Test 1
[2019·武昌区调研]Very few of us become fluent in another language by studying it in high school. I made an effort to keep up the little bit of French that I learned in school, but eventually realized that this was __1__. I was well aware that new languages are best learned when __2__， and that our abilities in that regard decline with age. __3__， just before my 50th birthday, I __4__ for French classes.
After I was __5__ to see which group I belonged in, I was __6__ at almost the introductory level. I found that it really was true that certain linguistic (语言的) abilities __7__ with age. While I'd always thought of myself as a(n) __8__ learner, that was no longer the case. I absorbed new vocabulary very __9__. What I learned one week ago seemed to __10__ as soon as I learned the next skill.
Now, a couple of years later, I can listen to the news in French and __11__ 90 percent of it on the first try and read a novel if it's not too difficult.
Who knows what I might still __12__？
I've learned so much __13__ grammar and vocabulary. I've met people from around the world and all walks of life who have the __14__ to make fools of themselves in order to __15__ something new. I've been taught by patient and inspirational teachers from many __16__ of the world, including France, Eastern Europe, the Caribbean and Africa.
Listening to the news as it is __17__ to the people of France, I have a renewed __18__ of how something can look completely different from another __19__. I've learned that a language is not just a set of words, but a way of __20__. But most of all, I've learned that it really is never too late to learn something new.
体裁：记叙文 题材：语言学习 主题：学习法语的感悟
【语篇解读】 本文是一篇记叙文。本文通过作者学习法语的经历告诉我们要活到老，学到老。
【高频词回顾】 fluent adj.流利的 slip away消失
1．A.unbelievable B．pointless
C．unbearable D．valueless
答案与解析：B 根据该句“I made an effort to keep up the little bit of French that I learned in school, but eventually realized that this was __1__.”以及下文内容可知，“我”想努力保留在学校学的那一点法语，但最终意识到是无意义的(pointless)，故选B。
2．A.energetic B．curious
C．young D．old
答案与解析：C 根据后半句中的“our abilities in that regard decline with age”并结合常识可知，年轻的时候学习新语言的效果是最好的，故选C。
3．A.However B．Therefore
C．Besides D．Meanwhile
答案与解析：A 根据语境可知，在50岁生日之前，“我”注册(registered)了法语课，并结合上文提到的“年轻的时候学习新语言的效果是最好的”可知，此处表示转折关系，故选A。
4．A.sought B．registered
C．fought D．prepared
答案与解析：B 参见上题解析。
5．A.interviewed B．challenged
C．asked D．tested
答案与解析：D 根据空后的“to see which group I belonged in”并结合语境可知，经过测试来看“我”属于哪一个团体之后，“我”被归(placed)为几乎是初级水平，故选D。
6．A.restricted B．withdrawn
C．appointed D．placed
答案与解析：D 参见上题解析。
7．A.fade B．remain
C．disappear D．improve
答案与解析：A 根据第一段中的“our abilities in that regard decline with age”并结合常识可推知，某些语言的能力会随着年龄的增加而逐渐消失(fade)，故选A。
8．A.autonomous B．average
C．quick D．dull
答案与解析：C 根据语境可推知，作者一直认为自己是一个敏锐的(quick)学习者，但却不再是这样了，故选C。
9．A.easily B．slowly
C．steadily D．rapidly
答案与解析：B 结合语境及上题解析可推知，作者掌握新词汇的速度很慢，故选B。
10．A.crowd in B．make sense
C．slip away D．build up
答案与解析：C 根据语境可知，“我”一学习下一个技能，一个星期前学的就消失(slip away)了，故选C。crowd in“涌上(心头)”；make sense“有意义”；build up“(使)扩大”。
11．A.catch B．recite
C．share D．repeat
答案与解析：A 根据语境可推知，“我”第一遍听法语新闻时能够理解(catch) 90%的内容。catch“理解”，故选A。
12．A.complete B．overlook
C．perform D．accomplish
答案与解析：D 根据语境可知，谁知道“我”仍可能实现(accomplish)什么呢？故选D。
13．A.except B．beyond
C．through D．including
答案与解析：B 根据下文的内容可知，作者认为自己学到的不仅仅是法语的语法和词汇，故选B。beyond意为“除……之外”。
14．A.confidence B．ability
C．patience D．courage
答案与解析：D 根据空后的“make fools of themselves in order to __15__ something new”可知，此处表示作者遇到了来自世界各行各业的人，他们有勇气(courage)使自己(看起来)愚蠢以学(learn)一些新的东西，故选D。
15．A.learn B．experience
C．explore D．possess
答案与解析：A 参见上题解析。
16．A.organizations B．corners
C．classes D．races
答案与解析：B 根据下文的“including France，Eastern Europe, the Caribbean and Africa”可知，这些老师来自世界的许多地区(corners)。
17．A.updated B．spread
C．presented D．conveyed
答案与解析：C 根据语境可知，听着播放给法国人的新闻，“我”有了一个全新的理解，故选C。present“上演，播出”。
18．A.understanding B．attitude
C．knowledge D．judgment
答案与解析：A 根据语境可知，“我”对一些东西是如何从不同角度(angle)看起来完全不同有了全新的理解(understanding)，故选A。
19．A.manner B．aspect
C．angle D．direction
答案与解析：C 参见上题解析。
20．A.studying B．working
C．living D．thinking
答案与解析：D 根据语境并结合常识可知，一门语言不仅仅是一组单词，也是一种思维(thinking)方式。
