Learning a second language is tricky at any age and it only gets tougher the longer you wait to open that dusty French book. Now, in a new study, scientists have pinpointed the exact age at which your chances of reaching fluency in a second language seem to plummet: 10.

The study, published in the journal Cognition, found that it’s “nearly impossible” for language learners to reach native-level fluency if they start learning a second tongue after 10. But that doesn’t seem to be because language skills go downhill. “It turns out you’re still learning fast. It’s just that you run out of time, because your ability to learn starts dropping at around 17 or 18 years old,” says study co-author Joshua Hartshorne, an assistant professor of psychology at Boston College.

Kids may be better than adults at learning new languages for many reasons. Children’s brains are more plastic than those of adults, meaning they’re better able to adapt and respond to new information. “All learning involves the brain changing,” Hartshorne says, “and children’s brains seem to be a lot more skilled at changing.”

Kids may also be more willing to try new things (and to potentially look foolish in the process) than adults are. Their comparatively new grasp on their native tongue may also be advantageous. Unlike adults, who tend to default (默认) to the rules and patterns of their first language, kids may be able to approach a new one with a blank slate (石板).

These findings may seem discouraging, but it was heartening for scientists to learn that the critical period for fluent language acquisition might be longer than they previously thought. Some scientists believed that the brief window closes shortly after birth, while others stretched it only to early adolescence. Compared to those estimates, 17 or 18 — when language learning ability starts to drop off — seems relatively old.

“People fared better when they learned by immersion (沉浸), rather than simply in a classroom. And moving to a place where your desired language is spoken is the best way to learn as an adult. If that’s not an option, you can mimic an immersive environment by finding ways to have conversations with native speakers in their own communities,” Hartshorne says. By doing so, it’s possible to become conversationally proficient — even without the advantage of a child’s brain.

1.The underlined word “plummet” in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to “__________”.

A.decrease B.rise

C.end D.vary

2.What can be inferred from Joshua Hartshorne’s words?

A.Children are too young to grasp a second language.

B.Age 10-18 is the best time to learn a second language.

C.Adults go beyond the critical period for learning a second language.

D.Communicating with native speakers enables you to master all the language skills.

3.Why adults can’t reach native-level fluency in a second language?

A.Adults are less influenced by their mother tongues.

B.Adults spend more time responding to new information.

C.Adults are only too willing to experience something awkward in the process.

D.Adults prefer an immersive environment to a classroom in learning a second language.

4.The passage is mainly about __________.

A.the best age to learn a second language

B.the approaches to learning a second language

C.why kids learn a second language more easily than adults

D.whether adults can learn a second language like their younger selves

    As humanity has got richer, animal’s roles have changed. People need their services less than before. Fewer wolves and thieves meant less demand for dogs for protection; the internal combustion engine（内燃机）made horses unneeded; modern sanitation（卫生设备）kept rats in check and made cats less useful. No longer necessities, domestic animals became luxuries. Pet-keeping seems to kick in when household incomes rise above roughly $5,000. It is booming.

The trend is not a new one. Archaeologists（考古学家）have found 10,000-year-old graves in which dogs and people are buried together. Some cultures -- such as in Scandinavia, where dogs have long been both working dogs and companions -- have kept pets for thousands of years. But these days the pet-keeping urge has spread even to parts of the world which have no tradition of sinking into a comfortable chair with a furry creature.

The pet business is growing even faster than pet numbers, because people are spending more and more money on them. No longer are they food - waste - recyclers, fed with the remains that fall from their masters’ tables. Pet - food shelves are full of delicacies crafted to satisfy a range of appetites, including ice cream for dogs and foods for pets that are old, diabetic or suffer from sensitive digestion; a number of internet services offer food, tailored to the pet’s individual tastes.

In the business this is called “pet humanisation” -- the tendency of pet owners to treat their pets as part of the family. This is evident in the names given to dogs, which have evolved from Fido, Rex and Spot to -- in America -- Bella, Lucy and Max. It is evident in the growing market for pet clothing, pet grooming and pet hotels.

