The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated (估计) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, So

题目

The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated (估计) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.
In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate (足够的) working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.
The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.What forms an adequate working knowledge of English

  • A、The ability to read a newspaper.
  • B、It is difficult to judge because it differs for each situation.
  • C、Being a multilingual.
  • D、Being a native speaker.

相似考题

1.For any Englishman, there can never be any discussion as to who is the world’s greatest dramatist (剧作家).Only one name can possibly suggest itself to him: that of William Shakespeare.Every Englishman has some knowledge, however slight, of the work of our greatest writer.All of us use words, phrases and quotations from Shakespeare’s writings that have become part of the common property of the English-speaking people.Most of the time we are probably unaware of the source of the words we used, rather like the old lady who was taken to see a performance of Hamlet and complained that it was full of well-known proverbs and quotations.Shakespeare, more perhaps than any other writer, makes full use of the great resources of the English language.Most of us use about five thousand words in our normal use of English; Shakespeare in his works used about twenty-five thousand.There is probably no better way for a foreigner to appreciate the richness and variety of the English language than by studying the various ways in which Shakespeare used it.Such a study is well worth the effort (it is not, of course, recommended to beginners) even though some aspects of English usage, and the meaning of many words, have changed since Shakespeare’s day.1).English people _______.A.have never discussed who is the world’s greatest dramatistB.never discuss any issue concerning the world’s greatest dramatistC.are sure who is the world’s greatest dramatistD.do not care who is the world’s greatest poet and dramatist2).Every Englishman knows _______.A.more or less about ShakespeareB.Shakespeare, but only slightlyC.all Shakespeare’s writingsD.only the name of the greatest English writer3).Which of the following is true?A.We use all the words, phrases and quotations from Shakespeare’s writings.B.Shakespeare’s writings have become the property of those who are learning to speak English.C.It is likely to be true that people often do not know the origins of the words they useD.All the words people use are taken from the writings of Shakespeare.4).What does the word “proverb” mean?A.Familiar sayings.B.Shakespeare’s plays.C.Complaints.D.Actors and actresses.5).Why is it worthwhile to study the various ways in which Shakespeare used English?A.English words have changed a lot since Shakespeare’s time.B.By doing so one can be fully aware of the richness of the English language.C.English words are now being used in the same way as in Shakespeare’s time.D.Beginners may have difficulty learning some aspects of English usage.

2.For any Englishman there can never be any discussion as to who is the world's greatest writer. Only one name can possibly suggest itself to him:that of William Shakespeare.Every Englishman has some knowledge of his work. All of us use words and phrases from Shakespeare's writings that have become a part of the English-speaking people.Shakespeare, more perhaps than any other writer, made full use of the English language. Most of us use about five thousand words in our normal employment of English; Shakespeare in his works used about twenty-five thousand!There is probably no better way for a foreigner (or an Englishman!) to appreciate the richness and variety of the English language than by studying the various ways in which Shakespeare uses it. Such a study is well worth the effort (it is not, of course, recommended to beginners), even though some aspects of English usage, and the meaning of many words, have changed since Shakespeare's day.1). From the first two sentences of the passage we can conclude that ________.A. it can't be discussed about who is the world's greatest dramatistB. Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest writerC. Englishmen like to discuss about who is the world's greatest writerD. it can't be discussed about who is the world's greatest poet2). According to the passage many English words and phrases that we use today are from _____.A. EnglishmenB. English speaking peopleC. Shakespeare's worksD. ancient people3). To learn the richness of the English language, people should ______.A. write and read moreB. be glad to be a foreignerC. learn from an English manD. read Shakespeare's plays4). The author does not suggest beginners reading Shakespeare's plays probably because _____.A. only Englishmen can understand his playsB. some of English usage and the meaning of many words have changedC. the works are too difficult for a beginnerD. the works are for native speakers5). In this passage the author wants to _______.A. tell how great a writer Shakespeare isB. tell that some aspects of English usage have changed since Shakespeare's dayC. tell that some English words are out of use nowD. show the richness of English language

3.设计任务:请阅读下面学生信息和语言素材.设计一个25分钟的阅读训练活动。教案没有固定格式.但须包含下列要点:teaching objectivesteaching contentskey and difficult pointsmajor steps and time allocationactivities and justifications教学时间:25分钟学生概况:某城镇普通中学高中一年级学生,班级人数40人。多数学生已经达到《普通高中英语课程标准(实验)》五级水平。学生课堂参与积极性一般。语言素材:The Road to Modern EnglishAt the end of the 16th century, above five to seven million people spoke English. Nearly all of them lived in England. Later in the next century, people from England made voyages to conquer other parts of the world and because of that, English began to be spoken in many other countries.Today, more people speak English as their first, second or a foreign language than ever before.Native English speakers can understand each other even if they don't speak the same kind of English. Look at this example:British Betty: Would you like to see my flatAmerican Amy: Yes, I'd like to come up to your apartment.So why has English changed over time Actually all languages change and develop when cultures meet and communicate with each other. At first, the English language spoken in England between about AD 450 and 1150 was very different from the English spoken today. It was based more on German than the English we speak at present. Then gradually between about AD 800 and1150, English became less like German because those who ruled England spoke first Danish and later French. These new settlers enriched the English language and especially its vocabulary. So by the 1600s Shakespeare was able to make use of a wider vocabulary than ever before. In 1620 some British settlers moved to America. Later in the 18th century some British people were taken to Australia too. English began to speak in both countries.Finally by the 19th century the language was settled. At that time two big changes in English spelling happened: first Samuel Johnson wrote his dictionary and later Noah Webster wrote The American Dictionary of English language. The latter gave a separate identity to American English spelling.English now is also 'spoken as a foreign or second language in South Asia. For example, India has a very large number of fluent English speakers because Britain ruled India from 1765 to 1947.During that time English became the language for government and education. English is also spoken in Singapore and Malaysia and countries in Africa such as South Africa. Today the number of people learning English in China is increasing rapidly. In fact, China may have the largest number of English learners. Will Chinese English develop its own identity Only time will tell.

