Brain Clubs in the USA

陈传光

Clubs for the brain are now very popular in the USA. Many people are willing to pay for their brain health. So they would like to join such clubs to keep their brain energetic and healthy.

Linda Hale Bucklin, a 63-year-old writer, joined a brain club at once when she saw it in her neighborhood. She now goes there three times a week. She thinks the practice has helped her find her car keys faster and improved her tennis skills.

One small club for the brain has had about 200 members, according to its owners. Each member pays ?60 a month to deal with “brain health” software on computers.

Thousands of Americans are choosing to join a brain club. They don t think it s a waste of money. In the US, the number of brain clubs is increasing quickly all over the country, though they may be small.

A club for brain must have a computer lab with software from the companies. Such software is used to improve brain health. The companies provide “brain health” programs, relaxation exercise and basic cognitive (认知的) training for the clubs.

Similar programs about brain health are also easy to find on home computers. Sometimes some of them are free for people.

Some health clubs put traditional exercise and brain exercise together. The owners think that brain exercise works out fine after physical exercise.

【难句分析】

So they would like to join such clubs to keep their brain energetic and healthy. 因此他（她）们想加入这样的俱乐部，来保持他（她）们的大脑精力充沛和健康。

would like to do sth.想做某事；to keep their brain energetic and healthy是动词不定式表示目的的用法。

根据短文内容，选择最佳答案。

1. Some Americans join the brain club to ________.

A. improve their bodies B. keep balance of their bodies

C. improve tennis skills D. make their brains healthy

2. American people improve brain health in clubs by ________.

A. physical exercise B. computer software

C. answering questions D. traditional exercise

3. The number of brain clubs is increasing quickly because ________.

A. it s fun and cheap B. they can play computer games there

C. many Americans enjoy them D. they can chat with each other there

4. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Many Americans want to pay for their brain health.

B. Linda Hale Bucklin is a 63-year-old doctor.

C. Each member in the club pays ?60 a month.

D. Clubs provide people with software on brain health.

5. The writer tells us some information about ________ in the USA.

A. brain health     B. club development

C. brain safety     D. traditional exercise