Question

    If you think English means endless new words, difficult grammars and sometimes strange pronunciations, 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 Mecheli, 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 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 maths 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 2 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.language study can help improve brain power D.language learning and maths study

2.In the second paragraph, the writer mentions “exercise” in order to ________.

A.say language 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 the language when you learn it

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

3.The word “bilinguals” (Paragraph 3) probably means ________.

A.researchers on language learning B.second language learners

C.persons who can speak two languages D.active language learners

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了研究显示，学习一门外语能够提升大脑的能力。这是因为学习外语改变了大脑的灰质，大脑灰质负责对信息进行加工。研究还发现，越早开始学习外语，这种效果就越明显。文章说明了研究人员和Dylan Vaughan Jones教授对此的看法。

1.

主旨大意题。根据第二段中According to a new study by a British university, learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power.可知根据英国一所大学的一项新研究，学习第二语言可以提高你的脑力。结合文章主要说明了研究显示，学习一门外语能够提升大脑的能力。这是因为学习外语改变了大脑的灰质，大脑灰质负责对信息进行加工。研究还发现，越早开始学习外语，这种效果就越明显。文章说明了研究人员和Dylan Vaughan Jones教授对此的看法。由此可知，这篇文章的主题是语言学习可以帮助提高脑力。故选C。

2.

推理判断题。根据第二段中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.可知研究人员发现，学习其他语言会改变大脑的灰质。这是大脑中处理信息的区域。这与锻炼肌肉的方式类似。由此可推知，在第二段中，作者把学习外语比作身体锻炼是想让大家相信学习语言能够帮助增强大脑灰质的活性，故选D。

3.

词义猜测题。根据划线词后面的定语从句“who had learnt a second language before the age of five(在五岁之前就学会了第二语言的人)”可知，划线词指的是能说两种语言的人，故选C。