4.Interviewer-------- Why is English so important?David------- Well, English is so important primarily because so many people speak it and use it, so it has now become the lingua franca in the world in a way that we’ve never seen before. We’ve never had a world language of this kind before. So people are learning it not just to be able tocommunicate with native speakers, but also with speakers of other language around world.Interviewer-------And why has it become that dominant language?David------I think the reason for that is actually very complicated, although in the twentieth century, we can just see that it’s the rise of the US military and consumer power. I mean the technology, all the big developments in technology largely came from the US. So all of these developments actually were produced within the English language, and people had to learn English in order to understand them, or to benefit from them. The Internet is only one example of that kind. Once a language has got into that position of dominance, it’s actually very different to shift it. So we could be seeing the emergence of other big languages in the world becoming more important than they have been, like Spanish, but it’s unlikely that they’re going to shift the English from its position of dominance.36. English is important, according to David, __________________________. A). because it has become a world language B). because so many people speak and use it C). because a lot of people are learning it D). because it is the lingua franca37. English has become the dominant language in the world________________________. A). because it has always been the way B). for a reason that is very complicated C). only in the 20th century D). for no reasons38. English became the dominant language in the 20th century_________________________. A). in the USAB). because of the increase in American consumer powerC). because developments in technology came mainly from USA. D). all over the world.39. People had to learn English______________________.A). because developments in technology were made by English speakers B). because they needed to understand the new developments in technology C). to use the InternetD). to speak with native Americans40. David thinks that__________________________.A). it will be easy for another language to become dominant B). English will not always be the dominant languageC). it will not be easy for another language to become dominant D). English will be the dominant language

更多“The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated (估计) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, So”相关问题
  • 第1题:

    设计任务:请阅读下面学生信息和语言素材.设计一个25分钟的阅读训练活动。
    教案没有固定格式.但须包含下列要点:
    teaching objectives
    teaching contents
    key and difficult points
    major steps and time allocation
    activities and justifications
    教学时间:25分钟
    学生概况:某城镇普通中学高中一年级学生,班级人数40人。多数学生已经达到《普通高中英语课程标准(实验)》五级水平。学生课堂参与积极性一般。
    语言素材:
    The Road to Modern English
    At the end of the 16th century, above five to seven million people spoke English. Nearly all of them lived in England. Later in the next century, people from England made voyages to conquer other parts of the world and because of that, English began to be spoken in many other countries.
    Today, more people speak English as their first, second or a foreign language than ever before.
    Native English speakers can understand each other even if they don't speak the same kind of English. Look at this example:
    British Betty: Would you like to see my flat?
    American Amy: Yes, I'd like to come up to your apartment.
    So why has English changed over time? Actually all languages change and develop when cultures meet and communicate with each other. At first, the English language spoken in England between about AD 450 and 1150 was very different from the English spoken today. It was based more on German than the English we speak at present. Then gradually between about AD 800 and1150, English became less like German because those who ruled England spoke first Danish and later French. These new settlers enriched the English language and especially its vocabulary. So by the 1600s Shakespeare was able to make use of a wider vocabulary than ever before. In 1620 some British settlers moved to America. Later in the 18th century some British people were taken to Australia too. English began to speak in both countries.
    Finally by the 19th century the language was settled. At that time two big changes in English spelling happened: first Samuel Johnson wrote his dictionary and later Noah Webster wrote The American Dictionary of English language. The latter gave a separate identity to American English spelling.
    English now is also 'spoken as a foreign or second language in South Asia. For example, India has a very large number of fluent English speakers because Britain ruled India from 1765 to 1947.
    During that time English became the language for government and education. English is also spoken in Singapore and Malaysia and countries in Africa such as South Africa. Today the number of people learning English in China is increasing rapidly. In fact, China may have the largest number of English learners. Will Chinese English develop its own identity? Only time will tell.


    答案:
    解析:
    Class Type: Reading class
    Teaching Contents: The Road to Modern English
    Teaching Objectives:
    (1) Knowledge objective
    Students can learn the development of English and the reasons that English has changed over time.
    (2) Ability objective
    Students can master predict the content of the text according to the tide and improve their reading abilities through the process of skimming and scanning.
    (3) Emotional objective
    Students can have a deeper impression of the popularity of English, realize the importance of learning English and have a higher motivation to learn it.
    Teaching Key and Difficult Points:
    How to make students predict before reading, get the general idea and the specific information while reading.
    Major Steps:
    Step 1 Pre-reading (6 minutes)
    Activity 1 Guessing game
    The teacher asks students to guess the meanings of the sentences which are written in old English.
    As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
    So deep in luve am I;
    And I will luve thee still, my dear,
    Till a' the seas gang dry.
    Then the teacher explains the background knowledge of the sentences.
    (Justification: The guessing game can arouse students' interest in the topic and activate the class attnosphere.
    Students will realize that the old English is different from modern English when talking about the meaning of these sentences written in old English, which will get them mentally prepared for the reading comprehension.)
    Activity 2 Prediction
    Ask students to make a prediction according to the title of the text.
    (Justification: Students' predictions will get their mind closer to the theme of the text to be read and make their reading more intriguing and purposeful.)
    Step 2 While-reading (12 minutes)
    Activity I Skimming
    The teacher asks students to read the text, check if they have made the right predictions and try to match the general idea of each paragraph.
    Choose one or two groups to show their understanding, give comments and make a summary:
    Paragraph 1Many people all over the world speak English.
    Paragraph 2Why has English changed over time
    Paragraph 3English is now spoken in South Asia.
    Paragraph 4Native speakers can understand each other even if they don' t speak the same kind of English.
    Paragraph 5Finally by the 19th centurythe language was settled.
    Then the teacher checks the answers.
    (Justification: This step will help students confirm or reject their predictions and get the main idea of the text.)
    Activity 2 Filling in the blanks
    The teacher asks students listen to the recording of the text, underline the phrases that have something to do with the time and then fill in the form.
    Then the teacher checks the answers.
    (Justification: In the process of filling the form, students' reading skill of scanning for the detailed information will be improved, and it will help student understand the text logically.)
    Step 3 Post-reading (7 minutes)
    Activity 1 Retelling
    T: Suppose you are an English teacher, and you have to give a brief introduction of the development of modern English to your students.
    Then the teacher asks one of them to show his/her retelling.
    Activity 2 Group discussion
    The teacher lets students discuss the question why has English changed over time in groups and asks some of them to share their opinions in class.(The answers may vary. But it doesn't matter what their answers may be. The most important thing is to encourage them to express their own thoughts.)
    The teacher then makes a summary and emphasizes the importance of learning English.
    (Justification: Retelling will make students have a better understanding of the text, and the group discussion will encourage them to express their opinions freely.)

