A
(2020·安徽五校质检)
Gabriella’s family immigrated to the US from Peru when she was two years old. As a compound bilingual(熟谙两种语言的人), Gabriella develops two linguistic codes at the same time, with a set of concepts, learning both English and Spanish. Her teenage brother, on the other hand, might be a coordinate bilingual, working with two sets of concepts, learning English in school, Spanish at home. Finally, Gabriella’s parents are likely to be subordinate bilinguals who learned a second language by translating it into their mother tongue.
Regardless of accent and pronunciation, all types of bilingual people can become fully proficient in a language. It seems that the difference may not be apparent. But recently brain imaging technology has given a glimpse into how specific aspects of language learning affect the bilingual brain. It’s well known that the brain’s left hemisphere(半球) is in charge of logical processes, while the right hemisphere is more active in emotional and social ones. Language involves both types of functions. Critical period hypothesis says children learn languages more easily because their developing brains let them use both hemispheres in language learning, while in most adults, language relies on one hemisphere, usually the left.
Before the 1960s, bilingualism was considered a handicap that slowed the children’s development by forcing them to spend too much energy distinguishing between languages. But a recent study did show that bilingualism may make you smarter. It does make your brain more complex, healthier, and more actively engaged, and even if you didn’t have the good fortune of learning a second language like a child, it’s never too late to do yourself a favor and make the linguistic leap from “Hello” to “Hola” “Bonjour” or “nihao” because when it comes to our brains, a little exercise can go a long way.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇说明文。研究发现，双语学习能使大脑更加聪明、更加健康、更活跃；学习外语永远不迟。
1．Why is Gabriella’s family used as the example in Paragraph 1?
A．To show that the family are bilinguals.
B．To explain the advantages of bilinguals.
C．To illustrate the three types of bilinguals.
D．To prove all ages can learn foreign languages.
C 解析：细节理解题。根据第一段的内容可知，Gabriella家中有三种不同的双语学习类型的人，据此可知，第一段以Gabriella的家庭为例是为了说明三种不同双语学习类型的人，故C项正确。
2．Why do the children learn languages more easily than adults?
A．Because they learn languages with a set of concepts.
B．Because they use both hemispheres to learn languages.
C．Because their mother tongue doesn’t influence them much.
D．Because they can easily translate one language into another.
B 解析：细节理解题。根据第二段尾句中的“children learn languages more easily because their developing brains let them use both hemispheres in language learning, while in most adults, language relies on one hemisphere, usually the left”可知，儿童学习语言更容易是因为他们发育中的大脑让他们在语言学习中使用两个大脑半球，而在大多数成年人中，学习语言依赖于一个大脑半球，通常是左半球，故B项正确。
3．Which of the following best explains the underlined word “handicap” in Paragraph 3?
A．Disease. B．Disability.
C．Disadvantage. D．Illness.
C 解析：词义猜测题。根据第三段第一句“Before the 1960s, bilingualism was considered a handicap that slowed the children’s development by forcing them to spend too much energy distinguishing between languages.”尤其是该句中的“slowed”和“forcing them to spend too much energy distinguishing between languages”并结合语境可推知，画线词与C项“不利因素，障碍”意思相近，故C项正确。
4．What can we infer from the text?
A．The left brain is more important for language learning.
B．Learning languages can promote the brain development.
C．The proficiency of language becomes weak gradually with age.
D．Immigrants have advantages in learning languages over natives.
B 解析：推理判断题。根据第三段第二、三句中的“But a recent study did show that bilingualism may make you smarter. It does make your brain more complex, healthier, and more actively engaged”可知，最近的一项研究确实表明，双语可能会让你更聪明。它确实会让你的大脑更复杂、更健康、更活跃；据此可推知，学习语言会促进大脑的发展，故B项正确。
