Question

【题目】Are you preparing for a big test? If so, you may want to go to play some basketball in between hitting the books. Doctors are starting to find more and more information that suggests a connection between exercise and brain development. Judy Cameron, a scientist at Oregon Health and Science University, studies brain development. According to her research, it seems that exercise can make blood vessels (血管), including those in the brain, stronger and more fully developed. Dr. Cameron is sure that this allows people who exercise to think better. As she says, “While we already know that exercise is good for the heart, exercise can actually cause physical changes in the brain.”

The effects of exercise on brain development can even be seen in babies. Babies who do activities that require a lot of movement show greater brain development than babies who are less physically active. Even a little movement can show big results. Margaret Barnes, a scientist, also believes in the importance of exercise. She thinks that many learning disabilities that children have in primary school or high school can result from a lack of movement as babies. Babies need movement that encourages and excites their five senses. They need to set up a connection between motion and memory. In this way, as they get older, children will begin to connect physical activity with higher learning,” says Margaret.

Older people can develop their brains as well. Cornell University studied a group of seniors who have a short-term memory increase of up to 40 percent after exercising just three hours a week. The exercise does not have to be very difficult, but it does have to increase the heart rate. Also, just like the motion for babies, exercise for older people should not be too simple. Learning some new skills or actions, such as with yoga or tat- chi helps to open up memory paths in the brain that may not have been used for a long time. For most people, any type of physical activity that increases the heart rate is helpful. The main aim is to increase the brain’s flow of blood. And your brain can benefit from as little as two to three hours of exercise a week.

【1】What is the main idea of this passage?

A. How exercise makes people strong.

B. How to get good scores in a test.

C. How exercise helps the brain develop.

D. How the brain can change one’s memory.

【2】According to the passage, what is the connection between exercise and brain development?

A. Exercise helps soften our blood vessels.

B. Physical exercise helps us think better.

C. The brain needs special mental exercise.

D. The more exercise, the bigger the brain.

【3】For ordinary people, the smallest amount of exercise required to gain any benefit is ______.

A. two hours per week B. 40 hours per week

C. three hours per day D. 40 hours per month

【4】Why is yoga suggested for seniors?

A. It does good to the joints of old people.

B. It does not increase the heart rate.

C. It includes learning new actions.

D. It can be done in groups.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】B

【3】A

【4】C

【解析】本文主要讲述了科学家们通过研究发现，运动可以让人的大脑可以更好的思维，会让人更健康，无论是婴儿还是老人都如此。

【1】主旨大意题。根据第一段实验结果it seems that exercise can make blood vessels (血管), including those in the brain, stronger and more fully developed. Dr. Cameron is sure that this allows people who exercise to think better.可知运动有助于大脑的发展和更好的思考，然后后面几段通过实验说明了运动是如何做到这一点的，故答案为C。

【2】细节理解题。根据第一段Dr. Cameron is sure that this allows people who exercise to think better. As she says, “While we already know that exercise is good for the heart, exercise can actually cause physical changes in the brain.”可知，运动能够让人们更好地去思考，让大脑产生一些物理变化，因此B项表述是正确的。

【3】细节理解题。根据最后一段And your brain can benefit from as little as two to three hours of exercise a week.可知，只需要每周2-3个小时的锻炼就可以让大脑获益了，故最少的量是2个小时，答案为A。

【4】细节理解题。根据最后一段Learning some new skills or actions, such as with yoga or tat- chi helps to open up memory paths……可知推荐瑜伽是因为它可以学习到新的技能和动作有助于大脑记忆的开发，故选择C。