Age-proofing our Brains Reading Answers

Dec 31, 2022

Age-proofing our Brains Reading Answers contains 13 questions that are to be answered in 20 minutes. Age-proofing our Brains Reading Answers is taken from the book Cambridge IELTS 10 Student's Book with Answers. Age-proofing our Brains Reading Answers consists of two types of questions including- choosing the correct options, and Matching Information. Candidates are required to choose three correct answers with relevance from the reading passage. The candidates should read thoroughly the IELTS reading passage in order to recognize the synonyms and identify the keywords and for answering the questions below. Similar kinds of topics like Age-proofing our Brains Reading Answers are included in the IELTS reading practice papers, which the candidates can take into their consideration for performing a good score in this section.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Age-proofing our Brains Reading Answers

While it may not be possible to completely age-proof our brains, a brave new world of anti-aging research shows that our gray matter may be far more flexible than we thought. So no one, no matter how old, has to lose their mind. The brain has often been called the three-pound universe. It’s our most powerful and mysterious organ, the seat of the self, laced with as many billions of neurons as the galaxy has stars. No wonder the mere notion of an aging, failing brain—and the prospect of memory loss, confusion, and the unraveling of our personality—is so terrifying. As Mark Williams, M.D., author of The American Geriatrics Society’s Complete Guide to Aging and Health, says, “The fear of dementia is stronger than the fear of death itself.” Yet the degeneration of the brain is far from inevitable. ” Its design features are such that it should continue to function for a lifetime,” says Zaven Khachaturian, Ph.D., director of the Alzheimer's Association 1s Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute. “There’s no reason to expect it to deteriorate with age, even though many of us are living longer lives.” In fact, scientists ‘ view of the brain 1s potential is rapidly changing, according to Stanford University neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky, Ph.D.
“Thirty-five years ago we thought Alzheimer 1s disease was a dramatic version of normal aging. Now we realize it1s a disease with a distinct pathology. In fact, some people simply don’t experience any mental decline, so we’ve begun to study them.” Antonio Damasio, M.D., Ph.D., head of the Department of Neurology at the University of Iowa and author of Descartes’ Error, concurs. “Older people can continue to have extremely rich and healthy mental lives.’
The seniors were tested in 1988 and again in 1991. Four factors were found to be related to their mental fitness: levels of education and physical activity, lung function, and feelings of self-efficacy “Each of these elements alters the way our brain functions,“ says Marilyn Albert, Ph.D. , of Harvard Medical School, and colleagues from Yale, Duke, and Brandeis Universities and the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, who hypothesizes that regular exercise may actually stimulate blood flow to the brain and nerve growth, both of which create more densely branched neurons, rendering the neurons stronger and better able to resist disease. Moderate aerobic exercise, including long brisk walks and frequently climbing stairs, will accomplish this.
Education also seems to enhance brain function. People who have challenged themselves with at least a college education may actually stimulate the neurons in their brains. Moreover, native intelligence may protect our brains. It’s possible that smart people begin life with a greater number of neurons, and therefore have a greater reserve to fall back on if some begin to fail. “If you have a lot of neurons and keep them busy, you may be able to tolerate more damage to your brain before it shows,” says Peter Davies, M.D., of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. Early linguistic ability also seems to help our brains later in life. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at 93 elderly nuns and examined the autobiographies they had written 60 years earlier, just as they were joining a convent. The nuns whose essays were complex and dense with ideas remained sharp into their eighties and nineties.
Finally, personality seems to play an important role in protecting our mental prowess. A sense of self-efficacy may protect our brain, buffeting it from the harmful effects of stress. According to Albert, there’ s evidence that elevated levels of stress hormones may harm brain cells and cause the hippocampus—a small seahorse-shaped organ that 1's a crucial moderator of memory—to atrophy. A sense that we can effectively chart our own course in the world may retard the release of stress hormones and protect us as we age. “It's not a matter of whether you experience stress or not, ” Albert concludes, “it’s your attitude toward it. ” Reducing stress by meditating on a regular basis may buffer the brain as well. It also increases the activity of the brain’ s pineal gland, the source of the antioxidant hormone melatonin, which regulates sleep and may retard the aging process. Studies at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and the University of Western Ontario found that people who meditated regularly had higher levels of melatonin than those who took 5-milligram supplements Another study, conducted jointly by Maharishi International University, Harvard University, and the University of Maryland, found that seniors who meditated for three months experienced dramatic improvements in their psychological well-being, compared to their non-meditative peers.
Animal studies confirm that both mental and physical activity boost brain fitness. At the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology in Urbana, Illinois， psychologist William Greenough, Ph. D., let some rats play with a profusion of toys. These rodents developed about 25 percent more connections between their neurons than did rats that didn’t get any mentally stimulating recreation. In addition, rats that exercised on a treadmill developed more capillaries in specific parts of their brains than did their sedentary counterparts. This increased the blood flow to their brains. “Clearly the message is to do as many different flyings as possible,” Greenough says.
It’s not just scientists who are catching the anti-aging fever. Walk into any health food store, and you111 find nutritional formulas —with names like Brainstorm and Smart ALEC—that claim to sharpen mental ability. The book Smart Drugs & Nutrients, by Ward Dean, M.D., and John Morgenthaler, was self-published in 1990 and has sold over 120,000 copies worldwide. It has also spawned an underground network of people tweaking their own brain chemistry with nutrients and drugs—the latter sometimes obtained from Europe and Mexico. Sales of ginkgo —an extract from the leaves of the 200-million-year-old ginkgo tree, which has been shown in published studies to increase oxygen in the brain and ameliorate symptoms of Alzheimer‘ s disease—are up by 22 percent in the last six months alone, according to Paddy Spence, president of SPINS, a San Francisco-based market research firm. Indeed, products that increase and preserve mental performance are a small but emerging segment of the supplements industry, says Linda Gilbert, president of Health Focus, a company that researches consumer health trends. While neuroscientists like Khachaturian liken the use of these products to the superstition of tossing salt over your shoulder, the public is nevertheless gobbling up nutrients that promise cognitive enhancement.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 28-31
Choose the Four correct letters among A-G.
Write your answers in boxes 28-31 on your answer sheet.
Which of the FOUR situations or conditions assisting the Brains’ function?

