Question

【题目】 Research has already suggested that opening a book may　help improve brain function and reduce stress. Now, a team　led by Joanna Sikora of the Australian National University is　looking into the benefits of growing up around a bookfilled　environment; the researchers' new study suggests that homes　with libraries can arm children with skills that last well into　adulthood.

The study looked at data from 160 000 adults from 31 countries, including the United States, Australia, Turkey and Chile. Participants (参与者) filled out surveys with the Programme for the International Assessment of Competencies, which measures proficiency (水平) in three areas: literacy (读写能力), numeracy and information communication technology. People, 25 to 65 years old, were asked to tell how many books were in their house when they were 16 years old. The research team was interested in this question because home library size can be a good sign of “bookoriented socialization.” Participants were able to choose from a given range of books that included everything from“10 or less” to “more than 500.”

The surveys, which were taken between 2011 and 2015, showed that the average (平均的) number of books in participants' childhood homes was 115, but that number varied widely from country to country. The average library size in Norway was 212 books, for example; in Turkey, it was 27. In all, however, it seemed that more books in the home was linked to higher proficiency in the areas tested by the survey.

The effects were most marked when it came to literacy. Growing up with few books in the home resulted in below average literacy levels. Being surrounded by 80 books raised the levels to average, and literacy continued to improve until libraries reached about 350 books,at which point the literacy rates leveled off. The researchers saw similar things when it came to numeracy; the effects were not as pronounced with information communication technology tests, but skills did improve with increased numbers of books.

So, what does the new study tell us? Take, for example, an adult who grew up with hardly any books in the home, but went on to get a university degree compared to an adult who grew up with a large home library, but only had nine years of schooling. The study found that both of their literacy levels were almost the same. “So, literacywise, bookish childhood makes up for a good deal of educational advantage,” the study authors write.

Further research is needed to decide exactly why exposure to ( 沉浸在) books in childhood encourages valuable skills later in life, but the study offers further evidence to suggest that reading has a powerful effect on the mind. And so home library size might be important because, as the researchers note, “children emulate (模仿) parents who read.”

【1】The second paragraph is mainly about 　　　　.

A.what the study found out

B.how the study was carried out

C.who were invited to the research

D.why the researchers did the study

【2】The phrase “leveled off” in Paragraph 4 probably means “ 　　　”.

A.backed to averageB.started falling

C.continued to growD.stopped rising

【3】The example in Paragraph 5 shows　　　 .

A.the disadvantage of having little school education

B.the effect of having a home library in childhood

C.the necessity of raising people's literacy level

D.the importance of getting a university degree

【4】What can we learn from the passage?

A.The study explained why bookish childhood encouraged valuable skills.

B.Adults benefit more from a home library than children.

C.Home library size has little to do with numeracy level.

D.Parents who love reading benefit children a lot.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】D

【3】B

【4】D

【解析】

短文大意：短文介绍的是澳大利亚国立大学的乔安娜·西科拉领衔的一项新研究，表明阅读对心智有强大的影响，有图书馆的家庭可以让孩子们掌握一些技能，这些技能会一直持续到成年。

【1】题意：第二段主要是关于研究是如何进行的。考查段意理解。根据The study looked at data from 160, 000 adults from 31 countries, including the United States, Australia, Turkey and Chile. Participants filled out surveys with the Programme for the International Assessment of Competencies,结合本段内容，可知介绍了是怎样进行研究的，how the study was carried out符合题意，故选B。

【2】题意：第4段中的“leveled off”一词可能是“ ”的意思。考查词义理解。A. 回到平均值；B. 开始下降；C. 继续增长；D. 停止上升。根据上文Growing up with few books in the home resulted in below average literacy levels. 结合本句可知，藏书量不断增长，达到350本左右时读写能力才趋于稳定，不再上升，前面三项意思都与句意不合，故选D。

【3】题意：第5段的例子显示了在儿童时期拥有家庭图书馆的影响。考查推理判断。根据本段对两个童年时读书数量不同的成年人的对比，结合研究者的话So, literacy-wise, bookish childhood makes up for a good deal of educational advantage可知，在文学方面，书卷气十足的童年会弥补很多教育上的优势，the effect of having a home library in childhood符合题意，故选B。

【4】题意：我们能从这篇文章中了解到什么?考查文意理解。根据最后研究者的话“children emulate parents who read.”可知爱读书的父母对孩子很有好处，Parents who love reading benefit children a lot.符合文意，故选D。