Now, a large national study from Brandeis University published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry shows that those with less schooling can significantly make up for poorer education by frequently engaging in mental exercises such as word games, puzzles, reading, and lectures.
“The lifelong benefits of higher education for memory in later life are quite impressive, but we do not clearly understand how and why these effects last so long,” said lead author Margie Lachman, a psychologist. She suggested that higher education may encourage lifelong interest in cognitive efforts, while those with less education may not engage as frequently in mental exercises that help keep the memory agile (敏捷地).
But education early in adulthood does not appear to be the only route to maintain your memory. The study found that intellectual activities undertaken regularly made a difference. “Among individuals with low education, those who are engaged in reading, writing, attending lectures, doing word games or puzzles once a week or more had memory scores similar to people with more education,” said Lachman.
The study, called Midlife in the United States, assessed 3,343 men and women between the ages of 32 and 84 with a mean age of 56 years. Almost 40 percent of the participants had at least a 4-year college degree. The researchers evaluated how the participants performed in two cognitive areas, verbal memory and executive function --- brain processes involved in planning, abstract thinking and cognitive flexibility. Participants were given a battery of tests, including tests of verbal fluency, word recall, and backward counting.
As expected, those with higher education said they engaged in cognitive activities more often and also did better on the memory tests, but some with lower education also did well, explained Lachman.
“The findings are promising because they suggest there may be ways to level the playing field for those with lower educational achievement, and protect those at greatest risk for memory declines,” said Lachman. “Although we can not rule out the possibility that those who have better memories are the ones who take on more activities, the evidence is consistent with cognitive plasticity (可塑性), and suggests some degree of personal control over cognitive functioning in adulthood by adopting an intellectually active lifestyle.”
1. What is the text mainly about?
A.Higher education has a better cognitive advantage. |
B.Better memories result from college degree. |
C.Cognitive activity does a mind good. |
D.Poor education has more risk of memory declines. |
A.education is responsible for the lifelong memory performance and risk for mental disorder |
B.education early in adulthood can be the only route to maintain your memory |
C.those with higher education did better on the memory tests than those with lower education |
D.an intellectually active lifestyle does help to maintain your memory |
A.Participants each were given a battery to test their memory. |
B.The average age of the participants are 56 years old. |
C.Participants had to perform in one of the two cognitive areas. |
D.One in four of the participants had a 4-year college degree. |
A.The lower educated may have the same opportunities to keep up memory. |
B.We may have ways to cure the people who have memory declines. |
C.Adopting a different lifestyle can control over cognitive functioning. |
D.We can find out the possibility to have better memories. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】There are various ways in which to read body language so that you can understand how someone is feeling. Reading emotional clues (线索)is one of them.
Crying is considered to be caused by an explosion of emotion in most cultures. Often times crying is considered a sign of sadness, but crying can also be an expression of happiness. Crying can also come about through laughter and humor. Thus, when judging crying, you'll need to look for other signs to determine the meaning of the crying. Crying can also be forced in order to gain sympathy or to cheat others. This practice is known as " crocodile tears" , an expression that draws on the wrong idea that crocodiles" cry" when catching prey(猎物).
Signs of threat include v-shaped eye brows, wide eyes, and an open or down-turned mouth. In a similar way, arm tightly crossed over the other is a common sign that the person is angry and is closing himself off to you.
When people show anxiety, they display increased facial movements, and their mouth made into a thin line. Individuals who are anxious may also play with their hands, unable keep them in one spot. Anxiety can also or have nervous legs. It can be conveyed when people seemingly unconsciously(无意识 地)tap their feet or have nervous legs.
Embarrassment can be expressed by turning the eyes or shifting them away. If someone looks down at the floor a lot, they are probably shy, afraid, or embarrassed. People also tend to look down when they are upset, or trying to hide something emotional. People are often thinking and feeling unpleasant emotions when they are in the process of staring at the ground.
There are also some signs of pride. People show pride by displaying a small smile, holding their head backward, and putting their hands on their hips.
1. In what situation may one have"crocodile tears"?A.When he is sad. | B.When he cheats others. |
C.When he supports others. | D.When he is angry. |
A.Shape his eye brows into a"w". | B.Sigh heavily. |
C.Cross his arms tightly. | D.Open his eyes wide. |
A.Most of them show negative feelings. | B.They usually express positive emotions. |
C.They can be controlled well be humans. | D.They are good for people's health. |
A.How to use body languages? | B.What are body languages? |
C.What expressive emotions we have? | D.How to read emotional clues? |
【推荐2】Scientists have done a lot of research on sleep. They’ve shown that sleeplessness can lead to both weight gain and poor performance in school. Might it also affect your moods (情绪) or your behavior? A team of scientists based in Shanghai, China decided to investigate.
To do that, they took advantage of data (数据) from what’s known as the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. Begun in 2015, this study followed over 10, 000 U. S. kids into adulthood. All were 9 to 10 years old when they started taking part. ABCD researchers have been collecting records from parents on how much their kids sleep on a regular basis. The scientists also have been surveying whether a kid might have a habit of getting into fights or breaking rules. They even note whether students have difficulty focusing their attention.
