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 passageA、The Difficulties of Learning EnglishB、International CommunicationsC、The Standard Varieties of EnglishD、English as a World Language
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
相关考题：
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.
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
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
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.
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 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.
共用题干English and English Community1There 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 peopleand 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 languageB: the same languageC: the same speech communityD:any other language E:national boundariesF:a part of one's heritage
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.whatB.howC.whyD.where
共用题干第三篇A Debate on the English LanguageA 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 languageand 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.
共用题干第三篇A Debate on the English LanguageA 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 languageand 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.
共用题干第三篇A Debate on the English LanguageA 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 byA:"invented".B:"formed".C:"shaped".D:"discussed".
共用题干A Debate on the English LanguageA 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 understandwhy 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.
共用题干第三篇A Debate on the English LanguageA 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.
共用题干A Debate on the English LanguageA 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 understandwhy 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”
共用题干A Debate on the English LanguageA 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 understandwhy 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.
共用题干第三篇A Debate on the English LanguageA 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.
共用题干第三篇A Debate on the English LanguageA 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.
共用题干第三篇A Debate on the English LanguageA 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.
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′slargest 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.
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
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 EnglishA、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.
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 trueA、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.
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.
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 EnglishAIt was popular during Shakespeare’s time.BIt is used in former British colonies.CIt serves the needs of its native speakers.DIt is a world language that is used for international communication.
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.
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 passageAThe Difficulties of Learning EnglishBInternational CommunicationsCThe Standard Varieties of EnglishDEnglish as a World Language
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 EnglishAThe ability to read a newspaper.BIt is difficult to judge because it differs for each situation.CBeing a multilingual.DBeing a native speaker.
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 trueASome 260 million people in the world have an adequate working knowledge of English.BThere are some 260 million native speakers of English in the world.CIt is almost impossible to estimate the number of people with an adequate working knowledge of English.DPeople learn English for a variety of reasons.