The concept of neuroplasticity has revolutionized our understanding of the human brain. Previously, scientists believed that the adult brain was largely fixed in its structure and function after a critical period in childhood. However, recent research demonstrates that the brain remains highly adaptable throughout life, capable of reorganizing neural pathways in response to learning, experience, or injury. This plasticity is not uniform; it varies across different brain regions and is influenced by factors such as age, environmental enrichment, and stress. For instance, musicians who practice extensively show enlarged cortical areas dedicated to finger movement, while stroke patients can sometimes recover lost functions by recruiting adjacent brain areas. Despite these advances, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic strengthening and pruning remain incompletely understood, posing a significant challenge for developing targeted therapies for neurological disorders.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál de las siguientes afirmaciones es verdadera?
A. A. El cerebro adulto está completamente fijo y no puede cambiar.
B. B. La neuroplasticidad ocurre de manera uniforme en todas las regiones del cerebro.
C. C. Los factores ambientales pueden influir en el grado de plasticidad cerebral.
D. D. Los científicos comprenden completamente la base molecular de la neuroplasticidad.
✅ 正确答案
C. Environmental factors can influence the degree of brain plasticity.
IELTS Reading Tips
Skim the questions first, underline keywords, then locate in the passage
Watch for paraphrasing; correct answers are often reworded
Be wary of absolute statements (all, always, never) — usually wrong
Pay attention to content after transition words (however, but, yet)
Manage time: about 20 minutes per passage; skip difficult questions first