Daily Reading Practice · Nonfiction passage
Any word, any time — right from this page.
More than half of the world's populationpopulation (noun)The people living in the world or a particular area.≈ Synonym: inhabitants🇺🇿UZ: aholi🇷🇺RU: население speaks more than one language on a regular basis, and scientists have become increasinglyincreasingly (adverb)More and more as time passes.≈ Synonym: more and more🇺🇿UZ: tobora🇷🇺RU: всё более interested in how this affects the brain. Far from simply storingstore (verb)Keeping something for future use.≈ Synonym: keeping🇺🇿UZ: saqlamoq🇷🇺RU: хранить two separate vocabulariesvocabulary (noun)All the words a person knows.≈ Synonym: lexicon🇺🇿UZ: so'z boyligi🇷🇺RU: словарный запас side by side, research suggests that bilingualismbilingualism (noun)The ability to use two languages fluently.≈ Synonym: speaking two languages🇺🇿UZ: ikki tillilik🇷🇺RU: билингвизм actually changes the way the brain processesprocess (verb)Deals with or makes sense of information.≈ Synonym: handles🇺🇿UZ: qayta ishlamoq (ma'lumot)🇷🇺RU: обрабатывать language and, in some cases, how it functionsfunction (verb)To work or operate.≈ Synonym: work🇺🇿UZ: ishlamoq, faoliyat ko'rsatmoq🇷🇺RU: функционировать, работать more generallygenerally (adverb)In most cases; overall.≈ Synonym: usually🇺🇿UZ: umuman olganda🇷🇺RU: в целом, обычно.
One key finding involves inhibitioninhibition (noun)The suppression or restraint of an action or thought.≈ Synonym: suppression🇺🇿UZ: tormozlash, bostirish🇷🇺RU: торможение, подавление — the brain's ability to suppress irrelevantirrelevant (adj)Not connected to the matter at hand.≈ Synonym: unrelated🇺🇿UZ: aloqasiz🇷🇺RU: не относящийся к делу information. When a bilingualbilingual (adj)Able to speak two languages fluently.≈ Synonym: speaking two languages🇺🇿UZ: ikki tilli🇷🇺RU: двуязычный person speaks, both languages are believed to remain activeactive (adj)In operation; functioning.≈ Synonym: in use🇺🇿UZ: faol🇷🇺RU: активный in the brain at the same time, even if only one is being used. This means the brain must constantly work to suppresssuppress (verb)To prevent something from being expressed.≈ Synonym: hold back🇺🇿UZ: bostirmoq, tiymoq🇷🇺RU: подавлять the unused language, a mental exercise that appears to strengthenstrengthen (verb)To make something stronger.≈ Synonym: reinforce🇺🇿UZ: mustahkamlamoq🇷🇺RU: укреплять broader controlcontrol (noun)The ability to regulate or direct something.≈ Synonym: regulation🇺🇿UZ: nazorat, boshqaruv🇷🇺RU: контроль systems involved in focus and attentionattention (noun)The mental focus given to something.≈ Synonym: focus🇺🇿UZ: diqqat🇷🇺RU: внимание.
This constant mental exercise may explain why bilingual individualsindividual (noun)Single people, as opposed to groups.≈ Synonym: people🇺🇿UZ: shaxs🇷🇺RU: человек, личность often perform particularly well on tasks requiring them to switchswitch (verb)To change from one thing to another.≈ Synonym: change🇺🇿UZ: o'tmoq, almashtirmoq🇷🇺RU: переключаться between different rules or ignoreignore (verb)To pay no attention to something.≈ Synonym: disregard🇺🇿UZ: e'tibor bermaslik🇷🇺RU: игнорировать distractingdistracting (adj)Taking attention away from something.≈ Synonym: diverting🇺🇿UZ: chalg'ituvchi🇷🇺RU: отвлекающий information. Some studies suggest this advantage extends beyond language itself, showing up in tasks that have nothing directly to do with words, such as certain types of problem-solvingproblem-solving (noun)The process of finding solutions to difficult issues.≈ Synonym: troubleshooting🇺🇿UZ: muammo yechish🇷🇺RU: решение проблем or multitaskingmultitasking (noun)Doing several things at the same time.🇺🇿UZ: bir vaqtda bir necha ish bajarish🇷🇺RU: многозадачность.
