Learning a second language is tricky at any age. Now, in a new study, scientists have worked out the exact age at which your chances of reaching fluency in a second language seem to drop: 10.
The study, published in the journal Cognition, found that it's nearly impossible for language learners to reach native-level fluency if they start learning a second tongue after age 10. But that's not because language skills start to go downhill. "It turns out you're still learning fast, "says study co-author Joshua Hartshorne, an assistant professor of psychology at Boston College. "It's just that you run out of time, because your ability to learn starts dropping at around 17 or 18 years old. People who start a few years after age 10 may still become quite good at a language," the authors say, "but they are unlikely to become fluent." Kids may be better than adults at learning new languages for many reasons. Children's brains are more plastic than those of adults, meaning they're better able to adapt and respond to new information. "All learning involves the brain changing," Hartshorne says, "and children's brains seem to be a lot more skillful at changing. " Kids may also be more willing to try new things and to potentially look foolish in the process than adults are. Their comparatively new grasp on their native tongue may also be advantageous. Unlike adults, who tend to obey the rules and patterns of their first language, kids may be able to approach a new one with a blank page.
These findings might seem discouraging, but it was heartening for scientists to learn that the critical(关键的) period for fluent language acquisition might be longer than previously thought. Some scientists believed that the window began to close shortly after birth, while others extended it to early adolescence. Compared with those estimates (评估), age 17 or 18 — when language-learning ability starts to drop off—may seem relatively old.
1.What is the best period to learn a second language?
A.Before ten. B.Early adolescence. C.Age fifteen. D.Age seventeen or eighteen.
2.When it comes to new things, what does the writer think of kids compared with adults?
A.They're less skillful. B.They're less interested.
C.They're more flexible. D.They're more stubborn.
3.What does the underlined word "window" in the last paragraph refer to?
A.Interest. B.Chance. C.Confidence. D.Motivation.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A.It's Never Too late to Learn a Second Language.
B.It Takes Time to Be Good at a Second Language.
C.Do We Really Need to Learn Foreign Languages?
D.Why Kids Learn Languages More Easily than Adults.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
Learning a second language is tricky at any age. Now, in a new study, scientists have worked out the exact age at which your chances of reaching fluency in a second language seem to drop: 10.
The study, published in the journal Cognition, found that it's nearly impossible for language learners to reach native-level fluency if they start learning a second tongue after age 10. But that's not because language skills start to go downhill. "It turns out you're still learning fast, "says study co-author Joshua Hartshorne, an assistant professor of psychology at Boston College. "It's just that you run out of time, because your ability to learn starts dropping at around 17 or 18 years old. People who start a few years after age 10 may still become quite good at a language," the authors say, "but they are unlikely to become fluent." Kids may be better than adults at learning new languages for many reasons. Children's brains are more plastic than those of adults, meaning they're better able to adapt and respond to new information. "All learning involves the brain changing," Hartshorne says, "and children's brains seem to be a lot more skillful at changing. " Kids may also be more willing to try new things and to potentially look foolish in the process than adults are. Their comparatively new grasp on their native tongue may also be advantageous. Unlike adults, who tend to obey the rules and patterns of their first language, kids may be able to approach a new one with a blank page.
These findings might seem discouraging, but it was heartening for scientists to learn that the critical(关键的) period for fluent language acquisition might be longer than previously thought. Some scientists believed that the window began to close shortly after birth, while others extended it to early adolescence. Compared with those estimates (评估), age 17 or 18 — when language-learning ability starts to drop off—may seem relatively old.
1.What is the best period to learn a second language?
A.Before ten. B.Early adolescence. C.Age fifteen. D.Age seventeen or eighteen.
2.When it comes to new things, what does the writer think of kids compared with adults?
A.They're less skillful. B.They're less interested.
C.They're more flexible. D.They're more stubborn.
3.What does the underlined word "window" in the last paragraph refer to?
A.Interest. B.Chance. C.Confidence. D.Motivation.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A.It's Never Too late to Learn a Second Language.
