1. What is the speaker mainly talking about?
| A．A search engine. |
| B．A language-learning website and app. |
| C．A free lesson website for teachers. |
| A．Over one hundred million. | B．A few hundred thousand. | C．Several thousand. |
| A．Switzerland. | B．Guatemala. | C．Costa Rica. |
| A．By big websites. | B．By an actor. | C．By school. |
2 . The power of human language comes not only from the precision of its signals and the complexity of its grammar but also from its links to cognition (认知). Babies as young as 3 months have begun to link language and core cognitive capacities.
Previous work in the lab had found that for babies aged 3 to 4 months, listening to both human vocalizations (发声) (their native language) and non-human primate vocalizations (calls of monkeys) boosted cognition. It remained unknown whether all human languages would have this advantageous effect.
In a new study, the researchers considered English-acquiring 3-to 4-month-old babies’ responses to two non-native languages (German or Cantonese) — in the context of the classic object categorization task. In this cognitive task, babies first viewed a series of “familiarization” images from one object category (e.g., dinosaurs). Then they viewed two new “test” images at the same time: a new example from the familiarized category (e.g., another dinosaur; “a familiar object”) and a new model from a novel category (e.g., a fish; “a novel object”). Babies’ ability to distinguish between the familiar and novel test images, measured by their looking times, indicates whether they have formed the object category.
Crucially, babies’ success in the task depends upon the sound information that accompanies the visual images presented during familiarization. “We found that German, which is phonologically (音系地) ‘near’ to English, facilitated object categorization. But Cantonese, which is phonologically ‘distant’, did not,” said Danielle Perszyk, lead author of the study.
“Babies’ responses to the two non-native languages tested, considered in combination with their responses to English and to the sounds of monkeys，are consistent with the possibility that babies’ earliest links to cognition originate from two distinct mechanisms. Only one of them is used specifically for human speech,” she added.
When babies are 3 to 4 months old, vocalizations of non-human primates may boost their cognition by engaging another system, one not specialized for speech. However, the cognitive advantage is short-lived: only lasts for 2 to 3months. The study also provides the first evidence that babies’ increasingly precise cognitive tuning to the sounds of their native language sets restrictions on the range of human languages they will link to cognition.
1. What can we know about babies aged 3 to 4 months according to previous work?| A．They get a cognitive bonus after exposure to animal sounds. |
| B．They can tell human languages from those of animals. |
| C．They have a gift for mastering diverse languages. |
| D．They show no interest in non-native languages. |
| A．An evaluation of babies’ learning ability. |
| B．A story regarding babies’ ability to distinguish images. |
| C．An experiment on babies’ ways of native language learning. |
| D．An object categorization experiment on babies’ cognitive link. |
| A．People may prefer certain languages at a young age. |
| B．Babies may adopt different systems to build cognitive links. |
| C．Babies’ cognitive links are dependent on their learning habits. |
| D．People can develop early cognitive links through familiar languages. |
| A．Improving their speech processing system. |
| B．Enhancing their desire to pick up new languages. |
| C．Limiting their cognitive associations with other languages. |
| D．Affecting their ability to distinguish between different languages. |
| While writing plain English is no challenge, most of us struggle to find words or phrases to perfectly fall in place with the content. To help you improve your writing skills in English, we have collected some of the best web resources dedicated to this mission.
● Grammarly is one of the best online resources to significantly improve your vocabulary and writing. It is basically an online word processor, which goes beyond others in correcting over 250 types of English mistakes. The spell-checker and vocabulary enhancer are the standout features of Grammarly. ● Since the Grammarly app is also available for your web browser, you can simply install the extension and edit all of your Emails, social media posts, or any content that you create from your web browser. ●Although Grammarly is offered as free installation, a premium plan does exist which costs around $29. 95/month. |
| Thesaurus
● Overuse of cliches, adverbs or bulky phrases is some examples of poor writing, which needs to be addressed. In this case, the Thesaurus has a collection of some of the most overused expressions that must be avoided in written English. ● Sharpen your English skills with this powerful online and mobile application tool for free. Hemingway App
● The Hemingway app also provides a readability score for the entered text, which you could use to analyze the structure of the content you’ve written and build a connection with your readers. ●Though available as a free version for web interfaces, the standalone desktop software for Mac and Windows costs $9. 99/month. |
1. Which of the following can be learned from the passage?
| A．Grammarly is primarily focused on helping improve spelling and grammar in writing. |
| B．Thesaurus offers a large collection of word entries to enhance vocabulary. |
| C．The Hemingway App’s premium desktop software is available for a one-time payment of $9.99. |
| D．The Hemingway App assigns a distinct color to each type of grammar mistake it detects in the text. |
| A．Grammarly | B．Thesaurus | C．Hemingway App | D．all |
| A．Fiction writers looking for real life materials to spark their creativity. |
| B．Non-native English speakers wanting to improve their writing proficiency. |
| C．Language enthusiasts interested in exploring different web-based tools. |
| D．Magazine editors whose role involves reviewing and polishing manuscripts. |
4 . Four Best Online English Courses
Udemy: English for Beginners
This 77-hour course is among the bestselling courses. The design based on real need makes it easy to adapt to even the busiest schedules. It opens to students with no knowledge of the language. Learners will become good enough to speak clearly and confidently and understand the language well enough to follow movies and TV.
Price: $109
Time to complete: 20 weeks
Coursera: English for Career Development
Coursera is supported by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ office of English learning. Coursera teaches English for business skills like job searching, resumes and interviewing. Learners can start at any time.
Price: $100
Time to complete: 40 weeks
Alison: English for Career Development
This self-paced (自定进度的) course takes a unique approach to teaching business English. English language learners learn the basics of searching, applying, and interviewing for jobs in the United States. Though all parts of the course are free, certification costs $30 and is available only to those who receive 80 percent or higher on their assessments (认证).
Price: Free
Time to complete: Self-paced
Perfectly Spoken: English for Daily Use
This course helps non-locals with the kinds of English used on the street and on vacation. It covers common expressions, such as what to say when meeting and greeting people, and how to express feelings. The course includes the language used when traveling, ordering at a restaurant, and during the United Kingdom holidays.
Price: $90
Time to complete: 36 weeks
1. How much should learners pay for Udemy?| A．$30. | B．$90. | C．$100. | D．$109. |
| A．They are free of charge. |
| B．They must be finished in 40 weeks. |
| C．They focus on business English. |
| D．They are suitable for pupils. |
| A．Perfectly Spoken. | B．Coursera. | C．Alison. | D．Udemy. |
