Babies Are Good Language LearnersIt is hard to know what babies want. They can't talk, walk, or even point at what they want. Yet newborns begin to develop language skills long before they begin speaking. And, compared with adults, they develop these skils quickly. People have a hard time learning new languages 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 most children 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 al 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.6. Children can learn several languages at the same time.

Babies Are Good Language LearnersIt is hard to know what babies want. They can't talk, walk, or even point at what they want. Yet newborns begin to develop language skills long before they begin speaking. And, compared with adults, they develop these skils quickly. People have a hard time learning new languages 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 most children 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 al 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.7. Babies can recognize about 6,000 sounds at around six months old.

Babies Are Good Language LearnersIt is hard to know what babies want. They can't talk, walk, or even point at what they want. Yet newborns begin to develop language skills long before they begin speaking. And, compared with adults, they develop these skils quickly. People have a hard time learning new languages 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 most children 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 al 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.8. There are more vowels in English than in Chinese.

Babies Are Good Language LearnersIt is hard to know what babies want. They can't talk, walk, or even point at what they want. Yet newborns begin to develop language skills long before they begin speaking. And, compared with adults, they develop these skils quickly. People have a hard time learning new languages 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 most children 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 al 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.9. Six-month-old babies begin responding to all the sounds they hear.

Babies Are Good Language LearnersIt is hard to know what babies want. They can't talk, walk, or even point at what they want. Yet newborns begin to develop language skills long before they begin speaking. And, compared with adults, they develop these skils quickly. People have a hard time learning new languages 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 most children 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 al 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.10. Babies can recognize grammatical rules in English at about 18 months old.

My Life in an African VillageI grew up in a village in Africa. Growing up was not a hard experience for me. My friends and I 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 village 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 villagers 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.11. The writer's childhood experience was not hard because he（）.

My Life in an African VillageI grew up in a village in Africa. Growing up was not a hard experience for me. My friends and I 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 village 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 villagers 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.12. The villagers suffered from poverty because ().

My Life in an African VillageI grew up in a village in Africa. Growing up was not a hard experience for me. My friends and I 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 village 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 villagers 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.13. When he was a primary school teacher, the writer ().

My Life in an African VillageI grew up in a village in Africa. Growing up was not a hard experience for me. My friends and I 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 village 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 villagers 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.14. Villagers had great expectations of the writer because he ().

My Life in an African VillageI grew up in a village in Africa. Growing up was not a hard experience for me. My friends and I 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 village 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 villagers 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.15. The expression “get up”(Line4，Para.4) is closest in meaning to "()"