Question

【題目】The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated 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 enough 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.

【1】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

【2】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.

【3】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.

【4】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 the Great Britain.

D. Countries where international conferences are held.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】A

【3】D

【4】C

【解析】

【1】主旨大意題。本文沒有明顯的主題句，但是通讀全文就可知文章講的是在莎士比亞時代全世界說英語的人數(shù)大約是五百萬。如今不但以英語為母語的人數(shù)增長了，而且隨著英語成為世界工作語言，全世界懂得這一工作語言的人數(shù)也多得無法估計了。同時作者還介紹了英語學習的目的和情況，以及英語被廣泛地需要、廣泛地運用、廣泛地交流的原因。所以只有D項的意思（作文世界語言的英語）能概括全文。故選D。

【2】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第一段的句子 “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. ”可知B項的敘述與原文意思相符，所以它屬于 true的范疇。故不選B；再根據(jù)第二段的句子 “In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an enough working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. ”可知C項的敘述與原文意思相符，所以它屬于 true的范疇。故不選C；再根據(jù)第二段的句子 “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.”可知人們學英語是為了各種各樣的理由。D項的敘述與原文意思相符，所以它屬于 true的范疇。故不選D；再根據(jù)第二段的句子 “In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an enough working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. ”可知A項中的 “Some 260 million people ”的敘述與原文意思不符，所以它屬于not true的范疇。故選A。

【3】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第二段的句子 “ 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. ”可知英語被廣泛使用的主要原因是：它是被用來進行國際交流的一種世界語言。故選D。

【4】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第二段的句子 “ 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.” 可知是英國的前殖民地的那些發(fā)展中國家會最有可能使用英語。故選C。