Speaking two languages can actually help offset(抵消) some effects of aging on the brain, a new study has found.

Researchers tested how long it took participants to switch from one cognitive(认知的) task to another, something that’s known to take longer for older adults, said lead researcher, Brian Gold, a neuroscientist at the University of Kentucky.

Gold’s team compared task-switching speeds for younger and older adults, knowing they would find slower speeds in the older population because of previous studies. However, they found that older adults who spoke two languages were able to switch mental activities faster than those didn’t . The study only looked at life-long bilinguals, defined in study as people who had spoken a second language daily since they were at least 10 years old.

Gold and his team asked 30 people, either bilingual or monolingual(只懂一种语言的人) , to have a series of tests. They found that bilingual people were not only able to switch tasks faster, they had different brain activity than their monolingual peers.

Kristina called bilingualism "a beautiful natural experiment”, because people grow up speaking two languages,and studies have shown that they get certain cognitive benefits from switching between languages and determining which to respond with based on what's going on around them.

Gold said he grew up in Montreal, where he spoke French at school and English at home, prompting relatives to question whether his French language immersion would somehow hinder his ability to learn English.

"Until very recently, learning a second language in childhood was thought of as dangerous," he said. "Actually, it's beneficial. "

1.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A. Researchers found that speaking two languages is important.

B. Researchers found that bilingual people respond slowly.

C. Researchers found that bilingual people can slow down the speed or aging on the brain and respond fast.

D. Researchers found that bilingual people are great.

2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Older bilinguals can’t respond faster in mind.

B. Older adults speaking a second language daily since they were at least 10 years old can respond faster than those who don't.

C. Young bilinguals can respond faster in mind than those monolinguals.

D. Bilingual children respond slower in mind than those monolinguals.

3.In Gold’s opinion, learning a second language in childhood is______ .

A. dangerous to children

B. not beneficial to children

C. dangerous but beneficial to children

D. not dangerous but beneficial to children

完形填空

In the fourth grade,I discovered my one true love—acting.It is not only fun,but it ________ teamwork and empathy, things I think the world should have more of.

However, I never expected that acting would also teach me to ________ !

In the first semester of my freshman year of high school,my school ________ the play Frankenstein.It’s about a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who creates a monster, and ________ the monster destroys the scientist’s life.

I got the lead female ________ of Frankenstein’s girlfriend,Elizabeth.I had been in plays before,so I was very ________ to the rehearsal(排练)process of memorizing lines and then ________ a character with help from the director.But this play was different from ________ one I had ever done before,because Frankenstein and Elizabeth had to kiss in the play a lot.The boy who ________ Frankenstein was very cute,I must say.There was a(n) ________ in which our characters shared“15kisses”. ________ ,the director removed it.But there were still some kissing scenes.

Would we ________ to kiss,or would we actually kiss? Our director ________ having us kiss for real,and for the first few times,it was very ________ .My lips barely touched the boy’s.Many of the other actors and actresses laughed at us.

________ ,one thing about stage kissing that you have to understand is that you are not being yourself. That goes for any ________ .After that experience,I feel like I can ________ any role.It was a big event in my ________ toward becoming a better actress.I feel more ________ being onstage and showing my character’s personality to the ________.And that is important for getting the message of a play across.

1.A.1earns B.teaches C.directs D.explains

2.A.kiss B.hug C.bow D.pray

3.A.prepared for B.carded out C.put on D.took up

4.A.when B.where C.whether D.how

5.A.star B.role C.maid D.keeper

6.A.used B.addicted C.related D.devoted

7.A.imagining B.convincing C.developing D.revising

8.A.each B.no C.some D.any

9.A.played B.served C.created D.replaced

10.A.space B.part C.area D.interval

11.A.Eventually B.Surprisingly C.Fortunately D.Regrettably

12.A.intend B.mean C.try D.pretend

13.A.applied to B.ended up C.objected to D.gave up

14.A.fierce B.romantic C.awkward D.pitiful

15.A.However B.Therefore C.Meanwhile D.Otherwise

16.A.behaving B.acting C.touching D.moving

17.A.change B.design C.handle D.assess

18.A.way B.journey C.tour D.trip

19.A.comfortable B.practical C.optimistic D.hopeful

20.A.readers B.actresses C.actors D.audiences

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