acted differently. Pausing doesn’t pay off just when you speak. Scientific studies have shown that making a habit of pausing before you do something can actually have a big impact on how your life turns out.
In making decisions we rely on two areas of the brain. One area creates and processes emotions；the other governs logical thought. The type of decision, how we feel about it, and how prepared we are to handle it help determine which brain area has the most influence.
But our age also plays an important role. Thinking through the consequences of one’s actions is actually harder for teens because the area controlling logical thought is not fully developed until around age 25. This is why teens often feel an intense emotional drive to act impulsively—it’s how their brains are structured! Though this tendency to act without considering the outcomes can lead to problematic situations, impulsivity during the developmental years evolves because it makes teens more open to new experiences and ideas. This openness helps teens become independent adults.
The key to making impulsivity work for you—instead of against you—is to train your brain by practicing pausing. This doesn’t mean you stop taking risks or being open to new experiences. But you
won’t know if the risk is worth it until you think it through. Deciding to take a risk based on logic shows self-control, not impulsivity.
What are different ways to pause? You might take a deep breath, count to 10, or ask, ―Is this worth it?‖ Different strategies work for different people. Whatever works for you, keep doing it! By practicing pausing, you can actually change your brain. This means that over time, pausing, instead of immediately reacting, becomes your ―natural‖ response. And with this change, people are on their way to enjoying the life rewards that come with high levels of self-control—even if they weren’t natural—born pausers!
63. What challenges teenagers? A. Giving natural response. B. Making logical decision. C. Acting before thorough thinking. D. Choosing brain-training strategies.
64. An impulsive person tends to __________. A. think through a risk in advance B. show high level of self-control C. consider or accept new ideas D. change ideas frequently
65. According to the passage, by training one’s brain, one can__________.
A. stop taking risks B. fully develop one’s brain
C. become more open to new experience D. reduce the influence of emotional drive 66. What is the best title for the passage? A. Discover the Brain Function B. Crying Over the Spilt Milk C. Push the Pause Button D. Impulsivity Works
【词汇扫描】
Processes v.加工，处理，审阅 logical adj.逻辑的，符合逻辑的 consequence n.结果，成果，结论 Impulsivity n.冲动性
【长难句分析】
Scientific studies have shown that making a habit of pausing before you do something can actually have a big impact on how your life turns out.
解析：that引导宾语从句
翻译：科学研究表明养成做事情之前暂停一下的习惯，对生活的影响是巨大的
This means that over time, pausing, instead of immediately reacting, becomes your ―natural‖ response.
解析：that引导宾语从句；插入语
翻译：这说明经过几次停顿而不是马上作出反应，停顿就会变成你的自然反应。
【重点段落大意归纳】
Paragragh1：做事情之前停下来想一想，你的生活也许会不一样
Paragragh2:做决定时主要依赖于大脑中的感性和理性区域 Paragragh3:年龄也是影响决定的一个因素 Paragragh4:锻炼大脑学会停顿能防止冲动工作 Paragragh5:学会控制自己才能好好享受生活
【选项分析】
63. What challenges teenagers? A. Giving natural response. B. Making logical decision. C. Acting before thorough thinking. D. Choosing brain-training strategies. 【标准答案】B
【试题分析】由Thinking through the consequences of one’s actions is actually harder for teens because the area controlling logical thought is not fully developed until around age 25.可以推出
【高考考点】细节题 【错误选项】
64. An impulsive person tends to __________. A. think through a risk in advance B. show high level of self-control C. consider or accept new ideas D. change ideas frequently 【标准答案】C
【试题分析】impulsivity during the developmental years evolves because it makes teens more open to new experiences and ideas.
【高考考点】细节题
【错误选项】D项是更容易改变主意，与原文意思不符。
65. According to the passage, by training one’s brain, one can __________.
A. stop taking risks B. fully develop one’s brain
C. become more open to new experience D. reduce the influence of emotional drive 【标准答案】D