  • 第2题:

    Thenumber of speakers of English in Shakespeare′s time is estimated to have beenabout five million.Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak itas a(an)21?language,mainlyin the United States,Canada,Great Britain,Ireland,South Africa,Australiaand New Zealand.In addition to the standard varieties of English found inthese areas,22?are a greatmany regional and social varieties of the language as well as?23?levels of usage that are employedboth in its spoken and written forms.
    In fact,it is?24?to estimate the numberof people in the world who have acquired an adequate working knowledge ofEnglish in addition to their own languages.The?25?for English learningand the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that itis 26 to explain and still moredifficult to judge?27?forms an adequateworking knowledge for each situation.
    The main reason forthe widespread?28?for English is its present dayimportance as a world language.Besides 29 the indefinite needs of its nativespeakers,English is a language in which some of important works inscience,technology,and other?30 are beingproduced,and not always by native speakers.It is widely used for 31 purposes as meteorological(气象的)and airport communications,international conferences,and the?32?of information over the radio andtelevision networks of many?33.It is a language of widercommunication for a number of developing countries,specially former Britishcolonies.Many of these countries have multilingual?34.and need a language for internalcommunication in such matters as government,commerce,industry,,law and 35 as well as for internationalcommunication and for entrance to the scientific and techno-logicaldevelopments in the West.

    第27题答案是( )

    A.what
    B.how
    C.why
    D.where

    答案:A
    解析:
    分析句子,judge是动词,后面应该接从句且所填词应作宾语从句的主语。

  • 第3题:

    共用题干
    第三篇

    A Debate on the English Language

    A measure declaring English the national language is under intense debate in the United States. The US Senate passed two declarations last week.One calls English the nation's official language
    and the other says it is the "common and unifying(统一的)"tongue. But Americans found themselves divided on the issue.
    Since people worldwide know that most Americans speak only English,many can't understand why the issue is so controversial(有争议的).
    "The discussion is related to fears of immigration issues,"says Dick Tucker,a social scientist at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University."It's related to a worry about the changing demography (人口统计)of the US. It's a worry about who will continue to have political and economic influence.
    In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the nation's founding. John Adams lobbied(游说)in 1780 for the creation of a national academy to correct and improve the English language. But his proposal died, since lawmakers saw it as a royalist(保皇主义者)attempt to define personal behavior.
    Since then,the country hasn't had a national language,but the idea of recognizing the special status of English lived on.
    The emotions surrounding language resurface(再次浮现)not because people feel comfortable with English.It is more about the discomfort many Americans feel with the new languages,says Walt Wolfram,a professor at North Carolina State University.
    "Language is never about language,"he says.
    According to the 2000 US Census Bureau report,of 209 million Americans over 18 years old, 172 million speak only English at home.About 37 million speak languages other than English. Among them,6.5 million speak poor English and 3.1 million don't speak English at all.

    Which of the following is the current debate NOT related to?
    A:The immigration issues.
    B:The changing demography.
    C:The worry about the new languages.
    D:The US's military strength.

    答案:D
    解析:
    本题问的是“两项声明与什么有关?”文章第一段提到“上周,美国参议院通过了两项声明。一项要求英语成为官方语言,另一项称其是统一的普通语言。”显然,这两项声明与英语的地位有关。
    本题是细节考查题。本题问“在18世纪谁提出英语应该得到保护?”第四段提到了1780年即18世纪发生的事件。在这一段涉及的人物是选项B " John Adams "。
    本题问“下列哪个选项与当前的这场讨论无关?”从句义来看,该问题似乎直接涉及文章主题,但选项均涉及细节信息:A“移民问题”;B“不断变化的人口统计”;C“新语言”;D“美国的军队实力”。前三个选项在文章中均可找到出处。选项A相关句说“引发这场讨论的一个原因是出于对移民问题的担心”,由此可见选项A与讨论相关,应该被排除。选项 B相关句说“引发它的另一个原因是对美国不断变化的人口统计数据的担心”,由此可见选项B与讨论相关,应该被排除。文章第六段说“Walt Wolfram说‘它更与很多美国人对新语言的不适相关’”,,因此选项C也与讨论相关,应该被排除掉。
    本题问“根据2000年美国人口调查局的报告,下列哪个选项的说法正确?”从句义来看,该问题涉及文章中的细节信息,属于细节题。文章最后一段提到“According to the 2000 US Census Bureau report,of 209 million Americans over 18 years old,172 million speak only English at home",显然选项C符合题意。
    本题是词汇题。本题问“第四段的kicked around可被哪个词替换?"kicked around意为“讨论,议论”。选项A意为“发明”;选项B意为“构成,形成”;选项C意为“构成,塑造成”;选项D意为“讨论,议论”。

  • 第4题:

    共用题干
    A Debate on the English Language
    A measure declaring English the national language is under intense debate in the United States .The US Senate passed two declarations last week.One calls English the nation's official lan-guage and the other says it is the “common and unifying(统一的)”tongue. But Americans found themselves divided on the issue.
    Since people worldwide know that most Americans speak only English,many can't understand
    why the issue is so controversial(有争议的).
    “The discussion is related to fears of immigration issues,”says Dick Tucker,a social scientist at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University.“It's related to a worry about the changing demography (人口统计)of the US It's a worry about who will continue to have political and economic influence.”
    In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the nation's founding. John Adams lobbied(游说)in 1780 for the creation of a national academy to correct and improve the English language.But his proposal died,since lawmakers saw it as a roy-alist(保皇主义者)attempt to define personal behavior.
    Since then,the country hasn't had a national language,but the idea of recognizing the special status of English lived on.
    The emotions surrounding language resurface(再次浮现)not because people feel comfortable with English .It is more about the discomfort many Americans feel with the new languages,says Walt Wolfram,a professor at North Carolina State University.
    “Language is never about language,”he says.
    According to the 2000 US Census Bureau report,of 209 million Americans over 18 years old, 172 million speak only English at home.About 37 million speak languages other than English. Among them,6 .5 million speak poor English and 3 .1 million don't speak English at all.

