Your brain isn’t necessarily the same age as the rest of you. Now, it may be possible to predict how quickly a person’s brain will age throughout life based on tests taken when they are 3 years old. A person’s biological age may be a better indicator of their health than their chronological age (实际年龄). Brain age can be measured using brain scans and machine learning to determine if a person’s brain looks older or younger than the average healthy brain for people of the same age.
To find out if brain age might reveal anything about a person’s health in midlife. Maxwell Elliott at Duke University in North Carolina and his colleagues assessed the brains of 869 adults in New Zealand who have undergone regular medical and cognitive testing since they were 3 years old. When the volunteers, all aged between 43 and 46, underwent MRI brain scans, the team found that their brain ages ranged from 23 to 71. Those with older brain ages performed worse on tests of cognition. memory and IQ. The researchers also measured things like cholesterol and blood sugar levels to estimate the biological age of the volunteers'bodies.
James Cole at King’s College London cautions that it will be difficult to make predictions based on a 3-year-old’s test results. “Acceleration or delay could be positive or negative.” says Cole. “If a 60-year-old has a brain that looks 70, that’s bad, but if a 3-year-old has a brain that looks 5, that might be a good thing.” The team also asked other researchers to guess how old the volunteers were based on photos of their faces. Again, the responses varied hugely with estimates coming in 20 years above and below their actual age. Those who looked older also had older brain ages. “It suggests that the outward signs of ageing are reflected by the internal signs of ageing,” says Cole.
“That doesn’t mean that all older-looking individuals will be on their way to dementia (痴呆).” says Elliott. We don’t yet have a way to treat brain ageing, but given the known benefits to the brain of healthy eating and exercise, these aren’t a bad place to start.
1. Why did Max Elliott conduct the experiment?| A．To test whether brain age might indicate a person’s health in midlife. |
| B．To find out if chronological age shows a person’s health in midlife. |
| C．To test whether a person’s brain age is younger than his chronological age. |
| D．To find out whether a person’s chronological age influences his brain age. |
| A．The 869 volunteers, all aged between 43 and 46. are all from North Carolina. |
| B．The volunteers have never experienced any regular medical or cognitive testing. |
| C．Those with older brain ages performed worse than those with younger ones. |
| D．The volunteer’s brain ages ranged from 43 and 46 by MRI scans. |
| A．It has been possible to make precise predictions based on 3-year-old’s test results. |
| B．People’s acceleration or delay of brain ageing must be one hundred percent negative. |
| C．The internal signs of ageing can reflect the outward signs of ageing. |
| D．It is not a good thing for a 3-year-old with a brain that looks 5. |
| A．It makes no sense to worry about such prediction too much. |
| B．It is urgent to treat brain ageing at once for it is a fatal disease. |
| C．Researchers are at a loss what to do with brain ageing. |
| D．Researchers have found an effective way to treat brain ageing. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Ways to have a warm autumn
Though people have been connecting autumn with misery and loneliness since ancient times, I believe the season is better than spring," Liu Yuxi, a renowned poet from the Tang Dynasty, wrote in his poem.
Have a bowl of pear soup
With a sweet scent and honey color, pear soup is the most suitable soup for autumn, which could nourish your body and reduce the dryness in the season. Cut some pears and apples, and boil them with dates, wolfberries and hawthorns in water for about an hour. Add some honey if you want it sweeter. Enjoy!
As two flowers that blossom in autumn, rather than spring, the chrysanthemum and Osmanthus are popular not only for their colors and shapes, but also for the food and beverage made from them. Just a sip, and you can taste the beauty of autumn from the tea.
Eat "white-colored" food
Traditional Chinese culture always believes that human beings should respect nature and act according to natural changes. Food, beverage and even color of clothes should vary with the change of seasons.
Wear qiuku
Qiuku has become a humorous topic among Chinese young people.
Be healthy from the bottom of your feet
In the traditional Chinese medical theory, feet are connected with the health of each organ.
