Question

As I was thinking about language learning the other day, the image of baking bread came into my mind. I compared some of the exercises and drills that we put ourselves through in order to learn a language to the various ingredients that go into baking a loaf of fresh bread.

Real language learning takes place in human relationships. No one sits down and eats a cup of flour, even if he is hungry and in a hurry. You don’t become bilingual (双语的) by learning lists of vocabulary. You don’t become a speaker of a language by memorizing verb conjugations (动词的词形变化) and agreement rules. You become bilingual by entering a community that uses that other language as its primary means of communication.

I am not suggesting that we can make bread without ingredients. Flour is necessary, as are yeast, salt, water and other ingredients. Vocabulary is part of any language and will have to be learned. Grammatical rules exist in every language and cannot be ignored. But merely combining the appropriate ingredients in the recommended proportions does not result in bread. At best, you only end up with a ball of dough (面团).

In order to get bread, you have to apply heat to the dough. And in language learning, that heat comes from the community. Anyone who has learned a second language has experienced that heat. It creeps up your neck when you ask the babysitter, “Have you already been eaten?” when you meant to say, “Have you already eaten?” When you try to say something quite innocent and the whole room bursts into laughter, you are experiencing the heat that turns raw dough into good bread. Remember the old saying, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen?” This is where language learning often breaks down because we find the heat uncomfortable and we stop the baking process. In other words, we can’t stand the heat, so we get out of the kitchen.

However, the language learner who stays in the kitchen——in the heat until the combined ingredients are thoroughly transformed will enjoy the richness of a quality loaf of bread. He said that he did not “get out of the kitchen” at the critical moment when the oven seemed too hot. The dedicated language learner knows that becoming bilingual cannot be achieved without the heat!

1.The passage is mainly about________.

A. how we can make baking bread with various Ingredients

B. how to become bilingual by communicating with others

C. what an important role “heat” plays in learning a language

D. what a high quality of bread you may achieve in the kitchen

2.You can become a speaker of a language by_______.

A. bearing millions of words and expressions in your mind

B. using the language to communicate with those around you

C. knowing verb conjugations and grammatical rules

D. saying something innocent to be laughed at by others

3.What is the purpose of illustration of the example——you ask the babysitter, “Have you already been eaten?” when you meant to say, “Have you already eaten?” ?

A. To prove that you are sure to make some mistakes when you enter a community.

B. To show that you should combine the ingredients in the recommended proportions.

C. To prove that you may experience "heat" from the community in language learning.

D. To indicate that being bilingual calls for your courage, confidence and perseverance.

4.According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the necessity of baking bread and learning language?

A. Wonderful skills.    B. Various ingredients.

C. Appropriate proportions.    D. Uncomfortable heat.

Answer

1. C

2. B

3. C

4. A

【解析】

本文是一篇语言学习类短文阅读。文章作者用诙谐幽默的口吻对语言学习与烤面包进行了比较，并强调了“热度”在语言学习中是多么的作用。

1.主旨大意题。根据文章最后一句The dedicated language learner knows that becoming bilingual cannot be achieved without the heat!和全文内容可知，文章作者用诙谐幽默的口吻对语言学习与烤面包进行了比较，并强调了“热度”在语言学习中是多么的作用。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据文章第二段Real language learning takes place in human relationships.和You become bilingual by entering a community that uses that other language as its primary means of communication.可知，只有通过语言交流才能熟练掌握语言。故选B。

3.推理判断题。根据文章第三段And in language learning, that heat comes from the community. Anyone who has learned a second language has experienced that heat.可知，作者举例说明的目的是为了证明在语言学习中，其热度来自于社会交流。故选C。

4.细节理解题。根据文章作者对语言学习与烤面包进行了比较，在文章第三段提及到various ingredients和appropriate proportions的必要性，最后两段强调了uncomfortable heat的必要性。wonderful skills文章作者没有提及到。故选A。