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 information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles.

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 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 math 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 were matched 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 subject talked about in 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 math study

2.The underlined word “bilingual” probably means _______.

A.a researcher on language learning

B.a person who can speak two languages

C.a second language learner

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.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.A

【解析】

本文是一篇议论文。文章阐述了“语言学习可以提高你的智力”。

1.主旨大意题。作者在第一段中就提出了本文的主题，然后下文围绕这一主题进行深入地阐述，即“语言学习可以提高你的智力”。故选C。

2.词义猜测题。根据本词前后的解释“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.”，他们被比作一群“早期双语者”，他们在五岁之前就学会了第二语言，还有后来的许多学习者。可知其意思应是“a person who can speak two languages”。故选B。

3.推理判断题。根据第三段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，我们可能从科学发现中知道，越早开始学习第二语言，智力密度越高。故选A。