    Which statement is true according to the 2000 US Census Bureau report?
    A: 172 million Americans speak only English in their workplaces.
    B: 37 million Americans speak English.
    C: 209 million Americans are above the age of 18.
    D: 6.5 million Americans speak good English.

    答案:C
    解析:
    本题问“两个宣言关切到什么?”文章的第一句话是这么说的:在美国,一个宣布英语是国语的措施正在经受着激烈的争论。然后文章说到美国参议院上周通过了两个宣言。一个宣言把英语叫做国家的官方语言;另一个宣言说英语是通用的、起统一作用的语言。可见这两个宣言涉及英语的地位问题,因此A项是正确的。


    本题问“谁在18世纪就建议英语应该得到保护?”第四段有这样一句话:John Adams lobbied in 1780 for the creation of a national academy to correct and improve the English language. 1780年John Adams曾游说建立一个国家研究院,致力于纠正并修改英语。可见正确的选择应该是John Adams。


    本题问“下面的哪一方面跟目前的争论无关?”第三段提到A、B和C,唯有D没有提到。D说的是“美国的军事力量”。


    本题问“根据2000年美国人口普查局的报告,哪个命题是真的?”最后一段话的第一个句子是这么说的:根据2000年美国人口普查局的报告,18岁以上美国人有两亿九百万人。所以C项是对的。其他选项都把两亿九百万人当作了美国的总人口,因而是错误的。


    本题问“kicked around最有可能被哪个词替换?”这个短语出现在下面这个句子中:In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the nation's founding.事实上,保护这一语言的思想几乎从这个国家建立时就开始讨论了。这个短语的意义可以从上下文中推出。

  • 第5题:

    共用题干
    A Debate on the English Language
    A measure declaring English the national language is under intense debate in the United States .The US Senate passed two declarations last week.One calls English the nation's official lan-guage and the other says it is the “common and unifying(统一的)”tongue. But Americans found themselves divided on the issue.
    Since people worldwide know that most Americans speak only English,many can't understand
    why the issue is so controversial(有争议的).
    “The discussion is related to fears of immigration issues,”says Dick Tucker,a social scientist at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University.“It's related to a worry about the changing demography (人口统计)of the US It's a worry about who will continue to have political and economic influence.”
    In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the nation's founding. John Adams lobbied(游说)in 1780 for the creation of a national academy to correct and improve the English language.But his proposal died,since lawmakers saw it as a roy-alist(保皇主义者)attempt to define personal behavior.
    Since then,the country hasn't had a national language,but the idea of recognizing the special status of English lived on.
    The emotions surrounding language resurface(再次浮现)not because people feel comfortable with English .It is more about the discomfort many Americans feel with the new languages,says Walt Wolfram,a professor at North Carolina State University.
    “Language is never about language,”he says.
    According to the 2000 US Census Bureau report,of 209 million Americans over 18 years old, 172 million speak only English at home.About 37 million speak languages other than English. Among them,6 .5 million speak poor English and 3 .1 million don't speak English at all.

    The phrase“kicked around”(paragraph 4)could be best replaced by______.
    A: “invented”
    B: “formed”
    C: “shaped”
    D: “discussed”

    答案:D
    解析:
    本题问“两个宣言关切到什么?”文章的第一句话是这么说的:在美国,一个宣布英语是国语的措施正在经受着激烈的争论。然后文章说到美国参议院上周通过了两个宣言。一个宣言把英语叫做国家的官方语言;另一个宣言说英语是通用的、起统一作用的语言。可见这两个宣言涉及英语的地位问题,因此A项是正确的。


    本题问“谁在18世纪就建议英语应该得到保护?”第四段有这样一句话:John Adams lobbied in 1780 for the creation of a national academy to correct and improve the English language. 1780年John Adams曾游说建立一个国家研究院,致力于纠正并修改英语。可见正确的选择应该是John Adams。


    本题问“下面的哪一方面跟目前的争论无关?”第三段提到A、B和C,唯有D没有提到。D说的是“美国的军事力量”。


    本题问“根据2000年美国人口普查局的报告,哪个命题是真的?”最后一段话的第一个句子是这么说的:根据2000年美国人口普查局的报告,18岁以上美国人有两亿九百万人。所以C项是对的。其他选项都把两亿九百万人当作了美国的总人口,因而是错误的。


    本题问“kicked around最有可能被哪个词替换?”这个短语出现在下面这个句子中:In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the nation's founding.事实上,保护这一语言的思想几乎从这个国家建立时就开始讨论了。这个短语的意义可以从上下文中推出。

  • 第6题:

    共用题干
    第三篇

    A Debate on the English Language

    A measure declaring English the national language is under intense debate in the United
    States.The US Senate passed two declarations last week.One calls English the nation's
    official language and the other says it is the "common and unifying(统一的)"tongue.But
    Americans found themselves divided on the issue.
    Since people worldwide know that most Americans speak only English,many can't
    understand why the issue is so controversial(有争议的).
    "The discussion is related to fears of immigration issues,"says Dick Tucker,a social
    scientist at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University."It's related to a worry about the
    changing demography(人口统计)of the US.It's a worry about who will continue to have
    political and economic influence."
    In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the
    nation's founding.John Adams lobbied(游说)in 1780 for the creation of a national
    academy to correct and improve the English language.But his proposal died,since
    lawmakers saw it as a royalist(保皇主义者)attempt to define personal behavior.
    Since then,the country hasn't had a national language,but the idea of recognizing the
    special status of English lived on.
    The emotions surrounding language resurface(再次浮现)not because people feel
    comfortable with English.It is more about the discomfort many Americans feel with the new
    languages,says Walt Wolfram, a professor at North Carolina State University.
    "Language is never about language,"he says.
    According to the 2000 US Census Bureau report,of 209 million Americans over 18
    years old,172 million speak only English at home.About 37 million speak languages other
    than English.Among them,6.5 million speak poor English and 3.1 million don't speak
    English at all.