Preventive treatment against Alzheimer’s disease
Doing active aerobic exercise and frequently climbing stairs
High levels of education
Early verbal or language competence training
Having more supplements such as ginkgo tree
Participate in more physical activity involving in stimulating tasks
Personality and feelings of self-fulfillment

Answer 28: C
Supporting Sentence: Education also seems to enhance brain function.
Keywords: Education, brain function
Keyword location: Paragraph C, line 1 – line 3
Explanation: "Education also appears to improve brain function," according to the following words in paragraph C. People who have pushed oneself with at least a college education may have their neurons stimulated. Furthermore, inherent intelligence has the potential to defend our brains." This implies that higher education levels help the brain function. Hence the answer is C.

Answer 29: D
Supporting Sentence: Early linguistic ability also seems to help our brains later in life.
Keywords: Early linguistic, brains later in life
Keyword location: Paragraph C, line 7
Explanation: According to paragraph C states about early language skill also appears to aid our brains later in life. This suggests that early verbal or linguistic competency training benefits brain function. Hence the answer is D.

Answer 30: F
Supporting Sentence: Moderate aerobic exercise, including long brisk walks and frequently climbing stairs, will accomplish this.
Keywords: Moderate aerobic exercise, climbing stairs
Keyword location: Paragraph B, line 4 – line 8
Explanation: According to paragraph B, Ph.D., of Harvard Medical School, and colleagues from Yale, Duke, and Brandeis Universities, as well as the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, regular exercise may actually stimulate blood flow to the brain and nerve growth, both of which create more densely branched neurons, making the neurons stronger and more resistant to disease. Moderate aerobic activity, such as lengthy brisk walks and frequent stair climbing, will do this. This shows that engaging in greater physical activities with stimulating tasks might help the brain function. Hence the answer is F.

Answer 31: G
Supporting Sentence: Finally, personality seems to play an important role in protecting our mental prowess.
Keywords: personality, protecting our mental prowess.
Keyword location: Paragraph D, line 1 – line 2
Explanation: Finally, personality appears to play a significant part in safeguarding our mental prowess mentioned in paragraph D. A sense of self-efficacy may shield our brain from the damaging consequences of stress. This suggests that personality and sentiments of self-satisfaction might help the brain operate. Hence the answer is G.

Questions 32-39
Use the information in the passage to match the people (listed A-G) with opinions or deeds below.
Write the appropriate letters A-G in boxes 32-39 on your answer sheet.

NB you may use any latter more than once

Zaven Khachaturian
William Greenough
Marilyn Albert
Robert Sapolsky
Linda Gilbert
Peter Davies
Paddy Spence

Alzheimer’s was probably a kind of disease rather than a normal aging process.

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: In fact, scientists ‘ view of the brain 1s potential is rapidly changing, according to Stanford University neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky, Ph.D.
Keywords: brains potential, neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky
Keyword location: Paragraph A, line 12 – line 16
Explanation: According to paragraph A Stanford University neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky, Ph.D., scientists' perceptions of the brain's potential are fast shifting. They assumed Alzheimer's disease was a dramatic version of normal aging 35 years ago. We now understand that it is a disease with a specific pathophysiology. In truth, some people just do not suffer from mental deterioration, and we have begun to investigate them. As a result, Robert Sapolsky concluded Alzheimer's was a disease rather than a natural part of the aging process. Hence the answer is D.

