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 younger people learn a second language, the better the effect is.

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 was.

“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 maths skills.“Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible,”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 two and 34.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.findings that language learning can help brain power

D.language learning and maths study

2.The last sentence of the second paragraph is intended to______.

A.say language learning is also a kind of physical labor

B.prove that one needs more practice when he (she) is learning a language

C.show the importance of using it when you learn a language

D.make people believe language learning helps grey matter work well

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.D

3.A

【解析】

这是一篇议论文。文章论述的是“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.推理判断题。作者在这一段里把语言学习对大脑的促进作用比作体育锻炼能促进肌肉健全，就是为了说明语言学习对大脑的促进有类似的作用。故选D。

3.推理判断题。根据第三段The study also found the younger people learn a second language, the better the effect is.“研究还发现，越年轻的人学习第二语言，效果越好。”第四段中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.“”研究人员将他们与一组五岁前就学会了第二语言的“早期双语者”以及一些后来的学习者进行了比较。和第五段中Scans showed that grey matter density (密度) in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language“扫描结果显示，会讲两种语言的人大脑中的灰质密度比不会讲第二种语言的人要高”。可知，我们可以从科学发现中得知，你越早开始学习第二语言，灰质密度就越高。故选A。