Babies Are Good Language Learners

It is hard to know what babies want. They can't talk, wallk, or even point at what theywant. Yet newborns begin to develop language skills long before they begin speaking. And,compared with adults, they develop these skills quickly. People have a hard time learmning newlanguages as they grow older, but infants have the ability to learn any language easily.

Most babies go“goo goo”and“ma ma”by the time they are six months old. And mostchildren speak in full sentences by the age of three. For decades, scientists have wondered how the brains of young children figure out how to communicate by using language. With help from new technologies and research strategies, scientists now find that babies begin life with the ability to learn any language.

They come into contact with other people, listen to what they say and watch their movements very closely, That is why they quickly master the languages they hear most often.Studies show that, up to about six months, babies can recognize all the sounds that make up all the languages in the world. There are about 6,000 sounds that are spoken in languages all over the world, but not every language uses every sound, For example, English uses eight vowel (元音) sounds, and Japanese uses just five. Starting at around six months old, a baby's brain focuses on the most common sounds it hears. Then children begin responding only to the sounds of the language they hear the most.

In a similar way, older babies start recognizing the patterns that make up the rules of their native language. In English, for example, when children are about eighteen months old, they start to figure out that words ending in“-ing” or“-ed”are usually verbs, and that verbs are action words.

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My Life in an African Village

I grew up in a village in Africa. Growing up was not a hard experience for me. My friends and 1 played with toys we made, built traps to catch small animals and hunted rabbits. At night we told stories and sang folk songs. I helped with the farm work. Since I didn't have any sisters until later, I had to do some of the chores (琐事) usually done by girls.

When I finished primary school, people in my village were living in poverty. They could not find markets for palm oil (棕榈油), which was the main source of income. My father had gone into debt and could not afford to give me a high school education. But this was not too serious. In those days, it was rare for boys from my vllage to go to high school.

I became a primary school teacher in another village when I was 16. I met many new people through teaching. But for the first time I was alone--without my family and the villagers I had always known.

After I had taught in the primary school for five years,I was admitted to a college. When I graduated, I faced great responsibilities.My family expected me to use my education wisely.My home village saw me as special because of my education. The villgers expected me to lead them because they had a great desire to“get up”. Our people used this expression to mean that they wanted to become part of the modern world. Could I help the town get up? This was the question I faced when I finished college.

A. had sisters to help him

B. had many friends to play with

C. didn't need to do farm work

D. was a member of a singing group

A. they had to pay for the children's education

B. it was difficult for them to sell their palm oil

C. the price of palm oil was too low

D. many boys left the vllage

A. got to know a lot of people

B. lived with his family

C. self-learned high school courses

D. paid off his father's debt

A. was a very responsible person

B. had taught in primary school

C. had received higher education

D. was a person with great desire

A. lead the modern world

B. express their expectations

C. set up new colleges

D. improve living standards

How to Decide If Your Friend Is a True Friend

➊ A true friend should make you feel needed, confident and better about being alive. He will never put you down or make you feel worthless. He, will always give you a kind word when you need it. If a friend makes comments that encourage you, you will know that he is a true friend.

❷ If your friend is a true friend, then he should listen to what you have to say. In a true friendship, both people should be sharing their thoughts and getting feedback. A true friend may talk about his own problems. But when you are talking about yours, he will not be bored or distracted.

❸ Communication is key in any relationship, especially a friendship. You and your friend should be open to each other about your thoughts and feelings. In this way, you two maintain a level of honest and open dialogue.

❹ Everyone loves some gossip (说长道短) occasionally. But if your friend is always gossiping about someone, then chances are your“friend”will do the same as soon as your back is turned.

❺ A true friend will make time for you no matter what. Though life is busy and it's hard to have enough time to sleep and eat, let alone socialize (社交), a true friend will always make time for you, especially if you need it.

