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(an) 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.
【解析】空白處的詞語作“We suddenly can't remember”的賓語,同時在賓語從句“we put the keys just a moment ago”中作狀語。需要注意的是:put sth.后常跟介詞短語、形容詞或副詞作狀語,不接狀語時其意義不完整。四個選項中,A項where指代地點,放在空白處與文意相符,所以是正確選項。B項when指代時間,與從句中的a moment ago沖突,可以排除。C項that雖然可以引導賓語從句,但無實意,在從句中不起作用,放在空白處從句的意義不完整,可以排除。D項why引導原因,雖然也可用于引導賓語從句,但與that一樣,用在空白處從句的意義不完整,所以可以排除。
【解析】由第二自然段的第一句話可知,本自然段強調的是大腦訓練對提高基本認知功能的重要性,即雖然我們在大腦中建立聯系的能力天生有差異,但實際上通過大腦訓練我們可以改變智力的狀態,這是因為“這些聯系是通過努力和練習建立的(because these connections are made through effort and practice)”。由此不難看出,科學家們相信智力可以提高或者變化實際上是基于努力的程度(mental effort),所以正確答案應該選B項according to“根據”。A項instead of表示“而不是”;C項apart from表示“除了……之外”;D項regardless of表示“不顧”。