Section I: Use of English

Directions: Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on the ANSWER SHEET. (10 points)

As many people hit middle age, they often start to notice that their memory and mental clarity are not what they used to be. We suddenly can’t remember [1] we put the keys just a moment ago, or an old acquaintance’s name, or the name of an old band we used to love. As the brain [2], we refer to these occurrences as “senior moments.” [3] seemingly innocent, this loss of mental focus can potentially have a(n) [4] impact on our professional, social, and personal [5].

Neuroscientists, experts who study the nervous system, are increasingly showing that there’s actually a lot that can be done. It [6] out that the brain needs exercise in much the same way our muscles do, and the right mental [7] can significantly improve our basic cognitive [8]. Thinking is essentially a [9] of making connections in the brain. To a certain extent, our ability to [10] in making the connections that drive intelligence is inherited. [11], because these connections are made through effort and practice, scientists believe that intelligence can expand and fluctuate [12] mental effort.

Now, a new Web-based company has taken it a step [13] and developed the first “brain training program” designed to actually help people improve and regain their mental [14].

The Web-based program [15] you to systematically improve your memory and attention skills. The program keeps [16] of your progress and provides detailed feedback [17] your performance and improvement. Most importantly, it [18] modifies and enhances the games you play to [19] on the strengths you are developing—much like a(n) [20] exercise routine requires you to increase resistance and vary your muscle use.

[A]that

[B]when

[C]why

[D]where

[A]fades

[B]improves

[C]collapses

[D]recovers

[A]Unless

[B]While

[C]Once

[D]If

[A]damaging

[B]limited

[C]uneven

[D]obscure

[A]relationship

[B]environment

[C]wellbeing

[D]outlook

[A]figures

[B]finds

[C]points

[D]turns

[A]responses

[B]associations

[C]workouts

[D]roundabouts

[A]genre

[B]criterion

[C]circumstances

[D]functions

[A]channel

[B]process

[C]condition

[D]sequence

10.

[A]persist

[B]feature

[C]excel

[D]believe

11.

[A]However

[B]Moreover

[C]Otherwise

[D]Therefore

12.

[A]according to

[B]regardless of

[C]apart from

[D]instead of

13.

[A]back

[B]further

[C]aside

[D]around

14.

[A]framework

[B]stability

[C]flexibility

[D]sharpness

15.

[A]hurries

[B]reminds

[C]allows

[D]forces

16.

[A]order

[B]track

[C]pace

[D]hold

17.

[A]on

[B]to

[C]for

[D]with

18.

[A]habitually

[B]constantly

[C]irregularly

[D]unusually

19.

[A]carry

[B]put

[C]build

[D]take

20.

[A]idle

[B]risky

[C]familiar

[D]effective

### Answers & Explanations (答案与深度解析)

核心逻辑解析

1. [D] where (哪里)。解析：句意为“我们突然记不起刚才把钥匙放在哪里（where）了”。that, when(何时), why(为什么)均不符合寻找钥匙的语境。

2. [A] fades (衰退)。解析：随着大脑衰退（fades），我们把这些现象称为“老年时刻”。前文说记忆力大不如前，这里显然是大脑功能的衰退。improves(改善), collapses(崩溃程度过重), recovers(恢复)。

3. [B] While (虽然/尽管)。解析：前半句说看似无害（seemingly innocent），后半句说却有潜在破坏性影响，前后构成让步转折关系。Unless(除非), Once(一旦), If(如果)。

4. [A] damaging (破坏性的)。解析：注意力的丧失会对我们产生破坏性的（damaging）影响。limited(有限的), uneven(不均匀的), obscure(模糊的)。

5. [C] wellbeing (幸福/安康)。解析：对我们的职业、社交和个人安康（wellbeing）产生影响。relationship(关系), environment(环境), outlook(前景)。

6. [D] turns (转向)。解析：固定搭配 It turns out that...（事实证明/结果是...）。事实证明，大脑和肌肉一样需要锻炼。figure out(弄清楚), find out(查明), point out(指出)的主语通常是人。

7. [C] workouts (锻炼)。解析：前文提到大脑需要 exercise，这里 right mental workouts（正确的心理锻炼）是对前文的同义复现。responses(反应), associations(联想), roundabouts(迂回)。

8. [D] functions (功能)。解析：正确的锻炼可以显著改善我们的基本认知功能（cognitive functions）。genre(体裁), criterion(标准), circumstances(环境)。

9. [B] process (过程)。解析：思考本质上是在大脑中建立连接的一个过程（a process of making connections）。channel(渠道), condition(条件), sequence(顺序)。

10. [C] excel (擅长/突出)。解析：在某种程度上，我们擅长（excel in）建立这些连接的能力是遗传的。persist in(坚持), feature(以...为特征)。

11. [A] However (然而)。解析：上一句说这种能力是遗传的，这一句说因为连接可以通过努力建立，所以智力可以扩展。前后语义发生转折。Moreover(此外), Otherwise(否则), Therefore(因此)。

12. [A] according to (根据)。解析：科学家相信，智力可以根据（according to）我们付出的脑力劳动而扩展和波动。regardless of(不管), apart from(除了), instead of(代替)。

13. [B] further (进一步)。解析：搭配 take it a step further（向前迈进一步/更进一步）。这家网络公司更进一步，开发了大脑训练程序。back(向后), aside(在旁边), around(在周围)。

14. [D] sharpness (敏锐度)。解析：帮助人们改善并恢复大脑的敏锐度（mental sharpness）。这与第一段提到的 loss of mental focus 形成呼应。framework(框架), stability(稳定性), flexibility(灵活性)。

15. [C] allows (允许)。解析：这个网络程序允许/让（allows）你系统地改善记忆。hurry(催促), remind(提醒), force(强迫)语义均不符。

16. [B] track (轨迹/追踪)。解析：固定搭配 keep track of（记录/追踪）。程序记录你的进度并提供反馈。keep order/pace/hold 均不符合语境。

17. [A] on (关于)。解析：provide feedback on sth（提供关于...的反馈）。提供关于你表现和进步的详细反馈。

18. [B] constantly (不断地)。解析：最重要的是，它不断地（constantly）修改和增强你玩的游戏。这体现了程序的动态调整能力。habitually(习惯性地), irregularly(不规律地), unusually(不寻常地)。

19. [C] build (建立)。解析：固定搭配 build on（基于/在...基础上发展）。调整游戏以便在你正在培养的优势基础上继续发展。carry on(继续), put on(穿上), take on(承担)。

20. [D] effective (有效的)。解析：就像一套有效的（effective）常规锻炼要求你增加阻力并改变肌肉使用一样。idle(闲置的), risky(冒险的), familiar(熟悉的)。

考研核心句型与高频词汇

核心短语：
 • used to be (过去的样子/曾经) 
 • refer to... as... (把...称作...) 
 • turn out (事实证明/结果是) 
 • to a certain extent (在某种程度上) 
 • keep track of (追踪/记录) 
 • build on (在...基础上发展) 

长难句剖析：
"Most importantly, it constantly modifies and enhances the games you play to build on the strengths you are developing—much like an effective exercise routine requires you to increase resistance and vary your muscle use."
 【解析】主句是 it modifies and enhances the games，其中 you play 是定语从句修饰 games；to build on the strengths 作目的状语，you are developing 又是定语从句修饰 strengths。破折号后 much like 引导一个比较状语从句，把大脑训练游戏比作身体肌肉锻炼，生动形象。 