Question

Most people think that the older you get, the harder it is to learn a new language. That is, they believe that children learn more easily and efficiently than adults. Thus, at some point in our lives, maybe around age 12 or 13, we lose the ability to learn languages well. Is this idea a fact or myth(悬念)？

Is it true that children learn a foreign language more efficiently than adults? On the contrary, research studies suggest that the opposite may be true. One report, on 2,000 Danish children studying Swedish, concluded that the teenagers learned more, in less time, than the younger children. Another report, on Americans learning Russian, showed a direct improvement of ability over the age range tested; that is, the ability to learn increased as the age increased, from childhood to adulthood.

There are several possible explanations for these findings. For one thing, adults know more about the world and therefore are able to understand meanings more easily than children. Moreover, adults can use logical(逻辑的) thinking to help themselves see patterns in the language. Finally, adults have more self-discipline (self-control) than children.

All in all, it seems that the common idea that children are better language learners than adults may not be a fact, but a myth.

1.The main idea of the passage is ____.

A．teenagers are more difficult to teach

B．Danish teenagers can learn Swedish faster than younger children

C．adults are more logical than children

D．the ability to learn languages increases with age

2.According to the passage, teenagers can learn a foreign language _____ than younger children.

A．harder                               B．more efficiently

C．more slowly                           D．more carefully

3.Which of the following possible explanations for older student’s better achievement is not mentioned in the above passage?

A．Adults know more about the world.         B．Adults can use logical thinking

C．Adults have more self-discipline.            D．Adults can read better.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.D

2.B

3.D

【解析】

试题分析：本文通过两个研究告诉我们一个人学习语言的能力是随着年龄的增加而增加的。

1.D 主旨大意题。根据第二段中的两个研究结果和第六行the ability to learn increased as the age increased, from childhood to adulthood.说明本文讲述的是学习语言的能力是随着年龄的增加而增加的，故D正确。

2.B 细节题。根据第二段2,3,4行One report, on 2,000 Danish children studying Swedish, concluded that the teenagers learned more, in less time, than the younger children.说明年轻人学习语言比孩子要快，要更好。故B正确。

3.D 细节题。根据文章第二段最后五行For one thing, adults know more about the world and therefore are able to understand meanings more easily than children. Moreover, adults can use logical(逻辑的) thinking to help themselves see patterns in the language. Finally, adults have more self-discipline (self-control) than children.

说明ABC三项都是优势，只有D项没有提及。

考点：考查调查报告类短文

点评：本文以细节题的考查为主，细节题是针对文中某个细节、某句话或某部分具体内容设置问题，正确答案的根据一定可以在原文中找到，即原文的改写往往成为正确选项。通常细节题的正确选项有以下特征：

1、对原文句子中的关键词进行替换。把原文中的一些词换成意义相近的词，成为正确选项。

2、词性或者语态的变化。把原文中的一些词变换一下词性，或者改变原文句子的语态，给考生制造障碍。

3、语言简化。把原文中的复杂语言现象进行简化，成为正确答案。

4、正话反说。把原文中的意思反过来表达而成为正确选项(适用于寻找错误选项的题目)。