Question

    If English means endless new words, difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation, you are wrong. Haven’t you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language?

According to a new study by a British university, learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power. Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter (脑灰质). This is the area of the brain which processes (加工) information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles (肌肉).

The study also found the effect is great when the younger people learn a second language. A team led by Dr. Andrea Mechelli, from University College London, took a group of Britons who only spoke English. They were compared with a group of “early bilinguals” who had learnt a second language before the age of five, as well as a number of later learners.

Scans showed that grey matter density (密度) in the brain was greater in bilinguals that in people without a second language. But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference.

“Our findings suggest that the structure (结构) of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language.” said the scientists.

It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn. Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales, has researched the relationship between bilingualism and maths skills. “Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible (灵活的).” he said. “You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas.”

The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of two and thirty-four. Reading, writing, and comprehension were all tested. The results showed that the younger they started to learn, the better. “Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world,” explained the scientists.

1.The main subject talked about in this passage is ________.

A.science on learning a second language B.man’s ability of learning a second language

C.that language can help brain power D.language learning and maths study

2.The underlined word “bilingual” probably means ________.

A.a researcher on language learning B.a second language learner

C.a person who can speak two languages D.an active language learner

3.In the second paragraph, the writer mentions “exercise” in order to ________.

A.say language is also a kind of physical (身体的) labor

B.show that one needs more practice when he (she) is learning a language

C.show the importance of using the language when you learn the language

D.make people believe language learning helps grey matter work well

4.We may know from the scientific findings that ________.

A.the earlier you start to learn a second language, the higher the grey matter density is

B.there is no difference between a later second language learner and one who doesn’t know a second language

C.the experience of learning a second language has bad influence on people’s brain

D.the ability of learning a second language is changing all the time

5.In the last two paragraphs, the author wants to tell us that ________.

A.learning a second language is the same as studying maths

B.early learning of a second language helps you a great deal in studying other subjects

C.Italian is the best choice for you as a second language

D.you’d better choose the ages between 2 and 34 to learn a second language

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.D

4.A

5.B

【解析】

本文主要讲述的是根据英国一所大学的一项新研究，学习第二语言可以提高你的脑力，而且越早学习效果越好。

1.主旨大意题。A项：学习第二语言的科学；B项：人类学习第二语言的能力；C项：语言有助于提高脑力；D项：语言学习和数学学习。分析全文可知，文章主要是在向我们介绍学习第二语言可以提高你的脑力。故选C。

2.词句猜测题。A项：语言学习的研究者；B项：第二语言学习者；C项：能说两种语言的人；D项：积极的语言学习者。根据后文“who had learnt a second language before the age of five”可知，该词表示双语学习者。故选C。

3.推理判断题。根据“Researchers found that learning other languages…It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles.”可知，研究人员发现，学习其他语言与锻炼肌肉的方式相似。所以提到锻炼让人们相信语言学习有助于大脑灰质更好地工作。故选D。

4.细节理解题。根据“The results showed that the younger they started to learn, the better.” 结果表明，他们越早开始学习，效果越好。故选A。

5.推理判断题。根据后两段内容可知，主要告诉我们早期学习第二语言对你学习其他学科有很大帮助。故选B。