Passage 2
Watch a baby between six and nine months old, and you will observe the basic concepts of geometry being learned. Once the baby has mastered the idea that space is three - dimensional, it reaches out and begins grasping various kinds of objects. It is then, from perhaps nine to fifteen months, that the concepts of sets and numbers are formed. So far, so good. But now ominous (不祥的) development takes place. The nerve fibers in the brain insulate (使隔離) themselves in such a way that the baby begins to hear sounds very precisely. Soon it picks up language, and it is then brought into direct communication with adults. From this point on, it is usually downhill all the way for mathematics, because the child now becomes exposed to all the nonsense words and beliefs of the community into which it has been so unfortunate as to have been born. Nature having done very well by the child now becomes exposed to all the nonsense words and beliefs of to this point, having permitted it the luxury of thinking for itself for eighteen months, now abandons it to the arbitrary conventions and beliefs of society. But at least the child knows something of geometry and numbers, and it will always retain some memory of the early halcyon (平靜的) days no matter what vicissitudes (變化) it may suffer later on. The main reservoir of mathematical talent in any society is thus possessed by children who are about two years old. Children who have just learned to speak fluently.
26. What does the passage mainly discuss?
○A. The impact of language on mathematics.
○B(yǎng). Children’s ability to learn languages.
○C. How basic concepts of physics are learned.
○D. Math-learning strategies for babies.
27. According to the passage, which of following activities would teach a baby geometry?
○A. Picking up a wooden block.
○B(yǎng). Recognizing the number 2.
○C. Uttering a nonsense word.
○D. Looking at distant objects.
28. According to the author, at what age does a child probably begin to learn about sets and numbers?
○A. Six months.
○B(yǎng). Nine months.
○C. Fifteen months.
○D. Eighteen months.
29. The use of the word "ominous" shows that the author believe the child’s _____.
○A. linguistic future is threatened
○B(yǎng). nerves will deteriorate
○C. hearing will suffer
○D. mathematical ability all decline
30. The passage support which of the following conclusions?
○A. The language concepts used in early education interfere with mathematical reasoning.
○B(yǎng). It is hopeless to try to teach children mathematics after the age of two.
○C. Language teaching should incorporate some mathematical formulas.
○D. Preschool education should stress society’s beliefs and conventions
Watch a baby between six and nine months old, and you will observe the basic concepts of geometry being learned. Once the baby has mastered the idea that space is three - dimensional, it reaches out and begins grasping various kinds of objects. It is then, from perhaps nine to fifteen months, that the concepts of sets and numbers are formed. So far, so good. But now ominous (不祥的) development takes place. The nerve fibers in the brain insulate (使隔離) themselves in such a way that the baby begins to hear sounds very precisely. Soon it picks up language, and it is then brought into direct communication with adults. From this point on, it is usually downhill all the way for mathematics, because the child now becomes exposed to all the nonsense words and beliefs of the community into which it has been so unfortunate as to have been born. Nature having done very well by the child now becomes exposed to all the nonsense words and beliefs of to this point, having permitted it the luxury of thinking for itself for eighteen months, now abandons it to the arbitrary conventions and beliefs of society. But at least the child knows something of geometry and numbers, and it will always retain some memory of the early halcyon (平靜的) days no matter what vicissitudes (變化) it may suffer later on. The main reservoir of mathematical talent in any society is thus possessed by children who are about two years old. Children who have just learned to speak fluently.
26. What does the passage mainly discuss?
○A. The impact of language on mathematics.
○B(yǎng). Children’s ability to learn languages.
○C. How basic concepts of physics are learned.
○D. Math-learning strategies for babies.
27. According to the passage, which of following activities would teach a baby geometry?
○A. Picking up a wooden block.
○B(yǎng). Recognizing the number 2.
○C. Uttering a nonsense word.
○D. Looking at distant objects.
28. According to the author, at what age does a child probably begin to learn about sets and numbers?
○A. Six months.
○B(yǎng). Nine months.
○C. Fifteen months.
○D. Eighteen months.
29. The use of the word "ominous" shows that the author believe the child’s _____.
○A. linguistic future is threatened
○B(yǎng). nerves will deteriorate
○C. hearing will suffer
○D. mathematical ability all decline
30. The passage support which of the following conclusions?
○A. The language concepts used in early education interfere with mathematical reasoning.
○B(yǎng). It is hopeless to try to teach children mathematics after the age of two.
○C. Language teaching should incorporate some mathematical formulas.
○D. Preschool education should stress society’s beliefs and conventions