    What are the two declarations concerned with?
    A:The status of the English language.
    B:The protection of new languages.
    C:The rights to speak one's mother tongue.
    D:The improvement of the English language.

    答案:A
    解析:

  • 第7题:

    共用题干
    第三篇

    A Debate on the English Language

    A measure declaring English the national language is under intense debate in the United
    States.The US Senate passed two declarations last week.One calls English the nation's
    official language and the other says it is the "common and unifying(统一的)"tongue.But
    Americans found themselves divided on the issue.
    Since people worldwide know that most Americans speak only English,many can't
    understand why the issue is so controversial(有争议的).
    "The discussion is related to fears of immigration issues,"says Dick Tucker,a social
    scientist at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University."It's related to a worry about the
    changing demography(人口统计)of the US.It's a worry about who will continue to have
    political and economic influence."
    In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the
    nation's founding.John Adams lobbied(游说)in 1780 for the creation of a national
    academy to correct and improve the English language.But his proposal died,since
    lawmakers saw it as a royalist(保皇主义者)attempt to define personal behavior.
    Since then,the country hasn't had a national language,but the idea of recognizing the
    special status of English lived on.
    The emotions surrounding language resurface(再次浮现)not because people feel
    comfortable with English.It is more about the discomfort many Americans feel with the new
    languages,says Walt Wolfram, a professor at North Carolina State University.
    "Language is never about language,"he says.
    According to the 2000 US Census Bureau report,of 209 million Americans over 18
    years old,172 million speak only English at home.About 37 million speak languages other
    than English.Among them,6.5 million speak poor English and 3.1 million don't speak
    English at all.

    Which statement is true according to the 2000 US Census Bureau report?
    A:172 million Americans speak only English in their workplaces.
    B:37 million Americans speak English.
    C:209 million Americans are above the age of 18.
    D:6.5 million Americans speak good English.

    答案:C
    解析:

  • 第8题:

    The Commonwealth of Nations is an association of independent countries ( )

    A.that speak English as their native language
    B.that have a large number of British immigrants
    C.that were once colonies of Britain
    D.that fought on the side of Britain in the two world wars

    答案:C
    解析:
    考查英国政治。英联邦(Commonwealth of Nations )是一个国际组织,由53个独立主权国家(包括属地)组成,成员大多为前英国殖民地或者保护国。英联邦元首同时身兼包括英国在内的16个英联邦王国名义上的元首,此16国构成了一个现代版的共主邦联,然而英联邦元首并无实权,英国君主无权干涉各成员国内政。

  • 第9题:

    The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated (估计) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.
    In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate (足够的) working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.
    The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.Which of the following statements is NOT true

    • A、Some 260 million people in the world have an adequate working knowledge of English.
    • B、There are some 260 million native speakers of English in the world.
    • C、It is almost impossible to estimate the number of people with an adequate working knowledge of English.
    • D、People learn English for a variety of reasons.

    正确答案:A

  • 第10题:

    问答题
    Directions:In this section, there is one passage followed by a summary. Read the passage carefully and complete the summary below by choosing no more than three words from the passage. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.  Questions 1 - 5 are based on the following passage.The United Kingdom  Britain (or Great Britain) is an island that lies off the north-west coast of Europe. The nearest country is France, which is 20 miles away and from which Britain is separated by the English Channel. The island is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the North Sea to the east. It comprises the mainlands of England, Wales and Scotland, that is, three countries. Scotland is in the north, while Wales is in the west. Ireland, which is also an island, lies off the west coast of Britain. It consists of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Britain together with Northern Ireland constitute the United Kingdom (UK). Thus, the United Kingdom is composed of four countries, the largest of which is England. The capital city is London, which is situated in south-east England.  The UK has a total area of about 244,100 square kilometres (94,248 square miles). About 70% of the land area is devoted to agriculture, about 7% is wasteland, moorland and mountains, about 13% is devoted to urban development, and 10% is forest and woodland. The northern and western regions of Britain, that is Scotland and Wales, are mainly mountainous and hilly. Parts of the north-west and centre of England also consist of mountains and hills.  Britain has a generally mild and temperate climate. It is, however, subject to frequent changes. It has an average annual rainfall of about 120 centimetres (47 inches).  In 1998 the population of the United Kingdom was nearly 59 million. The density of population was approximately 240 people per square kilometre. However, in England, where 83% of the population live, the density was much higher, about 363 per square kilometre.  In the UK, English is the first language of the vast majority of people. However, in western Wales, Welsh is the first language for many of the people. In Scotland only a small number of people speak Gaelic.  In Britain about 66% of the population say that they are Christian, while fewer than 5% say that they belong to other religions.  Summary:  Britain is an island that  1 the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. It comprises the mainlands of England, Wales and Scotland. Ireland  2 the west coast of Britain. I  3 Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. The United Kingdom consists of Britain together with Northern Ireland. The capital city is London which  4 outh-east England.In 1998 the population of the UK was nearly 59 million. The density of population was 240 people per square kilometre. In the UK English is the first language of most people. In western Wales, Welsh  5 many of the people, but few people in Scotland speak Gaelic.

