SECTION BINTERVIEWDirections: In this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen c

SECTION B INTERVIEW

Directions: In this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen carefully and then answer the questions that follow. Questions 1 to 5 are based on an interview. At the end of the interview you will be given 10 seconds to answer each of the following five questions.

Now listen to the interview.

听力原文：W: Good morning, Dr. Harley, thank you very much for coming on our radio talk. We know that you are an applied linguist, specializing in second language acquisition.

M: Right.

W: So, today, we'll look at this issue. Now, first, Dr. Harley, could you please tell us what is second language acquisition？

M: Well, second language acquisition is, happens when a child or adult has already become competent at a language, and then, um, they attempt to learn another.

W: Okay, most people think, including me, it is difficult to learn another language. What are the reasons？ Why is it so？

M: Well, there are a number of reasons for this. First, there have been research studies, they have shown that some aspects of language learning, especially syntax, are more difficult beyond a certain age, say after around twelve years of age. (1)

W: So age plays an important role in language learning？

M: Yes. But that's not the only reason.

W: Oh, is that so？

M: Yes, for example: time and interest. Old children and adults often have less time and motivation to learn a second language. Another is related to the similarities and differences between one's mother tongue and a second language. We find that learners will experience difficulty when their mother tongue and the second language they are learning differ. In general, the more idiosyncratic a feature is in a particular language, relative to other languages, the more difficult it will be to acquire.

W: Perhaps this is the key issue. Differences between languages cause language-learning problems.

M: Well, this may be one of the issues here, but this cannot be the whole story, as not all differences between languages cause difficulty. Let me give you an example.

W: Okay.

M: Research has found that many errors by Czech speakers learning English were made on syntactic constructions in which the two languages do not differ. (2)

W: Oh, really. The picture is more complicated than we've imagined.

M: Definitely yes. Each language-learning situation is different, so reasons vary a lot from case to case.

W: Now, Dr. Harley, since learning a second language is a difficult process, you know in one way or another, are there any methods so far, effective methods, to teach a second language.

M: There again, no method is absolutely effective in all situations. Some may prove effective, others may not, I mean all depending on specific conditions. But generally speaking, there are a number of methods that have been used to teach a second language.

W: Could you mention a few？

M: For instance, there is the traditional method. This method is based on translation from one language to another, and it emphasizes grammar teaching. (3) And then you have direct methods, which focus on conversational skills, and all teaching must be carried out in the second language.

W: Oh, I see. Any other methods？

M: Yes. For example, the audio-lingual method. This method emphasizes speaking and listening before reading and writing.

W: How interesting.

M: Then you have the immersion method. This method teaches learners exclusively through the medium of the second language.

W: How？

M: Well, it simply means that you cannot speak mother tongue. Everything must be done in the language you are learning. To me, the most natural method of learning a new language is what I call "submersion," that is to go to that country and be surrounded exclusively by speakers of that language.

W: Thank you very much Dr. Harvey, for introducing some of the language teaching methods. Now, let's move on to something a bit theor

A．Declining capacity to learn syntax.

B．Differences between two languages.

C．Lack of time available.

D．Absence of motivation.