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. This is the area of the brain which processes（处理） information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles(肌肉).

The study also found the effect is greater 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 than 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 link 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 had the same result 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 idea of 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.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 effect on people’s brain

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

4. 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.A

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：研究表明学一门外语会让你变的更聪明。是真的吗？为什么呢？本文会告诉你答案的。

1.C考查主旨大意题。本文为我们讲述了学习一门外语会增强我们大脑的能力，而且越早越好。故选C。

2.C考查猜测词义题。根据第三段内容who had learnt a second language before the age of five,可知这个词指的是会说两种语言的人。故选C。

3.A考查细节理解题。根据第三段内容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 than in people without a second language. But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference.可知研究表明会说两种语言的人大脑的灰质炎比不会说外语的人的密度大，但是学外语越晚，这种差距越小。所以学外语越早，大脑的灰质炎密度越大。故选A。

4.B考查推理判断题。根据最后两段内容可知，学习外语可以让我们的大脑更灵活，对各种不同的观点会有更好的理解力。所以学习外语对别的科目也有好处。故选B。

考点 ：介绍类阅读