If English means endless new words，difficult gramrnar and sometimes strange pronunciation

If English means endless new words，difficult gramrnar 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 goup 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，”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．
【小题1】The main subject talked about in this passage is A．language can help brain powerB．man's ability of learning a second languageC．science on learning a second languageD．language learning and maths study【小题2】In the second paragraph，the writer mentions “exercise” in order to A．say language is also a kind of physical laborB．make people believe language learning helps grey matter work wellC．show the importance of using the language when you learn the languageD．prove that one needs more practice when he(she)is learning a language【小题3】The underlined word‘‘bilinguals”in Paragraph 4 probably means A．people who can speak two languagesB．second language learnersC．researchers on language learningD．active language learners【小题4】We may know from the scientific findings that A．the experience of learning a second language has bad effect on people’s brainB．there is no difference between a later second language learner and one who doesn’t know a second languageC．the earlier you start to learn a second language，the higher the grey matter density isD．the ability of learning a second language is changing all the time【小题5】In the last two paragraphs，the author wants to tell us that A．learning a second language is the same as studying mathsB．Italian is the best choice for you as a second languageC．you’d better choose the ages between 2 and 34 to learn a second languageD．early learning of a second language helps you a great deal in studying other subjectsA

(答案→)A 解析：文章讲述的正是学习另外一门语言可以让人更加聪明，可帮助提升脑力。【小题1】主旨大意题。从第一段的句子：Haven’t you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language?可知文章讲述的正是学习另外一门语言可以让人更加聪明，可帮助提升脑力。选A。【小题2】推理题。从第二段的句子：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．可知作者提到锻炼，说明使读者相信语言学习可以增强肌肉，而学习外语可以提高智力，故B正确。【小题3】猜测词义题。根据划线词的下文可知这里的bilingual是指who had learnt a second language before the age of five可知他是能讲两种语言的人，故A正确。【小题4】推理题。根据文章第五段But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference.可知越早学习一门外语，灰白质的密度越高，C正确。【小题5】 细节题：从文章最后一段的句子：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．可知作者想要告诉我们早期学习一门外语对其他科目的学习也是有好处的。选D。

好好学习下