Question

The brain is a remarkable part.It's responsible for thoughts and feelings.Now a new study finds that going through tough times as a kid also can have an impact.The adult brains of people who lived through lots of stress before the age of six—and then became depressed or anxious as teenagers—were different compared with adults who had an easier childhood.It seems that teens changed the shape of their brains by internalizing (使内在化) the stresses experienced years earlier.

Researchers already knew that the shape and size of a child's brain can change in response to lots of stress.They also knew that adults were more likely to be depressed if，as kids，they'd lived in poverty.Some studies showed that these depressed adults had unusual changes in their brain shape.But no one had tested if the early stress and later brain changes were linked.

Scientists in England studied almost 500 boys from birth until the ages of 18 to 21.Sarah Jensen is one of the new study's authors.Almost all of the boys her team studied experienced some hard times as kids.And，she concludes，“This is not necessarily harmful.”To some extent，that's just life.What can be dangerous，she says，is when children experience too many forms of difficulties.Her team's new data suggest that the tougher the childhood，the stronger the impact on the brain might be.

What's happening in the world around us relates to how we feel.Her team linked more childhood stress to more depression.Still，she notes，it's possible that if you find support for anxiety or depression，you might be able to prevent the changes seen here.“If you can change the environment，you can change the course of things，”Sarah says.So，she recommends，if teens develop anxiety or depression，it's good to ask for psychological doctors to give advice.

1.When people had a hard childhood，        ．

A. they will have a brave attitude to life

B. their way of thinking may be strange

C. they will be good at dealing with stress

D. the shape of their brain may be changed

2.What is the breakthrough of the new research?

A. The size of the brain can change.

B. The brain can be influenced by stress.

C. Poverty can affect the brain's shape in future.

D. Changes in brain are connected with earlier hardship.

3.It's a problem when children         ．

A. had a lonely childhood

B. led a peaceful childhood

C. got different kinds of hardship

D. experienced limited hard times

4.For teenagers with anxiety，Sarah suggests                   .

A. they adapt to their life

B. they seek professional help

C. they talk to friends or relatives

D. they become confident and optimistic

Answer

1.D

2.D

3.C

4.B

【解析】本文为说明文，题材为科普环保类。研究表明童年经历的压力和困难会影响到成年时的大脑的形状和大小。

1.推理判断题。由第一段可知，六岁以前经历许多压力，且青少年时期变得抑郁和焦虑的孩子，长大后其大脑与其他人的不同。所以选D。

2.推理判断题。由第二段But no one had tested if the early stress and later brain changes were linked可知，这是第一次把早期的压力和后期的大脑变化联系起来。所以选D。

3.细节理解题。由第三段What can be dangerous，she says，is when children experience too many forms of difficulties可知，经历不同种类的苦难对孩子是很不利的。所以选C。

4.细节理解题。由最后一段．..it's good to ask for psychological doctors to give advice可知，Sarah建议寻求专业心理医生的帮助。所以选B。