People still assume that pets must be working for humanity in some way, perhaps making people healthier or less anxious. But the evidence for that is weak. Rather, new research suggests that dogs have evolved those irresistible “puppy - dog eyes” precisely to affect human emotions. It has worked. The species that once enslaved others now works very hard to pay for the care of its pets. Sentimental（多愁善感的）Americans often refer to themselves not as cat-owners but as the cat’s “mommy” or “daddy”. South Koreans go one further, describing themselves as cat “butlers”. Watch an unlucky dog-walker trailing “his” hound（猎犬）, plastic bag in hand to pick up its mess, and you have to wonder: who’s in charge now?

1.Which of the following trends is NOT TRUE according to the passage?

A.People’s needs for animal services are decreasing.

B.Both the pet number and the pet business are growing.

C.Pets are increasingly making their owners less anxious.

D.Pet foods are more various and customized than before.

2.Which of the following is referred to as evidence of “pet humanization?”

A.The names given to pets in American families nowadays.

B.Pet’s inbuilt ability to affect emotions of their owners.

C.Human beings ever rising urge for pet-keeping.

D.Pet’s roles as both working staff and companions.

3.Which of the following statements is the author most likely to agree with?

A.Pets should be treated as equals of their human masters.

B.Human beings are getting much benefit from their pets.

C.Pet-keeping is still restricted within certain parts of the world.

D.Some pet owners spend too much money on their pets.

4.Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A.The Changing Roles of Animals B.The Urge for Pet-keeping

C.Who Owns Whom D.Love Me, Love My Dog

    Agnes de Mille was a dancer and a choreographer (编舞). Early in her career, de Mille had created the choreography for a ballet called Three Virgins and a Devil. She thought it was good work, but nobody made much of it.

A few years later, de Mille choreographed a ballet named Rodeo. Again, she thought her work was solid, but it resulted in little commercial fame.

Then, in 1943, de Mille choreographed Oklahoma!, a musical show that enjoyed nearly instant success. In the coming years, Oklahoma! would run for an incredible 2,212 performances, both around the nation and abroad. In 1955, the film version won an Academy Award.

But the success of Oklahoma! didn’t bring her much happiness. She thought that her work on Oklahoma! was only average compared to some of her other creations. She later said, “After the opening of Oklahoma!, I suddenly had unexpected success for a work I thought was only fairly good, after years of neglect for work I thought was fine. I began to think that perhaps my entire scale of values was untrustworthy. I talked to Martha.”

Martha was Martha Graham, perhaps the most influential dance choreographer of the 20th century. (Although not as well-known by the general public, Graham has been compared to other creative geniuses like Picasso or Frank Lloyd Wright.)

During their conversation, de Mille told Martha Graham about her frustration. “I confessed that I had a burning desire to be excellent, but no faith that I could be.”

Graham responded by saying:

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.”

1.What can be learned about de Mille’s ballet named Rodeo?

A.It earned her a large fortune. B.It made her rise to fame overnight.

C.It didn’t enjoy much success. D.It laid a solid foundation for her career.

2.How did de Mille feel about the great success of the musical Oklahoma!?

A.Relieved. B.Ashamed. C.Confused. D.Proud.

3.Picasso and Frank Lloyd Wright were mentioned in the passage to suggest that Martha Graham ______.

A.was outstanding in visual arts and architecture

B.enjoyed the same popularity as them

C.had been influenced greatly by them

D.was the most influential artist in her field

4.Which of the following statements best represents Graham’s words in this passage?

A.Comparing with others prevents you from maintaining uniqueness.

B.You should always keep yourself open to the urges that motivate you.

C.Your action reveals the inner landscape, which is the soul of music.

D.Choosing to be positive is going to determine how you live your life.

    Occasions like anniversaries, weddings and reunions call for special event venues （场地）.The following places may have a way out. There's no need to spend money creating atmosphere at special event venues. It's built right in!

Hard Rock Cafe Anchorage

415 E. STREET, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA 99501

Events, like great music are born of inspiration. Featuring a 13,600-square-foot facility that will seat 275 guests with private event space, we pride ourselves on delivering an exceptional experience with a rock and roll twist for each of our guests.

Business Expo Center

1960 S. ANAHEIM WAY, ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA 92805

The Business Expo Center is Orange County's premier event venue in Anaheim, California. Our flexible 36,000-square-foot expo center is home to space for conferences, trade shows and celebrations. We pride ourselves on providing a memorable experience with excellent flexibility, services, and cost savings. We won't charge customers for on-site parking and provide high-speed Wi-Fi.

