2016年南京师范大学翻译硕士英语真题试卷

1、2016年南京师范大学翻译硕士英语真题试卷（总分：74.00，做题时间：90分钟）一、Vocabulary（总题数：20,分数：40.00）1.Icantdecidewhattodo.Illitandletyouknowtomorrow.（分数：2.00）sleepforsleepoffCsleeponVD.sleepoutof解析：解析：本题考查动词短语辨析。sleeponit为固定搭配，意为“（把重要的事）留待第二天决定”，故答案为C项。sleepoff意为“用睡眠消除（旅途劳顿、暴饮暴食等行为引起的不适）”。没有sleepfor和sleepoutof的用法。2.Intheofthehur

2、ricane,manypeopleshomesweredestroyed.（分数：2.00）resultaftermathVconsequenceupshot解析：解析：本题考查名词的词义辨析。result意为“结果，效果”，为普通用词，含义广泛，侧重因某种原因所产生的最终结果，而不是眼前的结果。aftermath意为“后果，余波”，尤指灾难或不幸事件的后果，符合空后的hurricanehomesweredestroyed的语义，故为答案。consequence意为“结果，后果”，多指某一事件引起的必然或自然的结果，不强调直接的因果关系，而侧重事件发展的逻辑关系oupshot意为“最终结果，结

3、局”，是一种决定性结果。3.Inthelightfromthehall,herhairhadagolden.（分数：2.00）gleamVglistenglimmerglare解析：解析：本题考查名词的词义辨析。gleam意为“闪光，闪亮”，尤指反射的微弱光线。根据inthelightfromthehall和herhair判断，答案为A项。glisten意为“（光洁或湿润表面等反射的亮光）闪耀，闪光”。glimmer意为（常指闪烁的）微光”。glare意为“强光”，指眩目的光。Tomymind,MarkTwainwasthelargemanofhistime.（分数：2.00）beyondth

4、equestionbeyondquestionVbeyondthedoubtoutofthequestion解析：解析：本题考查短语辨析。beyondquestion意为“毫无疑问，无可争辩，毋庸置疑”，相当于短语outofquestion，既可起形容词的作用，在句中用作表语，也可起副词的作用，在句中作状语。根据句意，马克吐温无疑是他那一时代中了不起的人物，故答案为B项。outofthequestion意为“不可能”，相当于impossible，常用于口语中或句子主语是更加具体的名词或动名词，而不是it或that。没有beyondthequestion和beyondthedoubt这两个固定搭

5、配。Thethatdemocraciesdonotfighteachotherisbasedonatinyhistoricalsample.（分数：2.00）propagationprepositionproposalDpropositionV解析：解析：本题考查名词的词义辨析。propagation意为“宣传；传播；使普及”。preposition意为介词”。proposal意为“提议，建议，提案；求婚”。proposition意为“见解，观点。分析句子结构可知，that引导的是同位语从句，结合四个选项判断，democraciesdonotfighteachother应是一种观点。句意为：认

6、为民主国家互不争斗的观点是以一个极小的历史样本为根据的。6Theroofundertheweightofthesnow（分数：200）AfellBsubmergedCcollapsedVDdescended解析：解析：本题考查动词的词义辨析。根据空后的theweightofthesnow和四个选项的含义判断，既然是由于雪的重量导致的问题，那么房顶应该是坍塌才符合语义，故答案为collapse（倒塌，塌下）。fall意为“跌倒，塌倒；落下，降落”。submerge意为“潜入水中”。descend意为“下来，下降”。7WhichofthefollowingwordscanNOTbeusedtoco

7、mpleteWithurbanizationthebetweenrichandpoorsharpened?（分数：200）AgrudgeBantagonismVCdetestationDhatred解析：解析：本题考查名词的词义辨析。grudge意为“不满，积怨，怨恨”。antagonism意为“敌对，对立，对抗”，强调“对立情绪”。detestation意为“厌恶，憎恶”。hatred意为“仇恨，憎恶，敌意”。根据空前的urbanization（城市化）和空后的richandpoor（贫富）判断，应表示贫富间的对立情绪。句意为：随着城市化的推进，贫富间的对立情绪也加剧了。8Themoonwa

