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B
If you think 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 brainpower. Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter(灰质). This is the area of the brain which processes(处理)information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles.
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，” 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. language can help brainpower
C. man's ability of learning a second language
7. In the second paragraph，the writer mentions “exercise” in order to
A. make people believe language learning helps grey matter work well
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
8. The underlined word “bilingual” probably means
A. a researcher on language learning
B. an English native speaker
C. a person who can speak two languages
9. 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
10. In the last two paragraphs，the author wants to tell us that
A. early learning of a second language helps you a great deal in study other subjects
B. learning a second language is the same as studying maths
C. Italian is the best choice for you as a second language
If you think 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 brainpower. Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter(灰质). This is the area of the brain which processes(处理)information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles.
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，” 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
B
.A. science on learning a second language
B. language can help brainpower
C. man's ability of learning a second language
7. In the second paragraph，the writer mentions “exercise” in order to
A
.A. make people believe language learning helps grey matter work well
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
8. The underlined word “bilingual” probably means
C
.A. a researcher on language learning
B. an English native speaker
C. a person who can speak two languages
9. We may know from the scientific findings that
C
.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
10. In the last two paragraphs，the author wants to tell us that
A
.A. early learning of a second language helps you a great deal in study other subjects
B. learning a second language is the same as studying maths
C. Italian is the best choice for you as a second language
答案
6.B 7.A 8.C 9.C 10.A
解析
【分析】
本题为英语阅读理解选择题，共5小题，考查主旨大意、细节理解及词义猜测能力。解题思路：1. 通读全文，把握核心主旨——学习第二语言可提升大脑能力；2. 针对每道题，定位原文对应段落或句子；3. 对比选项与原文信息，排除错误选项，确定正确答案。
【解析】
6. 主旨大意题：文章第二段明确提出“learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brainpower”，全文围绕语言学习提升脑力展开，故选B。
7. 细节理解题：第二段指出学习其他语言会改变大脑灰质（处理信息的区域），并将其类比为锻炼建肌肉，目的是说明语言学习有助于灰质正常工作，故选A。
8. 词义猜测题：原文将“early bilinguals”与仅会英语的人对比，且提到是“learnt a second language before the age of five”，可知bilingual指会说两种语言的人，故选C。
9. 细节理解题：根据原文“Scans showed that grey matter density 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.”及“the younger they started to learn，the better”，可知越早学第二语言，大脑灰质密度越高，C正确；A未提及学习能力持续变化，B与原文“提升脑力”相悖，故选C。
10. 推理判断题：最后两段提到双语与数学技能的联系，且指出越早学语言对理解不同观念、学习其他学科帮助大，A符合；B说语言学习和数学学习相同，原文未提；C说意大利语是最佳选择，无依据，故选A。
【答案】
6.B 7.A 8.C 9.C 10.A
【知识点】
英语阅读理解、主旨大意、细节理解
【点评】
本题考查学生对英语阅读文本的综合理解能力，需准确把握主旨、定位细节、猜测词义，是常见的英语阅读题型，难度适中。
【难度系数】
0.5
本题为英语阅读理解选择题，共5小题，考查主旨大意、细节理解及词义猜测能力。解题思路：1. 通读全文，把握核心主旨——学习第二语言可提升大脑能力；2. 针对每道题，定位原文对应段落或句子；3. 对比选项与原文信息，排除错误选项，确定正确答案。
【解析】
6. 主旨大意题：文章第二段明确提出“learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brainpower”，全文围绕语言学习提升脑力展开，故选B。
7. 细节理解题：第二段指出学习其他语言会改变大脑灰质（处理信息的区域），并将其类比为锻炼建肌肉，目的是说明语言学习有助于灰质正常工作，故选A。
8. 词义猜测题：原文将“early bilinguals”与仅会英语的人对比，且提到是“learnt a second language before the age of five”，可知bilingual指会说两种语言的人，故选C。
9. 细节理解题：根据原文“Scans showed that grey matter density 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.”及“the younger they started to learn，the better”，可知越早学第二语言，大脑灰质密度越高，C正确；A未提及学习能力持续变化，B与原文“提升脑力”相悖，故选C。
10. 推理判断题：最后两段提到双语与数学技能的联系，且指出越早学语言对理解不同观念、学习其他学科帮助大，A符合；B说语言学习和数学学习相同，原文未提；C说意大利语是最佳选择，无依据，故选A。
【答案】
6.B 7.A 8.C 9.C 10.A
【知识点】
英语阅读理解、主旨大意、细节理解
【点评】
本题考查学生对英语阅读文本的综合理解能力，需准确把握主旨、定位细节、猜测词义，是常见的英语阅读题型，难度适中。
【难度系数】
0.5
