Use of English (2021)

Fluid intelligence is the type of intelligence that has to do with short-term memory and the ability to think quickly, logically, and abstractly in order to solve new problems. It [1] in young adulthood, levels out for a period of time, and then [2] starts to slowly decline as we age. But [3] aging is inevitable, scientists are finding out that certain changes in brain function may not be.

One study found that muscle loss and the [4] of body fat around the abdomen are associated with a decline in fluid intelligence. This suggests the [5] that lifestyle factors might help prevent or [6] this type of decline.

The researchers looked at data that [7] measurements of lean muscle and abdominal fat from more than 4,000 middle-to-older-aged men and women and [8] that data to reported changes in fluid intelligence over a six-year period. They found that middle-aged people [9] higher measures of abdominal fat [10] worse on measures of fluid intelligence as the years [11].

For women, the association may be [12] to changes in immunity that resulted from excess abdominal fat; in men, the immune system did not appear to be [13]. It is hoped that future studies could [14] these differences and perhaps lead to different [15] for men and women.

[16], there are steps you can [17] to help reduce abdominal fat and maintain lean muscle mass as you age in order to protect both your physical and mental [18]. The two highly recommended lifestyle approaches are maintaining or increasing your [19] of aerobic exercise and following a Mediterranean-style [20] that is high in fiber and eliminates highly processed foods.

[A]pauses

[B]peaks

[C]returns

[D]fades

[A]alternatively

[B]formally

[C]generally

[D]accidentally

[A]until

[B]since

[C]once

[D]while

[A]accumulation

[B]detection

[C]consumption

[D]separation

[A]requirement

[B]decision

[C]goal

[D]possibility

[A]utilize

[B]ensure

[C]seek

[D]delay

[A]modified

[B]included

[C]supported

[D]predicted

[A]compared

[B]devoted

[C]converted

[D]applied

[A]against

[B]above

[C]by

[D]with

10.

[A]lived

[B]scored

[C]managed

[D]played

11.

[A]ran out

[B]set off

[C]went by

[D]drew in

12.

[A]attributable

[B]superior

[C]parallel

[D]resistant

13.

[A]restored

[B]involved

[C]isolated

[D]controlled

14.

[A]alter

[B]spread

[C]explain

[D]remove

15.

[A]compensations

[B]symptoms

[C]treatments

[D]demands

16.

[A]Meanwhile

[B]Likewise

[C]Therefore

[D]Instead

17.

[A]change

[B]watch

[C]take

[D]count

18.

[A]coordination

[B]process

[C]formation

[D]well-being

19.

[A]space

[B]love

[C]knowledge

[D]level

20.

[A]design

[B]diet

[C]routine

[D]prescription

答案与解析 (Answers)

1. [B] peaks. 解析：根据时间线“在青年期...，平稳一段时间，然后随着年龄增长下降”，流体智力在青年期应是“达到顶峰（peaks）”。

2. [C] generally. 解析：这是一种普遍规律，“通常（generally）”开始缓慢下降。

3. [D] while. 解析：前后分句构成让步转折，“尽管（while）”衰老不可避免，但某些大脑功能变化可能并非不可避免。

4. [A] accumulation. 解析：与肌肉流失（muscle loss）并列的通常是腹部脂肪的“积累/增加（accumulation）”。

5. [D] possibility. 解析：这暗示了一种“可能性（possibility）”，即生活方式因素可能有助于预防衰退。

6. [D] delay. 解析：生活方式可能有助于预防或“推迟（delay）”这种衰退。

7. [B] included. 解析：研究人员查看的数据“包含（included）”了肌肉和脂肪的测量值。

8. [A] compared. 解析：compare A to/with B 固定搭配，将这些数据与流体智力的变化进行“比较（compared）”。

9. [D] with. 解析：介词 with 表示伴随/拥有，“带有（with）”更高腹部脂肪指标的人群。

10. [B] scored. 解析：在流体智力指标上“得分（scored）”更差。

11. [C] went by. 解析：as the years went by 是固定搭配，意为“随着岁月流逝”。

12. [A] attributable. 解析：be attributable to... 固定搭配，意为“可归因于...”。对女性而言，这种关联可归因于免疫力的变化。

13. [B] involved. 解析：而在男性中，免疫系统似乎并未“参与/涉及（involved）”其中。

14. [C] explain. 解析：希望未来的研究能够“解释（explain）”这些性别差异。

15. [C] treatments. 解析：并可能为男女带来不同的“治疗方法（treatments）”。

16. [A] Meanwhile. 解析：前文讲未来的研究期望，现在转回当下的做法，“与此同时（Meanwhile）”，我们现在可以采取一些措施。

17. [C] take. 解析：take steps 固定搭配，意为“采取措施”。

18. [D] well-being. 解析：保护身体和精神的“健康/福祉（well-being）”。

19. [D] level. 解析：增加有氧运动的“水平/量（level）”。

20. [B] diet. 解析：遵循地中海式的“饮食（diet）”。

核心长难句精解 (Highlighted Sentences)

1. 让步状语从句与省略现象：
"But while aging is inevitable, scientists are finding out that certain changes in brain function may not be."
 【解析】while 在句首作“尽管”讲，引导让步状语从句。主句中 may not be 后面省略了 inevitable，以避免重复。 
【翻译】但是，尽管衰老是不可避免的，科学家们却发现，大脑功能的某些特定变化可能并非无法避免。 
2. 定语从句与动词并列：
"The researchers looked at data that included measurements of lean muscle and abdominal fat... and compared that data to reported changes in fluid intelligence..."
 【解析】that 引导限制性定语从句，修饰 data。主句的主语是 The researchers，谓语由 looked at 和 compared 两个并列的过去式动词构成。 
【翻译】研究人员查看了涵盖4000多名中老年男女瘦肌肉和腹部脂肪测量结果的数据，并将这些数据与六年来流体智力的报告变化进行了比较。 
3. 形容词短语作表语与定语从句：
"For women, the association may be attributable to changes in immunity that resulted from excess abdominal fat..."
 【解析】be attributable to（可归因于）是常用的形容词短语作表语。that 引导定语从句，进一步修饰 changes in immunity，解释免疫力变化的原因。 
【翻译】对于女性来说，这种关联可能归因于过量腹部脂肪引起的免疫力变化…… 