8、scastingarainbowthroughthefromthewaterfall（分数：200）AspreadBsprayVCscatterDstrew解析：解析：本题考查名词的词义辨析。spread意为“传播，蔓延”。spray意为“浪花，水花，飞沫；水雾，喷雾”。scatter意为“（散放的）摊，堆”。strew意为“撒，散播，在上布满（或撒满）”，是动词。根据空前的定冠词the，首先排除D项。根据空后的thewaterfall（瀑布）判断，本空所填词应表示“水花”，故答案为B项。句意为：月亮在瀑布溅起的水花上照出了一道彩虹。9Hisfamilywassubjectedtoa（n）at

9、tackbythegang（分数：200）AtediousBhideousVCevilDnotorious解析：解析：本题考查形容词的词义辨析。tedious意为“乏味的，单调的，冗长的”。hideous意为“（事件、经历或行动）极可恶的，非常痛苦的，令人难以忍受的”，符合空后attackbythegang（匪帮的袭击）的语义，故为答案。evil意为“邪恶的，坏的”。notorious意为“声名狼藉的；臭名昭著的”。句意为：他的家人遭到了匪帮的恐怖袭击。10Thecountrywasontheofbecomingprosperousandsuccessful（分数：200）Abrimrimed

10、geverge丿解析：解析：本题考查短语辨析。四个选项均与ontheof构成短语。onthebrimof意为（容器的）边，边缘”。ontherimof意为（圆形物体的）边，缘”。ontheedgeof意为“濒于，几乎，在边缘”，强调位置。onthevergeof意为“接近于，濒临于”，强调将要发生的情况，形势，处境。根据空后的becoming判断，句子应该表示即将发生的事情。句意为：这个国家即将走向繁荣富强。WhichofthefollowingsentencesisINCORRECT?（分数：2.00）Allhislecturesareveryinteresting.Halftheirsav

11、ingsweregone.Manyhisfriendscametotheparty.丿Bothhissistersarenurses.解析：解析：本题考查限定词排序。限定词的先后顺序为：前位+中位+后位。四个选项中，all，both,half为前位限定词，his和their为中位限定词，many为后位限定词。Manyhis为“后位+中位”，不符合限定词的先后顺序，故C项不正确。WhichofthefollowingwordscanNOTbeusedtocompleteWeveseenthefilm?（分数：2.00）beforerecentlylatelyyet丿解析：解析：本题考查副词作状语

12、的用法oyet常用于否定句和疑问句，而原句为陈述句，yet在此不能使句子补充完整，符合题干要求。shouldnotbecomeaseriousdisadvantageinlifeandwork.（分数：2.00）TobenottallNotbeingtall丿BeingnottallNottobetall解析：解析：本题考查非谓语动词辨析。动词不定式和动名词作主语时的区别：动词不定式作主语时，通常表示具体的某一次动作，动名词作主语时，通常表示泛指或一般的抽象概念，如已知的事实或经验。句中“长得不高”是泛指，即已知的事实，故排除A项和D项。动名词短语beingtall是一个整体，表示“长得高”这

13、一事实，所以否定时将not加在前面。Theystoodchattingtogetheraseasilyandnaturallyas.（分数：2.00）itcouldbecouldbe丿itwaswas解析：解析：本题考查状语从句。本句是一个省略句，完整的句子为：Theystoodchattingtogetheraseasilyandnaturallyastheycouldbechatting其中的easilyandnaturally修饰的是chatting，B项是theycouldbechatting的省略形式，为答案。A项itcouldbe表示“在可能的情况下”，it指代不明，故排除。句意为

14、：他们站在一起尽可能轻松而又自然地聊天。ThefollowingareallcorrectresponsestoWhotoldthenewstotheteacher?EXCEPT（分数：2.00）Jimdidthis丿JimdidsoJimdidthatJimdid解析：解析：本题考查省略回答。对Whotoldthenewstotheteacher的标准回答是Jimdid，即Jimdidit的省略句。此外，还可以用其他代词指代问句中出现的内容，so和that都可以指代前文中提到的内容，而this通常用于指代下文内容，是对题干句不正确的回答，符合题干要求。16.Inhisplays,Shakes

