Some kinds of mental skills naturally decrease as people get older. Yet research seems to show that

【题目】Some kinds of mental skills naturally decrease as people get older. Yet research seems to show that some training can improve such skills. A recently published study also appears to attest that the good effects of training can last for many years after that training has ended.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland wanted to learn how long memory and thinking skills would last in older people who were trained to keep them. The people were part of the ten-year research project. They were taught methods meant to improve their memory, thinking and ability to perform everyday tasks.

More than 2,800 volunteered for the study called ACTIVE — short for Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly. Most were studied when they were more than 70 years old.

The volunteers took one of several short training classes meant to help them keep their mental abilities. One class trained participants in skills including how to remember word lists. Another group trained in reasoning. A third group received help with speed-of-processing — speed of receiving and understanding information. A fourth group — the control group did not get any training.

Earlier results had established that the training helped the participants for up to five years. Now, leading study writer George Rebok says, the research showed most of the training remained effective a full ten years later.

Professor Rebok and his team found that the people trained in reasoning and speed-of- processing did better on tests than the control group.

“We are wondering whether those which endured over time would still be there ten years following the training, and in fact, that's exactly what we found.,,

The effect on memory, however, seemed not to last as long. Still, the old people in any of the three classes generally reported less difficulty in performing daily activities than the control group.The total training time for the older people was between 10 and 15 hours.

【1】 Which statement is false according to the text?

A. This kind of training can only have effects on people for a few years.

B. The people were trained during a period of ten years.

C. Most of the people who were studied were more than 70 years old.

D. The first group were trained how to remember word lists.

【2】 How would the old in the second group perform after receiving the trauung?

A. Remember more words.

B. Understand information more quickly.

C. Act as poorly as before.

D. Perform daily activities better.

【3】 What does the underlined word "attest" in the first paragraph mean7

A-Affect. B. Deny.

C. Prove. D. Improve.

【4】 Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A. Some Kinds of Mental Skills Naturally Decrease.

B. Mental Training Helped Elderly Stay Sharp for Years.

C. Four Groups of Old People Were Trained Mentally.

D. A Ten-year Research Affects Elderly.

【答案】

【1】A

【2】D

【3】C

【4】B

【解析】

试题分析：本文是一篇说明文。随着年龄的增长，人们的某些心理机能也在衰退，然而最近有研究表示这些机能可以通过训练重新获得，而且通过训练后这些机能保持很长一段时间。

【1】A细节辨析题。根据第一段A recently published study also appears to attest that the good effects of training can last for many years after that training has ended.“最近一项已发表的调查证明，训练带来的好处将在训练结束后的多年后持续存在。”故答案A是错误的。

【2】D细节辨析题。根据第八段Still, the old people in any of the three classes generally reported less difficulty in performing daily activities than the control group.“据报道，在这三组的老人们在完成日常活动方面仍然比控制组的老人要好。”故答案为D。

【3】C词义辨析题。Attest“证明，作证”；A.Affect.“影响，感动，作用”； B. Deny“否认，拒绝承认，自制”；C. Prove“证明，检验，结果是”；D. Improve“改善，改进，提高”；故答案为C。

【4】B主旨大意题。通读全文，主要内容为科学家发现对老年人进行相关训练以弥补其因年老而带来的心理机能衰退，故答案为B。