Ⅰ.阅读理解
A
(2023·沈阳市一模)
It is an unpleasant extinction that will change the world and how people communicate: Within 20 years, two thirds of all the planet's languages will be dead.
Experts agree that nothing can stop it happening but one academic is trying her hardest to slow it down.Professor Antonella Sorace is one of a growing number of people who believe learning a second language has enormous untapped benefits for the human brain.This is true not only for young children but also for adults and people at risk from dementia (痴呆), where research consistently shows that learning a new language could delay the start of the disease for 4 to 5 years—a better result than with any medication to date.
It is those benefits of bilingualism (双语) that should encourage us to preserve and protect European minority languages—Gaelic, Manx, Cornish and Ulster Scots, she says.
Already her work and the project she founded in Edinburgh Bilingualism Matters—now expanding across Europe and in the U．S.—have convinced the Scottish government to introduce languages to primary schools.From 2023 all Scottish children are learning a language other than English in their first year at school, with two other languages to be introduced later.
Bilingualism Matters is also working to encourage businesses to consider the benefits of their staff learning languages.“In business, people say‘English is the language of business, why would I need to learn another language？’”said Sorace.“Maybe it would mean you could do better business.”
Just as disappearing forests take with them secrets of undiscovered medicines, disappearing languages can take the key to a longer and better quality of life.The first battle is to unpick the popular assumption that bilingualism might damage children's brains.There were even suggestions it could encourage schizophrenia(精神分裂症)．
“Study after study has shown the opposite to be true，” says Sorace.“These prejudices are deeply rooted, but we are perhaps halfway to persuading people that the brain can cope.Then we have to persuade people that it is actually of benefit.”
语篇导读：文章主要介绍了安东内拉·索拉切教授认为学习第二语言对人类的大脑和健康都有着巨大的好处，并鼓励人们拯救并保护小语种。
1．What will happen to the majority of the world's languages? A
A．They will become extinct in decades.
B．They will be learned by more academics.
C．They will prevent the risk of dementia.
D．They will help people better communicate.
解析：细节理解题。根据第一段中的“Within 20 years, two thirds of all the planet's languages will be dead.”可知，世界上大多数语言会在二十年内消亡。故选A。
2．What's Bilingualism Matters intended to do? C
A．Find a replacement for English.
B．Teach businesses marketing skills.
C．Promote minority language learning.
D．Influence governments' policy making.
解析：细节理解题。根据第四段中的“Bilingualism Matters—now expanding across Europe and in the U．S.—have convinced the Scottish government to introduce languages to primary schools”和第五段中的“Bilingualism Matters is also working to encourage businesses to consider the benefits of their staff learning languages.”可知，Bilingualism Matters在努力推动小语种进入校园和企业，让更多的人去学习小语种，即Bilingualism Matters在推动小语种的学习。故选C。
3．What's the top priority in preserving minority languages? D
A．Getting rid of people's fear for mental illnesses.
B．Finding the key to promoting people's welfare.
C．Unlocking the secrets of undiscovered medicines.
D．Correcting the misconception about bilingualism.
解析：细节理解题。根据第六段第二句“The first battle is to unpick the popular assumption that bilingualism might damage children's brains.”可知，推动更多的人学习小语种的第一步是要消除学习两种语言可能对儿童大脑有害的这一普遍观点，即修正对双语学习的错误观念。故选D。
4．Which can be the best title for the text? D
A．The Benefits of Bilingualism
B．The Founding of Bilingualism Matters
C．A New Challenge Facing Language Teaching
D．A Professor Fighting to Save Minority Languages
解析：标题归纳题。通读全文，结合第二段中的“Professor Antonella Sorace is one of a growing number of people who believe learning a second language has enormous untapped benefits for the human brain.”和第三段中的“It is those benefits of bilingualism(双语) that should encourage us to preserve and protect European minority languages”可知，本文主要介绍了安东内拉·索拉切教授认为学习第二语言对人类大脑有好处，并致力于保护小语种。故选D。
