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2018 ‫מועד חורף‬ - 49 - ‫ פרק שני‬- ‫אנגלית‬

Text II (Questions 18-22)

(1) Is it inevitable that the mind will deteriorate in old age? The prospect of developing
dementia is so frightening that many people prefer not to think about it. The
expectation that their minds will become progressively weaker as they grow older
causes some people to have an immense fear of old age. They worry that their mental

(5) faculties will decline as they age, even if they are fortunate enough to avoid Alzheimer's
and other diseases that affect the brain.

There is still no way of accurately predicting whether or not a person will suffer
from dementia. However, scientists can now point to several aspects of a person's life
that affect mental functioning. K. Warner Schaie, a psychologist studying the aging

(10) process, has found a number of factors that are associated with strong mental abilities in
the elderly. These include having an above-average number of years of education;
maintaining good physical health; and having a varied, intellectually stimulating
lifestyle. Schaie has also identified factors that may contribute to the decline of mental
functioning, such as the inability to change one's routine and dissatisfaction with one's

(15) life.

Scientists' perception of what happens to the brain as it ages is not entirely
pessimistic. They have shown that it is not a foregone conclusion that people will
experience dementia in old age. Neuroscientists who study the workings of the brain
and psychologists who work with the elderly are both finding that aging brains have

(20) surprising abilities and strengths. They note that while some mental capacities diminish
noticeably with age, others remain unchanged or may actually increase.

Questions

18. An appropriate title for this text is -

(1) Dementia: Some Reasons to Be Hopeful
(2) Understanding the Workings of the Brain
(3) K. Warner Schaie: Studying the Aging Process
(4) Factors That Affect Health in the Elderly

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