Young Adults Who Exercise Get Higher IQ Scores(A級(jí))

Young adults who are fit have a higher IQ and are more likely to go on to university, reveals a major new study __1__ at the Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

The results were recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study involved 1.2 million Swedish men doing military service who were born between 1950 and 1976. The research group analyses the results of both physical and IQ tests the youngsters _2___ right after they started serving the army.

The study shows a clear link between good physical __3__ and better results for the IQ test. The strongest links are for _4__ thinking and verbal comprehension. But it is only fitness that _5___ a role in the results for the IQ test, and not strength. “Being fit means that you also have good heart and lung _6__ and that your brain gets plenty of _7__,” says Michael Nilsson, professor at the Sahlgrenska Academy and chief physician at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital. “This may be one of the reasons _8__ we can see a clear link with fitness, but not with muscular _9__. We are also seeing that there are growth factors that are important.”

By analyzing data for twins, the researchers have been able to _10___ that it is primarily environmental factors and not genes that explain the link between fitness and a _11__ IQ.

“We have also shown that those youngsters who _12__ their physical fitness between the ages of 15 and 18 increase their cognitive performance,” says Maria Aberg, researcher at the Sahlgrenska Academy and physician at Aby health centre. “This being the case, physical education is a subject that has an important place in schools, and is an absolute must if we want to _13___ maths and other theoretical subjects.”

The researchers have also compared the results from fitness tests _14__ national service with the socio-economic status of the men later in life. Those who were fit at 18 were more _15___ to go into higher education, and many secured more qualified jobs.

1. A carried B was carried C carried out D carrying out

2. A made B make C taking D took

3. A fit B fitness C health D excises

4. A logical B critical C typical D positive

5. A holds B makes C plays D play

6. A capacity B disease C shape D treatment

7. A change B hydrogen C oxygen D memory

8. A what B why C how D where

9. A exercise B training C strength D movement

10. A determine B tell C determining D improve

11. A moderate B average C lower D higher

12. A ignore B improve C like D determine

13. A be good in B study well C do good in D do well in

14. A before B after C without D during

15. A carefully B likely C secretly D happily