最新广外英语水平考试2004全国考研真题与答案打印版

广东外语外贸大学 2004年硕士研究生入学考试英语语言文学及外国语言与应用语言学水平考试试卷.Cloze(20%)Fillineachblankwiththewordsgiveninthebox.Eachwordcanbeusedonlyonce.MarkyouranswersonyourANSWERSHEET.exampleButdifficultieswelldiscriminatingthoughbasiswhichisAmongawareuponmadefacesassociatedresultcluesserveifbetweenTheproblem which thelearner 1 inhandling themeaningsof suchcomplexexpressions(andthoseofthemorenumeroustwo-wordcombinations)arewellknownHemayhave2ofunderstandingorinterpretation(especiallywhentheformofanexpressionisapoorguidetoitsmeaning).Hemayhavetroublein3accuratelybetweenvariousmeaningsofthe“same”item-thoseofputout,for4,ortakein.Andagain,hemayneedhelpindistinguishingexpressionswhicharerelatedinform(ofleveloffandlevelup)6notnecessarilyinmeaning.Amongthefeatureswehaveincludedinthedictionarytohelpthestudentdealwithsuchproblems7theregularlistinginentriesof“collocating”words.Wecanconsiderbrieflythespecialadvantagesofthisguidancehere.Thecollocatesofanexpressionaretheparticularwords8arecommonlycombinedwithittoformsentences.9thewordswhichregularlyappear(assubjects)inthesamesentencesasbringtoblows,forexample,aredisagreement,differenceandrivalryandamongthosehabituallyassociated(asdirectobjects)withbringtoattentionaretroops,platoon,company.Thelearnernormallybecomes10ofthesewordassociations,orcollocations,onebyonethroughmeetingtheminbooksorhearingtheminconversation,andasoneassociationbuilds11anotherhegraduallydevelopsafirmunderstandingofthemeaningsofbringtoblowsandbringtoattention.Theadvantageofbringingtogetheranumberoftheseassociatedwordsinoneplace—asintheentriesshownjustbelow—isthatthestudentis12awareofseveralatthesametime.Asa13thelearningprocesscanbegreatlyspeededup.Anotheradvantage,ofcourse,isthatthestudentcanmakeupsentencesofhisownonthe14ofthecollocatesrecordedinsuchentries,sostrengthening.stillmorehisgrasponthemeaningsoftheheadphrasesthemselves.Illustrativesentencesindictionaryentriescan15muchthesamepurposeaslistsofcollocates.16theillustrationsarecarefullychosen,theytoowillcontainwordsthatarecharacteristicallyandunambiguously17withtheheadphrases,whichhelptodevelopthelearner’sunderstandingoftheirmeaning.18collocatesandexampleshavedifferentandcomplementarypartstoplayinthedefinitionofmeaning.Inalistofcollocatessomeofthemoreimportant19toourunderstandingofanexpressionareabstractedformtheirrealcontextsandpresentedinahighlycondensedform.Inillustrations,variouskindsofinformation-highlycondensedform.Inillustrations,variouskindsofinformationgrammaticalandstylisticas20aslexical-arecombinedinactualinstancesoflanguageuse,thoughthemostimportantcluestomeaningmayberatherthinlyspread..Proof-readingandErrorCorrection(30%)ThefollowingpassagecontainsFIFTEENerrors.Eachlinecontainsamaximumofoneerror.Ineachcase,onlyonewordisinvolved.Youshouldcorrectitinthefollowingway.MarkyouranswersonyourANSWERSHEET.Forawrongword,Foramissingword,

underlinethewrongwordandwritethecorrectoneintheblankprovidedattheendoftheline.markthepositionofthemissingwordwitha “A”signandwritethewordyouForanunnecessaryword,