Wei Cheng, a mathematician from China, teamed up with other researchers, making a detailed study of the ABCD data. Cheng’s group found out that kids who on average slept less than 7 hours a night were more likely to have behavior problems than kids who slept more. Kids who missed out on sleep also had more mood problems, including depression. Feeling sad or blue for longer than a week or two can be a sign of depression. Poor sleepers were also more likely to have stomach problems and headaches.
According to Kyla Wahlstrom, a professor at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, at night, your brain sorts information to link related facts but it takes the brain longer to organize negative (消极的) moods than positive ones. If you don’t get enough sleep, your brain might not have time to finish tidying up. If the brain runs out of time, you’re left with negative moods. That may explain why Cheng’s group found out not getting enough sleep was connected with mood problems, says Wahlstrom.
1. What does the underlined word “that” in Paragraph 2 refer to?A.The data. | B.The good performance. |
C.The ABCD Study. | D.The investigation. |
A.By analyzing the data collected by others. | B.By observing the American kids’ behavior. |
C.By gathering information on American kids. | D.By recording the American kids’ sleeping time. |
A.To stress the importance of enough sleep. | B.To encourage people to sleep more at night. |
C.To introduce the danger of negative moods. | D.To further explain the findings of Cheng’s group. |
A.Keeping Fit by Sleeping Well | B.Making Yourself a Perfect Sleeper |
C.Remove Bad Moods by Having a Good Sleep | D.Putting Yourself in a Positive State of Mind |
【推荐3】Apples are packed with amazing health benefits: weight loss, heart protection, lowering your risk for diabetes, and many more. Not only are they good for you, but they taste yummy too! The only problem is that the slices we pack for lunch are always an unappetizing brown by the time we dig them out of the fridge. Apple slices turn brown because the enzymes(酶) called polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in the fruit’s flesh react with oxygen in the air. The reaction makes the fruit go from a soft yellow to a rotten-looking brown.
Fortunately, there is an apple you can pick up at the grocery store that won’t turn brown for a while — the Opal apple. Opal apples are naturally low in PPO, which means they’ll stay fresh and white long after you cut them. Serious Eats even tested the claim, and after sitting out unwrapped for more than six hours, the apple had barely any browning. And here’s why apples have those little spots on their skin, too.
You may ask if genetic modification plays a role in keeping the fruit’s browning flesh at bay. In fact, you may even ask if Opal apples are safe to eat because they can do something most apples can’t. But, according to the Opal website, they’re the first apple to be verified by the Non-GMO Project, the gold standard for certification. “We understand that some consumers are concerned about genetically modified organism (GMO) products and felt it was important to clarify the natural non-browning characteristic is just that — natrual,” said Keith Mathews, CEO of FirstFruits Marketing, in a press release.
The Opal apple is actually a cross between a Golden Delicious and a Topaz apple, and it’s crisp with a sweet, floral flavor. Plus, it still has all the health benefits that every other apple has. Although FirstFruits Marketing does not publish nutrition facts for the Opal apples, the yellow apple’s nutrition value should be similar, if not the same, to every other apple at the supermarket.
Even though there’s no published data on Opal apples and their antioxidant(抗氧剂) content, it’s safe to assume that, much like their apple cousins, their white flesh is still a good source of antioxidant that’s found in greater concentrations inside the fruit instead of on the peel. And Opal apples may even preserve the antioxidants better than other apples simply because they don’t brown as quickly. The oxidation process actually steals some of the apple’s antioxidant content. If you’re now considering trying the Opal apple, it will never let you down.
1. What will happen to the ordinary apple slices put in the air?A.They will turn brown. |
B.They will lose all nutrients. |
C.They will produce toxic substances |
D.They will make people more appetizing. |
A.It is rich in nutrition. |
B.It contains less PPO. |
C.It is genetically modified |
D.It has no spots on its skin. |
A.Opal apples are unsafe to eat because of its unique. |
B.Keith Mathews doubts if the Opal apple is natural. |
C.Some people are concerned the safety of the Opal apple. |
D.The Opal apple is the only one certified by the Non-GMO Project. |
A.Negative. | B.Objective. |
C.Indifferent. | D.Positive. |
【推荐1】The David J.Seneer CDC Museum uses award-winning exhibits and programs to educate visitors about the value of public health, and present vast accomplishments of CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The museum hosts about 90,000 visitors each year, and provides popular. educational programs for students and teachers.
Originally called the Global Health Odyssey Museum, it was set up in 1996 alongside CDC's 50th anniversary. In 2011, the museum was renamed the David J.Sencer CDC Museum, in honor of the longest serving director of CDC.
Strategic Objectives (目标)
·Support CDC's duty to prevent disease, injuries and disability and to encourage healthy lifestyles through all stages of life.
·Inform and educate people about public health, displaying its connection with their lives.
·Educate middle and high school students and families about epidemiology(流行病学) and the science of public health; encourage young people to consider careers in the field of public health.
