英语听力精选进阶版 6327（在线收听）

Learning a second language can boost brain power, scientists believe.

US researchers from Northwestern University say bilingualism is a form of brain training - a mental "work out" that fine-tunes the mind.

Speaking two languages profoundly affects the brain and changes how the nervous system reacts to sound, lab tests revealed.

Experts say the work peer-reviewed in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides "biological" evidence of this.

In an attempt to prove the hypothesis that speaking two languages is good for one's mind, the team monitored how the brain of 48 healthy student volunteers reacted to different sounds. Twenty three of these volunteers were bilingual.

The scientists used scalp electrodesto trace the pattern of brainwaves.

Under quiet, laboratory conditions, the bilingual students responded in a similar way to the English-only-speaking students, who formed the control group.

But the bilingual group were far superior at processing sounds even when there were a lot of people talking in the room. They were better able to tune in to the important information - the speaker's voice - and block out other distracting noises.

Prof Nina Kraus, who led the research, said: "The bilingual's enhanced experience with sound results in an auditory system that is highly efficient, flexible and focused in its automatic sound processing, especially in challenging or novel listening conditions."

Co-author Viorica Marian said: "People do crossword puzzles and other activities to keep their minds sharp. But the advantages we've discovered in dual language speakers come automatically simply from knowing and using two languages.''

Musicians appear to gain a similar benefit when rehearsing, say the researchers.

According to some theories, being bilingual might help ward off dementia.

Quiz 小测验

1. If you are bilingual, how many languages can you speak fluently?

Two.

2. What two groups of volunteers took part in the experiment?

Students who speak only English and students who speak two languages.

3. How were the volunteers in the bilingual group better at processing sounds?

They were better able to concentrate on the important information and ignore noises that caused distraction.

4. True, false or not given: Bilingual students are better at solving crossword puzzles.

Not given. All the article says is that they are better at processing sounds.

5. Look at the article. Can you find the expression used when referring to preventing something from happening?

To ward off.

Glossary 词汇表

to work out 锻炼

to fine-tune 微调

the nervous system 神经系统

a lab test 试验室测验

peer-review 同级评估

evidence 证据

a hypothesis 假想

to monitor something 监视（什么）

an electrode 电极

laboratory conditions （在）试验室条件（下）

a control group 控制组

to tune in to (something) 收听（什么东西）/入耳

to block (something) out 排斥（什么）

the auditory system 听觉系统

to process (something) 处理（什么）

to keep (one's) mind sharp 让（他们的）大脑敏捷

a theory 理论

to ward (something) off 挡避（什么）