Question

Ever walked to the shops only to find, once there, you’ve completely forgotten what you went for? Or struggled to remember the name of an old friend? For years we’ve accepted that a forgetful brain is as much a part of aging as wrinkles and grey hair. But now a new book suggests that we’ve got it all wrong.

According to The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain, by science writer Barbara Strauch, when it comes to the important things, our brains actually get better with age. In fact, she argues that some studies have found that our brain hits its peak between our 40s and 60s—much later than previously thought.

Furthermore, rather than losing many brain cells as we age, we keep them, and even produce new ones well into middle age. For years, it’s been assumed that brain, much like the body, declines with age. But the longest, largest study into what happens to people as they age suggests otherwise.

This continuing research has followed 6,000 people since 1956, testing them every seven years. It has found that on average, participants performed better on cognitive（认知的）tests in their 40s and 50s than they had done in their 20s. Specifically, older people did better on tests of vocabulary, verbal memory (how many words they can remember) and problem solving. Where they performed less well was number ability and perceptual speed—how fast they can push a button when ordered. However, with more complex tasks such as problem-solving and language, we are at our best at middle age and beyond. In short, researchers are now coming up with scientific proof that we do get wiser with age.

Neuroscientists are also finding that we are happier with age. A recent US study found older people were much better at controlling and balancing their emotions. It is thought that when we are younger we need to focus more on the negative aspects of life in order to learn about the possible dangers in the world, but as we get older we’ve learned our lessons and are aware that we have less time left in life; therefore, it becomes more important for us to be happy.

1.Barbara Strauch probably agrees that ________.

A. the young are better at handling important things

B. people’s brains work best between their 40s and 60s

C. aging leads to the decline of the function of the brain

D. wrinkles and grey hair are the only symbols of aging

2.The continuing research has found older people perform better on ________.

A. perceptual speedB. number ability

C. vocabulary testsD. body balance

3.People are happier with aging because ________.

A. they learn to value the time left

B. they know how to share feelings

C. they cannot focus on negative aspects

D. they do not realize the possible dangers

4.What is the main idea of the passage?

A. People get happier with age.

B. People get wiser with age.

C. People get more forgetful with age.

D. People get more self-aware with age.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.A

4.B

【解析】

试题分析: 本文讲述了通过实验，科学家们得出了这样一个结论，随着年龄的增长，我们会变得更加睿智而不是健忘。

1.B 细节理解题。根据文中第二段中when it comes to the important things, our brains actually get better with age. In fact, she argues that some studies have found that our brain hits its peak between our 40s and 60s.可知，文章的意思是当提到重要的事情时，我们的大脑随着年龄的增长会变得更好。实际上，她主张很多研究已经发现人们大脑的智力水平在40到60岁时达到顶峰。故选B。

2.2】C 细节理解题。根据第四段第三句Specifically, order people did better on tests of vocabulary.可知，年长的人在词汇测试上做的更好。故选C。

3.3】A 细节理解题。根据最后一段中but as we get older we’ve learned our lessons and are sub-consciously aware that we have less time left in life: therefore, it becomes more important for us to be happy.可知，但是当我们逐渐变老，我们已经经历了很多且下意识的认识到我们剩下的时间已经不多了，因此快乐对我们而言变得更加重要。年老的人会更加快乐。故选A。

4.4】B 主旨大意题。文章内容讲的是人随着年龄的增长，大脑的智力水平能够会更高，人也会更加快乐，故选B。

考点：考查科普类短文阅读。