Question

【题目】 Matthew Youlden speaks nine languages fluently and understands more than a dozen more. When I told Matthew how I've been struggling to learn a second language, he had the following advice for me.

Talk to yourself. When you have no one else to speak to, there's nothing wrong with talking to yourself. It might sound really strange, but talking to yourself in a language is a great way to practice if you're not able to use it all the time. This can keep new words and phrases fresh in your mind and build up your confidence for the next time you speak with someone.

Have fun with it. Using your new language in any way is a creative (创造性的) act. Think of some fun ways to practise your new language: make a radio play with a friend, draw a comic strip, write a poem, or simply talk to whomever you can.

Listen. You must learn to listen before you can speak. Every language sounds strange the first time you hear it, but the more you expose (暴露) yourself to it, the more familiar it becomes, and the easier it is to speak it properly. We're able to pronounce anything, it's just we're not used to doing it. The best way is to hear every sound constantly and to imagine how every sound is supposed to be pronounced.

Watch people talk. Different languages make different demands on your tongue, lips and throat. Pronunciation is just as much physical as it is mental (脑力的). One way is to really look at someone while they're saying words that use that sound, and then to try to imitate (模仿) that sound as much as possible, though it might sound a bit strange. Believe me, it might be difficult at the beginning, but you will manage it. It's something that is quite easily done; you just need to practice it.

【1】Does Matthew Youlden speak nine languages fluently?

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【2】How can you keep new words and phrases fresh in your mind?

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【3】How many fun ways are mentioned to help you practise your new language?

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【4】What must you do before you can speak?

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【5】What's the passage mainly about?

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Answer 1

【答案】

【1】Yes, he does.

【2】Talking to yourself in a language can make you keep new words and phrases fresh in your mind.

【3】Four.

【4】You must learn to listen before you can speak.

【5】The passage is mainly about some advice on learning a second language.

【解析】

本文介绍了学习一种新语言的建议：自言自语练习；用创新的方法练习；说之前必须听；观察别人说。

【1】根据“Matthew Youlden speaks nine languages fluently and understands more than a dozen more.”可知，Matthew Youlden能流利地说九种语言，因此用肯定回答，故填Yes, he does.

【2】根据“It might sound really strange, but talking to yourself in a language is a great way to practice if you're not able to use it all the time. This can keep new words and phrases fresh in your mind and build up your confidence for the next time you speak with someone.”可知，自言自语这种语言可以让新的单词和短语在你的脑海中保持新鲜感，故填Talking to yourself in a language can make you keep new words and phrases fresh in your mind.

【3】根据“Talk to yourself.”“Have fun with it.”“Listen.”“Watch people talk.”可知，文中介绍了四种帮助你学习新语言的方法，故填Four.

【4】根据“You must learn to listen before you can speak.”可知，你说话之前必须学会听，故填You must learn to listen before you can speak.

【5】根据“When I told Matthew how I've been struggling to learn a second language, he had the following advice for me.”可知，本文主要介绍了一些学习新语言的建议，故填The passage is mainly about some advice on learning a second language.