Question

【题目】Babies’ Look Changing

Researchers show that the early social behavior called look changing is linked to babies’ ability to learn new language sounds. 【1】. It is when a baby makes eye contact and then looks at the same object that the other person is looking at.

Rechel Brooks, one of the researchers, made a report, showing that babies’ look changing serves as a building block（基础）for more complicated language and social skills. 【2】.

In this experiment, nine 5-month-old babies from English-speaking families attended foreign language tutoring sessions. Over four weeks, the tutors talked and played with toys while speaking Spanish.

At the beginning and end of the four-week period, researchers counted how often the babies changed their look. 【3】. There they tested how much Spanish language sounds.

【4】. The more look changing the babies participate in during their tutoring sessions, the greater their brain response were to the Spanish language sounds.

“Our findings show young babies’ social engagement contributes to their own language learning – they’re not just passive listeners of language,” Brooks said. “They’re paying attention and showing parents they’re ready to learn when they’re looking back and forth.” 【5】.

The researchers hope their findings help people develop strategies for teaching young children.

A.That’s when the most learning happens

B.These skills are what preschool children can gain

C.The results were really amazing

D.We can’t imagine how look changing helps them learn so much

E.However, others may regard look changing as something useless

F.Look changing is one of the earliest social skills that babies show

G.After the experiment ended, the researchers brought the babies back to the lab

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】F

【2】B

【3】G

【4】C

【5】A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了婴儿的表情变化对语言学习的影响。

【1】

根据上文所说：“研究人员表明，被称为表情变化的早期的社会行为与婴儿学习新语言声音的能力有关。”所以可以知下文“表情变化是婴儿最早展示的社交技能之一。”因为表情变化是早期的社会行为，所以这也就是婴儿最早展示的社交技能之一。上下文有因果关系。故选F。

【2】

根据上文说：“婴儿的表情变化是更复杂的语言和社交技能的基础。”可知下文：“这些技能是学龄前儿童可以获得的。”这里的these skills指代的就是上文中的“more complicated language and social skills”。要注意代词的指代作用。故选B。

【3】

根据下文说“在那里，他们测试了西班牙语的发音。”可知上文：“实验结束后，研究人员把婴儿带回实验室。”下文中的“there”就是指上文G选项中的“the lab”。也就是在实验室进行的实验。故选G。

【4】

本段是给先前做的实验以结论。先说：“结果是非常令人吃惊的。”然后再得出结论：“在他们的辅导课程中，婴儿参与的表情变化越多，他们的大脑对西班牙语声音的反应就越大。”故选C。

【5】

根据上文说：“研究表明：当婴儿们左顾右盼的时候，他们正在关注，并向父母展示他们准备好学习了。”下文对上文作进一步解释：“那就是大多数学习发生的时候。”此处的“that”就是指上文的“when they’re looking back and forth.”。故选A。