Question

【题目】 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 （脑灰质）. This is the area of the brain which processes in formation. 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 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 learned 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 .

“Our findings suggesting that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience 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 math skills. "Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible（灵活的） he said", a better understanding of different ideas". You are actually going beyond（超出）language and have The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of two and thirty﹣four. 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】If people learn other languages, what will be changed?

A.grey matterB.white matterC.exerciseD.power

【2】What does the word "bilingual" probably mean in Chinese .

A.词汇学B.双语学习者C.口语交际D.实用语法

【3】According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

A.Learning other languages can make you become smarter.

B.A second language can lead to an increase in your brain power

C.Learning other languages can change grey matter which processes information

D.Grey matter density in the brain was worse in bilinguals than that in people without a second language

【4】In the last two paragraphs, the writer wants to tell us that .

A.Italian is the best choice for you to learn as a second language

B.learninging a second language is the same as studying math

C.you'd better choose the ages between two and thirty﹣four to learn a second language

D.early learning of a second language helps you a lot in studying other subjects

【5】We may know from the scientific findings that .

A.the ability of learning a second language is changing all the time

B.the experience of learning a second language has bad effect on people's brain

C.the earlier you start to learn a second language, the higher the grey matter density is.

D.it's the same between a later second language learner and one who doesn't know a second language

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】B

【3】D

【4】D

【5】C

【解析】

文章大意：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。

【1】细节理解题。根据Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter 研究人员发现学习其他语言会改变脑灰质，得出A为正确答案，故答案选A。

【2】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"可知，划线词指的是学习了第二种语言的人，故答案选B。

【3】细节理解题。根据Scans showed that grey matter density in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people．扫描显示，双语者大脑中灰质密度比常人高，可知双语灰白质的密度比没有学习第二门语言的人高，不是越差，所以D错误，故答案选D。

【4】细节理解题。从文章最后一段的句子：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．结果表明，他们开始学习的年龄越小越好，"研究语言意味着你可以进入另一个世界，"科学家解释说。可知作者想要告诉我们早期学习一门外语对其他科目的学习也是有好处的，故答案选D。

【5】推理判断题。根据They were compared with a group of "early bilinguals" who had learned 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．他们与一组在五岁之前学会第二语言的“早期双语者”以及一些后来的学习者进行了对比，扫描显示，双语者大脑中的灰质密度比没有第二语言的人更高；可知结果表明，他们开始学习的年龄越小越好，灰白质的密度越高，所以C正确，故答案选C。