A.Encourage you

B. in a frank way

C. Feel uninterested

D.behind your back

E.without feedback

F.socialize with others

A.Encourage you

B. in a frank way

C. Feel uninterested

D.behind your back

E.without feedback

F.socialize with others

A.A true friend supports you.

B.A true friend listens to you.

C.A true friend keeps his word.

D.A true friend makes time for you.

E.A true friend communicates with you.

F. A true friend doesn't gossip too much.

A.A true friend supports you.

B.A true friend listens to you.

C.A true friend keeps his word.

D.A true friend makes time for you.

E.A true friend communicates with you.

F. A true friend doesn't gossip too much.

A.A true friend supports you.

B.A true friend listens to you.

C.A true friend keeps his word.

D.A true friend makes time for you.

E.A true friend communicates with you.

F. A true friend doesn't gossip too much.

A.A true friend supports you.

B.A true friend listens to you.

C.A true friend keeps his word.

D.A true friend makes time for you.

E.A true friend communicates with you.

F. A true friend doesn't gossip too much.

A.A true friend supports you.

B.A true friend listens to you.

C.A true friend keeps his word.

D.A true friend makes time for you.

E.A true friend communicates with you.

F. A true friend doesn't gossip too much.

A.Encourage you

B. in a frank way

C. Feel uninterested

D.behind your back

E.without feedback

F.socialize with others

A.Encourage you

B. in a frank way

C. Feel uninterested

D.behind your back

E.without feedback

F.socialize with others

A.Encourage you

B. in a frank way

C. Feel uninterested

D.behind your back

E.without feedback

F.socialize with others

Tips for Travelling with Kids in Europe

When parents tell me they're going to Europe and ask me where to take their kids, I would answer,“To Grandma's on your way to the airport."

It's easy to make the case against taking the kids along. A European vacation with kids is much more about playgrounds and zoos than about museums and churches. ___26___ Out of tredness, you may choose costly conveniences like taxis and the first restaurant you find with a kid-friendly menu.

If you can afford it, however, travelling with your children can be great family fun. With kids, you'll live more like a European and less like a tourist. Your children become your ambassadors (大使), opening doors to new experiences and relationships.___27___

European families, like American families, enjoy travelling. So you'll find kids' menus and hotel playrooms at freeway rest stops all over Europe.___28___Sometimes they may even be allowed to go to the front of the line at museums.

It helps to get your kids excited about what they'll be seeing in Europe. Before your trip, encourage your kids to learm about the places and people they'll be visiting.___29___ Your hometown library can be a great resource for such books and movies.

The key to a successful European family vacation is to slow down and to lower expectations. Visit one or two key sights each day, and mix in a healthy amount of pure fun.___30___ If done right, you'll take home happy memories to share for a lifetime.

A.Travelling with kids is also expensive.

B.Take extended breaks when needed.

C.Your child will be your ticket to countless conversations.

D.You may give them books or movies set in the place you 're going.

E.Get a copy of the“10 Minutes a Day” for your country's language.

F.Parents with a baby with generally be offered a seat on crowded buses.

Cell Phone Messages and Sleep Quality

Everyone loves to get a“goodnight" text. However, sending too many messages before ___31___ may affect your sleep quality.

In a recent ___32___, 83 college students responded to a(n)___33___ survey about their sleep quality. They were asked to report the___34___ number of text messages they send and ___35___ on any given day. Sure___36___, researchers found that the more people text, the less sleep they get. Why? People often sleep too___37___ to their phones. The ringing or buzzing(嗡嗡声) of lat-night messages might___38___them out of their sleep. Worse still, people may feel pressured to respond___39___ to messages even if they come in the middle of the night.

If you do not want to___40___our sleep, turn your phone off. If you don't give your phone a rest, you won't get any, either.

A. Online  B. knock  C. slowly   D. enough   E. bedtime

F. Average  G. receive  H. Close  I. far       J. study  

K. Immediately   L. ruin