阅读理解。
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 younger people learn a second language, the better the effect is.
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
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 (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 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. findings that language learnings can help brain power
D. language learning and maths study
2. The last sentence of the second paragraph is intended to _____.
A. say language learning is also a kind of physical labor
B. prove that one needs more practice when he (she) is learning a language
C. show the importance of using it when you learn a language
D. make people believe language learning helps grey matter work well
3. 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
4. The underlined word "bilinguals" probably means _____.
A. researchers on language learning
B. people who are good at learning foreign languages
C. people who can speak two languages
D. active language learners
