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（處理） information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles(肌肉).

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 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（結(jié)構(gòu)）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 (靈活的),” he said. “You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas.”

The findings had the same result 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.The main idea of this passage is ________.

A. science on learning a second language

B. man’s ability of learning a second language

C. that language can help brain power

D. language learning and maths study

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

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

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

練習(xí)冊(cè)系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目：高中英語 來源：2015-2016學(xué)年內(nèi)蒙古包頭第九中學(xué)高二上期中英語試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

The small number of newborn babies, which has been caused by high prices and the changing social situation of women, is one of the most serious problems in Asia. When people talk about it, you can hear a word invented in Japan, “DINKS”, which means Double Income No Kids.

In many major Asian cities like Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo, the cost of a house is extremely high. A young couple who want to buy their own house may have to pay about $3000,000 (though prices have fallen). For a flat with one bedroom, one dining-room, a kitchen, and a bathroom, the couple will pay about $900 a month. What’s more, if they want to have a child, the child’s education is very expensive. For example, most kindergarten charges are at least $5,000 a year. In such a situation, it’s difficult to afford children.

The number of married women who want to continue working increases rapidly because they enjoy their jobs. However, if they want to have children, they immediately have serious problems. Though most companies allow women to leave their jobs for a short time to have a baby, they expect women with babies to give up their jobs. In short, if they want to bring up children properly, both parents have to work, but it is hard for mothers to work. Indeed, women who want to continue working have to choose between having children or keeping their jobs.

In a word, Asian governments must take steps to improve the present situation as soon as possible.

1. What is the main problem being discussed in the passage?

A. The small number of newborn babies.

B. The changing social situation of women.

C. The high prices of houses and education.

D. The necessary steps of Asian government.

2.According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A. It is easy for a couple to afford a child in Asia.

B. The prices of houses in Asia are quite low now.

C. Fewer and fewer married women want to have a job.

D. The word “DINKS” appeared in an Asian country.

3.To buy a flat and send a child to kindergarten, how much will a couple pay each year?

A. $5,000. B. $5,900.

C. $10,800. D. $15,800.

4. The writer seems to believe that Asian governments should ________.

A. let women stay at home and have a baby

B. allow only one of the parents to go out to work

C. care for the growing needs of women for jobs

D. punish the companies that permit women to leave

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2016屆吉林實(shí)驗(yàn)中學(xué)高三上學(xué)期第五次模擬英語試卷（解析版） 題型：書面表達(dá)

假設(shè)你是高三學(xué)生劉珊，你校正在組織美國(guó)哥倫比亞大學(xué)（Columbia University）招生活動(dòng)，請(qǐng)你根據(jù)以下要點(diǎn)提示給你在美國(guó)的筆友Russ寫一封信。

要點(diǎn)：

1. 通過校內(nèi)選拔考試 （selective test） 的同學(xué)將參加該著名大學(xué)于一月份組織的英語筆試、口試和面試；

2. 你本人對(duì)此很感興趣，正在積極備考；

3. 希望Russ給出一些有關(guān)英語學(xué)習(xí)的建議。

注意： 1．詞數(shù)：100左右；

2．可適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié)，以使行文連貫；

3．開頭與結(jié)尾已為你寫好,請(qǐng)不要重新抄寫。

Dear Russ,

How is everything going?

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Liu Shan

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2015-2016學(xué)年廣東惠來一中、揭東一中高一上學(xué)期期末英語試卷（解析版） 題型：單項(xiàng)填空

People who often stay up too late are more likely to die of heart disease, _____ a study.

A. with the help of B. because of

C. according to D. as a result of

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2015-2016學(xué)年吉林長(zhǎng)春十一高中高二上學(xué)期期末英語試卷（解析版） 題型：單項(xiàng)填空

It is the educational system, rather than the teachers, _______ is to blame for the students’ heavy burden nowadays.

A. who B. this C. that D. whom

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2015-2016學(xué)年廣東佛山第一中學(xué)高二10月月考英語試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

When I was 12, all I wanted was a signet (圖章) ring. They were the "in" thing and it seemed every girl except me had one. On my 13th birthday, my Mum gave me a signet ring with my initials (姓名首字母) carved into it. I was in heaven.

What made it even more special was that it was about the only thing that wasn’t being “replaced”. We’d been burnt out in fires that swept through our area earlier that year and had lost everything—so most of the “new” stuff we got was really just to replace what we’d lost. But not my ring. My ring was new.

Then, only one month later, I lost it. I took it off before bed and it was missing in the morning. I was sad and searched everywhere for it. But it seemed to have disappeared. Eventually, I gave up and stopped looking for it. And two years later, we sold the house and moved away.

Years passed, and a couple of moves later, I was visiting my parents when Mum told me that she had something for me. It wasn’t my birthday, nor was it Easter or Christmas or any other gift-giving occasion. Mum noticed my questioning look. “You'll recognize this one,” she said, smiling.

Then she handed me a small ring box. I took it from her and opened it to find my beautiful signet ring inside.

