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 demonstrate 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 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 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, lead 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 effects 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.
【小题1】Which statement is true according to the text？A．This kind of training can only have effect on people for a few years。B．The people were trained during a period of ten years.C．All the people who were studied were more than 70 years old.D．The second group were trained how to remember word lists.【小题2】What can be inferred from the passage？A．There were four groups being trained.B．The old people trained can remember words better.C．The second and third group improved their skills better than the first one.D．The research showed that the effect of the training could absolutely last 10 years.【小题3】What’s the main idea of the fourth paragragh?A．What was the meaning of the research?B．How was the research conducted?C．Why was the mental training effective?D．How long did the research last?【小题4】What is the best title of the passage？A．Mental Training Helped Elderly Stay Sharp for YearsB．How to improve our mental healthC．Four groups of old people were trained mentally.D． The result of a ten-year researchB
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(答案→)B
解析：文章介绍了一项调查结果：老年人进行脑力训练有助于提高脑力水平，而且效果可以持续很长时间。
【小题1】细节题：从第一段的句子：A recently published study also appears to demonstrate that the good effects of training can last for many years after that training has ended.可知A是错的，从文章的第二段的句子：The people were part of the ten-year research project. 可知这些受训练的人是参加的十年的研究项目。从第三段的句子：Most studied when they were more than 70 years old.可知C是错的，从第三段的句子：One class trained participants in skills including how to remember word lists. Another group trained in reasoning.可知D是错的，所以选B。
【小题2】推理题：从第三段的内容：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. 可知第一组是训练记忆能力，第二第三组是训练推理和接受，理解信息的速度，再由最后一段的句子：The effect on memory, however, seemed not to last as long可知进行记忆力训练的老人效【小题3】段落大意题：从第三段的内容：可知这段是具体介绍这项调查是怎么实施的，选B
【小题4】标题确定题：通读全文和第一段的句子：Some kinds of mental skills naturally decrease as people get older. Yet research seems to show that some training can improve such skills. 可知通过训练可以提高老人的脑力，而且效果可以持续多年，所以A是最贴切的标题。