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（大腦灰質(zhì)）. This is the area of the brain which processes information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles（肌肉）.

The study also found the younger people learn a second language，the greater 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.

“Our findings suggest that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language,” 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 2 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. language learning can help brain power

D. language learning and maths study

2.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

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.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

   C. 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

 

 

Dear Daughter,

     As we drove off from Columbia, I wanted to write to tell you all that is on my mind.

First, I want to tell you how proud we are. Getting into Columbia is a real testament(證明) of what a great well-rounded student you are. You should be as proud of yourself as we are.

Your college years will be the most important of your life. It is in college that you will discover what learning is about. This will be the period when you go from teacher taught to master inspired, after which you must become a self-learner. So do take each subject seriously, and even if what you learn is of no practical use in real life, the learning skills you get will be something you will value forever.

   Follow your passion in college. Take courses you think you will enjoy. Don’t be bothered by what others think or say, but make up your own mind. Most importantly, make true friends and be happy. Don’t worry abut their hobbies, grades, looks, or even personalities.

    Start planning early what you’d like to do. Where would you like to live? What would you like to learn? I think your plan to study fashion is good, and you should decide where you want to be, and get onto the right courses. I will always be there for you, but the time has come for you to be in the driver’s seat--this is your life, and you need to be in control. Being in control feels great. Try it, and you’ll love it!

   So please treasure your college years--make the best use of your free time, become an independent thinker in control of your destiny, and learn through your successes and challenges.

   May your years at Columbia be the happiest of your life, and may you grow into just what you dream to be.                                               

  Love

                                                              Dad & Mom

1.We can read between the lines that________.

A. Dad is very strict with his daughter

B. Dad has a strong love for his daughter

C. Dad always worries about his daughter

D. Dad is much concerned about his daughter's health

2.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Plan things before you do them.

B. Self-learning is very important in college.

C. Follow your passion and what other people say.

D. Leading a life is just like driving a car.

3.The underlined word “destiny” in the passage is the closest in meaning to____________.

A. weight        B. Time       C. position       D. life

4.The purpose of the author in writing the letter is to tell his daughter to____________.

A. make the most of her college      B. fight till she succeeds

C. be confident and happy         D. smile to her trouble in 1ife

 

On May 23,1989, Stefania Follini came out from a cave at Carlsbad, New Mexico. She hadn’t seen the sun for eighteen and a half weeks. Stefania was in a research program, and the scientists in the program were studying body rhythms(節(jié)奏). In this experiment Stefania had spent 130 days in a cave, 30 feet in depth.

During her time in the cave, Stefania had been completely alone except for two white mice. Her living place had been very comfortable, but there had been nothing to tell her the time. She’d had no clocks or watches, no television or radio. There had been no natural light and the temperature had always been kept at 21℃.

The results were very interesting. Stefania had been in the cave for over four months, but she thought she had been there for only two. Her body clock had changed. She hadn’t kept to a 24-hour day, she had stayed awake for 20-25 hours and then had slept for 10 hours. She had eaten fewer meals and had lost 171bs in weight as a results! She had also become rather depressed（抑郁）.

How had she spent her time in the cave? As part of the experiment she’d done some physical and mental tests. She’d recorded her daily activities and the results of the tests on a computer. This computer had been specially programmed for the project. Whenever she was free, she’d played cards, read books and listened to music. She’d also learned French from tapes.

The experiment showed that our body clocks are affected by light and temperature. For example, the pattern of day and night makes us wake up and go to sleep. However, people are affected in different ways. Some people wake up naturally at 5:00 am, but others don’t start to wake up till 9:00 or 10:00 am. This affects the whole daily rhythm. As a result, the early risers, on the other hand, are tired during the day and only come to life in the afternoon or evening!

1. Stefania stayed in the cave for a long time because ______.

A. she was asked to do research on mice

B. she wanted to experience loneliness

C. she was the subject of a study

D. she needed to record her life

2. What is a cause for the change of Stefania’s body clock?

A. Eating fewer meals.

B. Having more hours of sleep.

C. Lacking physical exercise.

D. Getting no natural light.

3. Where does the text probably come from?

A. A novel.   B. A news story.  C. A pet magazine.   D. A travel guide.

 

What does “getting along” with your teacher mean? “Getting along” means that both you and your teacher have a way of communicating and getting what you need from the relationship. In your teacher’s opinion, he or she wants to make sure that you are paying attention, being polite, and trying your best to learn. In your opinion, you want a teacher who is respectful to you, answers your questions, and tries to help you learn. You can get along and learn without being friends with your teacher, although it’s nice if that happens.