Another convenient way is to use Chinese medical foot patches(足贴).
| A．Drink some scented tea. |
| B．Smell some beneficial flowers. |
| C．White colours usually keep you from getting dry. |
| D．If our human body was the tree trunk, then they would be the root. |
| E．It might be outdated when most young people try to show off their figures. |
| F．But do you know how to change the cold season into a warm enjoyment? |
| G．As autumn is often connected with dryness, food with white color is recommended. |
【推荐2】 We all know how important it is to keep our bodies fit by keeping active and maintaining a regular exercise routine.
Massage (按摩) your eyes. Easy to do, massage is a common treatment to relieve tension or stress.
Work out the eyes.
Palm (手掌) your eyes.
Anyway, take a break and perform these exercises will refresh your eyes.
| A．Look outside. |
| B．Blink more. |
| C．But our eyes need exercise as well. |
| D．It can be done very simply. |
| E．Practicing zooming with your eyes is highly suggested. |
| F．You can draw circles with your eyes. |
| G．It helps to improve blood circulation (循环) around your eyes. |
【推荐3】Things You Can Do to Benefit your Brain
A mind is a valuable thing to waste. You’ve heard the saying many times, but it truly does ring true. Your mind is your most valuable thing.
Take a nap.
Refreshing your body can also help you improve brain function, increase memory, and improve your mood.
Do something creative just before going to bed.
Did you know that it’s actually impossible for your brain to multitask? By focusing on one task at a time, you can keep your brain working at maximum capability and accomplish more than you imagined. Find a task you need to finish and focus solely on it. Leave the phone in the other room, turn the TV off, and focus. Your brain will thank you.
Write. Like on a real piece of paper.
Computers, iPads, tablets, smartphones and the connection to the internet everywhere means it’s becoming less and less likely that you will pull out a piece of paper and write. But research suggests handwriting makes you smarter.
| A．Focus on one task at a time. |
| B．You need to take care of it. |
| C．It is wise of you to make full use of it. |
| D．Find a task and then another before you start working. |
| E．When you’re tired, your brain can be more creative. |
| F．Even just a 15-minute nap can make a huge difference in your day-to-day life. |
| G．So leave the computer on your desk during your next meeting and write your notes. |
【推荐1】In 1803, the United States acquired a huge new piece of land called the Louisiana Territory. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were given the job of leading an expedition to collect data about this uncharted territory. President Thomas Jefferson gave Lewis and Clark three tasks for the journey: Find an all-water route to the Pacific Ocean, make friends with the Native Americans along the way, and gather detailed information about the plants, animals, landforms (地形), and climate of the area.
In order to discover if there was an all-water route to the Pacific Ocean, Lewis and Clark attempted to travel up the Mississippi River by boat. In this way, they hoped that they would eventually reach the Pacific. Ultimately, the explorers discovered the Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide, but not the Pacific Ocean. The hope for an all-water route from the East to the Pacific would have to be abandoned.
Lewis and Clark’s second task was to make friends with Native Americans in the area. They packed hundreds of pounds of gifts for the indigenous people, including beads, sewing needles, cloth, yarn, and knives. Their intention was to use these items as offerings of peace and good faith. However, many tribes were hostile. They felt threatened by the Americans’ presence and refused to communicate with them. Other tribes were more welcoming and aided the explorers in finding food and navigating the new region.
The explorers’ final task was extensive and ongoing. Lewis and Clark had to take detailed notes about the landforms and climate of the different areas through which they travelled. President Jefferson also wanted samples of notable plant and animal life. They prepared animal fur and plant samples to send back to the president throughout the trip. They also kept individual journals with detailed descriptions and drawings of the environment and terrain (地势).
Up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, across the Great Plains, over the Rockies, down the Columbia River, and to the Pacific Ocean, Lewis and Clark travelled. After 3 years, Jefferson received a letter from Lewis stating, “It is with great pleasure that I announced to you the safe arrival of myself and my partner. In obedience to your orders, we have penetrated (穿过)the continent of North America to the Pacific Ocean.”
