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.
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本题测试考生根据上下文判断词义的能力。Sharpness锐利，清晰度；stability稳定性；framework框架；结构；flexibility灵活性；适应性。此处需填入mental修饰的名词，同时作improve和regain（重新获得）的宾语。文章一开始就提到人到中年，记忆力和思维清晰度（memory and mental clarity)大不如前，结合下一段提到该课程可以提高记忆和注意力（improve memory and attention skill)，故这里填入的词应与clarity“清晰度”意思相近，选A项sharpness。C项framework表示“（思维的)框架”，文中没有提及相关内容；B项和D项是思维方面的品质，均与前文提及的记忆力和思维清晰度减退无关联，故排除。
