The death of languages is not a new phenomenon. Languages usually have a short life span(寿命) as well as a very high death rate. Only a few, including Egyptian, Chinese, Greek, Latin, have lasted more than 2,000 years.
What is new, however, is the speed at which they are dying out. Europe’s colonial ruling caused a sharp decrease in language kinds, reducing at least 15 percent of all languages spoken at the time. Over the last 300 years, Europe has lost a dozen, and Australia has only 20 left of the 250 spoken at the end of the 18th century.
The rise of nation-states has also been decisive in selecting national languages. By making great efforts to establish an official language in education, the media, national governments have tried to reduce minority languages.
This process of language standardization(标准化) has been improved by industrialization and scientific progress, which have created new methods of communication that are fast, straightforward and practical. Language kinds came to be seen as an difficulty to trade and the spread of knowledge. Monolingualism(单种语言) became an perfect choice.
More recently, the internationalization of financial markets, the spread of information by electronic media and other aspects of globalization have led to the danger to “small” languages. A language not on the Internet is a language that “no longer exists” in the modern world. It is out of the game.
The serious effects of the death of languages are clear. First of all, it is possible that if we all ended up speaking the same language, our brains would lose some of their natural functions for language inventiveness. We would never be able to figure out the origins of human language or resolve the mystery of “the first language”. As each language dies, a chapter of human history closes.
Multilingualism(多语种) is the most right solution. The destruction of the first will lead to the loss of the second. Creating a language without any links to a people’s culture and way of life stifles the expression of their language gift. A language is not only used as the main instrument of human communication. It also expresses the world vision of those who speak it, their ways of using knowledge. To safeguard languages is an urgent matter.
1.Which of the following does not contribute to the death of languages?
A. Colonial conquests of Europe
B. The rise of nation-states
C. Advances in science and industrialization
D. The increase of human population
2.The underlined word “ stifles” in the last paragraph probably means “_____”.
A. kills B. cheer C. creates D. improve
3.The serious effects of the death of languages include all except that_______.
A. People would fail to understand how languages started
B. Monolingualism would lead to the loss of multiculturalism
C. Language kinds would become an difficulty to globalization
D. Human brains would become less creative in languages
4.What is the author’s purpose of writing this passage?
A. To call people’s attention to the importance of language preservation.
B. To warn people of the negative result of globalization.
C. To explain the reasons why languages are dying out.
D. To argue how important it is for people to speak more languages.
阅读快车系列答案科目：高中英语 来源：2016届海南海口湖南师大附中海口中学高三第四次模拟考英语卷（解析版） 题型：阅读理解
Scientists in Mexico have just begun a new study of one of the world’s biggest pyramids: the Pyramid of the Sun, north of Mexico City. They’re putting lots of small, high-tech machines under the pyramid to try to unlock some of its secrets. For thousands of years, people have tried to uncover the secrets of the pyramids.
The people who built the pyramids made lots of secret doors and rooms to stop robbers from finding the treasures inside. However, there always have been some smart thieves in history. Now, almost all of Egypt’s pyramids have been robbed, including the Great Pyramid of Khufu, which is the largest pyramid in the world. It is the only one of the ancient wonders of the world that is still standing.
In AD 820, an Arab king named Abdullah AL Manum got a group of workers to dig their way into the Great Pyramid and have a look. Inside the pyramid, they found three rooms --- the Queen’s Chamber, the Grand Gallery and the King’s Chamber. But to their surprise, the men didn’t find the treasures they wanted. The Queen’s and King’s Chambers were both empty! Where were the King’s mummy and his treasures? Had someone already taken them away? The huge stone doors at the pyramid’s entrance were still closed when AL Manum’s men went inside. How had the thieves got in and out?
Since then, many people have gone inside the Great Pyramid to have a look or to try to take things. But still, no other chambers or walkways have been found.
In 2002, an American team made the most recent visit to the Great Pyramid. Scientists sent a robot into the pyramid, but they only found a mysterious locked stone door.
1.The first two paragraphs were written to show that ________.
A．the Pyramid of the Sun is an unusual historic building
B．ancient Egyptian emperors were cruel
C．construction workers led a hard life in ancient Egypt
D．the secrets of the pyramids remain to be uncovered
2.Which of the following is NOT true to the Great Pyramid of Khufu?
