Question

If you are sending a text, watching the TV or listening to the radio, you may want to stop and give this your full attention. Multi-tasking shrinks (萎缩) the brain, research suggests.

A study found that men and women who frequently used several types of technology at the same time had less grey matter in a key part of the brain. University of Sussex researchers said, “Simultaneously using mobile phones, laptops and other media devices could be changing the structure of our brains.”

The finding follows research which has linked multi-tasking with a shortened attention span, depression, anxiety and lower grades at school. The researchers began by asking 75 healthy men and women how often they divided their attention between different types of technology. This could mean sending a text message while listening to music and checking email, or speaking on the phone while watching TV and surfing the web. The volunteers were then given brain scans which showed they had less grey matter in a region called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The findings held even when differences in personality were taken into account.

The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, is the first to make a link between multi-tasking and the structure of the brain.

Researcher Kep Kee Loh said, “Media multi-tasking is becoming more common in our lives today and there is increasing concern about its impacts on our cognition and social-emotional well-being.”

He added that more research is needed to prove that multi-tasking shrinks the brain. This is because it is also possible that people with less grey matter in the ACC are more drawn to using lots of small devices simultaneously.

Scientists have previously demonstrated brain structure can be changed on prolonged exposure to new environments and experience. Other studies have shown that training — such as learning to juggle or taxi drivers learning the map of London — can increase grey-matter densities (密度) in certain parts. Experts have also warned of the harmful impact technology can have on our memory and attention span.

1.According to Kep Kee Loh, ________.

A. the link between multi-tasking and brain shrinkage needs further research

B. people with less grey matter in the ACC are more attracted to multi-tasking

C. multi-tasking has harmful impacts on our cognition and social-emotional well-being

D. multi-tasking leads to a shortened attention span, depression, anxiety and lower grades

2.Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A. What multi-tasking is probably linked with.

B. How researchers draw inferences about multi-tasking.

C. How different health conditions affect brain structure.

D. Significance and limits of the research from University of Sussex .

3.The purpose of the passage is to ________.

A. compare the latest research with previous ones

B. prove the dangers of multi-tasking

C. inform readers of research on multi-tasking

D. discuss the benefits and problems of multi-tasking

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.C

【解析】

试题分析：作者要通过研究结果告诉读者高科技及同时多任务处理对记忆和注意力的影响，会使大脑萎缩和改变大脑结构，提醒我们不要那样做。

1.A推理判断题。根据倒数第二段He added that more research is needed to prove that multi-tasking shrinks the brain. This is because it is also possible that people with less grey matter in the ACC are more drawn to using lots of small devices simultaneously.可知Kep Kee Loh认为多任务同时处理使大脑萎缩还需更多的研究来证实。故选A.

2.C推理判断题。根据第三段The finding follows research which has linked multi-tasking with a shortened attention span, depression, anxiety and lower grades at school.和The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, is the first to make a link between multi-tasking and the structure of the brain.可知文章中提到A；通过文中的多次调查研究可知B正确；根据第二段University of Sussex researchers said, “Simultaneously using mobile phones, laptops and other media devices could be changing the structure of our brains.” 可知D正确；C项文中没有涉及，故选C.

3.If you are sending a text, watching the TV or listening to the radio, you may want to stop and give this your full attention. Multi-tasking shrinks (萎缩) the brain, research suggests.和结尾

Experts have also warned of the harmful impact technology can have on our memory and attention span.可知作者要通过研究结果告诉读者高科技及同时处理对记忆和注意力的影响，提醒我们不要那样做。故选C.

考点：考查科普类短文阅读。

【名师点睛】

科普类阅读主要考查考生对书面语篇的整体领悟能力和接受及处理具体信息的能力。试题的取材，密切联系当前我国和世界经济、科技等方面的变化。

科普类文章阅读技巧：

一、这类文章的总体特点是：科技词汇多，句子结构复杂，理论性强，逻辑严谨。具体说来它有以下特点：

1、文章中词汇的意义比较单一、稳定、简明，不带感情色彩，具有单一性和准确性的特点。

2、句子结构较复杂，语法分析较困难。为了描述一个客观事物，严密地表达自己的思想，作者经常会使用集多种语法现象于一体的长句。

3、常使用被动语态，尤其是一些惯用被动句式。

二、命题特点：科普类阅读的主要命题形式有事实细节题、词义猜测题、推理判断题以及主旨概括题等，其中推理判断题居多。

【命题趋势】阅读理解题主要考查考生对书面语篇的整体领悟能力和接受及处理具体信息的能力。分析历年的科普类文章我们不难发现以下特点：

1、文章逻辑性强，条理清楚，语法结构简单，用语通俗。

2、文章内容注重科技领域的新发现。内容新颖，从而使文章显得陌生，内容抽象复杂。

3、命题方面注意对具体细节的准确理解和以之为依据的推理判断。

4、以人们的日常行为或饮食健康入手，探讨利弊，诠释过程，阐述概念。

三、应对策略：

1、要注意平时多读科普知识类文章，学习科普知识，积累常见的科普词汇，提高科普英语的阅读能力。

2、要熟悉科普类文章的结构特点。标题是文章中心思想高度而又精辟的概括，导语一般位于整篇文章的首段。背景交待一个事实的起因。主体则对导语概括的事实进行详细叙述，这一部分命题往往最多，因此，阅读时要把这部分作为重点。结尾往往也是中心思想的概括，并与导语相呼应，命题者常在此要设计推理判断题。

3、在进行推理判断时，一定要以阅读材料所提供的科学事实为依据，同时所得出的结论还应符合基本的科普常识。