9．If English means endless new words，difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation，you are wrong．Haven't you noticed that you have become a master 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 language changes gray 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 on the younger people who learn a second language．
A team led by Dr．Andrea Mechelli，from University College London，took a group of Britons（土著的英国人） 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 other learners．
Scans showed that gray 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 is．
"Our findings suggest that his 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 Vanghan 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，"he said．"You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas．"
The finding was 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 in this passage isC．
A．science on learning a second language
B．man's ability of learning a second language
C．language can help brain power
D．language learning and maths study
2．In the second paragraph，the writer mentions"exercise"in order toD．
A．say language is also a kind of physical labor
B．prove that one needs more patience when he （she） is learning a language
C．show the importance of using the language when you learn the language
D．make people believe language learning helps gray matter work well
3．The underlined word"bilingual"probably means thatC．
A．a researcher on language learning
B．a second language learner
C．a person who can speak two languages
D．an active language learner
4．We may know from the scientific findings thatA．
A．the earlier you start to learn a second language the higher the gray 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 had an effect on people's brain
D．the ability of learning a second language is changing all the time
5．In the last two paragraphs，the author wants to tell us thatB．
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 2and 34to learn a second language．
分析 这篇文章说明了学习第二语言对人的益处．研究者发现学习其他语言能够改变大脑灰质层，而大脑灰质层是大脑进行信息加工的地方，所以学习第二语言有助于增加你的脑力；同时脑部扫描表明学习第二语言的人的大脑灰质层的密度比没有学习的人高，而且学习第二语言越早的人他的大脑密度越高；威尔士大学的教授发现了第二语言的学习和数学能力之间的关系，这个发现和印度人的情况互相印证，他们在2-34岁是学习英语作为第二语言，他们的读写以及理解力都很好，所以学习第二语言对于其他科目的学习有好处，因此掌握两种语言给了你观看两个世界的窗口，你会超越语言本身，对于不同的问题有更好的理解．
解答 CDCAB
1． C．主旨大意题．根据第二段中第一行的learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power（学习第二语言有助于增加你的脑力）和倒数第二段的Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible，"he said．"You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas（掌握两种语言给了你观看两个世界的窗口，你会超越语言本身，对于不同的问题有更好的理解），可以看出a second language 是中心词，所以答案是C．
2．D 细节推理题．根据第二段中Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter（ ）This is the area of the brain which processes information（这是大脑进行信息加工的地方）．It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles（这就和我们通过锻炼来增强肌肉的作用是一样的）．可以知道作者用锻炼肌肉来比喻语言学习对对大脑的作用，使读者能形象的理解这种作用，所以答案是D．
3．C 猜测词义题．根据第四段中They were compared with a goup of"early bilinguals．''who had learnt a second language before the age of five，as well as a number of later learners．可以看出''who had learnt a second language before the age of fiveas well as a number of later learners（五岁之前学习第二语言的人以及数个后来的学习者），是修饰a goup of"early bilinguals的定语从句，所以选择C
4．A．细节推理题．根据第五段中Scans showed that grey matter density（密度）in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language（脑部扫描表明学习第二语言的人的大脑灰质层的密度比没有学习的人高）．But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language，the smaller the difference（但是学习的越晚这种不同越小）．可以推断出学习第二语言越早的人他的大脑密度越高，所以选择A．
5．B 细节题．根据倒数第二段第一句Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills（威尔士大学的教授发现了第二语言的学习和数学能力之间的关系）和最后一段中The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of 2and 34．Reading，writing，and comprehension were all tested可以知道这个发现和印度人的情况互相印证，他们在2-34岁是学习英语作为第二语言，他们的读写以及理解力都很好，所以学习第二语言对于其他科目的学习有好处，因此选择B．
点评 做阅读理解时要快速的浏览全文，把握文章主旨大意，带着问题回到原文，寻找细节或概括相应的答案，最后要理清作者写作思路．