A．It is the largest pyramid in the world.
B．It is the only one of the ancient wonders that is still standing.
C．Abdullah AL Manum took the King’s mummy and his treasures away.
D．Scientists found a mysterious locked stone door to the Great Pyramid.
3. What would be the best title for the text?
A．The Pyramid of the Sun
B．The Great Pyramid of Khufu
C．A Mysterious Locked Stone Door
D．Unlocking the Doors of History
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科目：高中英语 来源：2015-2016学年云南云天化中学高一上期末考试英语卷（解析版） 题型：完形填空
完形填空
At the beginning of the new term, I was that I was going to teach math in a new class. Hearing that it was a class that several teachers had complained(抱怨) about, I became anxious. to know how I can this group, I asked the former teachers about the students. One teacher told me that the students were naughty and to obey the rules. One boy was especially lazy and he on purpose so that he would be allowed to move back to his father’s house in another state.
I met my new students, I to make my class lovely and was surprised and happy to see they did better than I had thought. As I was giving them problems to solve, something happened. The student who tried to fail was raising his hand. I nodded. He stood up and gave the correct answers. I praised him and smiled gratefully.
Later I told the student how I was proud of his and gave him a positive letter to let him take home. He said, “ I you had been my teacher last term. You are the first one to a positive letter home. I will try to do well in studies in the future.” He was so excited and that he was almost crying. At the end of the class he me again.
I believe that this student will this term. Sometimes teachers students without seeing their potential（潜力）. Too often we the negative sides rather than the positive ones. It is possible for a teacher to change students’ with love and encouragement. The of making a difference in students is great!
1.A. learned B. organized C. designed D. told
2.A. Unwilling B. Eager C. Curious D. Excited
3.A. deal with B. agree with C. go with D. fight with
4.A. unwilling B. uncertain C. unhappy D. unable
5.A. quarreled B. shouted C. failed D. fell
6.A. While B. After C. Because D. Before
7.A. succeeded B. managed C. needed D. agreed
8.A. physics B. English C. chemistry D. math
9.A. exciting B. frightening C. amazing D. discouraging
10.A. exactly B. immediately C. suddenly D. hopefully
11.A. generosity B. guidance C. efforts D. effects
12.A. wish B. require C. advise D. realize
13.A. carry B. take C. send D. bring
14.A. careful B. encouraged C. interested D. worried
15.A. praised B. congratulated C. greeted D. thanked
16.A. improve B. forget C. teach D. accept
17.A. attack B. replace C. search D. evaluate
18.A. decide on B. depend on C. agree on D. focus on
19.A. future B. goal C. attitudes D. activity
20.A. award B. reward C. prize D. medal
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科目：高中英语 来源：2015-2016学年吉林长春外国语校高一下第一次月考英语卷（解析版） 题型：单词拼写
根据首字母或汉语提示拼写单词
1.Please f_________ the toilet after you use it.
2.It's illegal to use the fire alarm except in case of e_________.
3.I was d_________ by the traffic and missed the train.
4.He is very p_________ -- always arrives on time.
5.P_________, I think it’s a waste of time.
6.Officials have repeatedly _________ (否认) the existence of a secret report.
7.Nixon was _________(被卷入，涉及) in Watergate Scandal.
8.No parking is allowed, but an _________ (例外) is made for disabled drivers.
9.I was scared and I don't mind _________ it.(承认)
10.The new machine is far more _________ (有效率的) than the old one.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2015-2016学年湖南衡阳八中高一下期中考试英语试卷（解析版） 题型：短文改错
短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处，每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Dear Mr. Manager,
I’m writing to express my thank to you and your employee Miss Li Hong, who helped me found my handbag while I was shopping in your shop in March 24. That day I was greatly interesting and lost myself in enjoying a beautiful product. After I paid a pair of silk socks, I left my handbag on the counter. I have already walked out of the shop then Miss Li came up with my handbag. I thanked her and offered her a reward of 20 dollars and she refused to take even a cent. I deeply moved by her spirit. Miss Li’s good qualities are something I’ll always keep it in mind.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2015-2016年湖北武汉华中师大第一附中高一下期中英语卷（解析版） 题型：语法填空
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容或括号内单词的正确形式。
Last Friday, a chance encounter(遭遇) changed me and my family’s life greatly.
