Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
Some people have said aging is more a slide into forgetfulness than a journey towards wisdom. However, a growing body of research suggests that late-in-life learning is possible. In reality, education does an aging brain good.
Throughout life, people’s brains constantly renovate themselves. In the late 1960s, British brain scientist Geoffrey Raisman spied growth in damaged brain regions of rats through an electron microscope; their brains were forging new connections. This meant brains may change every time a person learns something new.
Of course, that doesn’t mean the brain isn’t affected by the effects of time. Just as height usually declines over the years, so does brain volume: Humans lose about 4 percent every decade starting in their 40s. But that reduction doesn’t necessarily make people think slower; as long as we are alive and functioning, we can alter our brains with new information and experiences.
In fact, scientists now suspect accumulating novel experiences, facts, and skills can keep people’s minds more flexible. New pathways can strengthen our ever-changing mental structure, even as the brain shrinks.
Conventional fixes like word puzzles and brain-training apps can contribute to mental durability. Even something as simple as taking a different route to the grocery store or going somewhere new on vacation can keep the brain healthy.
A desire for new life challenges can further boost brainpower. Research about aging adults who take on new enterprises shows improved function and memory as well as a reduced risk of mental disease. Openness—a characteristic defined by curiosity and a desire for knowledge—may also help folks pass brain tests. Some folks are born with this take-in-the-world attitude, but those who aren’t as genetically gifted aren’t necessarily out of luck. While genes can encourage an interest in doing new things, a 2012 study in the journal Psychology and Aging found completing reasoning tasks like puzzles and number games can enhance that desire for novel experiences, which can, in turn, refresh the brain. That’s why brain scientist Richard Kennedy says “It’s not that old dogs can’t learn new tricks. It’s that maybe old dogs don’t realize why they should.”
51. What do some people think of aging adults?
52. What can we conclude from Geoffrey Raisman’s finding?
53. What is one thing that helps maintain the health of our brain even as it shrinks?
54. What does the author say can contribute to the improvement of brain function?
55. What is the finding of the 2012 study in the journal Psychology and Aging?
问题1选项
A.Their wisdom grows as time goes by.
B.Their memory gradually deteriorates.
C.They can benefit from late-in-life learning.
D.They are likely to have mental health issues.
问题2选项
A.Brain damage seriously hinders one’s learning.
B.Brain power weakens slower than we imagine.
C.Brains can refresh and improve with learning.
D.Brains forge connections under new conditions.
问题3选项
A.Doing daily routines by conventional means.
B.Avoiding worrying about our mental durability.
C.Imitating old dogs’ way of learning new tricks.
D.Approaching everyday tasks in novel ways.
问题4选项
A.Being curious and desiring knowledge.
B.Being eager to pass brain tests at an old age.
C.Rising to life’s challenges and avoiding risks.
D.Boosting immunity to serious mental diseases.
问题5选项
A.Wishing to solve puzzles enhances one’s reasoning power.
B.Playing number games unexpectedly stimulates one’s memory.
C.Desiring new experiences can help to renovate the brain.
D.Learning new tricks should not be confined to old dogs only.
第1题:B
第2题:C
第3题:D
第4题:A
第5题:C
第1题:
51.【选项释义】
What do some people think of aging adults? 有些人如何看待年长者？
A. Their wisdom grows as time goes by. A. 他们的智慧会随着时间推移而增长。
B. Their memory gradually deteriorates. B. 他们的记忆逐渐退化。
C. They can benefit from late-in-life learning. C. 晚年学习能带来益处。
D. They are likely to have mental health issues. D. 他们可能会有心理健康问题。
【答案】B
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词some people think of aging adults可以定位到文章第一段第一句Some people have said aging is more a slide into forgetfulness than a journey towards wisdom.（有些人说，衰老更像是一种逐渐遗忘的滑坡，而不是迈向智慧的旅程。），说明这一部分人认为随着年龄增长，人会变得健忘。因此B选项“他们的记忆逐渐退化。”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“他们的智慧会随着时间推移而增长。”，文中第一句指出的是否定这种看法，即有些人不认为衰老是通往智慧的旅程，属于反向干扰；
