If you think 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 earlier people learn a second language, the greater the effect is.
A team led by Dr. Andrea Mechelli, from University College London(UCL), took a group of Britons who only spoke English. They were compared with a group of “early bilinguals(通两种语言的人)”, 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 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 was.
“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,” 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 2 and 34. Reading, writing and comprehension were all tested. The results showed that the earlier they started to learn, the better. “Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world,” explained the scientists.
【小题1】 What does the underlined part “grey matter” (in Paragraph 2) refer to?

A．Grey hair.	B．Material of the brain.
C．Intelligence.	D．Difficult situations.

【小题2】 The experience of learning a second language can ________.

A．change one’s brain completely	B．improve one’s maths skills
C．make one smarter than others	D．increase the ability to learn

【小题3】We can learn from the passage that ________.

A．the researchers from UCL did another study in Italy

B．a similar study was done on native Italian speakers who learn English as a second language

C．the research done on the Italians showed a totally different result

D．it will be easier for one to travel around the world by learning a second language

【小题4】What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Learning a second language can help improve your brain power.

B．You should learn a second language that is not your native language.

C．If you want to learn a second language, you should do it at a certain age.

D．The research done by the researchers from UCL is very successful.

If you think 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 earlier people learn a second language, the greater the effect is.

A team led by Dr. Andrea Mechelli, from University College London(UCL), took a group of Britons who only spoke English. They were compared with a group of “early bilinguals(通两种语言的人)”, 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 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 was.

“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,” 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 2and 34.Reading, writing and comprehension were all tested. The results showed that the earlier they started to learn, the better. “Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world,” explained the scientists.

1. What does the underlined part “grey matter” (in Paragraph 2) refer to?

A．Grey hair.	B．Material of the brain.
C．Intelligence.	D．Difficult situations.

2. The experience of learning a second language can ________.

A．change one’s brain completely	B．improve one’s maths skills
C．make one smarter than others	D．increase the ability to learn

3.We can learn from the passage that ________.

A．the researchers from UCL did another study in Italy

B．a similar study was done on native Italian speakers who learn English as a second language

C．the research done on the Italians showed a totally different result

D．it will be easier for one to travel around the world by learning a second language

4.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Learning a second language can help improve your brain power.

B．You should learn a second language that is not your native language.

C．If you want to learn a second language, you should do it at a certain age.

D．The research done by the researchers from UCL is very successful.

 

Tight—lipped elders used to say．”It’s not what you want in this world，but what you get” Psychology teaches that you do get what you want if you know what you want and want the right things．

    You can make a mental blueprint of a desire as you would make a blueprint of a house，and each of us is continually making these blueprints in the general routine of everyday living．If we intend to have friends to dinner，we plan the menu，make a shopping list，decide which food to cook first，and such planning is an essential for any type of meal to be served．

    Likewise，if you want to find a job，take a sheet of paper，and write a brief account of yourself．In making a blueprint for a job，begin with yourself, for when you know exactly what you have to offer，you can intelligently plan where to sell your services．

    This account of yourself is actually a sketch(梗概)of your working life and should include education，experience and references．Such an account is valuable．It can be referred to in filling out standard application blanks and is extremely helpful in personal interviews．While talking to you，your could-be employer is deciding whether your education，your experience，and other qualifications will pay him to employ you and your ”wares” and abilities must be displayed in an orderly and reasonably connected manner．

    When you love carefully prepared a blueprint of your abilities and desires，you have something tangible to sell．Then you are ready to hunt for a job．Get all the possible information about your could—be job．Make inquiries(询问，打听)as to the details regarding the j ob and the firm．Keep your eyes and ears open，and use your own judgment．Spend a certain amount of time each day seeking the employment you wish for，and keep in mind：Securing a job is your job now．

1．This article is mainly intended for        .

    A．day-dreamers         B．young salesmen

    C．fortune hunters        D．job applicants

2．The second paragraph mainly tells us        ．

    A．it’s no use dreaming of the impossible

    B．you can profit by doing the right thing

    C．it’s important to set a suitable goal for yourself

    D．you’11 certainly succeed if you try   

3．A plan made before inviting friends to dinner is used in the article as     .

    A．an indication of how to become a good host

    B．an example of how to write a j ob application

    C．a guideline in job interview

D．a principle for self-evaluation

4．The primary purpose of writing an account of yourself before you look for a job is       .

    A．to get clearly aware of yourself

    B．to tell yourself what you really want

    C．to meet the requirement of the employer

D．to fill out standard application forms

5．The underlined words” something tangible” in the last paragraph refer to something        ．

A．practical    B．definite    C．imaginary   D. desirable

阅读下面的短文，并根据短文后的要求答题（请注意问题后的字数要求）。

Do you like chocolate? Most people do．Some like it in bars．Others just like big squares of it．

Say you just got a box of chocolate．Which piece do you pick first? A study carried out by a professor in the University of Virginia showed that people's choices of chocolates show their personality．If you choose a round piece, you are a person who likes to party．If you select an oval shape, you are a person who struggles．You like to_________ and push yourself to be successful．Picking a square shape shows that this is an honest and truthful person you can depend on．

What kind of chocolate do you pick? Maybe you like milk chocolate．This shows you have warm feelings about the past, while dark chocolate means something else—the person who chooses it something else the future．What about white chocolate? Would you like to choose it? If so, you may find it hard to make up your mind．Those who like chocolate with nuts are people who like to help others．

Do you believe these ideas? Can chocolate tell all these things? It doesn't matter．There is one sure thing about eaters of chocolates - they eat it because they like it．

1.What is the best title of the text? （no more than 8 words．）

_________________________________________________________

2.What does the underlined word “their”  probably refer to ?( no more than 2 words.)

___________________________________________________________

3.Fill in the blank ( paragraph 2,line 5 )with proper words.( no more than 4 words.)

You like to_________ and push yourself to be successful．

4.Catherine likes eating white chocolate; what’s her character or personality according to the passage? ( no more than 10 words.)

____________________________________________________________________

5.What’s the writer’s attitude towards the information about chocolate in the text? ( no more than 15 words)

_____________________________________________________________________