Work your brain!
Between 2 and 3 pounds of wonder, it controls everything we say, do or think, who we are and what we care about. The way we walk or laugh or figure out things. What we like and the talents we possess. How we see and talk and run and jump and process our food.
The brain uses 20 percent of our body’s oxygen and 20 percent of its blood. Somewhere within its protein, fat, 100,000 miles of blood vessels and 100 billion nerve cells, it helps us remember where we put our gym shoes. Change our temperature so we don’t die because of the heat or cold. Speed us up or slow us down. Help us choose between orange juice or orangeflavored drinks.
Its plexity are stunning, far beyond anything most of us can imagine. To keep this work of art as polished as possible we need to eat right, exercise and keep mentally stimulated. Good nutrition helps brain cells municate with each other. Exercise stimulates a hormone in our brain that improves memory. Mental stimulation keeps you sharp even as you age.
“It’s very important that we tell people to be physically active and mentally active,” said neurologist Malcolm Stewart.“People cannot stop aging, but you’re able to reduce the damage; you’re able to keep the function up.”
Following are Dr. Stewart’s advice for improving brain health：
Nutrition
Avoid fast food Follow the old adage(格言): For breakfast, eat like a king; for lunch, like a queen; for supper, like a beggar.
Exercise
Do a bination of stretching aerobic and muscle strengthening every day.
Mental games
Try to have a sense of hope about the future. Do puzzles. Listen to music. Reach out to others to make their lives better.
【小题1】The purpose of the author in writing this passage is to .A．inform us how the brain works B．give us advice on how to keep the brain healthy C．tell us that the brain plays an important role in our lives D．show how special the brain is to us【小题2】The underlined word “stunning” means .A．interesting B．strangeC．significant D．amazing【小题3】According to the text，more exercise .A．keeps our mind sharpB．helps improve our memory C．gives our brain a rest D．is good for brain cells municating with each other【小题4】In order to keep brain healthy，we should avoid .A．eating a good lunch B．doing puzzles C．eating a large supper D．taking aerobic exerciseB
网友回答
(答案→)B
解析：
本文介绍了给大脑保健的方法：合理的营养、适度的运动和智力活动。
【小题1】文章第一、二段介绍大脑的神奇，意在唤起读者对于大脑的赞叹并为下文“大脑保健”进行铺垫。然后以To keep this work of art （杰作）as polished as possible we need to eat right, exercise and keep mentally stimulated.一句揭示作者的写作意图。故选择B项。
【小题2】文章前半部分介绍了大脑的精巧和复杂。这种精巧和复杂远远超出人们的想象，令人惊叹。故选择D项。
【小题3】细节题。由第三段Exercise stimulates a hormone in our brain that improves memory.一句可知，运动可刺激大脑里有助于改善记忆的荷尔蒙的分泌。故B项正确。
【小题4】从表格中For breakfast, eat like a king; for lunch, like a queen; for supper, like a beggar.一句可知，给大脑保健所需要的合理营养要求早饭、午饭吃好，避免丰盛的晚餐。故C项正确。