Question

Many people believe that you lose the ability to learn new languages as you get older. Language experts, however, will tell you that you’re never too old to learn a new language. As you get older, it can be more difficult to learn a new language, though.

Children and adults learn new languages in different ways. For children, language is their life. They study for thousands of hours every year, because they need to learn languages to become part of their communities. Adults, on the other hand, are already part of a language community. Learning a new language means becoming part of another language community, and adults rarely get the chance to practice as much as young children do.

Moreover, children learning a new language are expected to make mistakes. This gives them freedom when learning to be daring and confident. Adults, however, often feel pressured to be perfect when learning a new language. This can discourage many people and make it even harder to learn a new language.

When young children learn a new language, they come to see various languages as a “normal” part of society. This mindset （思维模式） helps them embrace learning a new language without feeling like they’re doing something unusual or “too hard”.

So if you want to learn a new language, go for it! It’s never too late to learn a new language. If you’re older, it may take more work, but it can be done. If you’re a young child, though, now is the time to step out and learn a new language!

1.By “Language is their life”, the author means that children ________.

A. can’t live without language

B. lead a happy life every day

C. practice a new language a lot

D. are taken good care of adults

2.What may make it hard for the old people to learn to a new language?

A. They are afraid of being laughed at.

B. They usually have too many interests.

C. They think making mistakes is natural.

D. They always make all kinds of mistakes.

3.Which of the following shows the difference between children and adults in learning a new language?

A. The behaviors they have.

B. The learning attitudes.

C. The future plans they have made.

D. The materials they are using.

4.According to the author, a new language ________.

A. can never be learned by the old people

B. can be grasped by the old people easily

C. can be understood only by the old people

D. can be learned by both the old and the young

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：作者论述了年轻人和较长者学语言的不同，年长者不是没有能力学习语言而是需要付出较多。

1. 推理判断题。作者说For children, language is their life.根据下文的They study for thousands of hours every year, because they need to learn languages to become part of their communities.和young children can accumulate(积累) those hours over several years as they grow up.可知，孩子们用大量的时间去学习和练习语言，故选C。

2.A 细节理解题。根据第三段中Adults, however, often feel pressured to be perfect when learning a new language. This can discourage many people and make it even harder to learn a new language.可知，成年人学语言时有压力怕出错，这就阻碍了他们学语言。故选A。

3.B 推理判断题。根据文章第二、三、四段对比可知，孩子和成年人学语言的目的不同、态度不同会导致学习结果的不同，故选B。

4.D 推理判断题。根据文章内容及最后一段It’s never too late to learn a new language. If you’re older, it may take more work, but it can be done. If you’re a young child, though, now is the time to step out and learn a new language! 可知，作者认为年轻人和年龄较长的人都能学习语言，只不过年长者需多费时间，故选D。

考点：考查文化教育类短文阅读。

【名师点睛】

推理判断题的解题方法 ：

推理判断题不仅要求考生读懂文章中的每个句子的意思还要推理它们之间的关系，结合自己的生活常识和经验，再通过逻辑推理和判断，理解文章的言外之意，从而揭示文章的深层涵义。如文中第28小题作者说For children, language is their life.根据下文的They study for thousands of hours every year, because they need to learn languages to become part of their communities.和young children can accumulate(积累) those hours over several years as they grow up.可知孩子们有大量的时间去学习和练习语言，故选C.

任何一篇文章都有其特定的写作目的，读者应当知道如何去做或按照某种方式传递思考问题。第30小题根据文章第二、三、四段对比可知孩子和成年人学语言的目的不同、态度不同会导致学习结果的不同，故选B. 第31小题根据文章内容及最后一段It’s never too late to learn a new language. If you’re older, it may take more work, but it can be done. If you’re a young child, though, now is the time to step out and learn a new language! 可知年轻人和年龄较长的人都能学习语言，只不过年长者需多费时间，故选D.

推理判断题的答案不可能在文章中直接找到，因此推理时我们务必要忠于原文，在文章中寻找并确定可推论的依据，即：已知部分－推论的前提，从中推测出未知部分－推理的结论，切忌妄加评论，把自己的观点当成作者的观点。