A book a day helps keep doctors away

     BEIJING, May 11 (Xinhuanet) -- New retirees suddenly confronted¹ with plenty of time on their hands might be happy to learn that reading keeps one mentally alert² and abreast³ of current aff airs, says Ursula Lenz of Germany's working group of senior citizens' organizations, BAGSO.

    Growing old can present difficulties such as failing eyesight or problems concentrating, but experts encourage the elderly not to give up on reading and to adapt to their situation.

    From the perspective of health professionals, there are many advantages to reading books or newspapers for senior citizens.

    The ability to transform words into mental images is good for cognitive⁴ performance. Reading also improves vocabulary, language use and the ability to concentrate, according to Simone Helck from the Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe, an organization in Germany that helps promote and develop strategies for taking care of the elderly.

    So, what exactly happens in the brain when we read?

    "The brain builds new synapses⁵, junctions⁶ between the neurons, when it's stimulated⁷ such as during reading," says Manfred Gogol, a physician and president of Germany's Society for Gerontology and Geriatrics.

    Gogol recommends reading books that deal with subjects that are of special interest to the reader. If a long novel seems like too much work, then try a novella or collection of short stories.

    But a prerequisite⁸ for reading is that any sight defect is corrected by an optician.

    In response to the needs of elderly people, publishers print books with large typefaces and bigger line spacing. Lenz says it is worthwhile asking for large print books in libraries and bookshops.

    But no matter what the reading matter is, another important aspect is being able to exchange opinions about a book with other people. Whether it's a society magazine, highbrow literature or a daily newspaper, there is always something to talk about.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 confronted   

面对( confront的过去式和过去分词 )； 使面对； 使对质； 处理

参考例句：

• When we confronted him, he denied everything. 我们与他当面对质时，他什么都不承认。
• The writer confronted his pile of work with determination. 那作家下决心面对成堆的工作。

2 alert   

adj.机警的，活泼的，机灵的；vt.使...警觉

参考例句：

• Drivers must be on the alert for traffic signals.驾驶员必须密切注意交通信号。
• The rabbIt'seems to be very alert all its life.兔子似乎一生都小心翼翼，十分警觉。

3 abreast   

adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地

参考例句：

• She kept abreast with the flood of communications that had poured in.她及时回复如雪片般飞来的大批信件。
• We can't keep abreast of the developing situation unless we study harder.我们如果不加强学习，就会跟不上形势。

4 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

5 synapses   

n.（神经元的）突触( synapse的名词复数 )；染色体结合( synapsis的名词复数 )；联会；突触；（神经元的）触处

参考例句：

• Nerve cells communicate with one another at the synapses, where their membranes almost touch. 神经细胞在突触部位彼此沟通，在这里它们的膜几乎接触到一起了。 来自辞典例句
• Glutamatergic synapses are common excitatory chemical connections in mammalian central nervous system. 谷氨酸性突触是哺乳动物神经系统的主要兴奋性突触。 来自互联网

6 junctions   

联结点( junction的名词复数 )； 会合点； （公路或铁路的）交叉路口； （电缆等的）主结点

参考例句：

• Metals which were mutually soluble would tend to give strong junctions. 可互溶的金属趋向于产生牢固的结合点。
• Some adhering junctions are present as narrow bands connecting two cells. 有些粘附连接以一窄带的形式连接两个细胞。

7 stimulated   

a.刺激的

参考例句：

• The exhibition has stimulated interest in her work. 展览增进了人们对她作品的兴趣。
• The award has stimulated her into working still harder. 奖金促使她更加努力地工作。

8 prerequisite   

n.先决条件；adj.作为前提的，必备的

参考例句：

• Stability and unity are a prerequisite to the four modernizations.安定团结是实现四个现代化的前提。
• It is a prerequisite of entry to the profession that you pass the exams.做这一行的先决条件是要通过了有关的考试。