After school, I was about to enter my apartment building 1._________a little dirty dog 2._________ (lie) beside the dustbin, caught my eye. He looked3._________ (extreme) weak. Immediately the homeless dog filled me with sympathy. So I bent down and held him in my arms. I rushed him upstairs and right away 4._________ (offer) him some food. Then I gave him a bath. After the bath he looked5._________ (energy) and refreshed. 6._________ a lovely dog!
When my parents got home, I asked7._________ I could keep the dog. 8._________ my surprise, they agreed. From that day, he has become a member of our family. Everyone has enjoyed his company. My parents walk him often. He and I play joyfully.
9._________ (look) at the lovely, happy dog today, I realize that I did a right thing. I brought him to a warm, loving home, 10._________ he brought us great happiness and laughter.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2015-2016学年湖北沙市高二下期中考试英语卷（解析版） 题型：书面表达
书面表达
假如你校正在开展“读古典名著”的讨论活动。不同的学生对这一活动有着不同的看法，请你根据下表内容写一篇英语短文。
支持者 帮助我们了解古代文化习俗；有借鉴作用
反对者 语言与今天大不相同，很难读懂；读名著过时了，也很乏味
你的观点 ……
注意：1．语言连贯，符合逻辑；
2．合理添加你的观点；
3．词数120左右。
参考词汇：classic n. 名著 cultivate v. 陶冶
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科目：高中英语 来源：2015-2016学年河北邢台一中高一下第二次月考英语试卷（解析版） 题型：阅读理解
Like all big cities, Paris has a traffic problem: lots of cars, lots of traffic jams(阻塞) and lots of pollution from exhaust fumes(废气). So the city began a scheme(计划) to improve the situation.
Under the Velib scheme(‘Velib’ comes from velo liberte, or ‘bicycle freedom’) , people can take a bicycle, use it for as long as they want, and then leave it at the same or another bicycle station. The first half-hour on the bike is free, but if you don’t return it after 30 minutes, you have to pay. But it’s only ∈1 a day or ∈29 a year! The bicycles are heavy (25 kg), and they are all grey and have baskets. There are about 20,000 of them in the city, and around 1,450 bicycle stations. So there are a lot more Velib stations than the 298 subway stations!
Paris is not the first city to have a scheme like this. But not everybody thinks it’s a great idea. One Parisian said, “These bicycles are only for short journeys. If people want to travel across the city, they won’t use a bicycle — they’ll still use their cars.”
A city spokesman said, “The bicycle scheme won’t solve all our traffic problems, of course. But it might help reduce air pollution. Traffic, together with factory fumes, is a big problem. There aren’t any simple answers to traffic problems and pollution in cities. But unless we do something now, there will be more traffic jams and temperatures will continue to rise, so the problems in our environment will get worse. The bikes might help people to lead a healthier life, too.”
1.What can we learn about the Velib scheme?
A. Its bikes have no baskets.
B. Its bikes are light and colorful.
C. People must return the bike to the same place after using it.
D. It owns more stations than the subway.
2.If you use a Velib for 1 hour, you should pay _____.
A. ∈1 B. ∈30 C. ∈29 D. no money
3.Why do some people disagree with the Velib scheme?
A. The cost is rather high.
B. It’s hard to find a Velib station.
C. It’s not suitable for a long journey.
D. The distance between two Velib stations is long.
4.What’s the city spokesman’s attitude towards the bicycle scheme?
A. Doubtful B. Positive.
C. Uncaring. D. Worried.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2015-2016学年重庆一中高二 4月考英语试卷（解析版） 题型：书面表达
书面表达
假定你是李华，你校下周将要举办名为“My Song, My Life”面向所有英文歌曲爱好者的英文歌曲演唱比赛。请给美国朋友彼得写信邀请他参赛，要点如下：
1. 比赛介绍，包括比赛名称、比赛要求、比赛目的等；
2. 在选歌方面给他建议，比如歌曲类型、歌曲风格或歌曲题目等；
3. 表达你对他的信心，鼓励他参赛。
注意：词数100左右。开头和结尾已为你写好。
Dear Peter,
How are you? It’s a long time since I heard from you. ____________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Looking forward to your reply.
Yours，
Li Hua
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