Our brains respond to language expressing facts differently than they do to words conveying possibility, scientists at New York university have recently found. Their work offers new insights into the impact word choice has on how we _26_ between statements expressing what is real versus what is merely possible. The researchers assert their findings are important because we are presented with false information all the time. Some of this is _27_ , as is the case with deceptive advertisements, but the problem is _28_ by individuals who believe they are sharing correct information. Thus, it is more important than ever to separate the factual from the possible or merely _29_ in how we communicate. This is especially true as the study makes clear that information presented as fact _30_ special responses in our brains, which are distinct from when we process the same content with clear indicators of _31_ .
In their new study, the scientists intended to _32_ how the brain computes possibilities as expressed by words such as“may,”“might,” and“if.” The researchers compared brain responses to statements expressing factual _33_ and those expressing possibility. “There is a monster under my bed” exemplifies a factual statement. “I will stay home,” is also factual. This is opposed to statements that express possibility, like“There might be a monster under my bed,” or“If it rains, I will stay home.” The results of the study showed that factual language _34_ a rapid increase in brain activity, with the brain responding more powerfully and showing more engagement with factual phrases compared to those communicating possibility. Thus, facts rule when it comes to the brain. Brain regions involved in processing _35_ rapidly distinguish facts from possibilities. Further, these regions respond in a much more robust fashion to factual statements.
A) activated
B) aggravated
C) ascertain
D) deliberate
E) differentiate
F) discourse
G) evokes
H) inhibit
I) manuscript
J) marvels
K) remnants
L) scenarios
M) speculative
N) unanimous
O) uncertainty
答案解析：
“how we __ between statements expressing what is real versus what is merely possible” 是 “the impact” 的同位语从句，其中 “we __” 是从句中的主谓结构，“between...” 是状语。此空需要填一个动词，且能与 “between” 搭配。句子表达的是单词选择对我们在表达真实内容和仅仅可能的内容的陈述之间做某种动作的影响。“differentiate between...” 是固定搭配，意为 “区分……”，符合语境。所以选E。
“Some of this is __” 是主系表结构，此空需要填一个形容词作表语。根据后文 “as is the case with deceptive advertisements”(就像欺骗性广告的情况一样)可知，这里说的是有些虚假信息是故意为之的。“deliberate” 意为 “故意的，蓄意的”，符合语境。所以选D。
“but the problem is __ by individuals...” 是被动语态的句子结构，“is __” 是谓语部分，此空需要填一个动词的过去分词形式。这里的意思是“但问题被那些认为自己分享的是正确信息的个人 __”，结合语境，这里是说问题被加剧了。“aggravated” 是 “aggravate” 的过去分词，意为 “加剧，恶化”，符合语境。所以选B
“separate the factual from the possible or merely _29_” 中，“factual”“possible” 和 “__” 是并列关系，此空需要填一个形容词。句子意思是要在交流中区分事实和可能或仅仅是 “__” 的东西。“speculative” 意为 “推测性的，猜测的”，符合语境。所以选M。
“information presented as fact __ special responses in our brains” 中，“information” 是主语，“__” 是谓语，“special responses” 是宾语，此空需要填一个动词。句子表达的是被当作事实呈现的信息在我们大脑中 “__” 特殊的反应。“evokes” 意为 “引起，唤起”，符合语境。所以选G。
“when we process the same content with clear indicators of __” 中，“of __” 是后置定语修饰 “indicators”，此空需要填一个名词。根据前文可知，这里说的是与处理事实信息不同，处理带有明确 “__” 标志的相同内容时的情况。“uncertainty” 意为 “不确定性”，与前文 “possibility” 呼应，符合语境。所以选O。
“the scientists intended to __ how the brain computes possibilities” 中，“intended to __” 是谓语部分，此空需要填一个动词原形。句子说科学家们打算 “__” 大脑如何计算可能性。“ascertain” 意为 “查明，确定”，符合语境。所以选C。
“statements expressing factual __” 中，“factual __” 是 “statements” 的后置定语，此空需要填一个名词。根据后文举例可知，这里说的是表达事实 “__” 的陈述。“scenarios” 意为 “情景，场景”，在这里可理解为事实情景，符合语境。所以选L。
“factual language __ a rapid increase in brain activity” 中，“factual language” 是主语，“__” 是谓语，“a rapid increase in brain activity” 是宾语，此空需要填一个动词。句子表达的是事实性语言 “__” 大脑活动的快速增加。“activated” 是 “activate” 的过去式，意为 “激活，使活跃”，符合语境。所以选A。
“Brain regions involved in processing __” 中，“processing _35_” 是后置定语修饰 “Brain regions”，此空需要填一个名词。根据前文可知，这里说的是参与处理 “__” 的大脑区域。“discourse” 意为 “话语，语篇”，在这里可理解为处理话语信息的大脑区域，符合语境。所以选F。