15、pearehischaracterslivethroughtheirlanguage.（分数：2.00）wouldmakehadmadehasmadeDmakesV解析：解析：本题考查动词时态。分析句子可知，虽然莎士比亚已经去世，但此处是陈述一个事实情况（一个文学常识），故应用一般现在时，所以答案为D项。句意为：在他的戏剧里，莎士比亚通过语言使他的人物角色栩栩如生。17Thesquareitselfisfivehundredyardswide,fivetimesthesizeofStPetersinRome（分数：200）A/VBthatofCwhichisDof解析：解析：本题考查倍数表达法

16、。通常，英语中倍数表示法有如下几种：a.主语+谓语+倍数（或分数）+as+形容词+as。例如：Ihavethreetimesasmanyasyoui（我有你三倍那么多。）b.主语+谓语+倍数（分数）+thesize（amount，length）of。例如：Theearthis49timesthesizeofthemoon.（地球的体积是月球的49倍。）c.主语+谓语+倍数（分数）+形容词（副词）比较级+than。例如：Thegrainoutputis8percenthigherthisyearthanthatoflastyear.（今年比去年粮食产量增加8%。）d.还可以用by+倍数，表示增加

17、多少倍。例如：Theproductionofgrainhasbeenincreasedbyfourtimesthisyear.（今年粮食产量增加了4倍。）本题正是第二种用法，故答案为A项。18dullhemaybe,heiscertainlyaverysuccessfultopexecutive（分数：200）AAlthoughBWhateverCAsDHoweverV解析：解析：本题考查让步状语从句的连接词。分析句子可知，空后的形容词dull需用副词修饰，选项中能修饰形容词的只有however，故答案为D项。whatever后接名词，ahhough和as是连词，后接句子。句意为：无论他可能多

18、么迟钝，他都是一名当之无愧的成功高层主管人员。19IfonlyIplaytheguitaraswellasyou!（分数：200）AwouldBcouldVCshouldDmight解析：解析：本题考查虚拟语气。ifonly引导的从句需用虚拟语气时与Iwish一样，表示与事实相反的愿望，其后虚拟语气的时态与wish后所接时态的情况相同，对目前情况的虚拟，谓语动词用“could+动词原形”，所以B项正确。20Theparty,Iwastheguestofhonor,wasextremelyenjoyable（分数：200）AbywhichBforwhichCtowhichatwhichV解析：解

19、析：本题考查定语从句。分析句子结构可知，此句为非限制性定语从句，先行词theparty在从句中作状语，由于“在晚会上”介词用at,所以引导词为atwhich,相当于关系副词where。二、ReadingComprehension（总题数：3,分数：32.00）Yetthedifferenceintoneandlanguagemuststrikeus,sosoonasitisphilosophythatspeaks;thatchangeshouldremindusthatevenifthefunctionofreligionandthatofreasoncoincide,thisfunction

20、isperformedinthetwocasesbyverydifferentorgans.Religionsaremany,reasonone.Religionconsistsofconsciousideas,hopes,enthusiasms,andobjectsofworship;itoperatesbygraceandflourishesbyprayer.Reason,ontheotherhand,isamereprincipleorpotentialorder,onwhichindeedwemaycometoreflectbutwhichexistsinusideallyonly,w

21、ithoutvariationorstressofanykind.Weconformordonotconformtoit;itdoesnoturgeorchideus,notcallforanyemotionsonourpartotherthanthosenaturallyarousedbythevariousobjectswhichitunfoldsintheirtruenatureandproportion.Religionbringssomeorderintolifebyweightingitwithnewmaterials.Reasonaddstothenaturalmaterials

22、onlytheperfectorderwhichitintroducesintothem.Rationalityisnothingbutaform,anidealconstitutionwhichexperiencemaymoreorlessembody.Religionisapartofexperienceitself,amassofsentimentsandideas.Theoneisaninviolateprinciple,theotherachangingandstrugglingforce.Andyetthisstrugglingandchangingforceofreligions

