C
In the early nineteen fifties, researchers found that people scored lower on intelligence tests if they spoke more than one language. Research in the sixties found the opposite. So which is it?
Researchers presented their newest studies last month at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The latest evidence shows that being bilingual (双语的)does not necessarily make people smarter. But researcher Ellen Bialystock says it probably does make you better at certain skills. She says bilingual people are often better at controlling their attention—a function called the executive(执行的)control system.
Ms Bialystock is a psychology professor at York University in Toronto, Canada. She says the best method to measure the executive control system is called the Stroop Test. A person is shown words in different colors. The person has to ignore the word but say the color. The problem is that the words are all names of colors.
Her work shows that bilingual people continually practice this function. They have to, because both languages are active in their brain at the same time. They need to limit one to be able to speak in the other.
This mental exercise might help in other ways, too. Researchers say bilingual children are better able to separate a word from its meaning, and more likely to have friends from different cultures. Bilingual adults are often four to five years later than others in developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Foreign language study has increased in the United States. But linguist Alison Mackey at Georgetown University points out that English-speaking countries are still far behind the rest of the world. In England, like in the United States, bilingualism is seen as something special and unique and something to be commented on and perhaps work towards, while in many other parts of the world being bilingual is just seen as a natural part of life.
28. Being bilingual can make people _________.
A. smarter than others
B. better at all skills
C. better at controlling their attention
D. higher in intelligence
29. Bilingual children more likely to _________.
A. be healthier than others
B. make more friends from different countries
C. develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
D. recognize a word from its meaning
30. The last paragraph suggests that _________.
A. bilingualism is just seen as a natural part of life in the United States
B. foreign language study needs improving in English-speaking countries
C. bilingualism is seen as something special and unique all over the world
D. English-speaking countries do better than others in foreign language study
31. The text is most probably a _________.
A. science fiction story B. newspaper ad
C. book review D. science news report
C
【语篇解读】本文是说明文。文章介绍说，根据研究, 学习双语的人在某些方面会具有优势。
【答案解析】
28.C。推理判断题。根据第二段可知, 学双语的人不一定比别人更聪明, 但是在某些技能方面可能会做得更好。在控制他们的注意力方面学双语的人就做得比较好。
29.B。细节理解题。根据第五段第二句话“Researchers say bilingual children are better able to separate a word from its meaning, and more likely to have friends from different cultures. ”可知, 学双语的孩子更可能与不同文化的人交朋友。A项文中没有提及; C项是对原文的曲解; D项应该是“separate a word from its meaning”才正确。
30.B。推理判断题。根据最后一段“. . . English-speaking countries are still far behind the rest of the world. ”可知, 说英语的国家在外语学习方面落后于世界其他地方, 所以需要提高。同时也说明D项是错误的。根据最后一句“. . . in many other parts of the world being bilingual is just seen as a natural part of life. ”可知A和C项错误。
31.D。推理判断题。整篇文章讲的是根据研究说双语的人在某些方面可能会具有优势。所以这篇文章该是一份科学新闻报告。
In the early nineteen fifties, researchers found that people scored lower on intelligence tests if they spoke more than one language. Research in the sixties found the opposite. So which is it?
Researchers presented their newest studies last month at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The latest evidence shows that being bilingual (双语的)does not necessarily make people smarter. But researcher Ellen Bialystock says it probably does make you better at certain skills. She says bilingual people are often better at controlling their attention—a function called the executive(执行的)control system.
Ms Bialystock is a psychology professor at York University in Toronto, Canada. She says the best method to measure the executive control system is called the Stroop Test. A person is shown words in different colors. The person has to ignore the word but say the color. The problem is that the words are all names of colors.
Her work shows that bilingual people continually practice this function. They have to, because both languages are active in their brain at the same time. They need to limit one to be able to speak in the other.
This mental exercise might help in other ways, too. Researchers say bilingual children are better able to separate a word from its meaning, and more likely to have friends from different cultures. Bilingual adults are often four to five years later than others in developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Foreign language study has increased in the United States. But linguist Alison Mackey at Georgetown University points out that English-speaking countries are still far behind the rest of the world. In England, like in the United States, bilingualism is seen as something special and unique and something to be commented on and perhaps work towards, while in many other parts of the world being bilingual is just seen as a natural part of life.
28. Being bilingual can make people _________.
A. smarter than others
B. better at all skills
C. better at controlling their attention
D. higher in intelligence
29. Bilingual children more likely to _________.
A. be healthier than others
B. make more friends from different countries
C. develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
D. recognize a word from its meaning
30. The last paragraph suggests that _________.
A. bilingualism is just seen as a natural part of life in the United States
B. foreign language study needs improving in English-speaking countries
C. bilingualism is seen as something special and unique all over the world
D. English-speaking countries do better than others in foreign language study
31. The text is most probably a _________.
A. science fiction story B. newspaper ad
C. book review D. science news report
C
【语篇解读】本文是说明文。文章介绍说，根据研究, 学习双语的人在某些方面会具有优势。
【答案解析】
28.C。推理判断题。根据第二段可知, 学双语的人不一定比别人更聪明, 但是在某些技能方面可能会做得更好。在控制他们的注意力方面学双语的人就做得比较好。
29.B。细节理解题。根据第五段第二句话“Researchers say bilingual children are better able to separate a word from its meaning, and more likely to have friends from different cultures. ”可知, 学双语的孩子更可能与不同文化的人交朋友。A项文中没有提及; C项是对原文的曲解; D项应该是“separate a word from its meaning”才正确。
30.B。推理判断题。根据最后一段“. . . English-speaking countries are still far behind the rest of the world. ”可知, 说英语的国家在外语学习方面落后于世界其他地方, 所以需要提高。同时也说明D项是错误的。根据最后一句“. . . in many other parts of the world being bilingual is just seen as a natural part of life. ”可知A和C项错误。
31.D。推理判断题。整篇文章讲的是根据研究说双语的人在某些方面可能会具有优势。所以这篇文章该是一份科学新闻报告。