believe.tobemissing'intheblankprovidedattheendoftheline.crossouttheunnecessarywordwithaslash"/"andputthewordintheblankprovidedattheendoftheline.ExampleWhenAartmuseumwantsanewexhibit,[1]anItneverbuysthingsinfinishedformandhangsthemonthewall.[2]neverWhenanaturalhistorymuseumwantsanexhibition,itmustoftenbuildit.[3]exhibitWhydosomenewproductssucceed,bringingmillionsofdollarstoinnovativecompanies,butothersfail,1.withgreatlosses?Theanswerisnotsimple,andcertainlywecannotsaythat"good"productssucceedwhile"bad"productsfail.Manyproductsthatfunctionwellandseemtomeetconsumerneedshavefallenbythewayside.Sometimes,virtualidenticalproducts2.existinthemarketatthesametimewithoneemerged3.asprofitablewhiletheotherfails.McNealLaboratories'Tylenolhasbecomesuccessasanaspirinsubstitute,4.yetBristol-MeyerswentintothetestmarketataboutthesametimewithNeotrend,alsoasubstitutetoaspirin,5.thatquicklyfailed.6.Thenatureoftheproductisafactorintheirsuccess7.orfailure,buttheimportantpointistheconsumer'sperceptionoftheproductsneed-satisfyingability.8.Anynewproductconceptionshouldbeaimedatmeetinganycustomerneed,andthemotionshouldseektocommunicatethatneed-satisfyingqualityandmotivatethecustomertryduct.Often,attitudechangeisinvolved,and,intheextreme,changesinlife-stylemaybeseeked.11.Herethecompanywalksatightrope.Anewproductismoreprobabletobesuccessfulifitrepresentsa12.trulynovelwayofsolving,acustomerproblem,butthisverynewness,ifcarriedtoofar,mayaskthecustomertolearnnewbehaviorpatterns.Thecustomerwillmakethechangeiftheperceivedbenefitissufficient,butinertiaisstrongandconsumerswilloftennotgototheeffortthatisrequired.DuringthelatesixtiesandearlyseventiesBristol-Meyersmetnewproductfailuresthatexemplify13.bothoftheseproblems.In1967and1968thecompanyenteredintothemarketwitha$5millionadvertising14.campaignforFacttoothpaste,andan$11millioncampaigntopromoteResolve.Bothproductsfailedquickly,--notbecausetheywouldn'tworkorbecausetherewas15.noconsumerneed,butapparentlybecauseconsumersjustcouldseenoreasontoshiftfromanalreadysatisfactoryproducttoadifferentonethatpromisednonewbenefit.III.Gap-filling(40%)FillinthefollowingblankswiththeCORRECTWORDorCORRECTFORMofthewordsgivenaccordingtotheMEANINGSofthesentences.MarkyouranswersonyourANSWERSHEET.Exampleprolong,refuse,delay,postpone,lengthenIhopethe oftheappointmentwillnotcauseyoumuchinconvenience.Thecorrectanswerispostponement.1.ally,league,unionUnderthemilitarycommandofAhmadShahMausood,afactionleaderwithRabbani,governmentforcescontinuedtoholdmuchofKabullateintheyear,butfightingcontinuedinthearea.2.obligation,liability,responsibilityMembershipintheUnitedNationsisopentoallpeace-lovingstateswhichacceptthe

oftheCspectus,brochure,catalogue.,pamphlet,leafletThe tellsbuyershowtoidentifyfraudulentsellersandhowtocopewithfalseclaimsongrading,certification,appreciation,andvalue.4.alter,convert,transform,varyAsinglegenetic couldallowthesunflowertoconvertsomeofitsoleicacidtoricinoleic acid,anextremelyversatileoilthathasnumerousindustrial uses,including

themanufactureofplastics,nylon,cosmetics,andlubricants.5.affection,emotion.,feeling,sentimentAnnaRoeofNewYorkCitystatedthattherearevocationallysuccessfulpersonswhoarewell-adjustedsociallyandyetwho.show,accordingtotests,moreorlesssevere disabilities.6.genius,gift,talentWithcostsofeducatinghandicappedchildrenincreasing,advocatesofbettereducationfor