    正确答案:
    1.is surrounded by 从原文第一段第三句,可知The island(指Britain)is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean…and the North Sea…。)
    2.lies off 根据原文第一段第六句Ireland…lies off the west coast of Britain可知此处是lies off。)
    3.consists of (is composed of; comprises) 由原文第一段第七句It consists of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic可知是“包含”的意思。)
    4.is situated in (is located in) 从原文第一段最后一句…London…is situated in south-east England可知伦敦位于英格兰东南部。)
    5.is spoken by 根据原文倒数第二段Welsh is the first language for many of the people,即许多人说Welsh。)
    解析: 暂无解析

  • 第11题:

    问答题
    Practice 1  Britain (or Great Britain) is an island that lies off the north-west coast of Europe. The nearest country is France, which is 20 miles away and from which Britain is separated by the English Channel. The island is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the North Sea to the east. 1______ Scotland is in the north, while Wales is in the west. Ireland, which is also an island, lies off the west coast of Britain. It consists of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Britain together with Northern Ireland constitute the United Kingdom (UK). Thus, the United Kingdom is composed of four countries, the largest of which is England. The capital city is London, which is situated in south-east England.  2______ About 70% of the land area is devoted to agriculture, about 7% is wasteland, moorland and mountains, about 13% is devoted to urban development, and 10% is forest and woodland. The northern and western regions of Britain, that is Scotland and Wales, are mainly mountainous and hilly. 3______  Britain has a generally mild and temperate climate. It is, however, subject to frequent changes. It has an average annual rainfall of about 120 centimetres (47 inches).  4______ The density of population was approximately 240 people per square kilometre. However, in England, where 83% of the population live, the density was much higher, about 363 per square kilometre.  5______ However, in western Wales, Welsh is the first language for many of the people. In Scotland only a small number of people speak Gaelic.  In Britain about 66% of the population say that they are Christian, while fewer than 5% say that they belong to other religions.[A] The UK has a total area of about 244,100 square kilometres (94,248 square miles).[B] In the UK, English is the first language of the vast majority of people.[C] It comprises the mainlands of England, Wales and Scotland, that is, three countries.[D] The U. K. is a country that is both ancient and modern.[E] In 1998, the population of the United Kingdom was nearly 59 million.[F] UK transportation system is very convenient and fast.[G] Parts of the north-west and centre of England also consist of mountains and hills.

    正确答案: 1.C 空前介绍了英国的外部地理环境,空后讲的是英国的三大郡的情况。C项说“英国本土包括英格兰、苏格兰、威尔士三部分”。符合逻辑关系。故选C。
    2.A 本段是关于英国的国土面积的介绍。A项说“英国的国土面积是24.41万平方公里”。符合逻辑关系。故选A。
    3.G 空前说“英国的北部、西部是苏格兰和威尔士,地形以山地、丘陵为主”。G项说“英格兰西北部部分地区和中部也有不少山地和丘陵”。符合逻辑关系。故选G。
    4.E 本段讲的是英国的人口概况。E项涉及人口。符合文意。故选E。
    5.B 本段讲的是英国的语言。B项说“英国大部分人讲英语”。符合文意。故选B。
    解析: 暂无解析

  • 第12题:

    单选题
    The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated (估计) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms. In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate (足够的) working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation. The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.What forms an adequate working knowledge of English
    A

    The ability to read a newspaper.

    B

    It is difficult to judge because it differs for each situation.

    C

    Being a multilingual.

    D

    Being a native speaker.


    正确答案: C
    解析: [解析] 细节题。根据文章第2段最后一句可推知此题答案为B。

  • 第13题:

    共用题干
    English and English Community

    1There is no doubt that English is a useful language.The people who speak English
    today make up the largest speech community in the world with the exception of speakers of
    Chinese.
    2 A speech community is similar to other kinds of communities.The people who make up
    the community share a common language.Often they live side by side,as they do in a
    neighborhood(街坊),a village,or a city. More often they form a whole country. National
    boundaries,however,are not always the same as the boundaries of a speech community.
    A speech community is any group of people who speak the same language no matter where
    they happen to live.
    3 We may say that anyone who speaks English belongs to the English speech community.
    For convenience(方便),we may divide the speakers into two groups:one in which the
    speakers use English as their native language,the other in which the speakers learn English
    as a second language for the purpose of education,commerce,and so on.
    4 Learning a second language extends one's vision and expands the mind.The history
    and literature of a second language record the real and fictional(虚构的)lives of people
    and their culture;a knowledge of them adds to our ability to understand and to feel as they
    feel .Learning English as a second language provides another means of communication
    through which the window of the entire English speech community becomes a part of our
    heritage.

    Many people learn English as___________.
    A: a second language
    B: the same language
    C: the same speech community
    D:any other language
    E:national boundaries
    F:a part of one's heritage

    答案:A
    解析:

  • 第14题:

    共用题干
    第三篇

    A Debate on the English Language

    A measure declaring English the national language is under intense debate in the United States. The US Senate passed two declarations last week.One calls English the nation's official language
    and the other says it is the "common and unifying(统一的)"tongue. But Americans found themselves divided on the issue.
    Since people worldwide know that most Americans speak only English,many can't understand why the issue is so controversial(有争议的).
    "The discussion is related to fears of immigration issues,"says Dick Tucker,a social scientist at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University."It's related to a worry about the changing demography (人口统计)of the US. It's a worry about who will continue to have political and economic influence.
    In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the nation's founding. John Adams lobbied(游说)in 1780 for the creation of a national academy to correct and improve the English language. But his proposal died, since lawmakers saw it as a royalist(保皇主义者)attempt to define personal behavior.
    Since then,the country hasn't had a national language,but the idea of recognizing the special status of English lived on.
    The emotions surrounding language resurface(再次浮现)not because people feel comfortable with English.It is more about the discomfort many Americans feel with the new languages,says Walt Wolfram,a professor at North Carolina State University.
    "Language is never about language,"he says.
    According to the 2000 US Census Bureau report,of 209 million Americans over 18 years old, 172 million speak only English at home.About 37 million speak languages other than English. Among them,6.5 million speak poor English and 3.1 million don't speak English at all.

    Who suggested in the 18th century that English should be protected?
    A:Walt Wolfram.
    B:John Adams.
    C:Royalists.
    D:Dick Tucker.