23、eemstodirectmantowardsomethingeternal.Itseemstomakeforanultimateharmonywithinthesoulandforanultimateharmonybetweenthesoulandallthatthesouldependsupon.Religion,initsintent,isamoreconsciousanddirectpursuitoftheLifeofReasonthanissociety,science,orart,fortheseapproachandfillouttheideallifetentativelyand

24、piecemeal,hardlyregardingthegoalorcaringfortheultimatejustificationoftheinstinctiveaims.Religionalsohasaninstinctiveandblindsideandbubblesupinallmannerofchancepracticesandintuitions;soon,however,itfeelsitswaytowardtheheartofthings,andfromwhateverquarteritmaycome,veersinthedirectionoftheultimate.Neve

25、rtheless,wemustconfessthatthisreligiouspursuitoftheLifeofReasonhasbeensingularlyabortive.Thosewithinthepaleofeachreligionmayprevailuponthemselves,toexpresssatisfactionwithitsresults,thankstoafondpartialityinreadingthepastandgenerousdraughtsofhopeforthefuture;butanyoneregardingthevariousreligionsaton

26、ceandcomparingtheirachievementswithwhatreasonrequires,mustfeelhowterribleisthedisappointmentwhichtheyhaveoneandallpreparedformankind.Theirchiefanxietyhasbeentoofferimaginaryremediesformortalills,someofwhichareincurableessentially,whileothersmighthavebeenreallycuredbywell-directedeffort.TheGreekoracl

27、es,forinstance,pretendedtohealoutnaturalignorance,whichhasitsappropriatethoughdifficultcure,whiletheChristianvisionofheavenpretendedtobeanantidotetoournaturaldeaththeinevitablecorrelateofbirthandofachangingandconditionedexistence.Bymethodsofthissortlittlecanbedonefortherealbettermentoflife.Toconfuse

28、intelligenceanddislocatesentimentbygratuitousfictionsisashort-sightedwayofpursuinghappiness.Natureissoonavenged.Anunhealthyexaltationandaone-sidedmoralityhavetobefollowedbyregrettablereactions.Whenthesecome,therealrewardsoflifemayseemvaintoarelaxedvitality,andtheverynameofvirtuemayirritateyoungspiri

29、tsuntrainedinandnaturalexcellence.Thusreligiontoooftendebauchesthemoralityitcomestosanctionandimpedesthescienceitoughttofulfill.Whatisthesecretofthisineptitude?Whydoesreligion,soneartorationalityinitspurpose,fallsoshortofitinitsresults?Theansweriseasy;religionpursuesrationalitythroughtheimagination.

30、Whenitexplainseventsorassignscauses,itisanimaginativesubstituteforscience.Whenitgivesprecepts,insinuatesideals,orremouldsaspiration,itisanimaginativesubstituteforwisdomImeanforthedeliberateandimpartialpursuitofallgood.Theconditionandtheaimsoflifearebothrepresentedinreligionpoetically,butthispoetryte

31、ndstoarrogatetoitselfliteraltruthandmoralauthority,neitherofwhichitpossesses.Hencethedepthandimportanceofreligionbecomesintelligiblenolessthanitscontradictionsandpracticaldisasters.Itsobjectisthesameasthatofreason,butitsmethodistoproceedbyintuitionandbyuncheckedpoeticalconceits（分数：10.00）（1）.Asusedin

32、thepassage,theauthorwoulddefinewisdomas.（分数：2.00）thepursuitofrationalitythroughimaginationanunemotionalsearchforthetruthapurposefulandunbiasedquestforwhatisbestVashort-sightedwayofpursuinghappiness解析：解析：事实细节题。根据题干中的wisdom可将本题出处定位于最后一段第五句。该句指出，当宗教给出训诫、暗示理想或重塑抱负时，它是智慧的代替智慧的意思是有意识而又公正地追求一切好东西，故答案为C项。（2