The family who had bought our house 13 years earlier had recently decided to do some redecorations, which included replacing the carpets. When they pulled the carpet up in my old bedroom, they found the ring. As it had my initials carved into it, they realized who owned the ring. They’d had it professionally cleaned up by a jeweler before sending it to my mother. And it still fits me.

1.The underlined word “in” in the first paragraph probably means “_________”.

A. fashionable B. available

C. practical D. renewable

2.When she got the ring back, the writer was about _________.

A. 13 years old B. 15 years old

C. 26 years old D. 28 years old

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The writer’s family moved several times.

B. The writer never stopped looking for her ring.

C. The writer’s ring was cleaned up by the new house owner.

D. The writer lost her ring in the morning when she took it off.

4.What would be the best title for the passage?

A. My New Ring B. Lost and Found

C. Lost and Replaced D. An Expensive Ring

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2015-2016學(xué)年湖南岳陽一中高一上學(xué)期期中英語試卷（解析版） 題型：完形填空

完形填空

閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的A,B,C,D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中選出最佳選項(xiàng)

Editors of newspapers and magazines often go too far in supplying readers with facts. Last year a reporter by a well-known magazine wrote an article on the president’s in a new African republic. When the article arrived, the editor read the first sentence and then refused to it. The article began like this, “Hundreds of steps lead to the high surrounding the president’s palace.” The editor sent the reporter a telegram directing him to find out the number of steps and height of the wall.

The reporter set out to get these important facts at once, but it him a long time to send them back. Meanwhile, the editor was growing , for the magazine would soon be . He sent the reporter two urgent(加急的) telegrams, but received reply. He sent another, yet the reporter again to reply. The editor unwillingly published the article it had been written. A week later, the editor at last the reporter, who told him in the letter that not only had he been arrested(逮捕)but he had been sent to . The poor man had been seized by the police while the 1804 steps leading to the 15-foot wall around the palace.

1.A. answered B. sent C. wanted D. taken

2.A. hometown B. office C. palace D. family

3.A. publish B. rewrite C. sign D. talk about

4.A. palace B. wall C. country D. prison

5.A. quickly B. later C. hurriedly D. immediately

6.A. exact B. large C. small D. unknown

7.A. took B. spent C. got D. found

8.A. glad B. fast C. anxious D. happy

9.A. sold B. sent C. shown D. printed

10.A. no B. much C. one D. any

11.A. managed B. failed C. had D. ought

12.A. until B. like C. when D. as

13.A. met with B. looked for C. came across D. heard from

14.A. a hotel B. prison C. the palace D. the office

15.A. counting B. going C. measuring D. drawing

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2015-2016學(xué)年福建師大附中高一上學(xué)期期末英語試卷（解析版） 題型：單句改錯(cuò)

單句改錯(cuò)

每句一處錯(cuò)誤，錯(cuò)誤涉及一個(gè)單詞的增加、刪除或修改，每處錯(cuò)誤及其修改均僅限一詞。

•增加: 在缺詞處加一個(gè)漏字符號(hào)(∧), 并在其下面寫出該加的詞。

•刪除: 把多余的詞用斜線(＼)劃掉。
•修改: 在錯(cuò)的詞下劃一橫線, 并在該詞下面寫出修改后的詞。

1.Misunderstanding is likely to rise if people fail to communicate with each other.

2.The fact that the project couldn’t be carried out on time resulted in the lack of enough money.

3.It is the test system, rather than the teachers, that are to blame for the students’ heavy burden nowadays.

4.With the final examination drawing near, many students are applying themselves to review their lessons.

5.My money is run out, so I must go to the bank to get some more before it’s all gone.

6.Ted came for the weekend wearing only some shorts and a T-shirt, this is a stupid thing to do in such weather.

7.People may have different opinions about Karen, but I admire her. Above all, she is a great writer.

8.According to a UN report, some 844 animals and plants disappeared in the last 500 years.

9.After the foreign guests got familiar to the Chinese traditional festivals, they liked to live in China.

10.He had worked in America for 3 years when he was young, so he can speak fluent English now.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2015-2016學(xué)年廣東湛江第一中學(xué)高一上學(xué)期期中英語試卷（解析版） 題型：語法填空

語法填空

閱讀下面材料，在空白處填入適當(dāng)?shù)膬?nèi)容（1個(gè)單詞）或括號(hào)內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。將答案填寫在答題卡的相應(yīng)位置。

One day a fisherman called Peter went fishing in his small boat. 1. reaching a good place he knew, he 2. ( lay) down his long line into the water. After a while, 3. became very heavy. It seemed too heavy to be a fish. He began to draw in 4. line.

When the hooks began to come out of the water, he was quite 5. (surprise), for the hooks were holding the links of a heavy gold chain. When he pulled them into the boat, more and more links appeared. Soon his boat was full of the 6. (shine) links of the gold chain.

“I shall be rich, ” he said. “7. money I shall buy a new fishing boat with an engine. I shall buy a big house.”

He drew in more chain 8. he couldn’t see the end of it. There was more and more of the heavy gold chain in the boat. He was so greedy that he didn’t notice 9. was happening to his boat. It was sinking 10. (low) into the water than before. In the end Peter was drowned. He lost the gold, his boat and his life.

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊(cè)答案