1. Which of the following is Not among the tasks that President Thomas Jefferson gave Lewis and Clark?| A．Find a direct waterway from the U.S. to the Pacific Ocean. |
| B．Collect geographic and ecological information about the unknown area. |
| C．Locate the Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide. |
| D．Build relationships with the Native Americans on the way. |
| A．Determined not to change their attitudes. |
| B．Very unfriendly or aggressive. |
| C．Not wanting to talk to other people. |
| D．Belonging to a very simple society. |
| A．The task was less challenging than the former two tasks. |
| B．The task required a wide range of knowledge and skills. |
| C．The task focused on collecting data about landforms and climate. |
| D．Lewis and Clark didn’t send back samples until they finished their journey. |
| A．Lewis and Clark had to turn back before completing their tasks. |
| B．Lewis and Clark successfully found an all-water route to the Pacific Ocean. |
| C．Lewis and Clark finished the expedition without the help of Native Americans. |
| D．The expedition covered the area from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. |
【推荐2】Adults living by themselves may have a higher risk of dying from cancer compared with those who live with others, a new study suggests.
The research, published Thursday in the journal Cancer, found that among 114,772 working-age adults who lived alone, 2.5% of them died of cancer during the study period. Meanwhile, among 358,876 adults who lived with others, 1.6%, a much smaller share, died of cancer in the study. Adults aged 18 to 64 were enrolled in the study and researchers found the strongest association was in those aged 45 to 64.
The researchers from the American Cancer Society analyzed data on more than 470,000 adults from the National Health Interview Survey, taking a close look at how many of the adults lived alone versus with others and how many died of cancer.
“Our findings may suggest that stronger social support existing in communities from racial minority groups and people of lower socioeconomic status might have alleviated (缓解) the association between living alone and cancer death in this group, but we need more research on reasons for these differences,” Islami said.
Compared with adults living with others, adults living alone were more likely to have poor self-reported health status, activity limitation, serious psychological distress, severe obesity, smoke cigarettes, or consume alcohol, according to the study.
“More research is needed to identify the exact underlying mechanisms to explain the association between living alone and cancer death”, Kathrin Milbury, associate professor of behavioral science at The University of Texas, who was not involved in the new study, said in an email.
“The biological mechanisms of social isolation are not fully understood; however, humans are social beings, and being isolated creates a state of biological stress that is harmful to our health,” Milbury said. “The other mechanism I believe is related to being in a relationship with others, beyond benefiting just from their presence, but also receiving their care and support.”
1. How does the author justify the finding in paragraph 2?| A．By analyzing reasons. | B．By listing statistics. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By making comments. |
| A．Stronger social support will not cause cancer death. |
| B．People in their 50s are more likely to survive cancer. |
| C．Influences of social support need to be further explored. |
| D．People from minority groups have stronger social support. |
| A．Abusing alcohol. | B．Walking inconvenience. |
| C．Gaining weight. | D．Communicative disability. |
| A．Scientists have revealed the underlying mechanisms. |
| B．Receiving others’ support helps relieve social isolation. |
| C．Lonely people can receive more social care and support. |
| D．More scientists have been attracted to the great research. |
【推荐3】It’s not secret —our dependence on fossil fuels for energy has put an unbearable strain on the environment. Alternative forms of energy, such as wind and solar power, are often either too inefficient or too expensive to permanently replace conventional energy sources, such as coal and oil.
Take the cactus (仙人掌) for example. Believe it or not, scientists have discovered that one cactus, called nopal, can be transformed into clean, renewable energy.
An even more common plant product that could be used as fuel is sugar. Researchers found that by processing sugar with water and certain proteins, you can create hydrogen — a major alternative to gasoline. And sugar is easy to get.
Just as the Aequorea victoria jellyfish produces a useful protein, human beings, too, produce something that can be used as a power source — body heat! When lots of people gather together in a mall or on a subway, all that body heat adds up and can be converted into power for homes and offices.
| A．To create fuel, all you need to do is let the nopal rot. |
| B．This has already been implemented in several cities. |
| C．As a result, scientists have to really think outside the box. |
| D．Sugar is the primary source of energy for every cell in the body. |
| E．The future looks bright when we observe how creative humans can be. |
| F．Besides the plant kingdom, the animal kingdom has plenty to offer, too. |
| G．Thus, in the future, we may have to get used to putting it in our cars as well as in our coffee. |
【推荐1】Artificial Intelligence (AI) has changed many industries and continues to advance at a rapid speed. From autonomous vehicles to voice assistants, AI is becoming an part of our daily lives. Let’s explore the evolution of AI and its impact on society.
