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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. 56.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 57. 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 58. 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 59. 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 2(湖南龙山皇仓中学高一9月月考)In today’s Internet age, the demand for online games continues to grow. Online computer game centers exist in many cities and towns throughout Asia. Facing the pressures of school and life, people tend to the virtual world, expecting a diversion from these problems. Too often, however, they can lead to problems and unhealthy addictions. This is most clearly seen in the example of South Korea. The country has the world’s highest percentage of high-speed Internet services. It also has a high number of online game players and related problems. In 2002, a young man collapsed(突然晕倒) and died while playing online games. He had been playing almost nonstop for 86 hours at an Internet café. Another young man killed his sister after becoming confused between the online world and real life. A 12-year-old boy stole US $ 16,000 from his father and ran away from home. He did this to continue his obsession(着迷) with an online game. Such problems, however, don’t just happen in South Korea. They are spreading to other parts of Asia, as well. What kinds of people develop online game addiction? What does the problem look like? Dr. SueHuei Chen, a clinical psychologist, researches Internet addiction. She discovered some signs of at-risk individuals such as lack friendships and good social skills. Those problem individuals feel it so compulsive to play online games that they could sacrifice things such as school or family. They feel the need to spend more and more time online. And they become upset if anyone tries to limit their online game playing. How many problem game players are there? In mainland China, the potential number of problem online gamers is alarming. In 2004, the China daily reported that China had 13.8 million online game players. Furthermore, it stated that 80 percent of these were under 25 and had signs of addiction. Such numbers point toward a growing problem among Chinese youth. Make sure to keep control over your online game playing. If you don’t control it, it can get control of you. 68.What is mainly discussed in the passage? A.The disadvantages of the Internet. B.The online game problems in Asia. C.The popularity of online games worldwide. D.The cause of online game addiction. 69.The underlined word “diversion” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to __________. A.careerB.comfortC.escapeD.support 70.According to Paragraph 2, which of the following statements is NOT true? A.The young killer’s sister was killed in a fictional world B.Online game playing is responsible for the young man’s death. C.People in South Korea have access to the Internet most easily. D.The teenage boy stole money due to his playing games online. 71.What can we learn from the passage? A.Most people in Asia have developed an addiction to online games. B.Online game addictions cause many life-and-death arguements in South Korea. C.Lonely and unsociable people seem to more easily develop Internet addictions. D.In the year 2004 there were a total of 13.8 million Chinese visiting the Internet. 72 What are the signs of at-risk individuals? A feeling it so compulsive to play online games B becoming upset if anyone tries to limit their online game playing. C feeling the need to spend more and more time online D All the above 56-59 CCAB 68-72BCACD 3(河北省唐山一中高一月考)Have you ever stayed up late? If so, you know that not getting enough sleep can make you tried and grumpy. Not sleeping enough sleep can also make it harder to think clearly the next day. Sleep scientists have long known that getting a good night’s sleep is very important. It helps kids be able to do their best during the day. A recent study shows that sleep helps improve problem-solving skills and creative(创造性的) thinking. For the study, two groups of students answered a math problem. The group that slept for eight hours solved the problem correctly more often than the group that did not get enough sleep. While you sleep at night, your brain is busy doing its “homework”. It sorts out(整理) all the information that you get in the day. Getting enough sleep each night can improve your thinking ability. That will surely help you do your best at school. Experts say that, in return, can lead to better grades. 55. The underlined word grumpy in the first paragraph means_______. A. excited and happy B. active and creative C. impatient and angry D. bored and weak 56. Choose the best title for this passage. A. Sleep to Success B. A Recent Study C. Do Sleep Well D. The More Sleep, the Better C A 4(河南省信阳二高中高二月考)In 2004，the World Health Organization，WHO，warned of a possible outbreak of another serious disease which may be even more deadly than SARS.The WHO believes that it is likely that bird flu will spread to human beings in the next few years.If it does，up to seven millions people could die from the disease. Diseases like bird flu are caused by viruses，that is，tiny things which change and become more dangerous over time.When a new type of a common virus changes，it may be able to get past the body’s immune(免疫的)system.If that happens，humans are in great danger until a cure or treatment becomes available. There have always been viruses and people always get sick，of course，but as we saw with SARS，the situation is more difficult today.People travel more than ever before，which means that disease can spread quickly and across large areas——in fact the whole world. Scientists are already working on drugs that will prevent or limit the effect of a new virus，but the process takes time.It is just as important to make sure that countries，especially poor countries，are prepared to deal with the disease. New disease usually affect poor areas the most，so we must help develop health care in all countries. 68.The situation is more serious today because . A.people travel moreB.people don’t eat healthy food C.there aren’t enough hospitalsD.scientists can’t find a cure 69.From this passage we know . A.bird flu will surely spread to human beings in the next few years. B.a virus changes and become less dangerous over time. C.SARS is 1ikely to come again in some years. D.poor areas usually suffers more from new diseases than rich areas. 70.The possible title of this passage is A.The Work of WHO B.Scientists Are Working Hard on Drugs for Diseases C.What Is a Virus D.Virus Changes and Causes New Diseases Over Tim ACA 5(河南省信阳商城高中高一月考)If you are having trouble falling asleep, you are in good company. About 65% of Americans said they have sleeping problems a few nights each week, according to a recent study by the National Sleep Foundation. Sleeping too little can lead to a higher risk of becoming fat and getting depressed(沮丧的). But before you go to a doctor for advice, it is worth examining your sleeping habits one more time. Some of your favorite evening habits may have something to do with the sleeping problems. Setting a Bright Alarm Clock The light of your bright alarm clock can prevent you from falling asleep. You can make your room as dark as possible. Cover the bright numbers with a book or consider buying a small travel clock. Your cellphone alarm may also do the trick. Counting Sheep When you just can’t fall asleep, it’s useless to stay in bed to count sheep. If you’ve been trying to fall asleep for more than 30 minutes, the National Sleep Foundation suggests you get up to do some reading or watch TV for a while. Such activities will make you sleepy. Before you know it, you’ll be going back to bed really tired. (责任编辑：admin) |