成人英语三级考试阅读理解模拟题精选26
Researches have established that when people are mentally engaged, biochemical changes occur in the brain that allow it to act more effectively in cognitive(认知的)areas such as attention and memory. This is true regardless of age.
People will be alert(警觉的)and receptive(愿意接受的)if they are faced with information that gets them to think about things they are interested in. And someone with a history of doing more rather than less will go into old age more cognitively sound than someone who has not had an active mind.
Many experts are so convinced of the benefits of challenging the brain that they are putting the theory to work in their own lives. "The idea is not necessarily to learn to memorize enormous amounts of information," says James Fozard, associate director of the National Institute on aging. "Most of us don’t need that kind of skill. Such specific training is of less interest than being able to maintain mental alertness." Fozard and others say they challenge their brains with different mental skills, both because they enjoy them and because they are sure that their range of activities will help the way their brains work.
Gene Cohen, acting director of the same institute, suggests that people in their old age should engage in mental and physical activities individually as well as in groups. Cohen says that we are frequently advised to keep physically active as we age, but older people need to keep mentally active as well. Those who do are more likely to maintain their intellectual abilities and to be generally happier and better adjusted. “The point is, you need to do both, ”Cohen says. “Intellectual activity actually influences brain-cell health and size.”
1.People who are cognitively healthy are those _______.
A. who can remember large amounts of information
B. who are highly intelligent
C. whose minds are alert and receptive
D. who are good at recognizing different sounds
Best Answer:C
详解:答案C。第二段第二句中的doing指从事第一句的if从句中描述的脑力活动,这些活动将使人alert and receptive,而本句中进一步说这样做的人将more cognitively sound. sound和本项的healthy是同义词。第三段中的引语说明只要常动脑就行,并不要求老人做智力要求高的事,故A、B两项皆错。D项中的信息文中没提到。
2.According to Fozard's argument , people can make their brains work more efficiently by ______.
A. constantly doing memory work
B. taking part in various mental activities
C. going through specific training
D. making frequent adjustments
Best Answer:B
详解:答案B。参见第三段更后一句。A项错,因在第三段的直接引语中,Fozard已指出持续做记忆方面的活动没有必要。C项错,因第三段的直接引语中说,“Such specific training is of less interest than being able to maintain mental alertness.”可见specific training无必要。D项也错,因文中只有better adjusted,没提任何frequent adjustments.
3.The findings of James and other scientists in their work ________.
A. remain a theory to be further proved
B. have been challenged by many other experts
C. have been generally accepted
D. are practised by the researchers themselves
Best Answer:D
详解:答案D。参见第三段第一句,句中putting the theory to work in their own lives意为“让理论在自己的生活中发挥作用”。A项错,因这个理论已在研究者们自己的生活实践中证明了。B项错,因文中只提到要challenge the brain,没提到来自任何人的对该发现的挑战。C项也错,因本文报导一个新发现,未谈到已被普遍接受。
4.Older people are generally advised to ________.
A. keep fit by going in for physcial activities
B. keep mentally active by challenging their brains
C. maintain mental alertness through specific training
D. maintain a balance between individual and group activities
Best Answer:A
详解:答案A。从第四段第二句可知,多做体育活动是对老年人的一个普遍建议。B项错,因为多用脑是本文报导的老龄问题专家们的新观点,还不是老年人普遍了解的建议。C项错,因为本文中的专家亦反对specific training(参见第三段)。D项也错,因在第四段虽提到类似观点,但还没成为老年人普遍得到的建议。
5.What is the passage mainly about?
A. How biochemical changes occur in the human brain.
B. Why people should keep active not only physically but also mentally.
C. How intellectual activities influence brain-cell health.
D. Why people should receive special mental training as they age.
Best Answer:B
详解:答案B。全文都体现这一观点,更后一段是对这一概括的极好支持。A项错,因为大脑里生化变化的发生过程不是本文讨论的主题。C项错,因为文中没详述智力活动对脑细胞健康的影响,只在更后由专家提到这一点,作为对他自己观点的支持。D项错,因为文中说专家亦反对搞专门智力训练(参阅第三段中间)。