The concept and development of AI date back to the 1950s and 1960s. Early researchers focused on creating machines that could copy human intelligence to perform tasks such as problem-solving and language processing. However, the limited computational power and lack of data held back progress.
In the 1990s and 2000s, machine-learning algorithms appeared, allowing computers to analyze large amounts of data. This breakthrough enabled AI systems to improve performance over time and make more accurate predictions (预测).
Deep learning belonging to machine-learning has gained attention in recent years. It involves training neural networks with layers of interconnected nodes to process large amounts of data. Deep learning has pushed forward advancements in image recognition, natural language processing, and autonomous systems.
AI has had a great impact on various industries. In healthcare, AI is used for diagnosing diseases and developing personalized treatment plans. In transportation, self-driving cars are becoming a reality. In customer service, chatbots provide round-the-clock assistance. However, the widespread adoption of AI also raises concern about job displacement and ethical(道德的)considerations.
1. What held back the progress of early AI development?| A．Limited computational power and short of data. | B．Lack of understanding of AI technology. |
| C．Lack of interest from researchers. | D．Not enough funding for research. |
| A．Machine learning has limited applications, while deep learning has more functions. |
| B．Machine learning uses neural networks,while deep learning uses algorithms. |
| C．Machine learning analyzes large amounts of data, while deep learning trains neural networks. |
| D．Machine learning focuses on problem-solving, while deep learning focuses on language processing. |
| A．Data collection tools. | B．Language processing techniques. |
| C．The development of artificial intelligence. | D．Mathematical problem-solving steps in computer. |
| A．Limited applications in various industries. |
| B．Ethical considerations and unemployment. |
| C．Lack of computational power for AI systems. |
| D．Insufficient data for training AI algorithms. |
【推荐2】Effective monitoring of endangered species is key to their survival. Studying the movement, range and habits of wild animals is essential in order to ensure their habitat remains free from poachers (偷猎者) and development. Traditional methods of monitoring wild animals, especially large ones, include radio-tagging. To do this, individual animals must at first be captured so that collars or tags can be fitted.
One organisation that adopted this technique was WildTrack. In the late 1990s, the team was using radio-collars to monitor black rhino in Namibia. However, the team soon realised that the chemicals used to immobilize the rhino in order to fit the collars had a negative impact on female fertility. Not only that but a large proportion of the radio-collars failed within the first 6 months and had to be replaced. Moreover, as animals grew, the collars would tighten, irritating or even hurting the animal. The method was not only expensive, but it was also counterproductive, as it changed the rhino’s behaviour, thus invalidating (使失效) the data collected. At the same time, the team was working alongside local trackers. Animal tracking is one of the oldest human skills, and these experts had years of experience in identifying individual animals by their footprints. They could effectively create a true picture of individual rhinos’ activities without the use of any invasive techniques. Consequently, the team were interested to know whether the trackers’ knowledge could be successfully translated into an effective, computerised technique for monitoring animal movement.
Within each species, each individual has its own unique foot characteristics, in the same way that humans have fingerprints. Thus, if an animal is sighted and identified just once, and the characteristics of its footprints properly photographed and measured, its footprint can be recognised whenever it is sighted again. If done repeatedly, conservationists can draw up a database of all, or at least a significant proportion of the individuals within the population. After that conservationists can use it to identify an animal and its movements by its print. The data gathered can be used for a range of purposes, for example to monitor biodiversity. WildTrack is currently using footprint identification technology in Greece to study the potential effect of a large highway construction through brown bear habitat.
Identifying an animal from its footprint is not without its challenges, however, as each time the individual places its foot on the ground, it leaves a slightly different track, according to the type of ground it is walking on, moisture levels and the way it is moving. In order to account for these variations, it is necessary to collect several tracks from each individual, including impressions from all four feet, on a range of surfaces.
