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.
12．______
本题测试考生根据上下文判断逻辑和词义的能力。according to根据； regardless of不管； apart from除了；instead of代替，而不是。此空需填入衔接上下文语义的逻辑词，表示“智力可以增长和波动”和“思维努力”的关系。上文提到“因为推动智力发展的连接可以通过人为的努力和训练实现，因此科学家相信“智力的增长和波动”和“人为的思维努力”是相关的。故A项according to“根据”符合句意，表示智力可以随着人为的思维努力而增长和波动。B项regardless of“不管”、C项apart from“除了”和D项instead of“而不是”在语义上均体现不出人为的思维努力和智力发展的相关性，故都不选。此外，instead of连接的是并列结构而空格前后分别为动词和名词，故从语法上可先排除instead of。
