Question

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. 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, 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 learnt 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 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.

6. 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 can help brain power

D. language learning and maths study

7. 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 the language

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

Answer 1

6. 解析：选C。主旨大意题。作者在第一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”。

7. 解析：选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，就是为了说明语言学习对大脑的促进有类似的作用。

8. 解析：选C。词义猜测题。根据本词前后的解释“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”。

9. 解析：选A。推理判断题。根据第三、四、五段内容可知答案。