1. Compared with radio-collars, traditional animal tracking ________.| A．is less accurate |
| B．costs more money |
| C．has less side effects |
| D．depends more on computers |
| A．needs more data to run better |
| B．develops from radio-collars |
| C．has not been put into practice |
| D．works under certain environment |
| A．Technology holds the key to development. |
| B．Traditional skills make better conservationists. |
| C．Animal tracking sets a new trend in conservation. |
| D．Creativity lies in the combination of the old and new. |
| A．To present WildTrack’s extraordinary work. |
| B．To provide a new way of monitoring animals. |
| C．To compare two different methods of catching animals. |
| D．To explain how to identify animals footprints effectively. |
【推荐3】Computers are very important to modern life.Many people think that in the future computers will be used in lots of situations of everyday life.It is thought that we won't have to go shopping because we will be able to get most things which are sold in shops on the Internet.I here will be fewer books because we will be able to get all texts from computers.The Internet will be used to play games, see films and buy food most telephone calls will be made by computers, too.
Some people are glad about these new ways of shopping and communicating.Others do not think that computers will substitute our old ways.
Let us look at books, for example.Some people think that one day we will not read books made of paper.Instead, we will buy and read books using computers.We will read texts on small pocket computers.The computers will keep many different books in them at the same time.We will not need to turn lots of pages and paper will be saved.Computerized books will be used more and more.
Is Internet shopping such a pleasure as going to the shop? Many people say it is not.It is a pleasure to go into stores and look at things you want to buy.It is also unlikely that many people will want to read large texts on our computers because paper books will perhaps be friendlier.Maybe computers will not change these two habits.
1. In which of the following situations will computers not be used?| A．Playing games. | B．Going shopping. |
| C．Making telephone calls. | D．Seeing the doctor. |
| A．Keep. | B．Replace. |
| C．Use. | D．Change. |
| A．Because they wont be very expensive. |
| B．Because they won't make people tired. |
| C．Because they will help save paper. |
| D．Because they will make people read more. |
| A．How Will Computers Change Our Habit. |
| B．Shops and Books Will Disappear. |
| C．Computers Will Do Everything for Men. |
| D．Computers and People's Ways of Life. |
【推荐1】At first glance, there is nothing unusual about the BingoBox store—shelves stacked with snacks line the walls, tempting passers-by through the glass windows. But on closer inspection, BingoBox is no ordinary store. The door opens only after customers scan a QR code to enter, and there is no cashier to tally up purchases—just a lone checkout counter in a corner. The Shanghai-based company is one of many unmanned store operators opening outlets all over China, hoping to improve slim profit margins in the retail business by reducing staff costs.
“If capital costs rise quickly, that puts greater pressure on low-margin businesses like convenience stores and supermarkets,” said Andrew Song, an analyst at Guotai Junan Securities. “In China, manpower costs have been rising relatively quickly.”
However, the futuristic vision of shopping without a checkout person is still in progress. A reporter who visited a BingoBox store in Shanghai was briefly locked in when he was trying to exit without making a purchase. Although a sign near the exit stated that empty-handed customers can leave by scanning a QR code, no QR code was to be found. Repeated calls to the customer service hotline went unanswered.
Another unmanned operation in China, Take Go, only allows one customer in the shop at a time because of technology limitations in using multiple cameras for scanning customers’ faces.
The idea of unmanned stores first caught the world’s attention when the largest US online retailer announced its cashier-less store, which is only available to employees for now. Since then, some technology companies in China, including the e-commerce firm Alibaba Group, have launched their own versions of unmanned stores.
Embedded with technology such as RFID tags, mobile payment systems and facial recognition systems, such stores collect valuable data that give operators a better idea of consumers’ preference and buying habits, which can then be used to optimize the operation and make more efficient inventory decisions. For BingoBox, lower operating costs also mean it can afford to expand its reach to areas with less foot traffic, according to Chen Zilin, the founder and CEO of BingoBox.
