Now do this put-the-text-back-together activity.
This is the text (if you need help).
Birds are fascinating and beautiful creatures. Looking at them in the wild could be good for us. That is what researchers in Toronto, Canada say. The scientists found that birdwatching could protect our brains against age-related diseases. Lead researcher Dr Erik Wing said: "Skills from birding could be beneficial for intelligence and thinking as people age." Dr Wing and his colleagues compared scans of the brain activity of 29 veteran birdwatchers and 29 newbies. The brains of the veteran birders were a lot more active. Dr Wing said the veterans had a longer attention span and a better memory than those new to the hobby. He added that the veterans could also process information more quickly.
The scientists believe birdwatching benefits the brain like learning a musical instrument. This is because the brain learns new skills, which add new pathways and connections. Dr Wing said birdwatching combines the ability to search for and identify things with a sensitivity to movement and pattern detection. Other scientists recommend the hobby. They say it is good for our mental health and can reduce stress. It is also good for our physical health because we are outside in the fresh air and sunlight. Other benefits include connecting with nature and becoming aware of the environment. Birdwatchers say their hobby is good for their social life because they meet many like-minded people.
- What does the article say birds are besides beautiful?
- What kinds of diseases might birdwatching protect our brains against?
- How many people in the research had their brain scanned?
- Whose brains were more active?
- What could veteran birdwatchers process more quickly?
- What did the article say birdwatching was like doing?
- What did the researcher say people could detect?
- What can help our physical health when we are outside?
- What can people connect with when they go birdwatching?
- Who might people meet when they go birdwatching?
Back to the birdwatching lesson.
