Children may learn new words better when they learn them in the context of other words they are just learning—according to a new research from the University of East Anglia.

Researchers investigated how 18–24-month-olds learn new words—in the context of words they already know well and those they don’t. The findings help explain how children learn new words and suggest a new way that parents and carers could help boost language development.

Previous research suggests that when children hear a word they do not know and see an object they have never seen in the context of some objects that they can already name, such as a toy or a ball, they guess that the new word refers to the new thing.

Dr. Larissa Samuelson from the university wanted to know if the strength of a child’s knowledge of familiar things—how well they know what “cars” or “balls” are, for example—mattered for learning new words and remembering them. They asked 82 children to take part in the study and carry out two experiments among them. And then they got some really surprising findings.

“We had expected that a stronger knowledge of familiar words would be better for learning new words, but we found the opposite was true.” Dr Samuelson said. “This new study suggests another way we might be able to help boost children’s ability to remember new word-object links – by teaching them in the context of other things that they are just learning.”

It seems counterintuitive, but it is perhaps because the less well-known items don’t compete with the new words as much. If they learn new words in the context of playing with well-known items such as a ball or book, they don’t process the new word as much.

【小题1】What is the purpose of the new research?

A．To challenge the findings of previous studies.	B．To observe the process of children’s learning.
C．To better understand children’s word learning.	D．To compare children’s different learning styles.

【小题2】What can be inferred from Dr. Samuelson’s words?

A．Their findings are out of expectation.	B．Their research should focus on children.
C．We should be more patient with children.	D．We need to provide guidance on learning.

【小题3】What does the underlined word “counterintuitive” mean in the last paragraph?

A．Consistent.

B．Encouraging.

C．Impractical.

D．Unreasonable.

【小题4】What does the text mainly tell us?

A．Less familiar words help children learn better.

B．Word-object links contribute to better learning.

C．New research finds the secrets of raising children.

D．Children learn better with the help of their parents.