問題詳情：
Challenging work that requires lots of analytical thinking, planning and other manAgerial skills might help your brain stay sharp as you age, a study published Wednesday in the journal Neurology suggests.
Researchers from the University of Leipzig in Germany gathered more than 1, 000 retired workers who were over age 75 and assessed the volunteers’ memory and thinking skills through a battery of tests. Then, for eight years, the scientists asked the same group to come back to the lab every 18 months to take the same sorts of tests.
Those who had held mentally stimulating(刺激), demanding jobs before retirement tended to do the best on the tests. And they tended to lose cognitive(認知) function at a much slower rate than those with the least mentally challenging jobs. The results held true even after the scientists accounted for the participants’ overall health status.
“This works just like physical exercise, ” says Francisca Then, who led the study. “After a long run, you may feel like you’re in pain, you may feel tired. But it makes you fit. After a long day at work-sure, you will feel tired, but it can help your brain stay healthy. ”
It's not just corporate jobs, or even paid work that can help keep your brain fit, Then points out. A waiter’s job, for example, that requires multitasking, teamwork and decision-making could be just as stimulating as any high-level office work. And “running a family household requires high-level planning and coordinating(協調), ” she says. “You have to organize the activities of the children and take care of the bills and groceries. ”
Of course, our brains can decline as we grow older for lots of reasons-including other environmental influences or genetic factors. Still, continuing to challenge yourself mentally and keeping your mind busy can only help.
67．Why did the scientists ask the volunteers to take the tests?
A．To assess their health status. B．To evaluate their work habits.
C．To analyze their personality. D．To measure their mental ability.
68．How does Francisca Then explain her findings in paragraph 4?
A．By using an expert’s words. B．By making a comparison.
C．By referring to another study. D．By introducing a concept.
69．Which of the following is the best title for the text?
A．Retired Workers Can Pick Up New Skills
B．Old People Should Take Challenging Jobs
C．Your Tough Job Might Help Keep You Sharp
D．Cognitive Function May Decline As You Age
【回答】
67．D
68．B
69．C
【分析】
這是一篇説明文。《神經病學》雜誌發佈的一則研究顯示，需要大量的分析思考、細緻規劃和其他管理技能有挑戰*的工作，有可能會幫助你的大腦隨着年齡的增長而保持敏鋭。
67．細節理解題。根據第二段第一句“Researchers from the University of Leipzig in Germany gathered more than 1,000 retired workers who were over age 75 and assessed the volunteers’ memory and thinking skills through a battery of tests.(來自德國萊比錫大學的研究人員召集了1000多名75歲以上的退休老人，並通過一系列的測試對他們的記憶力和思維能力進行了評估。)”可知，科學家讓志願者做測試是為了測試他們的心智能力。故選D項。
68．推理判斷題。根據第四段中Francisca Then説的話“This works just like physical exercise,( 這就像體育鍛煉一樣有效。)”及接下來進一步的解釋“長跑後人就會感到痛苦和疲憊，但它確實能強身健體。工作一天下來會感到勞累，但這也使你的大腦處於健康狀態”可知，Francisca Then是通過與“身體鍛鍊”作比較來解釋他的發現的。故選B項。
69．主旨大意題。第一段“Challenging work that requires lots of analytical thinking, planning and other managerial skills might help your brain stay sharp as you age(需要大量的分析思考、細緻規劃和其他管理技能有挑戰*的工作，有可能會幫助你的大腦隨着年齡的增長而保持敏鋭。)”是本文的主題句，結合全文內容可知，文章主要講述了有挑戰*的工作可能會使大腦保持敏捷，所以C項“困難的工作可能有助於大腦保持敏捷”適合作本文標題。故選C項。
知識點：其他
題型：閲讀理解
