Енглески језик 8, уџбеник, старо издање, Нови Логос

English Plus Options
CURRICULUM EXTRA Biology: The brain
I can understand a text about the brain and its functions.
7
cerebrum
hypothalamus
1 Match definitions 1–5 with the
words in blue in the text.
1 Always the same.
2 Extremely old and not highly
developed.
3 Not consciously controlled.
4 Halves.
5 Developed and changed
gradually over time.
amygdala
brain stem
cerebellum
2 3.17 Read and listen to the
text. What are the three main
parts of the brain called?
spinal cord
Understanding your brain
Every animal has a brain, but the human brain is unique. It
controls everything we do, think or feel and allows us to speak
and imagine. It constantly analyses and responds to messages
from outside and inside the body.
The three main parts of the brain – the brain stem, the cerebellum
and the cerebrum – have evolved over millions of years. The brain
stem is the most primitive part that we share with all animals.
It links the rest of the brain to the spinal cord and controls
involuntary body functions like breathing and digestion, as well
as basic instincts like danger. It may be responsible for phobias,
which scientists think are primitive survival instincts.
Next to evolve was the cerebellum at the back of the brain. It
isn’t very large, but it contains over half of all the brain cells, or
neurones, and deals with huge amounts of information. It controls
balance, movement and coordination and without it we couldn’t
stand or walk straight.
The largest and final part of the brain to develop was the
cerebrum. This is the centre of thinking, memory and language,
and it is highly specialized in humans. It is this part that makes
us more intelligent than other animals. The cerebrum is divided
into two hemispheres which each control opposite sides of the
body and seem to have slightly different functions. The right
hemisphere helps us think about creative things like music, art and
shapes, while the left side is better at maths, logic and language.
Other smaller parts of the brain also have important functions.
The hypothalamus is essential for keeping our body temperature
constant, while the amygdala below it controls our emotions.
The human brain is incredibly complex and scientists are only
just starting to understand it. A lot more research is needed to
complete the picture.
3 Read the text again and answer
the questions.
1 Which part of the body does the
brain stem connect to the rest of
the brain?
2 What body functions does the
brain stem control?
3 Where are the majority of the
brain’s neurones?
4 Which part of the brain was the
last to develop?
5 Why does the cerebrum make
humans unique?
6 What would happen if the
hypothalamus was damaged?
4 ACTIVATE Work with a partner and
decide which parts of the brain are
responsible for 1–6.
1 A fear of snakes.
2 Being good at drawing.
3 Being good at solving problems.
4 Being able to ride a bike.
5 Feeling unhappy.
6 Keeping cool in hot weather.
102 Curriculum extra
Property of Oxford University Press. Provided for and restricted to creating accessible formats for users with a disability.