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（大脑灰质）. This is the area of the brain which processes information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles（肌肉）.
The study also found the younger people learn a second language，the greater the effect is.
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,” 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.
【小题1】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 learning can help brain power

D．language learning and maths study

【小题2】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

【小题3】 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

【小题4】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 studying 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

第三部分  阅读理解 (共两节，满分40分)

第一节 （共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

If English means endless new words, difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation, you are wrong．Haven’t you noticed that you have become a master 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 brainpower．Researchers found that learning other language changes gray 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 on the younger people who learn a second language．

A team led by Dr．Andrea Mechelli, from University College London, took a group of Britons(土著的英国人) 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 other learners．

Scans showed that gray 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 is．

“Our findings suggest that his 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 Vanghan 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,” he said．“You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas．”

The finding was matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of two 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．

56．The main subject in this passage is ___．

science on learning a second language

man’s ability of learning a second language

language can help brain power

language learning and maths study

57．In the second paragraph, the writer mentions “exercise” in order to ___．

say language is also a kind of physical labor

prove that one needs more patience when he (she) is learning a language

show the importance of using the language when you learn the language

make people believe language learning helps gray matter work well

58．The underlined word “bilingual” probably means that ___．

a researcher on language learning             

a second language learner 

C．a person who can speak two languages               

D．an active language learner

59．We may know from the scientific findings that ___．

the earlier you start to learn a second language the higher the gray matter density is 

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 had an effect on people’s brain 

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

60．In the last two paragraphs, the author wants to tell us that ___．

learning a second language is the same as studying maths 

early learning of a second language helps you a great deal in studying other subjects 

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

第三部分       阅读（共两节；满分30分）

阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，

并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

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 Dt 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 finding 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 increase 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 two 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.

1．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

2．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．to show the importance of using the language when you learn the language

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

3．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

4．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

5．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.