Question

People who play computer games to train their brains might as well be playing Super Mario, new research suggests.

In a six-week study, experts found people who played online games designed to improve their cognitive(认知的) skills didn’t get any smarter.

More than 8,600 people aged 18 to 60 were asked to play online brain games designed by the researchers to improve their memory, reasoning and other skills, for at least 10 minutes a day, three times a week.

They were compared to more than 2,700 people who didn’t play any brain games, but spent a similar amount of time surfing the Internet. All participants were given an “IQ test” before and after the experiment.

Researchers said the people who did the brain training didn’t do any better on the test after six weeks than people who had simply been on the Internet.

“If you’re(playing these games) because they’re fun, that’s absolutely fine,” said Adrian Owen, assistant director at Britain’s Medical Research Council. “But if you’re expecting these games to improve your IQ, our data suggests this isn’t the case.”

Computer games that are supposed to improve memory, reasoning and other cognitive skills are played by millions of people worldwide, though few studies have examined if the games work.

“There is precious little evidence to suggest the skills used in these games transfer to the real world,” said Art Kramer, a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois, US.

Instead of playing brain games, Kramer said people would be better off getting some exercise. He said physical activity can help produce new brain cells.

Other experts said brain games might be useful, but only if they weren’t fun.

“If you set the level for these games to a very high level where you don’t get the answers very often and it really annoys you, then it may be useful,” said Philip Adey, a professor of psychology at King’s College in London.

If people are enjoying the brain games, Adey said they probably aren’t being challenged and might as well be playing a regular video game.

He said people should consider learning a new language or sport if they really want to improve their brain power. “To stimulate(激发) the intellect, you need a real challenge,” Adey said, “Getting smart is hard work.”

1.According to the article, which of the following is NOT useful to develop brain power?

A. Learning a language.    B. Getting some physical exercise.

C. Playing challengeable games.    D. playing fun games.

2.What can we infer from the first two paragraphs?

A. Playing brain games is as effective a means of improving the brain as Super Mario.

B. Playing Super Mario is a better means of improving the brain.

C. Playing brain games can’t improve cognitive skills.

D. Playing computer games can train the brain.

3.Which of the following statements is true?

A. Many studies show that brain games are an effective means of improving cognitive skills.

B. The skills used in brain games can be transferred to real life.

C. Participants took IQ test twice during the research on the effectiveness of brain games.

D. Surfing the Internet is a more effective means of improving cognitive skills than video games.

4.Which is another way of summing up Adey’s argument in the last paragraph?

A. Practice makes perfect.    B. Where there is a will, there is a way.

C. No pains, no gains.    D. A bad beginning makes a bad ending.

Answer

1. D

2. C

3. C

4. C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章讲了研究表明玩游戏对发展智能没有帮助，如果人们真的想提高他们的脑力，他们应该考虑学习一门新的语言或运动。

1.细节理解题。答案定位在第二段In a six-week study, experts found people who played online games designed to improve their cognitive(认知的) skills didn’t get any smarter.可知玩游戏对发展智能没有帮助，故选D。

2.推理判断题。根据Researchers said the people who did the brain training didn’t do any better on the test after six weeks than people who had simply been on the Internet.（研究人员称，进行脑部训练的人在六周后的测试中表现并不比那些只上网的人好多少。）由此推断出，玩益智游戏不能提高认知能力，故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据All participants were given an “IQ test” before and after the experiment.可知在研究大脑游戏效果的过程中，参与者接受了两次智商测试，故选C。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段He said people should consider learning a new language or sport if they really want to improve their brain power. “To stimulate(激发) the intellect, you need a real challenge,” Adey said, “Getting smart is hard work.”（ 他说，如果人们真的想提高他们的脑力，他们应该考虑学习一门新的语言或运动。“刺激(激发)智力,你需要一个真正的挑战,”阿迪说,“智能是一项艰难的工作。”）由此推断出Adey的观点是：不劳无获，故选C。