childrenbegandemandingmorefinancialsupport.7.celebrate,commemorate,inaugurate,representOnOctober14,PresidentEisenhower'sbirthdate,theU.S.PostOfficeDepartmentissuedstamp.career,profession,occupation,employmentTheproblemofinjuryandsicknessreceivedagooddealofpublicityandattentionthisyear.9.criticism,mark,review,opinionCriticsgavegoodtothemoviefeaturingJuliaRobertsandHughGrant,whichwasabox-officehitallovertheworld.10.hedge,dyke.wall.moat.fenceThecastlewassurroundedbya,pose,agreement,suggest,adviceInSeptember,ConstitutionalAffairsMinisterJoeClarkunveilednewaimedatsatisfyingQuebec'sdemandsforfederalreform.12.rare,scarce,scant,inadequateWithwartimefoodlargelyoverintheUnitedStates,thereturntopeacetimemethodsinfoodexportingfromthiscountrywillbequickorslowinproportiontotherateatwhichnormalproductionandtraderevivethroughouttheworld.Meantime,worldreliefrequirementsalongwiththecontinuanceofworldshortagesinitemssuchasfatsandoilsandsugardelaytheabandonmentofthecontrols.13.cure,heal,remedy,treatSuchhighlevelsofunemploymentcompelledmeasuresintheirview,andsodeeparecessioncalledforsomeeconomicstimulation.14.individual,personal,privateAlthoughallhumanssharethesamesetofgenes,caninheritdifferentformsofagivengene,mon,general.popularAsPeres'spersonalcontinuedtoriseinpublicopinionpollsfollowingthecompletionofIsrael'swithdrawalfromLebanon,bitterexchangesoverTabaandWestBanksettlementpolicybecameincreasinglycommon.16.just,fair,impartialInthislettertoAngelina,Sarah.enumeratesthelegalwomensufferedinthe1830sandcomparestheplightofwomenintheUnitedSlong,extend,lengthen,enlargeAshehasn'tsorted-outhisbusinessintheUK,heintendstoapplyfora/anofhispassport.18.exert,conduct,impose,implementstOnApril1thelongdelayeddecolonizationinSouthWestAfrica(Namibia),(1978),finallybegan.19.crease,crumple,wrinkle,pleat

oftheUnitedNations'planforpeaceandembodiedinSecurityCouncilresolution435Dermatologistshavebeenswampedwithpeopleseekingwhattheybelieveistheclosestthingtothefountainofyouth:theanti-acneprescriptionskincreamRetin-A,knowngenericallyastretinoinandchemicallyrelatedtoAccutane.AJanuaryreportinTheJournaloftheAmericanMedicalAssociationsaidthatRetin-Adiminishedsmallandotheragingchangescausedbysunexposure.20.cunning,sly.crafty,shrewdTheSino-JapanesepeacepactwasprecededinMaybytheopeningofdiplomaticrelationsbetweenChinaandtheoil-richMiddleEasternstateofOman.AnditwasimmediatelyfollowedbythePremier'sunprecedented12-dayvisittoRomania,Yugoslavia,andIran—atriptimedtocoincidewiththetenthanniversaryoftheSovietinvasionofCzechoslovakia.IV.ReadingComprehension(60%)Inthissection,therearesixreadingpassagesfollowedbyatotalofthirtymultiple-choicequestions.ReadthepassagescarefullyandthenmarkyouranswersonyourANSWERSHEET.TextA15KilledbyRebelBombinKashmirSRINAGAR,India--Atleast15peoplewerekilledwhenacarbombexplodedincentralSrinagaratmiddayMonday,witnessessaid.Fiveofthedeadappearedtobesoldiers,theysaid.Officialsatagovernment-runhospitalsaidthat20peoplewereadmittedwithwoundsandthatthreewereinsurgery.Oneofthewoundeddieduponarrivalatthehospital.AcalleridentifyinghimselfasamemberofHizbulMujahidin,apro-Pakistangroup,contactedseveralnewsagenciestoclaimresponsibilityfortheattack.HizbulMujahidinisthemostpowerfulrebelgroupfavoringamergerwithPakistan.OthergroupswantindependencefromIndianrule.Thebombwentoffinacarnearapolicestationandoutsideabranchofthegovernment-ownedStateBankofIndia,whereIndiansoldiersfightingtheseparatistinsurgencyinJammuandKashmirgatheratthebeginningofeverymonthtocollecttheirpay.Witnesssaidanarmytruckwasparkedinthevicinitywhenthebombwentoff.Threecarsandfivescooters'weredestroyedintheblast.Witnessessaidthattwoofthevictimswerewomenandthatfiveothersworemilitaryuniforms.Someofthecorpseswerebadlymutilated.Securityforcesarrivedquicklyandcarriedoffthebodies.Thepolicecordonedoffthearea,fearinganotherattack.Theblastwasprecededbyagrenadeattackafewblocksawaythatappearedtohavebeenadiversionarymeasure.TheexplosionwasnearAhdoo's,oneoftheonlyhotelsleftopeninthecity.ThehotelisfullofforeignjournalistscoveringtheKashmirhostagecrisis,whichentereditsthirdmonthMonday.FourWesternershavebeenheldhostagebyguerrillasintheKashmirValleysinceJuly4.Afifthhostage,HansChristianOstroeofNorway,was foundbeheadedinaremoteregionAug.13.TheguerrillashavesaidtheywillkilltheremaininghostagesunlesstheIndiangovernmentreleases15jailedseparatists.1. claimedresponsibilityfortheattack.ArebelgroupAnIndiangroupAmemberofHizbulMujahidinApro-IndiangroupThebombwentoffoutsideabankbranchwhereIndiansoldiersgatherto.fighttherebelsprotectthebankfighttheseparatistinsurgencycollecttheirpayWitnessessaidthattwoofthevictimswerechildrenandthatfiveothersworemilitaryuniformswomenandthatfiveotherswereprobablysoldierswomenandthatfiveotherswerechildrenwomenandthatfiveotherswereworkersPolicewithdrewfromtheareakeptpeopleatadistancefromtheareabymeansofacordoncleanedtheareaexaminedthearea5.Theblastwasprecededbyagrenadeattackafewblocksawaythatappearedto .A.haveturnedpeople'sattentionawayfromtheplacewhereabombwasexplodedlaterB.havedrawnpeople'sattentiontotheplacewhereabombwasexplodedlaterC.havebeenanentertainingmeasureD.havebeenavisionaryplotTextBBehaveLikeYourActionsReflectonAllChineseBythe1870stheeasygoingcordiality thatgreetedthefirstChineseinAmericahadbeenreplacedbyanuglyresentmentthatoftenboiledintovirulence.RacismandeconomicfearledmanyWesternerstobelievethat.theChinese,whowerewillingtoworkcheap,werestealingtheirjobsLegalpersecutiontooktheformoftaxesandstatutesaimedattheirlivelihood,theircustomsandeventheirlooks.Chinesefamilieshadtopayspecialtaxes.Theirchildrenwerebarredfromlocalpublicschools.ASanFranciscoordinance,vetoedbythemayoratthelastmoment,wouldhaverequiredthatthequeuesofChinesejailinmatesbecutoff.Otherharassmentsincludelawsmakingitillegaltocarrybasketssuspendedfrompoleswhilewalkingonsidewalks,asChineselaundrymendid,ortorentroomswithlessthan500cubicfeetofspaceperperson,asmostChinesehadtodo.ThecourtsevenprohibitedChinesefromgivingtestimonyincasesthatinvolvedwhites.By1880Chineseimmigrants representedonly 0.002percentofthepopulation,yetthe"ChineseQuestion"—whichboileddowntofindingwaystokeepthemout--hadbecomeamajornationalissueTheChineserespondedtoprejudiceandpersecutionintwoways.First,theycreatedaninsulatedsociety-within-a-society thatneededlittle fromthedominantculture.Second,theydisplayedastoicwillingnesstopersevere,andtotakewithoutcomplaintorresistancewhateverAmericadishedout.6.ThefirstChineseimmigrantstotheU.S. .A.werewelcomedB.faroutnumberedotherminoritiesC.arrivedinthe1870sD.weremetwithhostility7. The author believes thatin the later part of the 19th century, Chineseimmigrantsreceived .A.adequatehousingB.nationalacceptanceC.equaleducationD.unfairtreatment8.ASanFranciscoordinance, bythemayoratthelastmoment,requiredthatthequeuesofChinesejailinmatesbecutoff.suggestedrejectedsupportedurgedWhichofthefollowingisnottheChineseresponsetoprejudiceandpersecution?tocreateaninsulatedsociety-within-a-societytoshowastoicwillingnesstoperseveretoshowstrongprotesttotakewhateverAmericagavewithoutcomplaintorresistanceFromthepassagewecantellthatmanyAmericanswerefearfulbecausetheyfoundtheChinesewere .A.aninferiorpeopleB.willingtoworkforlowpayC.lazyandstupidD.impossibletounderstandTextCThreeweeksago,astorywepublishedputusinthemiddleofacontroversy.Itwashardlythefirsttimethathashappened,butthisinstance-suggestedanopportunityformorethanusualcolloquyintheletterspages.Soforthisoccasionandotherslikeit,wehaverevivedasectionofTIMEcalledForum,whichbeginsonpage28,concernsourcoversubjectthisweek—theNationofIslamanditsleader,LouisParrakhan.Thedecisiontopursueanin-depthinvestigationofthissubjectwaspromptedbytheanti-SemiticandotherwiseracistspeechthatFarrakhan'saide,KhallidMuhammad,gaveatKeanCollegeinNewJersey.ThestorywasnewsworthyinlargepartbecauseitcamejustassomemainstreamblackgroupswereattemptingtoformaconstructivealliancewithFarrakhanandtheNationofIslam.Newsofthespeechloosedaflashfloodofreportageandcommentaryonthesubject,atthattimewebeganthekindofweeks-longinvestigationacoverstorylikethisonerequires.Atthesametime,wepublishedanarticleononetellingaspectofthelargerstory:thefactthatsomeblackleaderswereoffendedwhenwhitescalledonthemtodenounceracisminotherblackleaderswhileseemingtoignoreoffensiveremarksbywhites--as,forexample,SenatorErnestHoolings,whohadsometimebeforemadeasupposedlyjokingreferencetoanAfricandelegationascannibals.Thelargerissuewasthatblacksfeeltheyshouldbepresumedtoabhoranti-Semitismandotherformsofracismwithouthavingtosayno,andthattheyresenttheattemptbywhitestoscripttheirviews,behaviororalliances.Thestoryraisedinterestingandimportantpoints,anditclearlystruckanerve.Thereactionwasinstantaneousandstrong,mostofitcomingfromwhiteandJewishreaders.Somearguedthatourstorywasopinion masqueradingasfact.Somepeople,bothwhiteandblack,saidthatcreditingwhitepressureforthedenunciationsofFarrakhanwascondescending,thatitdeprivedblackleadersofcreditforwhatwassimplyprincipledbehavior.Somereadersalsofeltthattoconcentrateonthisissuewastominimize ordownplaythevirulenceofMuhammad'sspeech.AndtherewasageneralviewamongourcriticsthatnoamountofgoodworksbytheNationofIslamcouldjustify anyblackleader'stolerationof,nottomentionalliancewith,sucharacistorganization.Theissuesraisedbythestory'scriticsareimportant.Still,thismuchmustbesaid:Muhammad'sspeechwaswhollydisreputableandvile,andIbelieveourstorymadethatclear.Ourfocus,however,wasnotonblackracismbutontheperceptionofasubtleformofwhiteracism--thesenseamongsomebackleadersthat,asthestoryputit,"somewhitesfeelaneedtomakeallblackleadersspeakoutwheneveroneblacksayssomethingstupid."ThatthisfeelingofgrievanceexistsisnotjustTIME'sopinion.Itisfact.11.Wecaninferthattheauthorofthearticleis .A.areaderB.acriticC.aracistD.editorofTIME12.ThepurposeofTIMEFORUMis

.A.topresentopinionsonissuesofimportanceB.tocarryviewsonpresentissuesC.tostirpeopleD.tocauseasensation13.Thisarticlefocusesontheproblemof

.A. racismB. whitesC. blacksD. Jews14.Theauthor'sopinionofMuhammad'sspeechis .sympatheticfavourableunfavourableD. notknown15.ItcanbeseenthatthestorypublishedbytheTIME

