题目内容
【题目】Sorry to say, our brains naturally start slowing down at the cruelly young age of 30. It used to be thought that this couldn’t be helped, but new studies show that people of any age can train their brains to work faster. “Your brain is a learning machine ”, says University of California scientist Dr. Michael Merzenich. Given the right tools, we can train our brains to act like they did when were younger. All that’s required is the practice designed just for the purpose: a few exercises for the mind.
Merzenich has developed a computer---based training method to speed up the process in which the brain deals with information. Since much of the data we receive comes through speech, the Brain Fitness Program works with language and hearing to better speed and accuracy.
Over the course of training, the program starts asking you to distinguish sounds (between “dog” and “bog”, for example) at an increasingly faster speed. “It’s a bit like tennis instructor,” says Merzenich , “hitting balls at you faster and faster to keep you challenged. You may start out slow, but before long you’re pretty quick.”
The biggest finding in brain research in last ten years is that the brain at any age is highly plastic. If you ask your brain to learn, it will learn. And it may even speed up while in the process.
To keep your brain young and plastic you can do one of a million new activities that challenge and excite you: playing table tennis or bridge, doing crossword puzzles, learning a language...... “When it comes to preventing aging, you really do “do it or lose it”, says Barbara Sahakian, professor at Cambridge University.
【1】Dr. Merzenich’s training method mainly depends on ________.
A. the information being dealt with
B. computer languages
C. the activities one joins in
D. speech training
【2】By saying “the brain at any age is highly plastic”, the writer probably means the brain can be____
A. developed B. mastered
C. used D. researched
【3】What can we learn from the text?
A. Practice makes a quick mind
B. Brain research started ten years ago.
C. Dr. Merzenich is a scientist in computer
D. People used to believe nothing could stop the brain slowing down.
【4】Which of the following agrees with the writer’s idea?
A. The training methods work better for the old
B. The training of the brain should start at an early age
C. People should use the brain to stop it from aging.
D. It’s necessary to take part in as many activities as possible.
【答案】
【1】D
【2】A
【3】D
【4】C
【解析】
试题分析：人的大脑并不是我们以前所认为的会退化，只要我们加以锻炼和运用，是可以阻止它衰退的。
【1】细节理解题。根据“Since much of the data we receive comes through speech, the Brain Fitness Program works with language and hearing to better speed and accuracy.”可知，因为我们所接受到的大部分数据都来源与语言，所以，这个程序是通过训练语言和听力提高大脑运行速度和精确度的。故选D。
【2】句意猜测题。由下文“If you ask your brain to learn, it will learn.”可知，人的大脑在任何年龄段都是极为可塑的，假如你让你的大脑学习，它就会学习。故选A .developed开发，发展；B. mastered控制；C. used使用；D. researched研究。故选A。
【3】判断推理题。由第一段开头 “It used to be thought that this couldn’t be helped,”可知。过去人们认为大脑会衰退，而且没有什么可以帮助我们不让大脑衰退。故D正确。
【4】判断推理题。由文章最后一段 “To keep your brain young and plastic you can do one of a million new activities that challenge and excite you: playing table tennis or bridge, doing crossword puzzles, learning a language...... “When it comes to preventing aging, you really do “do it or lose it”, says Barbara Sahakian, professor at Cambridge University.”可知为了让你的大脑年轻化且可塑，你可以做诸多挑战类的活动中的一种，例如：打乒乓球，桥牌，迷宫，学语言等等，当我们说到要严防衰老，你真的得做一做“非做即失”的游戏了。故选C，人们应该使用大脑来防止它的衰退。