33、）.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisNOTTRUE?（分数：2.00）Religionseeksthetruththroughimagination,reason,initssearch,utilizestheemotions.VReligionhasprovedanineffectivetoolinsolvingmansproblems.Scienceseeksapiecemealsolutiontomansquestions.Thefunctionsofphilosophyandreasonarethesame.解析：解析：事实细节题。第一段第五句指出，不论我

34、们是否遵循理性，它不会催促或责备我们，除了以本来面目和比例揭示各种事物而自然而然地激起我们的感情，它并不需要我们付出任何感情，由此可知，理性并不需要运用感情，A项的表述与原文不符，故为答案。（3）.Accordingtotheauthor,sciencediffersfromreligioninthat.（分数：2.00）itisunawareofultimategoalsVitisunimaginativeitsfindingsareexactandfinalitresemblessocietyandart解析：解析：事实细节题。根据题干中的science可将本题出处定位于第一段倒数第二句。

35、该句指出，宗教在其意义上，比社会、科学、艺术更自觉、更直接地追求“理性生活”，因为它们（社会、科学、艺术）暂时而又零星地接近和填补理想的生活，无视目的，也不管其本能的目标是否最终证明正确，故答案为A项。（4）.Theauthorstatesthatreligiondiffersfromrationalityinthat.（分数：2.00）itreliesonintuitionratherthanreasoningitisnotconcernedwiththeultimatejustificationofitsinstinctiveaimsithasdisappointedmankinditha

36、sinspiredmankindV解析：解析：事实细节题。第一段倒数第三、四句指出，宗教的挣扎与不断变化的力量似乎促使人追求某种永恒的东西，它似乎追求灵魂的最终和谐以及灵魂与灵魂所依赖的一切事物之间的永恒的和谐。也就是说宗教能够激起人们的情感，故答案为D项。（5）.Accordingtotheauthor,thepursuitofreligionhasprovedtobe.（分数：2.00）imaginativeaproviderofhopeforthefutureahighlyintellectualactivityineffectualV解析：解析：事实细节题。第二段第一句指出，我们必须承

37、认宗教对理性生活的追求失败了（流产了）。也就是说，宗教追求理性生活是无效的，故答案为D项。Insomecountrieswhereracialprejudiceisacute,violencehassocometobetakenforgrantedasameansofsolvingdifferences,thatitisnotevenquestioned.Therearecountrieswherethewhitemanimposeshisrulebybruteforce;therearecountrieswheretheblackmanprotestsbysettingfiretocitie

38、sandbylootingandpillaging.Importantpeopleonbothsides,whowouldinotherrespectsappeartobereasonablemen,getupandcalmlyargueinfavorofviolenceasifitwerealegitimatesolution,likeanyother.Whatisreallyfrightening,whatreallyfillsyouwithdespair,istherealizationthatwhenitcomestothecrunch,wehavemadenoactualprogre

39、ssatall.Wemaywearcollarsandtiesinsteadofwar-paint,butourinstinctsremainbasicallyunchanged.Thewholeoftherecordedhistoryofthehumanrace,thattediousdocumentationofviolence,hastaughtusabsolutelynothing.Wehavestillnotlearntthatviolenceneversolvesaproblembutmakesitmoreacute.Thesheerhorror,thebloodshed,thes

40、ufferingmeannothing.Nosolutionevercomestolightthemorningafterwhenwedismallycontemplatethesmokingruinsandwonderwhathitus.Thetrulyreasonablemenwhoknowwherethesolutionsliearefindingitharderandhardertogetahearing.Theyaredespised,mistrustedandevenpersecutedbytheirownkindbecausetheyadvocatesuchapparentlyo

41、utrageousthingsaslawenforcement.Ifhalftheenergythatgoesintoviolentactswereputtogooduse,ifoureffortsweredirectedatcleaninguptheslumsandghettos,atimprovingliving-standardsandprovidingeducationandemploymentforall,wewouldhavegonealongwaytoarrivingatasolution.Ourstrengthissappedbyhavingtomopupthemessthat

