VOA慢速英语:Study Adds to Understanding of Language and the Brain

is being done现在进行时被动语态

现在进行时的被动语态

　　承受者+be{is/am/are being（现在分词）done by+执行者。being体现进行时；being done体现被动语态。
　　
E.g. 主动： He is writing his composition.
     被动：His composition is being written by him.

2.The study centers on a part of the frontal lobe called Broca's area.

center on以…为中心,集中围绕…

例句：His whole attention was centered on this matter.
      他的全部注意力都集中在此事上。

同义词组：

focus on把焦点对准,集中注意…

例句：Our policy is to focus on developing these areas.
      我们的政策是着眼于把这些地区发展起来。
 
3.The first function deals with recognizing a word.

deal with涉及

例句：Mechanics is a science dealing with force and motion.
      力学是一门有关力和运动的科学。

deal with的其他意思：

处理,对付,讨论,与…打交道

例句：We need someone who can deal with the problems at hand.
      我们需要某人能解决即将到来的问题。

4.He says scientists have known for some time that traditional explanations for how parts of the brain work need to be changed.

need to be changed相当于need changing，need doing表示被动的意思。