In every school, kids will say that some teachers are mean or strict, but don’t judge a teacher until you are in his or her class and can see for yourself. A strict teacher may be someone who feels strong about getting his or her job done — teaching you the subject you are supposed to learn. It’s also important to remember that making mistakes is a part of learning. By pointing out your mistakes and helping you correct them, a teacher is teaching you. Remember, in most cases, your teacher is on your side.

Even if a teacher isn’t your favorite, you can still have a successful relationship, especially if you carry out your responsibilities as a student. Here are some of those responsibilities:

●Attend class ready to learn. Be prepared for class with the right pencils and books.

●Listen carefully when your teacher is talking.

●Do your best, whether it’s classroom work, homework, or a test.

1.The main idea of this passage is about _______.

A．learning from your teacher

B．making friends with your teacher

C．getting along with your teacher

D．understanding your teacher

2. If you get along with your teacher, _______.

A．your teacher will have to answer your questions

B．both of you will benefit from the relationship

C．your teacher will have to be respectful to you

D．you will have to try your best to learn

3.What does the underlined sentence in the second paragraph mean?

A．Your teacher is teaching you to learn the subjects.

B．The teacher has the responsibility to be strict with students.

C．Pointing out your mistakes is also a way for a teacher to teach.

D．The teacher is there to help you.

4. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the responsibility of a student?

A．Learning by making mistakes.	B．Attending class ready to learn.
C．Listening to your teacher carefully.	D．Trying your best to learn.

 

　In Mr．Allen’s high school class , all the students have to “get married ．”However , the wedding ceremonies are not real ones but imitations ． These 1ceremonies sometimes become so noisy that the loud laughter 2the voice of the“minister．”

　Even the two students 3often begin to giggle ． The teacher , Mr．Allen , believes that marriage is a difficult and serious business ． He wants young people to understand that there are many changes that must 4after marriage ． He believes that the need for these psychological and financial 5should be understood before people marry ．

　Mr．Allen doesn’t only 6his students to major problems 7in marriage 8 illness or unemployment ． He also 9 to the 10problems they will face every day ． He wants to introduce young people to all the 11that can strain a marriage to the breaking 12． He even familiarizes his students with the problems of divorce and the fact that 13men must pay child support money for their children and sometimes pay monthly 14 to their wives ．

　It has been 15for some of the students to see the problems that a 16couple often faces ． Until they took the 17, they had not 18much about the problems of marriage ． However , both students and parents feel that Mr．Allen’s course is valuable and have 19the course publicly ． Their statements and letters supporting the class have convinced the school to 20 the course again．

1．A．false B．imitation C．unreal D． untrue

2．A．buries B．covers up C．drowns out D． floods

3．A．being married B．getting married C．to get married D． to be getting married

4．A．Appear B．happen C．come into being D． take place

5．A．Additions B．changes C．judgments D． operations

6．A．refer B．lead C．introduce D． guide

7．A．face B．faced C．facing D． to be faced

8．A．for example B．for instance C．e．g． D． such as

9．A．keeps them in the dark B．Asks them to stay behind

　C．lets them remain　　 D． leaves them uncovered

10．A．basic B．necessary C．important D． pressing

11．A．Anger-causing troubles B．discomfort-causing troubles

　C．either A or B　　　　 D． both A and B

12．A．dot B．drop C．edge D． point

13．A．divorce B．divorces C．divorced D． divorcing

14．A．extra money B．pocket money C．hard-earned money D． support money

15．A．settled B．unsettled C．settling D． unsettling

16．A．marrying B．being married C．getting married D． married

17．A．course B．lesson C．lecture D． subject

18．A．Anxious B．eager C．doubted D． worried

19．A．praised B．prized C．prided D． supported

20．A．offer　　B．take　　C．Attend D． plan