Automobile Driving Museum

610 LAIRPORT STREET, EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA 90245

Centrally located in the South Bay beach community of El Segundo, California, the ADM offers a wonderful venue for private parties and corporate events. Conveniently located 5 minutes south of LAX, right off the 405 and 105 Freeways, the 610 Lairport space has a vintage feel surrounded by our primary automobile collection. We offer several different venues inside and outside our facility for diverse events. To better our service, reservations are needed.

Yamashiro Hollywood

1999 N. SYCAMORE AVE., LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90068

Yamashiro Hollywood is a restaurant and therefore, all food and beverages must be handled in house. However, guests are allowed to bring in outside wine and champagne for a corkage fee.

1.What can you do in Business Expo Center?

A.Enjoy free parking.

B.Bring in outside wine.

C.Experience a rock and roll twist.

D.See some automobile collections.

2.Which venue do you need to book in advance?

A.Business Expo Center.

B.Yamashiro Hollywood.

C.Hard Rock Cafe Anchorage.

D.Automobile Driving Museum.

3.What do the four venues have in common?

A.They offer optional places.

B.They are open to special events.

C.They are located in the same state.

D.They enjoy convenient transportation.

    Christmas was near a season that we took seriously in our house. But a week or so before the 25th, my father would give each of his children $ 20. This was the 1970s, and $ 20 was quite a bit of money.

But I saw it ___. My father trusted me to have the ________ to spend money wisely. Even better, he gave me the ____ to get it. On a very basic level ,my father was giving me a shopping spree（狂欢）every year. But he was also giving me charge over my own fun, trusting my ability to ____ money and making me feel like a/an _______. He didn't buy me Sherlock Holmes, but he gave me the means to walk into the bookstore and choose it for myself, so it felt like a gift from him.

My mother had a/an____for giving me what I needed, usually____at the moment I needed it most. This was when I was 25, I _____at being an adult on my very first try. I had quitted my ___job but had no new one. But when my mother____me a visit, I____a good show, telling her I had started my own company.

My mother knew that I was trying hard and failing at that time. It wasn't until____she left that I noticed at the foot of my bed an envelope thick with _________. She knew how _______ I needed it. She knew that had she just shown up with groceries, or____to pay my rent, she would have made me feel much __________ . The cold, hard cash meant she was helping me. And, funnily enough, the____with which she gave the gift felt like she was giving me space to ___my life and preserve my dignity. My mother and father both did the same thing. One was giving me the means to take my own ____ ,and the other was giving me a second ____ when those decisions had cost me dearly.

1.A.positively B.differently C.naturally D.originally

2.A.intelligence B.passion C.power D.potential

3.A.courage B.suggestions C.discipline D.means

4.A.spend B.carry C.manage D.use

5.A.grown-up B.teenager C.adventurer D.pioneer

6.A.habit B.gift C.approach D.tradition

7.A.approximately B.about C.right D.slightly

8.A.failed B.fooled C.dropped D.fell

9.A.important B.creative C.challenging D.previous

10.A.brought B.suggested C.paid D.gave

11.A.put on B.put away C.put off D.put forward

12.A.before B.after C.when D.as

13.A.credit B.loans C.receipts D.cash

14.A.desperately B.hardly C.eventually D.accurately

15.A.attempted B.offered C.promised D.refused

16.A.better B.more C.less D.worse

17.A.decoration B.love C.distance D.method

18.A.defend B.equip C.fix D.develop

19.A.actions B.opportunities C.risks D.decisions

20.A.solution B.chance C.visit D.assistance

假定你是李华，正在教你的英国朋友Leslie学习汉语。请你写封邮件告知下次上课的计划。内容包括：

（1）时间和地点；

（2）内容：学习唐诗；

（3）课前准备：简要了解唐朝的历史。

注意：1.词数100左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Leslie,

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best wishes!

Yours，

Li Hua

The US is ________________ (处境危险) of losing a trade war with China. (根据中文意思，补全句子)

Such improvement can________________ (发生)only as a result of hard work. (根据中文意思，补全句子)

Some travel groups make use of illegal tactics in order to ________ money ________ (榨出) of tourists. (根据中文意思，补全句子)

She thinks the best__________ (印象) a person can make is showing their knowledge and cultural intelligence instead of attractive physical appearance. (根据中文意思，补全句子)