Watch a baby between six and nine months old，and you will observe the basic concepts（概念）of geometry（几何）being learned．Once the baby has mastered the idea that space is three-dimensional（三维的），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（不祥的）development takes place．The nerve fibers（纤）in the brain separate 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 pointon，it is usually downhill all the way for mathematics，because the child now has to face 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 enjoyment of thinking for itself for eighteen months，now gives it up to the general customs and beliefs of society．But at least the child knows something of geometry and numbers，and it will always keep some memory of the early calm and peaceful days，no matter what changes it may suffer later on．The main supply of mathematical talent（天才）in any society is thus owned by children who are about two years old，children who have just learned to speak fluently．
1．What does the passage mainly discuss？
A．The influence of language on mathematics．
B．Children's ability to learn languages．
C．How basic concepts of physics are learned．
D．Math-learning plans for babies．
2．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．Saying a nonsense word．D．Looking at distant objects．
3．According to the writer，at what age does a child probably begin to learn about sets and numbers？
A．Six months．B．Nine months．
C．Fifteen months．D．Eighteen months．
4．The use of the word“ominous”shows that the writer believes the child's ___________．
A．future language is bad B．nerves will become worse
C．hearing will suffer
D．mathematical ability will become weaker
5．Which of the following conclusions does the passage support？
A．The language concepts used in early education harm mathematical reasoning．
B．It is hopeless to try to teach children mathematics after the age of two．
C．Language teaching should be united with some mathematical formulas．
D．Preschool education should pay attention to society's beliefs and customs．
参考答案：1．A 2．A 3．B 4．D 5．A
