Question

On a hot August morning, in a classroom overlooking New York’s Hudson River, a teacher guides a group of 3-year-olds completely in Chinese. This is just a language summer camp run by the primary school Bilingual Buds, which offers a year-round course in Chinese as well as Spanish for kids as young as 2.

A lot of research now shows the regular, high-level use of more than one language may actually improve early brain development. Knowing two or more languages can improve the ability to focus, decide and deal with information better. These important skills are grouped together, known in brain terms as “executive function”. The research suggests they develop ahead of time in bilingual children, and are already evident in kids as young as 3 or 4. Bilingual education, common in many countries, is a growing trend across the United States, with 440 elementary schools offering the study in Spanish, Chinese and French.

But Tamar Gollan, a professor at the University of California, has found a vocabulary gap between children who speak only one language and those who grow up with more. On average, the more language spoken, the smaller the vocabulary in each one. Gollan’s research suggests that while that gap narrows as children grow, it does not disappear completely. Gollan says, “Vocabulary tests help us find that bilinguals have the disadvantage, where you know the word but you just can’t get it out.”

In fact some of the values of bilingualism can’t be measured at all, of course. To speak more than one language is to open the mind to more than one culture or way of life.

Bilinguals also appear to be better at learning other new languages. Clarisse spent her early childhood in Switzerland speaking French. At 6, she learned English. Later she learned Spanish, German, and, during three years living in Tokyo, Japanese. Now she has easily mastered several languages.

1.Why should children learn more than one language according to Paragraph 2?

A. Because it can do good to children’s brain development.

B. Because it’s part of a language summer camp.

C. Because it is common in many countries.

D. Because it is popular with children.

2.The underlined word “they” in Paragraph 2 probably refers to _________.

A. many countries

B. bilingual children

C. these important skills

D. two or more languages

3.According to Tamar Gollan, __________.

A. knowing two or more languages can improve children’s skills

B. the more languages children know, the better they will be

C. children had better not take vocabulary tests

D. bilingual education is not always good to children

4. From the passage we can learn_________.

A. Clarisse likes French best instead of Japanese

B. bilingual education is mainly loved by children

C. bilinguals can have a disadvantage in learning other new languages

D. knowing more languages can help children learn more about foreign cultures

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：本文属于议论文，现在教育中有一种趋势，越来越多的学校进行双语教育，文章中分析了双语教育的好处同时也介绍了其不利之处。

1.A 细节理解题。根据第二段第一句A lot of research now shows the regular, high-level use of more than one language may actually improve early brain development.可知很多研究说明学习多种语言对于早期的脑部发育是有好处的。故A项正确。

2.C 词义猜测题。根据第二段第二句Knowing two or more languages can improve the ability to focus, decide and deal with information better.可知学习多种语言可以提高集中注意力、决定以及更好地处理信息的能力。再根据本句The research suggests they develop ahead of time in bilingual children可知研究显示这些能力再学习双语的孩子身上发育得更早。所以本句中的they就是指第二句中提到的那些技巧。故C项正确。

3.D 细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句Gollan says, “Vocabulary tests help us find that bilinguals have the disadvantage, where you know the word but you just can’t get it out.”可知Gollan认为学习双语也有不利之处，例如词汇方面，学习双语的学生就有问题。也就是说学习多种语言对孩子不总是好的。故D项正确。

4.

考点：考查议论文阅读