Perhaps the most strikingstriking (adj)Very noticeable or surprising.≈ Synonym: remarkable🇺🇿UZ: ko'zga tashlanadigan, hayratlanarli🇷🇺RU: поразительный findingfinding (noun)Information discovered as a result of research.≈ Synonym: result🇺🇿UZ: natija, kashfiyot (tadqiqotda)🇷🇺RU: результат, вывод relates to ageingageing (noun)The process of growing old.≈ Synonym: growing older🇺🇿UZ: qarish🇷🇺RU: старение. Several long-term studies have found that lifelonglifelong (adj)Lasting for your whole life.🇺🇿UZ: umrbod🇷🇺RU: пожизненный bilingual individuals tend to show symptomssymptom (noun)Signs indicating the presence of a condition.≈ Synonym: signs🇺🇿UZ: alomat🇷🇺RU: симптом of dementiadementia (noun)A serious decline in mental ability, often with age.≈ Synonym: cognitive decline🇺🇿UZ: demensiya🇷🇺RU: деменция, when it occurs, several years later on averageon average (phr)Usually; as a typical amount.≈ Synonym: typically🇺🇿UZ: o'rtacha🇷🇺RU: в среднем than monolingualmonolingual (adj)Speaking only one language.≈ Synonym: speaking one language🇺🇿UZ: bir tilli🇷🇺RU: одноязычный individuals with similar backgrounds. Researchers believe this may be linked to what is sometimes called "cognitive reservecognitive reserve (noun)Extra mental capacity that helps resist brain decline.≈ Synonym: brain resilience🇺🇿UZ: aqliy zaxira🇷🇺RU: когнитивный резерв" — extra mental capacitycapacity (noun)The ability or amount something can hold or do.≈ Synonym: ability🇺🇿UZ: imkoniyat, sig'im🇷🇺RU: способность, ёмкость built up through the ongoing challenge of managing two language systems.
It is worth notingnote (verb)Observing or mentioning something.≈ Synonym: observing🇺🇿UZ: qayd etmoq, ta'kidlamoq🇷🇺RU: отмечать that not all research agrees on the size of these effectseffect (noun)Changes caused by an action or condition.≈ Synonym: impacts🇺🇿UZ: ta'sir🇷🇺RU: эффект, влияние, and factors such as educationeducation (noun)The process of teaching or learning.≈ Synonym: schooling🇺🇿UZ: ta'lim🇷🇺RU: образование, socioeconomicsocioeconomic (adj)Relating to social and economic factors combined.≈ Synonym: social and economic🇺🇿UZ: ijtimoiy-iqtisodiy🇷🇺RU: социально-экономический background, and how frequentlyfrequently (adverb)Often; many times.≈ Synonym: often🇺🇿UZ: tez-tez🇷🇺RU: часто someone actually uses each language likely all play a rolerole (noun)The function or part played in a situation.≈ Synonym: function🇺🇿UZ: rol🇷🇺RU: роль. Even so, the growing body of evidence suggests that learning and actively using a second language may offer benefits that reach far beyond simply being able to hold a conversationconversation (noun)A talk between two or more people.≈ Synonym: discussion🇺🇿UZ: suhbat🇷🇺RU: разговор in another tonguetongue (noun)A language (formal); also the organ in your mouth.≈ Synonym: language🇺🇿UZ: til🇷🇺RU: язык.
In your own words, write a short summary of what you just read (90–120+ words). Don't copy sentences — explain the main ideas.