·Make the case for CDC's commitment to participate in global solutions to international public health challenges.
Museum Information
·Hours: Monday — Wednesday & Friday: 9 am - 5 pm.
Thursday: 9 am - 7 pm.
Closed weekends & federal holidays.
·Location: 1600 Clifton Road NE Atlanta, GA 30329.
·Phone: 404-639-0830.
·Admission & Parking: Free.
· Government-issued photo 1D required for adults over the age of 18.·Passport required for non-U.S. citizens.
1. Which of the following is an objective of the CDC Museum?A.To work on disease treatment. | B.To provide jobs for the young. |
C.To educate people about public health. | D.To offer solutions to global issues. |
A.At 4 pm, Sunday. | B.At 8 am, Monday. |
C.At 6 pm, Wednesday. | D.At 11 am, Thursday. |
A.A short story of a director. | B.A program on epidemiology. |
C.An introduction to a museum. | D.An advertisement for an exhibition. |
【推荐2】A report has warned of a "destructive" decline(减少) in freshwater fish, with nearly a third in danger of extinction(灭绝). Conservation groups said 80 species were known to have gone extinct, 16 in the last year alone.
The report said, for example, populations of migratory fish have fallen by three-quarters in the last 50 years. Over the same time period, populations of larger species, known as "megafish", have crashed by 94%. In UK waters, the sturgeon and the burbot have disappeared, salmon are disappearing and the European eel remains extremely endangered.
According to the WWF(世界自然基金会), much of the freshwater fish decline is driven by the poor state of rivers, mostly as a result of pollution. Besides, dams and waste water are also the factors. It has called on the government to restore freshwater habitats to good health through proper carrying out of existing laws, strengthening protections in the Environment Bill and championing a strong set of global targets for the recovery of nature.
Dave Tickner, from WWF, said freshwater habitats are some of the most full of life on earth, but as this report shows they are in "destructive" decline around the world. "If we are to take this government's environmental promises seriously, it must get its act together, clean up our rivers and restore our freshwater habitats to good health," said the organization's chief adviser on freshwater.
Carmen Revenga of The Nature Conservancy said freshwater fish are a diverse and unique group of species that are not only important for the healthy functioning of our rivers, lakes and wetlands, but millions of people, particularly the poor, also depend on them for their food and income.
"It's now more urgent than ever that we find the collective political will and effective cooperation with private industries, governments, NGOs(Non-Governmental Organizations) and communities, to carry out nature-based solutions that protect freshwater species, while also ensuring human needs are met," she said.
1. How many species went extinct last year?A.80. | B.16. | C.96. | D.64. |
A.Overfishing. | B.River pollution. | C.Global warming. | D.Natural disasters. |
A.megafish. | B.burbot. | C.the European eel | D.migratory fish. |
A.By examples. | B.By argument. | C.By comparison. | D.By discussion. |
【推荐3】D
Seeing a volcano erupt (喷发) is a wonderful experience, and you can really feel the beat by climbing to the summit (山顶) of Pacaya for a close-up view. There are guided tours every day up this highly active volcano from Antigua. Giving travelers a chance to see Mother Nature at her most powerful.
Pacaya is an easy drive from Antigua, a beautiful city with many colorful houses along its old streets that are turned into art-works during its Holy Week festival. No matter when you come to Antigua, you won’t miss the Pacaya-tour companies.
But climbing Pacaya is no easy job: it is 2560 metres high, and reaching the summit takes two to three hours of seemingly one-step-forward and two-step-back movements. As you climb, you hear the dull sounds of eruptions high above. Steaming, hot remains from recent eruptions begin to line the path as you near the active summit; the McKenney Cone (火山锥). Just as though you were going to walk over to the edge of the cone, the road turns to the left and up to the relative safety of the old, inactive summit.
Many tours are timed so that you arrive at the cone of the volcano is plenty of time for sunset and the full contrast between the erupting red lava (熔岩) and the darkening sky. On a good day the view from the summit is extremely exciting. The active mouth boils, sending red lava over its sides, and once in a while shoots hot streams up to 100 metres into the air. There is a strong bad smell in the air even if you take care to be upwind of the cone. As evening turns deeper into the night. the burning lava quietly falls down tae side of the volcano. For you, too, it is time to get down .
1. What is the main purpose of this passage?A.To attract tourists to Pacaya. | B.To describe the beauty of Pacaya. |
C.To introduce guided tours to Pacaya. | D.To explain the power of nature at Pacaya. |
A.where people can enjoy cultural festivals | B.where the daring Pacaya tour starts |
C.that gives a close-up view of Paraya | D.that is famous for its tour companies |
A.walk directly to the active summit | B.hear the continuous loud noise from above |
C.make greater efforts than to other summits | D.see a path lined with remains of earlier eruptions |
A.get down the mountain in time when night falls |
B.avoid the smell from the upwind direction of the cone |
C.enjoy the fantastic eruption against the darkening sky |
D.appreciate the scenery of the 2560-metre-high mountain |