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 (靈活的),"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. 1anguage can help brain power

D. 1anguage 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 person who is good at learning foreign languages

C. a person who can speak two languages

D. an active language learner

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科目:高中英語 來源:2016屆福建省鼓山分校高三上學(xué)期期中考試英語試卷(解析版) 題型:書面表達(dá)

.假如你叫李華,不久前參加了美國文化委員會(huì)舉辦的一次語言競(jìng)賽活動(dòng),作為獲獎(jiǎng)?wù)吣愕玫搅耸罴偃ッ绹赓M(fèi)學(xué)習(xí)英語的機(jī)會(huì)。以下是校方寄給你的課程安排表,請(qǐng)你閱讀課表,按要求給對(duì)方負(fù)責(zé)人Mr. Smith回一封信。

Schedule For EFLS Summer English Courses

注意:1.信的開頭已為你寫好,但不計(jì)入總詞數(shù);

2.可適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié),以使行文連貫;

3.詞數(shù):100左右。

Dear Mr.Smith,

Thank you for your offer of inviting me to the free summer English course in your school.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Truly yours

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科目:高中英語 來源:2015-2016學(xué)年廣西柳鐵路一中高一上學(xué)期段考英語試卷(解析版) 題型:閱讀理解

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Before I left, I read an interesting story in a magazine. It read, “Once, while I was riding on a crowded bus, the man sitting next to me threw his cell phone out of the window when his phone rang. I was surprised. He looked at me, shrugged (聳聳肩) and looked away. I had no idea whether it was his or stolen or whether he even knew what a cell phone was or not, but he clearly wanted to be free of it, because it clearly troubled him. ”

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So when I recently returned home, I got rid of my cell phone. Now I go outside without taking my phone with me. I’ve noticed things in my neighborhood I never noticed before, such as gardens. I’ve met new people, started conversations with neighbors I didn’t speak to before and talked with some of my friends face to face instead of chatting over the phone.

Instead of keeping me off from the world, stopping using my cell phone has helped me get even closer to my family and friends.

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B. encourage others to hike with him in France

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M: Excuse me, Madame. Could you tell me where I can stay in this town, please?

W: Of course, it’s my 1. (please).You must be a 2. (strange) here.

M: Yes, I am here for a tour.

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W: They are OK. All you get is a bed, but they do tend to be very cheap.

M: Do I have to become 8. member?

W: Yes, you do. But it’s very easy to join, and there is an office along the road, 9. you can go and sign on.

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Controlling traffic is a complex and high cost problem in many developed countries. It becomes more difficult and costly with the ever- increasing number of cars on the roads. But scientists and students at the CATT, at the University of Maryland are working to solve this problem. They are using simulation(模擬) technologies to help government and private business control and react to changing traffic conditions.

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About 60 students and 30 software developers observe traffic flow and manage the computer servers at all times. They also work to develop software and applications that can help traffic run smoother and safer, Some of them turn the information gathered into so-called "visualizations". These visual representations help emergency workers better understand what is happening.

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Mr. Pack says the goal is to help develop an intelligent system of road signals that will communicate with each other and with vehicles on the road.

1.The second paragraph is written to

A. attract more people to look through Forbes.com.

B. tell readers what Forbes.com says on its website

C. show how much money controlling costs America

D. prove it is very expensive for some developed countries to control traffic

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A. They can be safer.

B. They can reach an accident area faster.

C. They can get more advice from people.

D. They can share their information with others.

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A. They observe traffic flow continuously.

B. They develop software and applications.

C. They control the computer servers occasionally.

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Keeping pace with teachers is a fine way to study English. Teachers are experienced and their plans are systematic. But remember to work in a way that suits you. It's important to learn from past mistakes as well. Keep a notebook to make a record of the mistakes you make-it'll help you avoid making the same ones later.

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It's as important to live well as it is to study well. Going to bed no later than 11:30 pm is vital(極重要的). It puts you in the right mood for the next day. You needn't follow a special diet,but make sure you are eating nutritious meals each day.

The person who plays well,studies well. Having a lot of schoolwork doesn't mean having to give up other activities. Playing basketball or having a talk with your classmates can relax yourself. Time out is not a waste of time but helps you study more efficiently.

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1.What should you do if you want to keep your friendship fresh?

A.Have frequent talks with them.

B.Always have lunch with them.

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A.study B.friendship C.relaxation D.health

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“Your first home,” Laurence Yep wrote in his book, The Lost Garden, “will always be the one that you remember best. I have been away from it for over twenty years, but I still go back in my dreams.” For Yep, whose father came from China, home was an apartment and the family grocery store in a neighborhood of San Francisco. It was there that he learned about patience, hard work, and getting along with neighbors.

Mr. Brown, Laurence Yep’s high school English teacher, often set high goals for his students. He was the first person to encourage Yep to write. The experience of that class changed the direction of Yep’s life. At the age of 18 Yep published his first short story, a sci-fi fantasy. He has since written many books and many kinds of books. He has retold Chinese folk stories and written for the theater. In nearly all these varied works, Yep, who is married to the children’s book author Joanne Ryder, has returned to questions he has been asking himself since childhood: What does it mean to be Chinese and American? Can one who belongs to two cultures ever feel at home anywhere?

When asked, “How has being of a Chinese by origin been important to you?” Laurence Yep replied, “As a child I wanted to be as American as possible. Then, in my early twenties, I became very interested in my Chinese roots. For years after that, I thought that my function as a Chinese American writer was to act as a bridge between two cultures. Now, though, I am not so sure that it is possible to join them together. Compared with Asian culture, American culture pays more attention to individuals and competition. The two cultures pull in opposite directions. So I see myself now as someone who will always be on the border between two cultures. That works to my benefit as a writer because not quite fitting in helps me be a better observer.”

1.According to Paragraph 1, Laurence Yep _____.

A. misses his first home very much

B. goes back to China from time to time

C. moved to San Francisco at an early age

D. once worked part-time at a grocery store

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B. taught Laurence Yep the value of patience

C. helped Laurence Yep finish his first book

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A. childhood memories

B. varied writing styles

C. view of the two cultures

D. relationship with his family

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A. Learn to accept your own differences.

B. Put the needs of others ahead of your own.

C. Work hard and you will receive many benefits.

D. Challenge others as you would wish to be challenged.

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科目:高中英語 來源:2016屆浙江嘉興第一中學(xué)高三上學(xué)期期中英語試卷(解析版) 題型:單項(xiàng)填空

If you want to get your ability ______, you have to show it in your work rather than complain all day.

A. to recognize B. recognizing

C. being recognized D. recognized

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