Every highlighted word from this story with its meaning in Uzbek 🇺🇿 and Russian 🇷🇺, and an example. Tap 🇬🇧 or 🇺🇸 to hear the word or the sentence in a British or American accent.
| # | 🇬🇧 | 🇺🇿 | 🇷🇺 | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | populationnoun | aholi | население | A large part of the population is under 30. |
| 2 | increasinglyadverb | tobora | всё более | English is increasingly important in Uzbekistan. |
| 3 | storeverb | saqlamoq | хранить | The brain stores memories while we sleep. |
| 4 | vocabularynoun | so'z boyligi | словарный запас | Children's vocabularies grow fast at this age. |
| 5 | bilingualismnoun | ikki tillilik | билингвизм | Bilingualism is common in Tashkent. |
| 6 | processverb | qayta ishlamoq (ma'lumot) | обрабатывать | Children process new information very quickly. |
| 7 | functionverb | ishlamoq, faoliyat ko'rsatmoq | функционировать, работать | The brain functions better after a good sleep. |
| 8 | generallyadverb | umuman olganda | в целом, обычно | I generally go to bed at eleven. |
| 9 | inhibitionnoun | tormozlash, bostirish | торможение, подавление | Alcohol reduces inhibition. |
| 10 | irrelevantadjective | aloqasiz | не относящийся к делу | That question is irrelevant to our discussion. |
| 11 | bilingualadjective | ikki tilli | двуязычный | Many children in Tashkent are bilingual in Uzbek and Russian. |
| 12 | activeadjective | faol | активный | Both languages stay active in the brain. |
| 13 | suppressverb | bostirmoq, tiymoq | подавлять | She tried to suppress a laugh. |
| 14 | strengthenverb | mustahkamlamoq | укреплять | Reading strengthens your vocabulary. |
| 15 | controlnoun | nazorat, boshqaruv | контроль | Self-control is important when you're angry. |
| 16 | attentionnoun | diqqat | внимание | Please pay attention to the instructions. |
| 17 | individualnoun | shaxs | человек, личность | Every individual learns in a different way. |
| 18 | switchverb | o'tmoq, almashtirmoq | переключаться | She can switch between English and Uzbek easily. |
| 19 | ignoreverb | e'tibor bermaslik | игнорировать | Just ignore the noise and keep working. |
| 20 | distractingadjective | chalg'ituvchi | отвлекающий | The music is too distracting — I can't study. |
| 21 | problem-solvingnoun | muammo yechish | решение проблем | Maths develops problem-solving skills. |
| 22 | multitaskingnoun | bir vaqtda bir necha ish bajarish | многозадачность | Multitasking can make you less productive. |
| 23 | strikingadjective | ko'zga tashlanadigan, hayratlanarli | поразительный | There's a striking difference between the two cities. |
| 24 | findingnoun | natija, kashfiyot (tadqiqotda) | результат, вывод | The most surprising finding was about sleep. |
| 25 | ageingnoun | qarish | старение | Exercise slows down ageing. |
| 26 | lifelongadjective | umrbod | пожизненный | They have been lifelong friends. |
| 27 | symptomnoun | alomat | симптом | Headache is a common symptom of stress. |
| 28 | dementianoun | demensiya | деменция | My grandmother suffers from dementia. |
| 29 | on averagephrase | o'rtacha | в среднем | On average, people check their phones 90 times a day. |
| 30 | monolingualadjective | bir tilli | одноязычный | Monolingual dictionaries explain words in the same language. |
| 31 | cognitive reservenoun | aqliy zaxira | когнитивный резерв | Learning new skills builds cognitive reserve. |
| 32 | capacitynoun | imkoniyat, sig'im | способность, ёмкость | The stadium has a capacity of 30,000. |
| 33 | noteverb | qayd etmoq, ta'kidlamoq | отмечать | It's worth noting that prices may change. |
| 34 | effectnoun | ta'sir | эффект, влияние | The medicine had no side effects. |
| 35 | educationnoun | ta'lim | образование | Education is the key to success. |
| 36 | socioeconomicadjective | ijtimoiy-iqtisodiy | социально-экономический | Students come from different socioeconomic backgrounds. |
| 37 | frequentlyadverb | tez-tez | часто | Buses run frequently during the day. |
| 38 | rolenoun | rol | роль | Parents play a key role in their children's success. |
| 39 | conversationnoun | suhbat | разговор | We had a long conversation about the future. |
| 40 | tonguenoun | til | язык | Uzbek is my mother tongue. |