    答案:B
    解析:
    本题问的是“两项声明与什么有关?”文章第一段提到“上周,美国参议院通过了两项声明。一项要求英语成为官方语言,另一项称其是统一的普通语言。”显然,这两项声明与英语的地位有关。
    本题是细节考查题。本题问“在18世纪谁提出英语应该得到保护?”第四段提到了1780年即18世纪发生的事件。在这一段涉及的人物是选项B " John Adams "。
    本题问“下列哪个选项与当前的这场讨论无关?”从句义来看,该问题似乎直接涉及文章主题,但选项均涉及细节信息:A“移民问题”;B“不断变化的人口统计”;C“新语言”;D“美国的军队实力”。前三个选项在文章中均可找到出处。选项A相关句说“引发这场讨论的一个原因是出于对移民问题的担心”,由此可见选项A与讨论相关,应该被排除。选项 B相关句说“引发它的另一个原因是对美国不断变化的人口统计数据的担心”,由此可见选项B与讨论相关,应该被排除。文章第六段说“Walt Wolfram说‘它更与很多美国人对新语言的不适相关’”,,因此选项C也与讨论相关,应该被排除掉。
    本题问“根据2000年美国人口调查局的报告,下列哪个选项的说法正确?”从句义来看,该问题涉及文章中的细节信息,属于细节题。文章最后一段提到“According to the 2000 US Census Bureau report,of 209 million Americans over 18 years old,172 million speak only English at home",显然选项C符合题意。
    本题是词汇题。本题问“第四段的kicked around可被哪个词替换?"kicked around意为“讨论,议论”。选项A意为“发明”;选项B意为“构成,形成”;选项C意为“构成,塑造成”;选项D意为“讨论,议论”。

  • 第15题:

    共用题干
    第三篇

    A Debate on the English Language

    A measure declaring English the national language is under intense debate in the United
    States.The US Senate passed two declarations last week.One calls English the nation's
    official language and the other says it is the "common and unifying(统一的)"tongue.But
    Americans found themselves divided on the issue.
    Since people worldwide know that most Americans speak only English,many can't
    understand why the issue is so controversial(有争议的).
    "The discussion is related to fears of immigration issues,"says Dick Tucker,a social
    scientist at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University."It's related to a worry about the
    changing demography(人口统计)of the US.It's a worry about who will continue to have
    political and economic influence."
    In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the
    nation's founding.John Adams lobbied(游说)in 1780 for the creation of a national
    academy to correct and improve the English language.But his proposal died,since
    lawmakers saw it as a royalist(保皇主义者)attempt to define personal behavior.
    Since then,the country hasn't had a national language,but the idea of recognizing the
    special status of English lived on.
    The emotions surrounding language resurface(再次浮现)not because people feel
    comfortable with English.It is more about the discomfort many Americans feel with the new
    languages,says Walt Wolfram, a professor at North Carolina State University.
    "Language is never about language,"he says.
    According to the 2000 US Census Bureau report,of 209 million Americans over 18
    years old,172 million speak only English at home.About 37 million speak languages other
    than English.Among them,6.5 million speak poor English and 3.1 million don't speak
    English at all.

    The phrase "kicked around" (paragraph 4)could be best replaced by
    A:"invented".
    B:"formed".
    C:"shaped".
    D:"discussed".

    答案:D
    解析:

  • 第16题:

    共用题干
    第三篇

    A Debate on the English Language

    A measure declaring English the national language is under intense debate in the United
    States.The US Senate passed two declarations last week.One calls English the nation's
    official language and the other says it is the "common and unifying(统一的)"tongue.But
    Americans found themselves divided on the issue.
    Since people worldwide know that most Americans speak only English,many can't
    understand why the issue is so controversial(有争议的).
    "The discussion is related to fears of immigration issues,"says Dick Tucker,a social
    scientist at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University."It's related to a worry about the
    changing demography(人口统计)of the US.It's a worry about who will continue to have
    political and economic influence."
    In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the
    nation's founding.John Adams lobbied(游说)in 1780 for the creation of a national
    academy to correct and improve the English language.But his proposal died,since
    lawmakers saw it as a royalist(保皇主义者)attempt to define personal behavior.
    Since then,the country hasn't had a national language,but the idea of recognizing the
    special status of English lived on.
    The emotions surrounding language resurface(再次浮现)not because people feel
    comfortable with English.It is more about the discomfort many Americans feel with the new
    languages,says Walt Wolfram, a professor at North Carolina State University.
    "Language is never about language,"he says.
    According to the 2000 US Census Bureau report,of 209 million Americans over 18
    years old,172 million speak only English at home.About 37 million speak languages other
    than English.Among them,6.5 million speak poor English and 3.1 million don't speak
    English at all.

    Who suggested in the 18th century that English should be protected?
    A:Walt Wolfram.
    B:John Adams.
    C:Royalists.
    D:Dick Tucker.

    答案:B
    解析:

  • 第17题:

    共用题干
    A Debate on the English Language
    A measure declaring English the national language is under intense debate in the United States .The US Senate passed two declarations last week.One calls English the nation's official lan-guage and the other says it is the “common and unifying(统一的)”tongue. But Americans found themselves divided on the issue.
    Since people worldwide know that most Americans speak only English,many can't understand
    why the issue is so controversial(有争议的).
    “The discussion is related to fears of immigration issues,”says Dick Tucker,a social scientist at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University.“It's related to a worry about the changing demography (人口统计)of the US It's a worry about who will continue to have political and economic influence.”
    In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the nation's founding. John Adams lobbied(游说)in 1780 for the creation of a national academy to correct and improve the English language.But his proposal died,since lawmakers saw it as a roy-alist(保皇主义者)attempt to define personal behavior.
    Since then,the country hasn't had a national language,but the idea of recognizing the special status of English lived on.
    The emotions surrounding language resurface(再次浮现)not because people feel comfortable with English .It is more about the discomfort many Americans feel with the new languages,says Walt Wolfram,a professor at North Carolina State University.
    “Language is never about language,”he says.
    According to the 2000 US Census Bureau report,of 209 million Americans over 18 years old, 172 million speak only English at home.About 37 million speak languages other than English. Among them,6 .5 million speak poor English and 3 .1 million don't speak English at all.

    What are the two declarations concerned with?
    A:.The status of the English language.
    B: The protection of new languages.
    C: The rights to speak one's mother tongue.
    D: The improvement of the English language.

