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. 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 is.
"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 in 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 2 and 34. Reading, writing, and comprehension were all tested. The results
showed that the younger they started to learn, the better they will do it. "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 can help brain power
D. language learning and maths study
2. We may know from the scientific findings that________.
A. the earlier you start to learn a second language, the greater 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
3. 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