C选项“晚年学习能带来益处。”是文中后面强调的科学观点，但题干问的是“有些人怎么认为”，属于张冠李戴；
D选项“他们可能会有心理健康问题。”在文中没有提及，属于无中生有。
第2题:
52.【选项释义】
What can we conclude from Geoffrey Raisman’s finding? 我们可以从杰弗里·雷斯曼的发现中得出什么结论？
A. Brain damage seriously hinders one’s learning. A. 脑部损伤会严重阻碍一个人的学习。
B. Brain power weakens slower than we imagine. B. 大脑功能减弱比我们想象的要慢。
C. Brains can refresh and improve with learning. C. 大脑可以通过学习得到更新和提升。
D. Brains forge connections under new conditions. D. 大脑会在新的条件下建立连接。
【答案】C
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词Geoffrey Raisman’s finding可以定位到文章第二段第二句In the late 1960s, British brain scientist Geoffrey Raisman spied growth in damaged brain regions of rats through an electron microscope; their brains were forging new connections.（20世纪60年代末，英国脑科学家杰弗里·雷斯曼通过电子显微镜观察到老鼠受损脑区的生长；它们的大脑正在建立新的连接。），说明即使是受损的脑部区域，也仍然可以建立新的神经连接——暗示大脑有自我更新和适应的能力，学习可以促使这种变化。因此C选项“大脑可以通过学习得到更新和提升。”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“脑部损伤会严重阻碍一个人的学习。”，文章强调即使是受损脑区也能建立新连接，属于反向干扰；
B选项“大脑功能减弱比我们想象的要慢。”并非雷斯曼的研究内容，而是第三段关于体积缩小的描述，属于出处错位；
D选项“大脑会在新的条件下建立连接。”，文章是说实验中老鼠受伤的大脑区域产生了新的联系，并不是实验得出结论：大脑在新的条件下建立联系，属于曲解原文。
第3题:
53.【选项释义】
What is one thing that helps maintain the health of our brain even as it shrinks? 即使大脑逐渐萎缩，什么有助于维持其健康？
A. Doing daily routines by conventional means. A. 通过传统方式完成日常事务。
B. Avoiding worrying about our mental durability. B. 避免担忧我们的脑力持久性。
C. Imitating old dogs’ way of learning new tricks. C. 模仿老狗学习新把戏的方式。
D. Approaching everyday tasks in novel ways. D. 以新颖的方式处理日常任务。
【答案】D
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词maintain the health of our brain even as it shrinks可以定位到文章第四段最后一句New pathways can strengthen our ever-changing mental structure, even as the brain shrinks.（即使大脑正在萎缩，新的神经通路仍能强化我们不断变化的思维结构。）和第五段最后一句Even something as simple as taking a different route to the grocery store or going somewhere new on vacation can keep the brain healthy.（甚至像换条路去超市，或是假期去一个新地方这样简单的事情，也能保持大脑的健康。），说明以新颖方式进行日常事务，有助于维护大脑健康。因此D选项“以新颖的方式处理日常任务。”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“通过传统方式完成日常事务。”与原文“尝试新方式”相反，属于反向干扰；
B选项“避免担忧我们的脑力持久性。”在文中没有提及，属于无中生有；
C选项“模仿老狗学习新把戏的方式。”，文章是比喻说明老年人仍然可以学习新事物，而非说“模仿老狗”是方法，属于曲解原文。
第4题:
54.【选项释义】
What does the author say can contribute to the improvement of brain function? 作者认为哪些因素有助于改善大脑功能？
A. Being curious and desiring knowledge. A. 对知识保持好奇和渴望。
B. Being eager to pass brain tests at an old age. B. 渴望在老年时通过大脑测试。
C. Rising to life’s challenges and avoiding risks. C. 迎接生活挑战并规避风险。
D. Boosting immunity to serious mental diseases. D. 提高对严重精神疾病的免疫力。
【答案】A
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词contribute to the improvement of brain function可以定位到文章第六段第一、二、三句A desire for new life challenges can further boost brainpower. Research about aging adults who take on new enterprises shows improved function and memory as well as a reduced risk of mental disease. Openness—a characteristic defined by curiosity and a desire for knowledge—may also help folks pass brain tests.（渴望新的人生挑战还能进一步提升脑力。关于老年人开展新事业的研究显示，他们的认知功能和记忆都有所改善，患精神疾病的风险也有所降低。开放性——一种由好奇心和求知欲构成的性格特征——也可能帮助人们在脑力测试中表现更好。），说明对知识保持好奇和渴望是作者认为有助于大脑功能改善的因素。因此A选项“对知识保持好奇和渴望。”正确。
【干扰项排除】
B选项“渴望在老年时通过大脑测试。”，文中“通过测试”是结果，而不是改善大脑功能的方式，属于张冠李戴；
C选项“迎接生活挑战并规避风险。”和D选项“提高对严重精神疾病的免疫力。”在文中没有提及，属于无中生有。
第5题:
55.【选项释义】
What is the finding of the 2012 study in the journal Psychology and Aging? 《心理学与衰老》杂志2012年的研究发现了什么？
A. Wishing to solve puzzles enhances one’s reasoning power. A. 渴望解谜能增强一个人的推理能力。
B. Playing number games unexpectedly stimulates one’s memory. B. 玩数字游戏会意外地刺激记忆。
C. Desiring new experiences can help to renovate the brain. C. 渴望新体验有助于重塑大脑。
D. Learning new tricks should not be confined to old dogs only. D. 学习新技能不应只局限于老年人。
【答案】C
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词2012 study可以定位到文章最后一段倒数第二句a 2012 study in the journal Psychology and Aging found completing reasoning tasks like puzzles and number games can enhance that desire for novel experiences, which can, in turn, refresh the brain（但《心理学与衰老》杂志2012年发表的一项研究发现，完成诸如谜题和数字游戏之类的推理任务可以增强这种对新体验的渴望，从而让大脑焕发活力），说明这项研究的发现是对新体验的渴望可以帮助重塑大脑。因此C选项“渴望新体验有助于重塑大脑。”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“渴望解谜能增强一个人的推理能力。”，文章说的是“解谜增强渴望”，不是“渴望解谜增强推理”，属于反向干扰；
B选项“玩数字游戏会意外地刺激记忆。”和D选项“学习新技能不应只局限于老年人。”在文中没有提及，属于无中生有。
