42. What do we know about the NHS?

A. It’s managed by the central government.

B. Its cost is mainly paid for by the National Insurance contributions.

C. It hires more people than any other unit in Europe.

D. Fewer patients go to its hospitals than before because they spend less on health care.

41. We can know from the first paragraph that ______________.

A. the original aim of the NHS was to provide equal basic health care for everybody

B. people didn’t have to pay for health care since the NHS was set up

C. patients were charged for receiving health care before 1948

D. the NHS was an organization which gave free advice to villagers

55. B。主旨大意题。作者在最后两自然段继续阐述其中心论点,即外语的学习宜早不宜迟。

54. A。推理判断题。根据第五自然段得出此答案。

53. C。词义猜测题。根据本词后的解释“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.”，可知其意思应是“a person who can speak two languages”。

52. D。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的促进作用,就是为了说明语言学习对大脑的促进有类似的作用。

51. C。主旨大意题。作者在本文第一自然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”。

55. In the last two paragraphs, the author wants to tell us that_____________.　

A. learning a second language is the same as studying maths

B. early learning of a second language helps you a great deal in study other subjects

C. Italian is the best choice for you as a second language　

D. you’d better choose the ages between 2 and 34 to learn a second language

[答案与解析] 　51-55 CDCAB

本文的主题是语言学习语言学习对大脑有促进作用，可以提高学习者的智力,并向人们提出了“外语的学习宜早不宜迟”的建议。

54. 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　

53. The underlined word “bilingual” probably means_____________.　

A. a researcher on language learning

B. a second language learner　

C. a person who can speak two languages

D. an active language learner