B.It Takes Time to Be Good at a Second Language.
C.Do We Really Need to Learn Foreign Languages?
D.Why Kids Learn Languages More Easily than Adults.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Learning English as a second language for non-native English speakers is not an easy task. One needs to spend a considerable(相当多的) time before you could speak or write it. There are only two ways to learn the English language or any other language.
The first way is very expensive. If you notice, a person moves to another country and stays there for a couple of years and then goes back to his home non-native speaking country, the person becomes accustomed to speaking English. This is the most effective way of learning to speak and write a language unfamiliar to you.
The learner learns the language because he / she is forced to do so and there is no other language being used. Not to mention that the learner should adapt to the environment. It is all started from listening. This is the process how language is acquired if you will stay long in a foreign country.
The second way is the traditional way of learning English as a second language at school. Obviously, this is cheaper than the first, but it needs a considerable time before you learn the language. Today, there are different language centres offering their services for people to learn the language in your own country. They have all the materials needed because, compared to the first, they’re affordable and reasonable.
Nowadays, learning English as a second language is a global trend. Since the English language is used in most of business transactions (交易) you may need it, too. Otherwise you will not go along with the future trends that will arise.
1.The most effective way of learning a second language is to ______.
A.learn it from native speakers
B.spend a lot of time
C.practice more
D.stay in a speaking country for several days
2.The advantage of the traditional learning way is it ______.
A.needs much time
B.is economical and practical
C.is simple and practical
D.is effective and reasonable
3.Now an affordable way to learn a foreign language is to ______.
A.go to a middle school
B.study at a language centre
C.communicate with more people
D.have a foreign teacher
4.From the passage we learn that ______.
A.learning foreign languages is easy
B.there are more than five ways to learn foreign languages
C.family environment is very helpful for learning foreign languages
D.learning a foreign language is good for your future career
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Learning a Second Language
Some people learn a second language easily. Others have trouble learning a new language. How can you help yourself learn a new language, such as English? There are several ways to make learning English a little easier and more interesting.
The first step is to feel positive about learning English. If you believe that you can learn, you will learn. Be patient. You do not have to understand everything all at once. It is natural to make mistakes when you learn something new. We can learn from our mistakes. In other words, do not worry about taking risks.
The second step is to practice your English. For example, write a diary every day. You will get used to writing it in English, and you will feel comfortable expressing your ideas in English. Several weeks later, you will see that your writing is improving. In addition, you must speak English every day. You can practice with your classmates outside class. You will all make mistakes, but gradually you will become comfortable communicating in English.
The third step is to keep a record of your language learning. You can write this in your journal. After each class, think about what you did. Did you answer a question correctly? Did you understand something the teacher explained? Perhaps the lesson was difficult, but you tried to understand it.
You must be positive about learning English and believe that you can do it. It is important to practice every day and make a record of your achievements. You will enjoy learning English, and you will feel more confident in yourself.
1.To feel positive about learning English means _______.
| A．if you are patient, you will learn |
| B．you can understand everything all at once |
| C．if you make mistakes, you can learn from your mistakes |
| D．if you believe you can learn, you will learn |
2.When you learn English, you do not need to ______.
| A．be patient | B．make mistakes |
| C．express your ideas in English | D．understand everything all at once |
3.What is not helpful for you to enjoy learning English?
| A．To communicate in English. |
| B．To worry about taking risks. |
| C．To think about what has been done after each class. |
| D．To make a record of the achievements. |
4.What is the main idea of this passage?
| A．It is very important to learn a second language. |
| B．Some people learn a second language easily while other people do not. |
| C．There are ways to help you learn a second language more easily. |
| D．Don’t worry about taking risks when learning a second language. |
5.What does the underlined word “journal” in the 4th paragraphmean?
| A．Diary | B．Composition | C．Poem | D．Newspaper |
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Learning a second language
Nowadays, more and more people are learning a second language. So why should we invest time in learning a second language? Is it worth it? What are the benefits of learning a second language? Let us see.
