Question

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 (灵活的),"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

Answer 1

1.C

2.D

3.C

【解析】

试题分析：研究显示，学习一门外语能够提升大脑的能力。这是因为学习外语改变了大脑的灰质，大脑灰质负责对信息进行加工。研究还发现，越早开始学习外语，这种效果就越明显。

1.learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power”和第三段“The study also found the effect is greater when the younger people learn a second language.”及最后一段“The findings were matched in a study of...”可知，文章主要讲的是一项研究成果，即学习外语能够提升大脑的能力，故选C。

2.learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power...This is the area of the brain which processes information.”可知，学习外语能够增强大脑处理信息的能力，根据“It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles.”可知，锻炼身体能够增强肌肉力量，同样，学习外语也能提升大脑的能力。作者作者把学习外语比作身体锻炼是想让大家相信学习语言能够帮助增强大脑灰质的活性，故选D。

3.who had learnt a second language before the age of five”可知，划线词指的是学习了第二种语言的人，故选C。

考点：科学类短文阅读