关于“炮弹休克症”的新发现

  Scientists have been studying the effect of explosions on soldiers' brains since World War I. Some military veterans （老兵）who survived powerful explosions may become violent or experience depression. It may be difficult for the former soldiers to concentrate on what they are doing. Their feelings may change quickly— from happy to sad or even angry.
Now, researchers have found that the soldiers' brains suffered physical damage, like people who die in transportation accidents or from a drug overdose（过量）.
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine examined the brains of former soldiers who had died. These veterans had been injured in a battlefield explosion, but it was not what caused their death.
The researchers discovered evidence that nerve fibers in the front of the brain had been damaged. Professor Vassili Koliatsos led the study. He says the discovery explains why the veterans had a condition known as "shell shock（炮弹休克症）".
"And that's very important because this is the site—this is the center of the executive functions of the brain, functions that allow you to put your life together, organize, plan ahead, understand, abstract. And you can imagine that this can make your life difficult."
Professor Koliatsos says the physical damage was often found near blood vessels inside the skull（颅骨）. He says this suggests that the force of the explosion pushed blood from the chest into the brain. This caused the brain to quickly become enlarged. He says when the brain becomes enlarged, it pushes against the skull.
The professor says that, as a result of the study's findings, doctors may decide to give different medicines to veterans suffering from post-traumatic(创伤后的) stress disorder. And he says the findings may cause military officials to find ways to better-protect a soldier's chest.

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1.What made the veteran soldiers change their feelings so quickly?

A Experience of depression.

B Difficulty in concentration.

C Brain damage caused by explosions.

D Physical damage by explosions.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。由第二段可知，老兵们情绪变化大，是因为他们在战斗中大脑受到损伤而引起的。故选C。

2.Researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine found the soldiers died of______.

A damage to the nerve fibers in the brain

B the explosion in the battle field

C injuries in transportation

D the overdose of drugs

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。由第三段最后一句和第四段第一句可知，那些士兵的死，并不是爆炸直接引起的，而是他们的大脑中的神经元受损而造成的死亡。故选A。

3.According to the researchers, the front site of the brain is_____.

A known as "shell shock"

B the part that makes your life difficult

C full of nerve fibers

D the center of the executive functions

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。由第五段…that’s very important because this is the site— this is the center of the executive functions of the brain,…可知，人的大脑前颅是大脑的指挥中心。故选D。

4.Who will benefit from this research finding most?

A The doctors.

B The veterans.

C Military officials.

D The scientists.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。由最后一段...as a result of the study’s findings, doctors may decide to give different medicines to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. And he says the findings may cause military officials to find ways to better-protect a soldier’s chest.可知，这个研究是针对老兵的常患疾病进行，当然是对那些经历过战争的老兵(veterans)有益。故选B。

5.Which column does this passage most probably appear in?

A Literature.

B Celebrity.

C History.

D Medicine.

解析：选D。D 文章出处题。本文介绍的是医学上的一个新发现，应该会出现在医学(medicine)栏目内。故选D。