1.
If your work involves regular contact with speakers of foreign languages, being able to talk to them in their own languages will help you to communicate with them better. It may also help you to make sales and to negotiate and secure contracts. Knowledge of foreign languages may also increase your chance of finding a new job, getting a promotion or a transfer overseas, or of going on foreign business trips.
2.
Needless to say, being able to speak a foreign language, for example, the Japanese, would benefit you a lot when you are travelling to Japan. Being able to speak the language of the target country will save you a lot of communication trouble and inconvenience. 3.
Education
If you are a high school student or a college student who is interested in going abroad for further education, then you will, in all possibility, have to learn the language of the country where you wish to move to, for further studies. 4.
5.
Learning a second language can help in broadening one’s horizon, it can help in learning about the culture of that particular country and it can pave the way for new interests and hobbies. Not only can you enjoy forms of art and literature connected with the new language, but you can also meet new people, make new friends and develop long-lasting relationships…all on the basis of learning a new language.
A. Travel
B. Career
C. Personal Growth
D. Challenging Yourself
E. You may be required to study a particular language at school, college or university.
F. If you are fond of tourism, then knowledge of the local language is a must—have to avoid bad experiences or discomfort.
G. In some cases or countries, being able to speak that country’s national language is a must for students wishing to pursue education in that country.
高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
Learning a second language
Nowadays, more and more people are learning a second language. So why should we spend time learning a second language? 1.. Let us see.
Career
If your work involves regular contact with speakers of foreign languages, being able to talk to them in their own language will help you to communicate with them better.2. Knowledge of foreign languages may also increase your chances of finding a new job, getting a promotion or a transfer overseas, or of going on foreign business trips.
Travel
Being able to speak a foreign language, for example, the Japanese language, would benefit you greatly should you be traveling to Japan.3. If you are fond of tourism, then knowledge of the local language is a must-have to avoid bad experiences or discomfort.
4.
If you are a high school student who is interested in going abroad for further education, then you will have to learn the language of the country which you wish to move to. In some countries, being able to speak that country’s national language is a must for students wishing to pursue (继续) education there.
Personal growth
Learning a second language can help in broadening one’s horizons(视野). It can help in learning about the culture of that particular country.5. Not only can you enjoy different forms of art and literature relating to the new language, but you can also meet new people, make new friends and develop long-lasting relationships.
A. Education
B. Challenge.
C. Is it really worth it?
D. This will save you a lot of trouble.
E. It can help you to make sales and get good deals.
F. And it can open the way for new interests and hobbies.
G. Could you be required to study a particular language at school?
高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
Born in 1965, Shania Twain was the second of five children in her family. At the age of two, she moved with her mother and two sisters to Timmins, a town north of Toronto. When Shania was eight years old, her mother took her to many different bars, clubs and concerts to perform. In high school, Shania joined a local band, with which she often performed. After that, Shania moved to Toronto, where she continued singing.
When Shania was 21 years old, her parents were killed in a car accident. She had to take over the role of parent to her younger siblings(兄弟姐妹). Taking care of two teenage brothers and a sister was a Gordian knot. Suddenly, she had to pay the bills, keep food on the table, and make a living. Anyway, Shania managed to pay the bills by singing here and there.
In 1991, Shania went to Nashville, the home of the country music industry. In 1993, she recorded Shania Twain, her first CD. In 1995, her next CD, The Woman in Me, which had eight hit songs, sold more than ten million copies. Her third CD, Come on Over, was also popular and she had another hit song.
Shania and Robert Lange, a famous producer, got married in 1993. After finishing her 2000 world tour, she decided to take a break from performing. In August 2001, they had a lovely son, whom they named Eja. After September 11th, Shania decided to spend more time on her family and stayed at home until the fall of 2002. Her reappearance in the music world put her face on magazine covers and country music publications. She also began to promote(宣传) her new CD, Up, on TV shows.