aroused

reactionamongthereaders.A.noB.immediateandstrongC.slowbutstrongD.everlastingandstrongTextDShylockontheBeach"WhenIdirectShakespeare,"theatricalinnovatorPeterSellarsoncesaid,"thefirstthingIdoisgotothetextforcuts.Igothroughtofindthe'passagesthatarerealheavy,thatreallyarenotneeded,placeswherethelanguagehasbecomeobscure,theplaceswherethereisabizarredetour."Andthen?"Itakethosemoments,thoseelements,andImakethemthecenterpiece,thecoreoftheproduction."InthesobermatterofstagingShakespeare,suchaudaciousnessishardtoresist--thoughalotofChicagotheatre-goershavebeenableto.Typically,athirdofthepeoplewhohavebeenshowingupattheGoodmanTheatretoseeSellars'ingeniousreworkingofTheMerchantofVenicehavebeenwalkingoutbeforetheeveningisover.It'snomysterywhy:theeveningisnt’overfornearlyfourhours.Beyondthat,theproductionprettymuchupendseverythingtheaudiencehascometoexpectfromoneofShakespeare'smosttroublingbutreliableentertainingcomedies.Theplayhasbeentransplantedfromtheteeming,multiculturalworldof15thcenturyVenice,Italy,totheteeming,multiculturalworldof1994VeniceBeach,California,whereSellarsliveswhenheisn'tsettingDonGiovanniinSpanishHarlem,puttingKingLearinaLincolnContinentalordeconstructingotherclassicplaysandoperas.Shylock,alongwiththeplay'sotherJews,isblack.Antonio,themerchantofthetitle,andhiskinsmenareLatinos.Portia,thewealthymaidenbeingwooedbyAntonio'sfriendBassanio,isAsian.ButtheracialshufflingisjustoneofSellars'liberties.Thestageisfurnishedwithlittlebutofficefurniture,whilevideoscreenssimulcasttheactorsinclose-upduringtheirmonologues,(and,inbetween,displayseeminglyunrelatedSouthernCaliforniascene,formgardensandswimmingpoolstotheL.A.riots).Criesofanguishcomefromtheclowns,andtheplayfullyromanticfinalscene,inwhichPortiateasesBassanioforgivingawayherringtothelawyersheplayedindisguise,isreimaginedasthedarkest,mostpoisonouslyunsettlingpassageintheplay.Someofthisseemstobesheerperversity,buttherealshock.ofSellars'productionishowwellitworksboththeatricallyandthematically.Theracialcasting,forinstance,isabrilliantwayofdefusingtheplay'santi-Semitisrnturningitintoametaphorforprejudiceandmaterialisminallitsforms.PaulButlerisahardheartedghettobusinessmanwho,evenwhenheishumiliatedattheend,neverloseshiscoolorstoopsforpity.'WrongheadedandtortuousasthisMerchantsometimesis,theupdatingiswittyandapt.The"newsoftheRialto"becomesfodderforapairofgossipreportersonahappy-talkTVnewscast.Shylock'strialispresidedoverbyamumbling,superannuatedjudgewhocouldhavesteppedrightoutofCourtTV.Withafewexceptions--ElaineTse'soverwroughtPortia,forinstance--theactorsstrikeanicebalancebetweenShakespeare'spoetryandSellars'stuntdriving.Fortherestofus,it'sawildride.16.Thepassagemainlydealswith .WhendirectingShakespeare,SellarsusuallycutstheoriginaltextshortabridgestheoriginaltextdeletesandchangestheoriginaltextomitssomepartsoftheoriginaltextSellars'TheMerchantofVenicesatisfiestheaudience'sexpectationispopularwithChicagotheatre-goersisnotfavoredbytheaudienceistooshortintimeTheplayisrelocatedin.theteeming,multiculturalworldof15thcenturyVeniceItalyrelocatedinthemodemworld--VeniceBeach,California,in1994C.transplantedtotheteeming,multiculturalworldof15thcenturyVeniceItalyoriginallylocatedinthemodemworld--VeniceBeach,CaliforniaWhichofthefollowingstatementisNOTtree?Thedirector'sinterpretationofShakespeare'sworkiswittyandaptThedirector'sreworkingofShakespeareisawkwardandmeaninglessTheadaptedplay,forsomepeople,isawildrideTheadaptedplayiswrongheadedandtortuousTextEResearchersinvestigatingbrainsizeandmentalabilitysaytheirworkoffersevidencethateducationprotectsthemindfromthebrain'sphysicaldeterioration.Itisknownthatthebrainshrinksasthebodyages,buttheeffectsonmentalabilityaredifferentfrompersontoner.q9n.Interestingly,inastudyofelderlymenandwomen,thosewhohadmoreeducationactuallyhadmorebrainshrinkage."Thatmayseemlikebadnews,"saidstudyauthorDr.EdwardCoffey,aprofessorofpsychiatryandofneurologyatHenryFordHealthSysteminDetroit.However,heexplained,thefindingsuggeststhateducationallowsmpeopletowithstandmorebrain-tissuelossbeforetheirmentalfunctioningbeginstobreakdown.Thestudy,publishedintheJulyissueofNeurology,isthefirsttoprovidebiologicalevidencetosupportaconceptcalledthe"reserve"hypothesis,accordingtotheresearchers.Inrecentyears,investigatorshavedevelopedtheideathatpeoplewhoaremoreeducatedhavegreatercognitivereservestodrawuponasthebraintissuetospare.Examiningbrainscansof320healthymenandwomenages66to90,researchersfoundthatforeachyearofeducationthesubjectshad,therewasgreatershrinkageoftheouterlayerofthebrainknownasthecortex.Yetontestsofcognitionandmemory,allparticipantsscoredintherangeindicatingnormal."Everyonehassomedegreeofbrainshrinkage,"Coffeysaid."PeopleLose(onaverage)2.5percentdecadestartingatadulthood.Thereis,however,a"remarkablerange"ofshrinkageamongpeoplewhoshownosignsofmentaldecline,Coffeynoted.Overallhealth,hesaid,accountsforsomedifferencesinbrainsize.Alcoholordruguse,aswellasmedicalconditionssuchasdiabetesandhighbloodpressure,contributetobrain-tissuelossthroughoutadulthood.Intheabsenceofsuchmedicalconditions,Coffeysaid,educationlevelhelpsexplaintherangeofbrainshrinkageexhibitedamongthementally-fitelderly.Themore-educatedcanwithstandgreaterloss.Coffeyandcolleaguesgaugedshrinkageofthecortexbymeasuringthecerebrospinalfluidsurroundingthebrain.Thegreatertheamountoffluid,hegreaterthecorticalshrinkage.Controllingforthehealthfactorsthatcontributetobraininjury,theresearchersfoundthateducationwasrelatedotheseverityofbrainshrinkage.Foreachyearofeducationfromfirstgradeon,subjectshadanaverageof1.77millilitersmorecerebrospinalfluidaroundthebrain.Forexample,Coffey'steamreported,amongsubjectsofthesamesexandsimilarageandskullsize,thosewith16yearsofeducationhad8percentto10percentmorecerebrospinalfluidcomparedwiththosewhohadfouryearsofschooling.Ofcourse,achievingaparticulareducationlevelisnotthedefinitivemeasureofsomeone'smentalcapacity.And,saidCoffey,educationcanbe"aproxyformanythings".More-educatedpeople,henoted,areoldenlesslikelytohavehabits,suchassmoking,thatharmoverallhealth.ButCoffeysaidthathisteam'sfindingssuggestthatlikethebody,thebrainbenefitsfromexercise."Thequestioniswhetherbycontinuingtoexercisethebrainwecanforestalltheeffectsof(brainshrinkage),"hesaid."Myhunchisthatwecan."According toCoffey,peopleshouldstrivethroughoutlifetokeeptheirbrainsalertbyexposingthemselvestonewexperiences.Travellingisonewaytostimulatethebrain,hesaid;alessadventuresomewayistodocrosswordpuzzles."Ahottopicdowntheroad,"Coffeysaid,willbewhethereducationevenlateinlifehasaprotecti