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 (靈活的),"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

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.假如你叫李華,不久前參加了美國(guó)文化委員會(huì)舉辦的一次語(yǔ)言競(jìng)賽活動(dòng),作為獲獎(jiǎng)?wù)吣愕玫搅耸罴偃ッ绹?guó)免費(fèi)學(xué)習(xí)英語(yǔ)的機(jī)會(huì)。以下是校方寄給你的課程安排表,請(qǐng)你閱讀課表,按要求給對(duì)方負(fù)責(zé)人Mr. Smith回一封信。

Schedule For EFLS Summer English Courses

注意:1.信的開(kāi)頭已為你寫好,但不計(jì)入總詞數(shù);

2.可適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié),以使行文連貫;

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Dear Mr.Smith,

Thank you for your offer of inviting me to the free summer English course in your school.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Truly yours

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Instead of keeping me off from the world, stopping using my cell phone has helped me get even closer to my family and friends.

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About 60 students and 30 software developers observe traffic flow and manage the computer servers at all times. They also work to develop software and applications that can help traffic run smoother and safer, Some of them turn the information gathered into so-called "visualizations". These visual representations help emergency workers better understand what is happening.

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Mr. Pack says the goal is to help develop an intelligent system of road signals that will communicate with each other and with vehicles on the road.

1.The second paragraph is written to

A. attract more people to look through Forbes.com.

B. tell readers what Forbes.com says on its website

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Keeping pace with teachers is a fine way to study English. Teachers are experienced and their plans are systematic. But remember to work in a way that suits you. It's important to learn from past mistakes as well. Keep a notebook to make a record of the mistakes you make-it'll help you avoid making the same ones later.

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The person who plays well,studies well. Having a lot of schoolwork doesn't mean having to give up other activities. Playing basketball or having a talk with your classmates can relax yourself. Time out is not a waste of time but helps you study more efficiently.

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“Your first home,” Laurence Yep wrote in his book, The Lost Garden, “will always be the one that you remember best. I have been away from it for over twenty years, but I still go back in my dreams.” For Yep, whose father came from China, home was an apartment and the family grocery store in a neighborhood of San Francisco. It was there that he learned about patience, hard work, and getting along with neighbors.

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1.According to Paragraph 1, Laurence Yep _____.

A. misses his first home very much

B. goes back to China from time to time

C. moved to San Francisco at an early age

D. once worked part-time at a grocery store

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B. taught Laurence Yep the value of patience

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D. had high expectations of Laurence Yep

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C. view of the two cultures

D. relationship with his family

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A. Learn to accept your own differences.

B. Put the needs of others ahead of your own.

C. Work hard and you will receive many benefits.

D. Challenge others as you would wish to be challenged.

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