Passage Two

      If those "mad moments" -- when you can't remember what your friend has told you or where you left your keys -- are becoming more frequent, mental exercises and a healthy brain diet may help.

      Just as bodies require more maintenance with the passing years, so do brains, which scientists now know show signs of aging as early as the 20s and 30s. "Brain aging starts at a very young age, younger than any of us had imagined and these processes continue gradually over the years," said Dr. Gary Small, the director of the Center on Aging at the University of California, Los Angeles. "I'm convinced that it is never too early to get started on a mental or brain-fitness program," he added.

      In his book, The Memory Bible, the 51-year-old neuroscientist (神经学家) lists what he refers to as the 10 suggestions for keeping the brain young. They include training memory, building skills, reducing stress, mental exercises,! brain food and a healthy lifestyle. It's a game plan for keeping brain cells sparking and neural networks in perfect shape.

      "Misplacing your keys a couple of times doesn't mean you should start labeling your cabinets. Memory loss is not an inevitable consequence of aging. Our brains can fight back," he said.

     Small provides the weapons for a full-scale attack.

     Simple memory tests give an indication of what you are up against and tools such as "look" and "connect" are designed to make sure that important things such as names and dates are never forgotten. "So if you wanted to learn names and faces, for example, you meet Mrs. Beatty and you notice a distinguishing facial feature, maybe a high eyebrow," said Small. "You associate the first thing that comes to mind. I think of the actor Warren Beatty so I create a mental pictures of Warren Beatty kissing her brow."

     Small admits it may sound a bit strange but he says it works. "Mental exercises could be anything from doing crossword puzzles and writing with your left hand if you are right handed or learning a language. It could be anything that is fun that people enjoy doing", he added.

     He also recommends physical exercise, a low-fat diet and eating foods rich in fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, and fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants (抗氧化剂) including blueberries and onions in addition to reducing stress.

41.  The "mad moment" in the first paragraph refers to the time when we ________

      A. don't listen to our friends

      B. have lost our important things

      C. have some mental problems

      D. have a bad memory

42.  In this passage, the author mainly tells us ___________

      A. everyone has bad memories sometimes no matter how old he is

      B. we can prevent our mind from aging with various methods

      C. brain aging starts at the time when we are in the 20s and 30s

      D. memory loss is not the sign that we are getting old

43.  By giving the example "you meet Mrs. Beatty and you notice a distinguishing ... eyebrow",

      Dr. Small is trying to explain the memory tool of

      A. look                          B. physical exercises

      C. connect                        D. mental exercises

44.  By saying "I think of the actor Warren Beatty so I create.., her brow", Dr. Small is trying to explain the memory tool of

      A. remembering facial features       B. reducing stress

      C. connecting related things         D. observing carefully

45.  Mental exercises do NOT include

      A. writing with one's left hand

      B. learning a foreign language

      C. doing crossword puzzles

      D. taking pictures