Of all the workings of the human body, there is one organ that produces the most intrigue amongst scientists. The brain is the centre of the nervous system and controls most of the body’s activities. Interestingly, it is the back part of the brain that is involved with our vision. The sides of the brain are involved in memory, speech and rhythm. Although the brain amounts to only about 2% of total body weight, it uses up to 20% of the body’s energy—more than any other organ. Scientists have been conducting research in order to seek greater understanding of the brain, especially since the 1950s. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go before we can completely understand the workings of this complex organ.
1. What functions of the brain are mentioned in the passage?2. What is the current research situation concerning the brain?
3. Do you know any other interesting facts about the brain? Share them with the class.
2 . Take care of your spine（脊柱）
The spine stands at the center of your health, providing your body with structure and support. It also contains your spine cord, a massive collection of nerves conveying electric signals from the rest of your body to your brain
Maintaining good posture( 姿势) is one of the most important things you can do to keep your spine healthy. Proper posture means standing or sitting while keeping your spine straight, except for its natural curves. Posture comes into play even when you are asleep. Sleeping on your side puts less stress on your spine than most other positions.
Finally, your diet affects the health of your spine because many vitamins are necessary for bones and nerves. In particular, vitamins B and D are essential to keep bones healthy, so you may want to consider taking a supplement.
Many of the actions necessary to keep your spine healthy are identical to those used to preserve your health in other ways.
| A．However, the latter is also absorbed from sunlight. |
| B．Staying still for too long can be hard on your back. |
| C．So protect your back, the rest of the body will benefit. |
| D．Protecting your spine with yoga is also a necessary step. |
| E．Try the following exercises to keep your spine more flexible. |
| F．Exercise is also an important factor in the health of your spine. |
| G．So you should take the following factors into account to have a healthy spine. |
