Speed Reading — Level 4 — 500 wpm

Now do this put-the-text-back-together activity.

This is the text (if you need help).

A study shows that being bilingual may delay dementia by five years. Researchers found that bilingual people showed far fewer signs of dementia than monolingual people. Dr. Thomas Bak said: "Bilingualism can be seen as a successful brain training…which can help delay dementia." Speaking two languages keeps the brain in better health. It also helps to keep diseases like Alzheimer's away for longer than in monolingual people.

Dr Bak said the bilingualism-dementia link had little to do with social status, gender, occupation or education. Bak studied the medical records of 648 Indians with dementia. Of these, 391 were bilingual and many were illiterate. Bak found that many illiterate, bilingual people who have never attended any school showed fewer signs of dementia. He suggested that learning a language could keep the brain healthier, because it's fun and trains your brain.

Back to the bilingualism lesson.

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