If English means endless new words，difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation，you are wrong．Haven’t you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language？

According to a new study by a British university，learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power．Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter（脑灰质）．This is the area of the brain which processes information．It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles．

The study also found the influence is greater when the younger people learn a second language．A team led by Dr．Andrea Mechelli from University College London，took a group of Englishmen who only spoke English．They were compared with a group of“early bilinguals”who had learned a second language before the age of five．

Research showed that grey matter density（密度）in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language．“Our findings suggest that the structure（结构）of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language，”said the scientists．It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn．

Professor Dylan Jones of the University of Wales，has researched the link between bilingualism and math skills．“Having two languages gives you two windows to the world and makes the brain smarter．You will actually have a better understanding of math skills，”he explained．“Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world．The younger you started to learn，the better．”

【小题1】Learning other languages can change grey matter which processes information．
【小题2】The underlined word“bilinguals”means“词汇学”in Chinese．
【小题3】Grey matter density was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language．
【小题4】The experience of learning a second language doesn’t have too much influence on people’s brain．
【小题5】Research by Dr．Andrea Mechelli shows that the earlier you start to learn a second language，the better understanding of math skills you will have．