单选题 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 an ominous development takes place. The nerve fibers in the brain insulate 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 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 days, no matter what vicissitudes 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.

单选题 What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. How basic concepts of physics are learned.
B. Math-learning strategies for babies.
C. How basic concepts of physics are learned.
D. Math-learning strategies for babies.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】本文主要讨论语言对数学的影响。作者说，孩子在6个月到9个月的时候开始了解几何概念，从9个月到15个月的时候形成集合和数字的概念。但就在这个时候，大脑中的神经纤维相互分隔开来，婴儿开始准确地听见声音。孩子不久就学习语言，接着同成人直接交流，从这个时候起，孩子的数学开始走下坡路。
单选题 Which of the following conclusions does the passage support?
A. The language concepts used in early education interfere with mathematical reasoning.
B. 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.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】在早期教育中所用的语言概念妨碍数学推理。答案的依据是文章的最后一句话。该句中的possess有“影响”、“支配”的意思。
单选题 The author's attitude toward early childhood education can best be described as somewhat ______.
A. indifferent B. compromising C. indulgent D. cynical
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】作者对早期教育的态度有点悲观。A(indifferent漠不关心)、B(compromising妥协的)和C(indulgent放纵的)所代表的语气在文章中根本就看不出来。ominous(不吉利的)、 downhill(衰退阶段)、unfortunate(不幸的)等贬义词也暗示了答案应选D。
单选题 The use of the word "ominous" shows that the author believes the child's ______.
A. linguistic future is threatened B. nerves will deteriorate
C. hearing will suffer D. mathematical ability will decline
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】ominous一词意为“不祥的”、“不吉利的”。由此判断ominous后面的句子势必会讲孩子数学能力的下降。
单选题 According to the passage, which of the following activities would teach a baby about geometry?
A. Picking up a wooden block. B. Recognizing the number 2.
C. Uttering a nonsense word. D. Looking at distant objects.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】作者在文章的开头说，如果你对生下来6个月或9个月的孩子进行观察，你就会注意到孩子正在学习几何概念。一旦孩子掌握了空间具有三维性这一概念，孩子就会伸出手开始抓任何物体。抓木头块自然有利于孩子学习几何。