Text 1 Bach A Autumn term 2009-10

Here is your first text to practise reading with vocabulary and comprehension activities. I have chosen "The Latest on the Brain " text because of its scientific and "amazing" content. I’m pretty sure most of you will find it interesting and "enlightening". Remember to copy and paste it in Word if you want to print it.

THE LATEST ON THE BRAIN

The bad news: teenagers’ brains are underdeveloped. The good news: you can turn your mind into a machine which is quick and bright!

The teenage brain, according to the latest research, is different from the adult brain. It’s less developed and more changeable than scientists had previously thought. This has led some researchers to an amazing conclusion: teenagers can influence how their own brains develop . As a result, the way you spend your time determines how much brainpower you will eventually have when you grow up. You can actually increase your brain power!

Mental Growth Spurts

Until recently, scientists believed that the human brain reaches maturity at puberty. However, now they think the teenage brain is a work in progress and for this reason , the teenage years are a critical time in brain development.

The parts of the brain which are not used die off. They are cut off - or "pruned", as scientists describe cell death- , and the brain rewires itself. Until their brains are totally pruned, teenagers don’t have full use of some of its most vital and sophisticated parts, including the areas involved in judgement, reasoning and planning for the future.These areas are not completely "online" until the late teens. This does not mean that teenagers are stupid , but until the judgement and reasoning centres are fully mature, teenage behaviour may be more driven by instinct and immediate gratification.

Building  a better Brain

There is also good news. The "unpruned" nature of the teenage brain - which may make teenagers impulsive- is the very thing that gives teenagers the ability to control their brain’s development.

According to the scientists, which cells are pruned and which remain is determined largely by the person’s activities. Teenagers’ activities hardwire their their brains for the rest of their lives. If you exercise a muscle, you make it stronger; consequently,the more you deal with difficult problems the better your brain will be. Learning a foreign language, music or how to play games makes the brain work hard. On the other hand, alcohol and drugs damage brain cellls.

The mind you’ll eventually end up with- keen and active or dull and slow - has a lot to do with how you’re using your brain now. So give up watching TV endlessly and exercise your brain, or it will turn into mush!

A- Are these sentences True or False? Explain your answers quoting the text.

1- Teenagers can influence the development of their brains.

2- Scientists have stopped thinking that the human brain reaches maturity at puberty.

3- Teenagers seldom behave instinctively.

4- The more you exercise your brain, the stronger it becomes.

B- Answer these questions using your own words.

1- According to the text, what determines brain power?

2- Why are the teenage years a critical time?

3- Which areas of the brain are not fully mature until the late teens?

4- How can you help your brain develop?

C-Find these phrasal verbs in the text and match them to their meanings.

1- Grow up                                      a) await with pleasure

2- cut off                                          b) tolerate, bear

3- put up with                                  c) become an adult

4- give up                                        d) mean (initials, etc.)

5- look forward to                           e) disconnect, remove

6- stand for                                      f) stop, abandon (a habit)

D- Now write six sentences of your own using the phrasal verbs of exercise C.

E- Write a short text (about 100 words) answering this question:

What are the pros  and cons of being a teenager?