1.According to the text, Shania ___________.
A. went to Timmins in 1965
B. was born into a musical family
C. recorded her first CD in high school
D. began singing in public at an early age
2.The underlined part “a Gordian knot” in Paragraph 2 probably means __________.
A. a big business
B. a difficult task
C. a social activity
D. a simple problem
3.What’s the right order of the events in Shania Twain’s life?
a. She moved to Nashville.
b. She married Robert Lange.
c. She lost her parents forever.
d. She promoted Up on TV shows.
e. She recorded The Woman in Me.
A. c,a,b,e,d B. a,c,e,b,d
C. c,b,a,d,e D. a,b,e,d,c
4.What does the author mainly talk about in the text?
A. Why Shania Twain chose to be a singer.
B. How difficult it is to become a singer.
C. A girl’s road to success as a singer.
D. Shania Twain’s opinion on music.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The great-grandmother is learning English with the help of her family when she is at the age of 91. She hopes to use the language at next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. Takamizawa was one of the more than 200, 00 people who requested to volunteer for Tokyo’s 2020 Games. English is not required for service, but it is a useful skill for volunteers to have.
But Takamizawa had not been able to learn the language when she was young. Takamizawa said that she was in high school when World War Two started. She said, “In my second year there, English was banned because it was the enemy language.”
Takamizawa said her grandchildren helped persuade her that she was not too old to learn. “When I talked to my grandchildren about my wish, they said, ‘It’s not too late. We will teach you one word a day’ ”. Natsuko is Takamizawa’s granddaughter and main English teacher. Natsuko sends a new English word to her grandmother’s phone every day. They also often work together directly on phrases that Takamizawa will need for the Olympics. “Welcome to Tokyo, this is the Olympic stadium, how can I help you?” Takamizawa answers when asked to say an English phrase she has learned. Natsuko explains that she wanted to give her grandmother something to enjoy. “I can clearly see her English is getting better. It’s my joy now.”
The EF English Proficiency Index is a measure of the level of English spoken in a country. Japan ranks 49th among countries where English is not the first language. This situation is slowly changing as younger generations welcome English. However, Takamizawa believes real change will not happen unless Japanese people become more open to the rest of the world. With around 500 days to go until the games begin, the whole Takamizawa family is ready to welcome the world to Tokyo.
1.Why couldn’t Takamizawa learn English when she was young?
A.Because English was useless.
B.Because she was too young to learn English.
C.Because English was forbidden to learn.
D.Because she was unwilling to learn English.
2.What can we know from the third paragraph?
A.Takamizawa gets strong support from her family.
B.Takamizawa’s grandchildren love her a lot.
C.Natsuko is Takamizawa’s granddaughter and only English teacher.
D.Natsuko teaches Takamizawa English mainly by talking with her.
3.What does the underlined phrase “This situation” in Paragraph 4 refer to?
A.English is not the first language in Japan.
B.The level of English spoken in Japan is relatively low.
C.Younger generations in Japan welcome English.
D.Japanese people become open to the rest of the world.
4.What is the main idea of the passage?
A.Where there is a will, there is a way. B.It is never too late to learn.
C.The early bird catches the worm. D.Two heads are better than one.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Like any awards ceremony of its age, the Oscars, now in its 85th year, has been trying hard to change.
So how did that go this year? When host Seth MacFarlane noted in his opening speech that it was the first time the Academy Awards had a theme, I thought: “well, that’s a good start.”
But when he revealed that the theme was a tribute to(向…致敬) musicals, I was less sure. After all, it’s not the first time that musicals have featured at the Oscars.
In 2007, the cast of Dream-girls gave a special performance directed by movie director and musical veteran(经验丰富的老手) Bill Condon. Then there was the memorable 2009 show hosted by Hugh Jackman, who screams musicals. With Beyonce Knowles and Anne Hathaway, he performed several hit songs from move musical. And in 2010, how did Neil Patrick Harris introduce the hosts? By performing a musical number.
