Between 2 and 3 pounds of wonder, it controls everything we say, do or think, who we are and what we care about. The way we walk or laugh or figure out things. What we like and the talents we possess. How we see and talk and run and jump and process our food.
The brain uses 20 percent of our body’s oxygen and 20 percent of its blood. Somewhere within its protein, fat, 100,000 miles of blood vessels and 100 billion nerve cells, it helps us remember where we put our gym shoes. Change our temperature so we don’t die because of the heat or cold. Speed us up or slow us down. Help us choose between orange juice or orangeflavored drinks.
Its complexity are stunning, far beyond anything most of us can imagine. To keep this work of art as polished as possible we need to eat right, exercise and keep mentally stimulated. Good nutrition helps brain cells communicate with each other. Exercise stimulates a hormone in our brain that improves memory. Mental stimulation keeps you sharp even as you age.
“It’s very important that we tell people to be physically active and mentally active,” said neurologist Malcolm Stewart. “People cannot stop aging, but you’re able to reduce the damage; you’re able to keep the function up.”
Following are Dr. Stewart’s advice for improving brain health:
Nutrition | Avoid fast food. Follow the old adage(格言): For breakfast, eat like a king; for lunch, like a queen; for supper, like a beggar. |
Exercise | Do a combination of stretching aerobic and musclestrengthening every day. |
Mental games | Try to have a sense of hope about the future. Do puzzles. Listen to music. Reach out to others to make their lives better. |
1.The purpose of the author in writing this passage is to ______.
A. inform us how the brain works
B. give us advice on how to keep the brain healthy
C. tell us that the brain plays an important role in our lives
D. show how special the brain is to us
2.The underlined word “stunning” means ______.
A. interesting B. strange
C. significant D. amazing
3.According to the text, more exercise ______.
A. keeps our mind sharp
B. helps improve our memory
C. gives our brain a rest
D. is good for brain cells communicating with each other
4.In order to keep brain healthy, we should avoid ______.
A. eating a good lunch B. doing puzzles
C. eating a large supper D. taking aerobic exercise
Whenever we do something wrong, Jesus Christ sees it. He loves us and doesn’t say it. Perhaps he’s wondering how long we’ll keep our mind suffering. A little boy named Johnny was visiting his grandparents on their farm and he was given a slingshot(弹弓) to play with out in the woods. He for some time but he could never hit the target he had set for himself. Getting a little , he walked back to the farmhouse for dinner. As he was _ back, he saw Grandpa’s pet duck. Just out of , he let the slingshot fly , hitting it in the head ,and killed it. In a panic, he the dead duck in the woodpile, only to see his sister Sally be watching him. Sally had seen all this, but she said _ _ . After lunch that day Grandma said, “Sally, it’s your turn to wash the dishes.” But Sally said, “Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.” And then she spoke _ to him, “Remember the duck?” So Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if wanted to go fishing, but Grandma said, “I’m sorry but I need Sally to help me make supper.” But Sally just smiled and said, “Well, that’s all right because Johnny told me he was too to help you. And she whispered again, “Remember the duck?” So Sally went fishing and Johnny to help make supper. After several days of doing both his and Sally’s, Johnny finally couldn’t it any longer. He came to his Grandma and told her that he had killed the duck .Grandma smiled and gave him a big __ . “Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was watering the flowers at the window I saw you shoot my duck with the slingshot, and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally _ of you.”
In reality, no matter how __ or how uncomfortable it is to admit our wrongdoing, we should always choose to it and work it through instead of running away from it. Hard as it is, it us and makes us who we are.
1.A. promoted B. exercised C. practiced D. consumed
2.A. delighted B. upset C. amazed D. scared
3.A. running B. rushing C. heading D. leaving
4.A. sympathy B. pride C. impulse D. politeness
5.A. hung B. presented C. protected D. hid
6.A. should B. shall C. must D. might
7.A. nothing B. everything C. something D. anything
8.A. loudly B. softly C. guiltily D. innocently
9.A. Sally B. Johnny C. the children D. Grandma
10.A. reluctant B. willing C. curious D. cautious
11.A. kept up B. held back C. left behind D. stayed behind
12.A. chores B. homework C. games D. sports
13.A. accept B. stand C. withdraw D. allow
14.A. hug B. blow C. reward D. award
15.A. whereas B. as C. while D. when
16.A. appreciate B. admire C. forgive D. force
17.A. put the blame B. make friends C. put pressure D. make a slave
18.A. doubtful B. grateful C. harmful D. painful
19.A. reject B. control C. face D. witness
20.A. develops B. shapes C. ruins D. prepares
---Tom, what a pity. I almost succeeded yesterday.
---I told you to be careful before. ___________
A. One false step will make a great difference.
B. Where there’s life, there’s hope.
C. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
D. One tree does not make a forest.
The young member made several proposals, none of __________ considered practical or acceptable.
A. them B. which C. it D. what
—Well, did you miss the early train?
—Yes, but had I hurried, I _______.
A. shouldn’t B. hadn’t have
C. wouldn’t D. wouldn’t have
Cars do cause us some health problems—in fact far more serious ________ than mobile phones do.
A. one B. ones C. it D. those