1. What makes the BingoBox store look like an ordinary convenience store?| A．Shelves stacked with goods. | B．A lone checkout counter. |
| C．No cashier to check out. | D．Entering by scanning a QR code. |
| A．The customers prefer mobile payment systems. |
| B．The unmanned stores help improve profit with lower labor costs. |
| C．The employees focus on consumers’ preference and buying habits. |
| D．The operators care more about operations and inventory decisions. |
| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Five. |
| A．Nowadays all stores should be equipped with advanced technology. |
| B．The operators collect data about consumers’ preference and buying habits. |
| C．BingoBox made wiser decisions based on the data collected in unmanned stores. |
| D．The operators can open unmanned supermarkets in more remote places with low costs. |
【推荐2】Deserts are dry ecosystems that receive less than 250 millimetres of rainfall a year on average. Here are the world’s several big deserts.
Antarctic Desert
Antarctica is, on average, the coldest, windiest and driest of all the world’s continents. With an average annual rainfall of just 166 millimetres along the coastal regions and even less farther inland, it meets the standard of a desert. The continent has only plants that can live in a region so cold and dry.
Australian Desert
The Australian desert consists of ten interlinked smaller deserts. Together, they cover 18 percent of the mainland and contribute to making Australia the world’s second driest continent. The deserts are far from deserted, populated by native animals like kangaroos.
Arabian Desert
The Arabian Desert covers the entire Arabian Peninsula and contains the Rub’al-Khali, one of the world’s largest continuous bodies of sand. Bedouins, the native people, have crossed these sands for centuries, driving sheep, cattle, camels and goats into the desert during the rainy winter season and moving back toward farmland during the dry summer months.
Kalahari Desert
Strictly speaking, the Kalahari doesn’t meet the standard of a desert as its wettest regions can receive more than 500 millimetres of rain in very wet years. However, it remains extremely dry. Rain filters(渗入)rapidly through the vast expanses of sand, leaving nothing on the surface. The evaporation (蒸发) rate is twice as great as the rainfall in the southwestern half of the Kalahari. The desert is home to several important national parks and reserves, providing shelters for various species.
1. Which desert is made up of smaller deserts?| A．Antarctic Desert. | B．Australian Desert. | C．Arabian Desert. | D．Kalahari Desert. |
| A．They are on the move. | B．They are good at growing plants. |
| C．They come from Australia. | D．They benefit from local tourism. |
| A．It has enough rainfalls. | B．It covers a big area | C．It is poorly protected. | D．It dries up quickly. |
【推荐3】I’ve always enjoyed the idea of travelling and volunteering for a few months in southern Europe and living close to the sea, surrounded by nature, staying with the locals and exploring their culture. So when I had a chance to make this daydream a reality, I decided to apply for my first experience on a farm in Portugal.
The farm is located a few kilometers away from Lagos, in a remote location in the hills. It was designed around the idea of connecting nature and technology in a green way and with a self-sustainable approach. My host, Lucio, is really passionate about the do-it-yourself initiative or maker culture. He built and decorated his house using natural materials. He changed the shipping container into an electronic lab.
When my host learned that I majored in electronics at college, he was very trusting and encouraged me to work on one of the most important issues on the farm — the water well’s pump operation. Since the well was the only water source for the entire farm, it turned out to be a tough task for me. I wasn’t even sure if I could do it in the beginning, but with my host’s encouragement, I gradually made progress and was able to build a working prototype (原型).
Lucio was very excited when we connected the DIY prototype I built to the pump control panel successfully. I still remember the moment when Lucio shook my hand with a big smile and thanked me for solving one of the farm’s most difficult problems. With his trust, I got to work on more complex projects afterwards too!
Before this volunteer experience, I never thought my help would be so appreciated. I realized that I could make a very positive impact on people’s lives by sharing knowledge to build something useful.
1. What is the highlight of the farm?| A．It is high-tech. | B．It is man-made. |
| C．It is environment-friendly. | D．It covers the largest area. |
| A．He was enthusiastic about it. | B．He had a wealth of experience. |
| C．He had the ability to finish the work. | D．He acquired relevant academic knowledge. |
| A．Boring. | B．Necessary. | C．Meaningful. | D．Demanding. |
| A．To share an interesting experience. | B．To call on more people to volunteer. |
| C．To recommend a travel destination. | D．To remember an impressive friend. |