So I guess the Oscars could have done better this year. But I must admit, there were more music performances in the three-and-a –half-hour show than ever before. This suggests the Oscars has dropped some of its arrogance and wants to offer audiences more entertainment.
It’s a timely move as the Golden Globes, also known as the “big party,” has become a threat to the Oscars, stealing viewers and even its reputation. Just look at the Oscars’ winning list this year.
You can’t blame the academy for wanting to stick it to the Golden Globes. While they hired Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to host the show—certainly more audience-friendly than MacFarlane— and Bill Clinton was invited as a presenter, who did viewers get at the Oscars? The First Lady of the US, Michelle Obama.
Way to go, Oscar! We know you’re struggling to look fresh and young, but don’t lose the pride and dignity that made you one biggest honor in the movie industry. Don’t ever let that change.
1.Examples are given in Para.4 to show that__________.
A．the Oscars has been trying hard to change
B．the Oscars’ theme is a tribute to musicals
C．it is not the first time that the Oscars has had a theme
D．musicals are not a new feature this year
2.What disappoints the writer is that__________.
A．the Oscars didn’t invite Bill Clinton as a presenter
B．the show took as long as three and a half hours
C．the Oscars has lost some pride and dignity to cater to the audiences
D．the Oscars is no longer fresh and young
3. Which of the following is true of the Golden Globes?
A．It gave an award to the First Lady of the US, Michelle Obama.
B．Its host and hostess had better reputation.
C．It has become highly competitive with the Academy Awards.
D．It is more friendly to the audience.
4.Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?
A．Nothing new, but well done
B．So old, still young
C．New start, good change
D．Too old to change
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The best way of learning a language is using it. The best way of learning English is talking in English as much as possible. Sometimes you’ll get your words mixed up(混合)and people will not understand you. Sometimes people will say things too quickly and you can’t understand them. But if you keep your sense of humor(幽默感),you can always have a good laugh at the mistakes you make. Don’t be unhappy if people seem to be laughing at your mistakes. It’s better for people to laugh at your mistakes than to be angry with you, because they don’t understand what you are saying. The most important thing for learning Englsih is：“Don’t be afraid of making mistakes because everyone makes mistakes.”
1.The writer thinks that the best way for you to learn a language is_______.
A．writing B．using it C．listening D．learning grammar
2.What should you do in learning Englsih?
A．Be careful not to make any mistake. B．Write as quickly as you can.
C．Speak English as much as you can. D．Laugh more often.
3.When people laugh at your mistakes, you should______.
A．not care B．be happy C．feel worried D．be unhappy
4.When you make a mistake, you should______.
A．keep quiet B．get angry C．be kind D．keep your sense of humor
5.The story tells us,“________”
A．Only foolish people make mistakes
B．Few people make mistakes
C．People never make mistakes
D．There is no one who doesn’t make mistakes
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The best way of learning a language is using it. The best way of learning English is talking in English as much as possible. Sometimes you’ll get your words mixed up(混合)and people will not understand you. Sometimes people will say things too quickly and you can‘t understand them. But if you keep your sense of humor(幽默感),you can always have a good laugh at the mistakes you make. Don’t be unhappy if people seem to be laughing at your mistakes. It’s better for people to laugh at your mistakes than to be angry with you, because they don’t understand what you are saying. The most important thing for learning English is：“Don‘t be afraid of making mistakes because everyone makes mistakes.”
1.What should you do in learning English?
| A．Be careful not to make any mistake. | B．Write as quickly as you can. |
| C．Speak English as much as you can. | D．Laugh more often. |
2.When people laugh at your mistakes, you should______.
| A．not care | B．be happy | C．feel worried | D．be unhappy |
3.When you make a mistake, you should______.
| A．keep quiet | B．get angry | C．be kind | D．keep your sense of humor |
4.The story tells us: “________”
| A．Only foolish people make mistakes | B．Few people make mistakes |
| C．People never make mistakes | D．There is no one who doesn’t make mistakes |
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析