the lines in a staff of music: E, G, B, D and F.

就是一個記憶音樂簡譜 E, G, B, D 和 F 的方式。

But... flying birds aren't very striking.

但是，會飛的鳥並不會給人特別強烈的感覺。

If you're sitting in a classroom, chewing on your pencil, a flock of birds might not pop into your head right away if you're straining to remember a musical staff.

就算你正坐在教室裡，咬著你的鉛筆頭，絞盡腦汁地想要想起音樂的簡譜，一群鳥也不會立刻就從你腦中蹦出來。

But what about "Each Gaptoothed Billygoat Dances Fast."

但要是把句子改成 Each Gaptoothed Billygoat Dances Fast (長著海綿寶寶牙齒的山羊快速地跳舞)

Yep! That's more like it.

那就比較能幫助記憶了。

Step three: Give a speech.

祕訣三：唸出來。

The link between hearing something and remembering it has been proven time and time again.

聽覺與記憶之間的關聯性已經被多次地證明過了。

Studies have found that people who have difficulty hearing in certain situations are also more likely to have memory impairment.

研究發現那些在特定情況下有聽覺困難的人都比較有可能會有記憶上的損傷。

So, what does that mean? Well, think about it this way, you know your favorite album and how you always know what song's gonna come up next?

這代表什麼? 嗯，想想你最愛的那張專輯。你總是知道下一首

That's because you've listened to the thing ad nauseum and you've ingrained the information in your brain.

會是什麼歌對吧? 那是因為你已反覆聽過這張專輯很多次所以歌的順序都早已烙印在你腦海中了。(ad nauseum 為拉丁文的訴諸反覆之意)

So, why not use this useful hack to help your remember information for a test?

那為何不用這個好用的訣竅來幫助你對考試的記憶呢？

The more you hear yourself saying the notes, the better you'll be at remembering them the next day.

聽過越多妳唸給自己聽的筆記，隔天你就能越完整地回憶起來。

Okay, WellCasters, let's recap: Finals week should be a breeze with WellCast on your side!

讓我們再重述一遍：有了 Wellcast 網站 ，期末考週對你來說根本就只是小菜一碟!

Today you learned the Black-Red-Green method for tackling an essay question, going for those helpful mnemonic devices to get you out of a stump, and we practiced a great way to memorize a lot of information out loud to get you out of a stump, and we practiced a great way to memorize a lot of information out loud to get you out of a stump,

今天你學到了黑紅綠法則，能用來對付作文考題，學到了有創意的縮頭字能幫你解決難題，

and we practiced a great way to memorize a ton of information out loud.

還學到了用大聲朗誦記憶大量資訊的好方法

We'll see you next time, WellCasters!

Well caster 的觀眾們，下次見！