Keeping neurons busy, people may be able to endure more harm to your brain

Answer: F
Supporting Sentence: If you have a lot of neurons and keep them busy, you may be able to tolerate more damage to your brain before it shows,” says Peter Davies, M.D., of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York.
Keywords: Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx
Keyword location: Paragraph C, line 4 – line 7
Explanation: According to paragraph C, "If you have a lot of neurons … brain damage before it appears," says Peter Davies, M.D., of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. This shows that Peter Davies felt that by keeping neurons active, humans might withstand more brain damage. Hence the answer is F.

Regular exercises boost blood flow to the brain and increase anti-disease disability.

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: The seniors were tested in 1988 and again in 1991.
Keywords: seniors, tested in 1988 and again in 1991.
Keyword location: Paragraph B, line 1 – line 7
Explanation: Paragraph B states “The seniors were tested in 1988 … our brain functions,“ says Marilyn Albert, Ph.D. , of Harvard Medical School, and colleagues from Yale, Duke. He adds that Brandeis Universities and the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, regular exercise may actually boost blood flow to the brain and nerve development, both of which result in more densely branching neurons, making the neurons stronger and more resistant to illness.According to Marilyn Albert, regular exercise increases blood flow to the brain and increases anti-disease disability. Hence the answer is C.

Significant increase of Sales of ginkgo has been shown.

Answer: G
Supporting Sentence: Sales of ginkgo —an extract from the leaves of the 200-million-year-old ginkgo tree, which has been shown in published studies to increase oxygen in the brain and ameliorate symptoms of Alzheimer‘ s disease
Keywords: Sales of ginkgo, Alzheimer‘ s disease
Keyword location: Paragraph F, line 6 – line 10
Explanation: The following lines from Paragraph B say that “Sales of ginkgo —an extract from the leaves of the 200-million-year-old ginkgo tree…San Francisco-based market research firm.” This obviously demonstrates that, according to Paddy Spence, a huge spike in ginkgo sales has occurred. Hence the answer is G.

More links between their neurons are found among stimulated animals.

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Clearly the message is to do as many different flyings as possible,” Greenough says.
Keywords: different flyings as possible, 25 percent more connections
Keyword location: Paragraph E, line 3 – line 8
Explanation: These mice formed roughly 25% more connections between their neurons than rats that did not have any intellectually engaging recreation mentions paragraph E. Furthermore, rats that exercised on a treadmill generated more capillaries in certain areas of their brains than sedentary rats. This boosted the amount of blood flowing to their brains. The message is clearly to undertake as many various flyings as possible explained by Greenough. This shows that William Greenough felt stimulated animals had more connections between their neurons. Hence the answer is B.

Effectiveness of the use of brains supplements products can be of little scientific proof.

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: The use of these products to the superstition of tossing salt over your shoulder, the public is nevertheless gobbling up nutrients that promise cognitive enhancement.
Keywords: superstition of tossing salt , gobbling up nutrients
Keyword location: Paragraph F, line 13 – line 15
Explanation: Paragraph F mentions While cognitive scientists like Khachaturian compare the usage of these goods to the superstition of chucking salt over your shoulder, the general population is consuming nutrients that promise cognitive improvement. This shows that neuroscientists like Zaven Khachaturian say there is insufficient empirical evidence to support the usefulness of brain supplement products. Hence the answer is A.

Heightened levels of stress may damage brain cells and cause part of brain to deteriorate.

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: a small seahorse-shaped organ that a crucial moderator of memory—to atrophy.
Keywords: seahorse-shaped organ, crucial moderator of memory
Keyword location: Paragraph D, line 3 – line 5
Explanation: Figure D mentions According to Albert, there is evidence that high amounts of stress hormones might injure brain cells and induce atrophy of the hippocampus, a tiny seahorse-shaped organ that serves as a memory moderator. According to Marilyn Albert, high amounts of stress can harm brain cells and cause parts of the brain to degenerate. Hence the answer is C.

Products that upgrade and preserve mental competence are still a newly developing industry.

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: preserve mental performance are a small but emerging segment of the supplements industry.
Keywords: mental performance, emerging segment
Keyword location: Paragraph F, line 10 – line 13
Explanation: Paragraph F mentions that Mental performance enhancement and preservation are a small but growing segment of the supplement industry. According to Linda Gilbert, a company that studies consumer health trends. According to Linda Gilbert, products that improve and preserve mental competence are still a developing industry. Hence the answer is E.

Questions 40

Choose the correct letters among A-D.
Write your answers in box 40 on your answer sheet.
According to the passage, what is the most appropriate title for this passage?

Making our minds last a lifetime
amazing pills of the ginkgo
how to stay healthy in your old hood
more able a brain and neurons

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: Its design features are such that it should continue to function for a lifetime
Keywords: Design, lifetime
Keyword location: Paragraph A – Paragraph F
Explanation: The paragraph discusses the human intellect and how complicated the human brain is. The text also discusses how our brain works and what we can do to keep it running well for a long period. With these considerations in mind, the answer should be A.

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