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     If you don't have a college degree, you're at greater risk of developing memory problems or even

Alzheimer's (老年痴呆). Education plays a key role in lifelong memory performance and risk for mental

disorder, and it's well documented that those with a college degree possess a cognitive (认知的) advantage

over their less educated counterparts in middle and old age.

     Now, a large national study from Brandeis University published in the American Joumal of Geriatric

Psychiatry shows that those with less schooling can significantly make up for poorer education by frequently

engaging in mental exercises such as word games, puzzles, reading, and lectures.

     "The lifelong benefits of higher education for memory in later life are quite lmpressive, but we do not

clearly understand how and why these effects last so long," said lead author Margie Lachman, a psychologist.

She suggested that higher educatlon may encourage lifelong interest in cognitive efforts, while those with less

education may not engage as frequently in mental exercises that help keep the memory agile (敏捷地).

     But education early in adulthood does not appear to be the only route to maintain your memory. The study

found that intellectual activities undertaken regularly made a difference. "Among individuals with low education,

those who are engaged in reading, writing, attending lectures, doing word games or puzzles once a week or

more had memory scores similar to people with more education," said Lachman.

     The study, called Midlife in the United States, assessed 3343 men and women between the ages of 32 and

84 with a mean age of 56 years. Almost 40 percent of the participants had at least a 4-year college degree. The

researchers evaluated how the partlclpants performed in two cognltlve areas,Verbal menlory and eXecutive

functiorl_brain processes invol'ed in planning, abstract thinking and cognitive flexibility. Participants were given

a battery of tests, including tests of verbal fluency, word recall, and backward counting.

     As expected, those with higher education said they engaged in cognitive activities more often and also did

better on the memory tests, but some with lower education also did well, explained Lachman.

     "The findings are promising because they suggest there rnay be ways to level the playing field for those

with lower educational achievement, and protect those at.greatest risk for memory declines," said Lachman.

"Although we cannot rule out the possibility that those who have better memories are the ones who take on

more activities, the evidence is consistent with cognitive plasticity (可塑性), and suggests some degree of

personal control over cognitive functioning in adulthood by adopting an intellectually active lifestyle."

1. What is the text mainly about? [ ]

A. Higher education has a better cognitive advantage.

B. Better memories result from college degree.

C. Cognitive activity does a mind good.

D. Poor education has more risk of memory declines.

2. According to the result of Margie Lachman's study,we can conclude that _____. [ ]

A. education is responsible for the lifelong memory perfomance and risk for mental disorder

B. education early in adulthood can be the only route to maintain your mernory

C. those with higher education did better on the memory tests than those with lower education

D. an intellectually active lifestyle does help to maintain your memory

3. What do we know about the study called Midlife? [ ]

A. Participants each were given a battery to test their memory.

B. The average age of the participants are 56 years old.

C. Participants had to perform in one of the two cognltlve areas.

D. One in four of the participants had a 4-year college degree.

4. Why are the findings of the Lachman's study promising? [ ]

A. The lower educated may have the same opportunities to keep up memory.

B. We may have ways to cure the people who have memory declines.

C. Adopting a different lifestyle can control over cognitive functionlng.

D. We can find out the possibility to have better memories.