42、violenceleavesinitswake.Inawell-directedeffort,itwouldnotbeimpossibletofulfilltheidealsofastablesocialprogram.Thebenefitsthatcanbederivedfromconstructivesolutionsareeverywhereapparentintheworldaroundus.Genuineandlastingsolutionsarealwayspossible,providingweworkwithintheframeworkofthelaw.Beforewecane

43、venbegintocontemplatepeacefulco-existencebetweentheraces,wemustappreciateeachothersproblems.Andtodothis,wemustlearnaboutthem:itisasimpleexerciseincommunication,inexchanginginformation.Talk,talk,talk,theadvocatesofviolencesay,allyoueverdoistalk,andwearenonethewiser.Itsratherlikethestoryofthefamousbar

44、risterwhopainstakinglyexplainedhiscasetothejudge.Afterlisteningtoalengthyargumentthejudgecomplainedthatafterallthistalk,hewasnonethewiser.Possible,mylord,thebarristerreplied,nonethewiser,butsurelyfarbetterinformed.Knowledgeisthenecessaryprerequisitetowisdom:theknowledgethatviolencecreatestheevilsitp

45、retendstosolve（分数：10.00）（1）.Whatisthebesttitleforthispassage?（分数：2.00）AdvocatingViolence.ViolenceCanDoNothingtoDiminishRacePrejudiceJImportantPeopleonBothSidesSeeViolenceAsaLegitimateSolution.DTheInstinctsofHumanRaceAreThirstyforViolence解析：解析：文章主旨题。第一段主要指出一种现象：在种族歧视严重的国家中，暴力被公认为是一种解决方法，整个有关人类的有文字记录的

46、历史，即对暴力进行冗长记录的历史，根本没有教给我们任何东西。第二段解释这种现象可能的解决办法：在法律的构架中进行工作。第三段进一步提出解决办法：对彼此问题的“交流、对话”了解双方问题的前提。综合这三段可知，本文认为暴力解决不了问题，要依靠法律及双方的“交流、对话”，B项符合本文的主旨，故为答案。（2）Recordedhistoryhastaughtus（分数：200）AviolenceneversolvesanythingBnothingJCthebloodshedmeansnothingDeverything解析：解析：事实细节题。根据题干中的Recordedhistory可将本题出处定位于

47、第一段第六句。本句指出，整个人类的有文字记录的历史，即对暴力进行冗长记录的历史，根本没有教给我们任何东西，故答案为B项。（3）Itcanbeinferredthattrulyreasonablemen（分数：200）AcantgetahearingBarelookeddownuponCarepersecutedDhavedifficultyinadvocatinglawenforcementJ解析：解析：事实细节题。根据题干中的trulyreasonablemen可将本题出处定位于第二段。本段前两句指出，那些知道解决方法是什么的真正有理智的人发现自己的想法越来越难以被别人倾听。他们因为宣扬法制

48、而遭到同类的轻视、不信任、甚至是迫害。A项、B项和C项虽然都有提及，但它们都包含在D项内，所以本题最佳答案应为D项。(4).Hewasnonethewisermeans.(分数：2.00)hewasnotatallwiseinlisteninghewasnotatallwiserthannothingbeforehegainsnothingafterlisteningVhemakesnosenseoftheargument解析：解析：句意理解题。根据题干中的“Hewasnonethewiser”可将本题出处定位于最后一段倒数第三、四句。这两句中提到，一位著名的律师费劲地向法官解释案件，但是在听

49、完后，法官抱怨hewasnonethewiser。结合选项及句意可推断，hewasnonethewiser在这里表示“不明白”，即不管律师怎么解释案件，法官还是没听明白，故答案为C项。(5).Accordingtheauthorthebestwaytosolveraceprejudiceis.(分数：2.00)lawenforcementVknowledgenonviolencemoppinguptheviolentmess解析：解析：事实细节题。第二段最后一句指出，如果我们在法律的构架中进行工作，真正持久的解决总是能实现的。由此可知，作者认为要解决种族歧视，最好的方法是依靠法律的力量来解决，

