第三部分  阅读理解 (共两节，满分40分)

第一节 （共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

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．

56．The main subject in this passage is ___．

science on learning a second language

man’s ability of learning a second language

language can help brain power

language learning and maths study

57．In the second paragraph, the writer mentions “exercise” in order to ___．

say language is also a kind of physical labor

prove that one needs more patience when he (she) is learning a language

show the importance of using the language when you learn the language

make people believe language learning helps gray matter work well

58．The underlined word “bilingual” probably means that ___．

a researcher on language learning             

a second language learner 

C．a person who can speak two languages               

D．an active language learner

59．We may know from the scientific findings that ___．

the earlier you start to learn a second language the higher the gray matter density is 

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

60．In the last two paragraphs, the author wants to tell us that ___．

learning a second language is the same as studying maths 

early learning of a second language helps you a great deal in studying other subjects 

Italian is the best choice for you as a second language 

D．you’d better choose the ages between 2 and 34 to learn a second language

People have always communicated with __21___ . In the past when they couldn’t write ,they used simple symbols ( 记号) to send their message . Some groups of North America Indians were experts __22__ messages . For example , a small stone on top of a large one meant “ This is the way .” If there was another small stone on the right , it meant “Turn right .” Some grass with a knot ( 结)meant “ Danger ”__23__ .

    Maybe you know that in the forests of Africa , it _24___ to travel from village . But drum ( 鼓 ) __25__ from many kilometers away . So , some groups of Africans made their drums __26____ like people .

      The Incas ( 印加人 )of South America used to send messages by typing knots in a rope. Messages have been found , but __27___ can understand __28___ they mean . And the Egyptians used pictures as a kind of ___29__ but only _30____ people __31___ to understand them .

      Today , we also use __32___ . When we are in a car and we see a red light , we stop the car . When a mother says to her child ,” Eat your cake!” the child eats the cake sometimes . The red light and the words of the mother are __33___ . And it is a ___34__ that the basic means of communication between people is , of course , sounds .

      Maybe you know that there are more than __35___ languages in the world today . And about 13 of them are spoken by large groups of people . Languages of the world are both similar ( 相似) __36__ different . They are similar because we can talk and write about the same things and they are different because we talk and write about these things in __37___ ways and we use different __38___ .

       It is __39___ that we have to learn a second language _40___ communicate with people who do not speak our language .

      21. A. one other     B. each another     C. one another     D. anothers

      22 .A. at sending    B. is spreading      C. at publishing    D. is giving

      23. A. and other    B. and so on        C. and the rest     D. and like

      24 . A. used be difficult  B. used be easy  C. used to be difficult  D. used to be easy

      25 . A. will be heard  B. heard          C. could hear      D. could be heard

      26. A. “say”       B. “speak”         C. “tell ”      D. “shout ”

      27. A . anybody      B. somebody      C. everybody      D. nobody

      28. A. that           B. how           C . what’s        D. what

      29. A. hearing       B. speaking         C . writing       D . reading

      30 . A. little        B. a little           C. few          D. a few

      31. A. were learned  B. were taught    C. were teaching    D. had been learned

      32. A. a lot of symbols  B. a lots of symbols   C . lot of symbols  D . a lot of symbol

      33. A. examples     B. orders        C . language        D. symbols

      34. A. matter       B. fact           C . reality          D . situation

      35.A. 1000         B. 2000          C .3000           D. 5000

      36. A. or           B. but           C. and            D. as

      37. A. same         B. similar        C. different       D. special

      38.A. symbols       B. signs         C. expressions     D. words

      39. A. no wonder     B. not wonder    C . not matter for wonder  D. a wonder

      40. A. in order that    B. in order to     C. so that         D. so as

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 when 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 thirty-four. 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.

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. that language can help brain power        D. language learning and maths study

The underlined word “bilingual” probably means _______.

   A. a researcher on language learning                      B. a second language learner

C. a person who can speak two languages                  D. an active language learner

We may know from the scientific findings that ________.

  A. the earlier you start to learn a second language, the higher the grey 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 bad effect on people’s brain

D. the ability of learning a second language is changing all the time

In the last two paragraphs, the author wants to tell us that _________.

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

CItalian is the best choice for you as a second language

D. you’d better choose the ages between 2 and 34 to learn a second language

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 math 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.

Which part will change more when a person studies a second language?

       A.  grey matter density B.  the brain

       C.  mental system                  D.  musles

Who can study a second language easier?.

       A.  The adults                       B. The teenagers

    C.  The children                     D. The old

The underlined word “bilingual” probably means      .

       A.  a researcher on language learning

       B.  a second language learner

       C.  a person who can speak two languages

D.  an active language learner

  How do you understand the underlined sentence ( in paragraph 4 ) in the passage?

A.  It means that we can practise our brain by studying a second language

B.  It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn

C.  It means that learning a second language makes you more flexable

D.  It means that learners will better understand the difficult ideas.