Question

Until just a few years ago，we doctors believed that the brain stopped making new neural(神经系统的)connections (meaning that your memory began to get worse)when the body stopped developing，usually in your early 20s. And we knew that，like any other body part，neurons weaken as we age. Loss of brain function due to neural breakdown was assumed to be a normal，unavoidable part of aging.

It turns out that we were wrong. In the past few years，it has been discovered that you can，in fact，make new neurons starting in your 20s and continuing well into old age. You can literally rewire the brain with new parts as the older parts wear out. How？Simple：Keep learning. Just as your body can pack on and condition new muscle，your brain can rebuild used-up neurons.

How strong is the evidence for this？Strong enough that a $200 million industry devoted to brain boosting software (products like Brain Age，MindFit，and Lumosity that supposedly improve your memory function)has sprung up out of nowhere. All“mental fitness”means are keeping your memory intact(everything from phone numbers to how to throw a football)．So what can you do to stay smart?

Keep blood pressure down. People with high blood pressure are more likely to develop cognitive impairment later in life.

Eat more vitamins. Like E(in nuts and sunflower seeds)，B6 and B12(beef，tuna)，and folic acid(leafy greens，citrus，berries)，which help keep your brain’s chemistry in balance.

Exercise your brain. This is the best way to rebuild and strengthen those precious neurons. Learn to play chess or the guitar. When you’re at a stoplight，try to recall the starting lineup of the 1983 Celtics. See a movie that doesn’t feature Ben Stiller. Or read，like，a book.

Title：How to keep the 1.________smart？

Previous 2.____	The brain no longer makes new neural connections once the 3.________ of one’s body has stopped.
New 4. ________	●New neurons continue to occur even in one’s old age. ●5.________contributes to the development of the new parts of your brain. ●Many products which claim to improve your brain function appear in 6.the _________.
7. _______	●Keep yourself away from 8._________blood pressure. ●9._________in more vitamins for the needs of your brain. ●10._______your brain as much as you can.

Answer 1

1.brain

2.belief

3.growth/development

4.discoveries

5.Learning

6.market

7.Suggestion/Advice/Tips

8.high

9.Take

10.Exercise/Use

【解析】

试题分析：本文主要介绍了保持大脑聪明的方法。介绍了以前的发现以及现在的研究和小技巧。

1. can literally rewire the brain with new parts as the older parts wear out. How？可以知道讲述的是如何使大脑保持聪明的方法。

2. ;文中第一段中we doctors believed that the brain stopped making new neural医生们相信大脑停止……，而这里需要believe的名词形式。所以填belief。

3. ;文中第一段第一句话we doctors believed that the brain stopped making new neural(神经系统的)connections (meaning that your memory began to get worse)when the body stopped developing，当身体停止发育的时候，而这里需要developing的名词形式或者同义词。

4. 文中第二段第二句话it has been discovered that you can，同样地，这里也需discover的名词形式且复数形式。

5. ;文中第二段最后一句话Keep learning. Just as your body can pack on and condition new muscle，your brain can rebuild used-up neurons.可以知道学习也可以重塑神经系统。

6. ;文中第三段第二句话Strong enough that a $200 million industry devoted to brain boosting software (products like Brain Age，MindFit，and Lumosity that supposedly improve your memory function)has sprung up out of nowhere.工厂投入生产，生产产品投入市场，所以推知产品出现在市场上。

7. ;由文中第三段最后一句话So what can you do to stay smart?讲的应该是建议或者方法。

8. ;由技巧1People with high blood pressure are more likely to develop cognitive impairment later in life.人们应该让自己远离高血压。

9. 由技巧2 Like E(in nuts and sunflower seeds)，B6 and B12(beef，tuna)，and folic acid(leafy greens，citrus，berries)，which help keep your brain’s chemistry in balance.推知应该吸收此类营养。Take in表示吸收。

10. 由技巧3 Exercise your brain.可知要多用脑。

考点：考查学生对信息的掌握。