    答案:A
    解析:
    本题问“两个宣言关切到什么?”文章的第一句话是这么说的:在美国,一个宣布英语是国语的措施正在经受着激烈的争论。然后文章说到美国参议院上周通过了两个宣言。一个宣言把英语叫做国家的官方语言;另一个宣言说英语是通用的、起统一作用的语言。可见这两个宣言涉及英语的地位问题,因此A项是正确的。


    本题问“谁在18世纪就建议英语应该得到保护?”第四段有这样一句话:John Adams lobbied in 1780 for the creation of a national academy to correct and improve the English language. 1780年John Adams曾游说建立一个国家研究院,致力于纠正并修改英语。可见正确的选择应该是John Adams。


    本题问“下面的哪一方面跟目前的争论无关?”第三段提到A、B和C,唯有D没有提到。D说的是“美国的军事力量”。


    本题问“根据2000年美国人口普查局的报告,哪个命题是真的?”最后一段话的第一个句子是这么说的:根据2000年美国人口普查局的报告,18岁以上美国人有两亿九百万人。所以C项是对的。其他选项都把两亿九百万人当作了美国的总人口,因而是错误的。


    本题问“kicked around最有可能被哪个词替换?”这个短语出现在下面这个句子中:In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the nation's founding.事实上,保护这一语言的思想几乎从这个国家建立时就开始讨论了。这个短语的意义可以从上下文中推出。

  • 第18题:

    共用题干
    第三篇

    A Debate on the English Language

    A measure declaring English the national language is under intense debate in the United
    States.The US Senate passed two declarations last week.One calls English the nation's
    official language and the other says it is the "common and unifying(统一的)"tongue.But
    Americans found themselves divided on the issue.
    Since people worldwide know that most Americans speak only English,many can't
    understand why the issue is so controversial(有争议的).
    "The discussion is related to fears of immigration issues,"says Dick Tucker,a social
    scientist at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University."It's related to a worry about the
    changing demography(人口统计)of the US.It's a worry about who will continue to have
    political and economic influence."
    In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the
    nation's founding.John Adams lobbied(游说)in 1780 for the creation of a national
    academy to correct and improve the English language.But his proposal died,since
    lawmakers saw it as a royalist(保皇主义者)attempt to define personal behavior.
    Since then,the country hasn't had a national language,but the idea of recognizing the
    special status of English lived on.
    The emotions surrounding language resurface(再次浮现)not because people feel
    comfortable with English.It is more about the discomfort many Americans feel with the new
    languages,says Walt Wolfram, a professor at North Carolina State University.
    "Language is never about language,"he says.
    According to the 2000 US Census Bureau report,of 209 million Americans over 18
    years old,172 million speak only English at home.About 37 million speak languages other
    than English.Among them,6.5 million speak poor English and 3.1 million don't speak
    English at all.

    Which of the following is the current debate NOT related to?
    A:The immigration issues.
    B:The changing demography.
    C:The worry about the new languages.
    D:The US's military strength.

    答案:D
    解析:

  • 第19题:

    It is widely accepted that English is the global language of modern times.
    About three decades ago,French was recognized as the language of diplomacy(外交),and German was considered the language of science and technology.English now dominates(主导)not only as the language of science but also diplomacy,computing,and tourism.Today,in terms of native speakers,Mandarin Chinese is the world′s
    largest language.
    Yet there are people who believe that China will become the most powerful country in the world.Some have?even fixed the date as early as the year 2020.At present,while English is more widely spoken than any other?language,there are more people who speak Chinese than English due to the large population in China alone.If China?does become a world power,there is no doubt that this language will spread worldwide.
    As the controversy over which language will become dominant in the world continues,there are many who feel?that the dominance of English is unique and irreversible(不可逆的).However,a separate study from David Graddol′s suggests that English′s dominance in the scientific area will continue.There is also an argument that the?English language would be changed greatly by 2020 for various reasons.With the possibility of China rising as a?world power,Mandarin could definitely challenge the dominance of English as a global language.

    Which language has the largest population of native speakers?

    A.Chinese.
    B.English.
    C.German.
    D.French.

    答案:A
    解析:

  • 第20题:

    The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated (估计) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.
    In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate (足够的) working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.
    The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.What type of developing countries would be most likely to use English

    • A、Those geographically close to the United States.
    • B、Those interested in the culture of the United States.
    • C、Former colonies of Great Britain.
    • D、Countries where international conferences are held.

    正确答案:C

  • 第21题:

    The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated (估计) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.
    In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate (足够的) working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.
    The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.What would be the best title for this passage

    • A、The Difficulties of Learning English
    • B、International Communications
    • C、The Standard Varieties of English
    • D、English as a World Language

    正确答案:D

  • 第22题:

    单选题
    The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated (估计) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms. In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate (足够的) working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation. The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.According to the passage, what is the main reason for the widespread use of English
    A

    It was popular during Shakespeare’s time.

    B

    It is used in former British colonies.

    C

    It serves the needs of its native speakers.

    D

    It is a world language that is used for international communication.


    正确答案: D
    解析: [解析] 推断题。根据文章最后一段的描述,英语在世界不同领域、不同的地区的使用,可推知此题的答案为D。

  • 第23题:

    单选题
    The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated (估计) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms. In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate (足够的) working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation. The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.What would be the best title for this passage
    A

    The Difficulties of Learning English

    B

    International Communications

    C

    The Standard Varieties of English

    D

    English as a World Language


    正确答案: C
    解析: [解析] 主旨题。根据第3段第1句及全文的内容:英语在各个国家的各个领域的应用,可推知此题的答案为D。

  • 第24题:

    单选题
    The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated (估计) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms. In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate (足够的) working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation. The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.Which of the following statements is NOT true
    A

    Some 260 million people in the world have an adequate working knowledge of English.

    B

    There are some 260 million native speakers of English in the world.

    C

    It is almost impossible to estimate the number of people with an adequate working knowledge of English.

    D

    People learn English for a variety of reasons.


    正确答案: D
    解析: [解析] 细节题。根据文章第1段中第2句及第2段的第1句的描述可推知此题的答案为A。