50、故答案为A项。Abilingualpersonissomeonewhospeakstwolanguages.Apersonwhospeaksmorethantwolanguagesiscalledmultilingual(althoughthetermbilingualismcanbeusedforbothsituations).Multilingualismisntunusual;infact,itsthenormformostoftheworldssocieties.Itspossibleforapersontoknowandusethree,four,orevenmorelanguage

51、sfluently.Peoplemaybecomebilingualeitherbyacquiringtwolanguagesatthesametimeinchildhoodorbylearningasecondlanguagesometimeafteracquiringtheirfirstlanguage.Manybilingualpeoplegrowupspeakingtwolanguages.OfteninAmericasuchpeoplearethechildrenofimmigrants;thesechildrengrowupspeakingtheirparentsnativelan

52、guageintheirchildhoodhomewhilespeakingEnglishatschool.Manybilinguals,however,arenotimmigrants;itisnotuncommonforpeoplebornintheU.S.tospeakEnglishatschoolorworkandanotherlanguageathome.Childrencanalsobecomebilingualiftheirparentsspeakmorethanonelanguagetothem,orifsomeothersignificantpersonintheirlife

53、(suchasagrandparentorcaretaker)speakstothemconsistentlyinanotherlanguage.Sometimesachildwillgrowupinahouseholdinwhicheachparentspeaksadifferentlanguage;inthatcase,thechildmaylearntospeaktoeachparentinthatparentslanguage.Inshort,ayoungchildwhoisregularlyexposedtotwolanguagesfromanearlyagewillmostlike

54、lybecomeafluentnativespeakerofbothlanguages.Theexposuremustinvolveinteraction;achildgrowingupinanEnglish-speakinghouseholdwhoisexposedtoSpanishonlythroughSpanish-languagetelevisionwontbecomeaSpanish-Englishbilingual,butachildwhoisregularlyspokentoinbothEnglishandSpanishwill.Itisalsopossibletolearnas

55、econdlanguagesometimeafterearlychildhood,buttheolderyouget,theharderitistolearntospeakanewlanguageaswellasanativespeaker.Manylinguistsbelievethereisacriticalperiod(lastingroughlyfrombirthuntilpuberty)duringwhichachildcaneasilyacquireanylanguagethatheorsheisregularlyexposedto.Underthisview,thestructu

56、reofthebrainchangesatpuberty,andafterthatitbecomeshardertolearnanewlanguage.Thismeansthatitismucheasiertolearnasecondlanguageduringchildhoodthanasanadult.Insomecountries,nearlyeverybodyisbilingualormultilingual.InpartsofIndia,forexample,asmallchildusuallyknowsseverallanguages.InmanyEuropeancountries

57、,childrenareencouragedtolearnasecondlanguagetypicallyEnglish.Infact,theU.S.isquiteunusualamongthecountriesoftheworldinthatmanyofitscitizensspeakonlyEnglish,andtheyarerarelyencouragedtobecomefluentinanyotherlanguage.Thereisnoevidencetosuggestthatitsanyharderforachildtoacquiretwolanguagesthanitisforth

58、echildtoacquireonelanguage.Aslongaspeopleareregularlyspeakingwiththechildinbothlanguages,thechildwillacquirethembotheasily.Achilddoesnthavetobeexceptionalorhaveanyspeciallanguageabilitytobecomebilingual;aslongasthechildisexposedtotwolanguagesthroughoutearlychildhood,heorshewillacquirethemboth.Somepe

59、opleworrythatlearningmorethanonelanguageisbadforachild,butnothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth.Infact,therearealotofadvantagestoknowingmorethanonelanguage.First,manylinguistsfeelthatknowingasecondlanguageactuallybenefitsachildscognitivedevelopment.Second,ifthechildcomesfromafamilythathasrecentlyimmigra

60、tedtotheU.S.,thefamilymayspeakalanguageotherthanEnglishathomeandmaystillhavestrongtiestotheirethnicroots.Inthiscase,beingabletospeakthelanguageofthefamilysethnicheritagemaybeimportantforthechildssenseofculturalidentity.Tobeunabletospeakthefamilyslanguagecouldmakeachildfeellikeanoutsiderwithinhisorhe