Every day, 340 million people speak it. One billion people are learning it and it is said that by 2050, half of the world’s population will be using it. What are we talking about? That is the global language—English.
The English language started in Britain in the 5th century. It is a mixed language. It was built up when German. Scandinavian and French invaders settled in England and created a common language for communication.
Today it is the official language of the UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Ireland as well as many islands in the Caribbean. Many other countries and regions use it for politics and business, for example, India. Pakistan, Nigeria and the Philippines. English is also one of the official languages of Hong Kong.
But global advertising and pop music mean that in most countries, you will see or hear some English. Thanks to McDonalds, we all know about “burgers”. “fries” and “milkshakes”. Songs by Madonna, Britney Spears and Celine Dion are in English. We can sing along, even if we do not understand what we are singing!
English is a messy (杂乱的) language. Every year, dictionaries include new words that talk about popular culture, for example, computer-related words such as "blogging", "download" and "chartroom". Also included are words that teenagers use. Who does not know “cool”, “OK” and “hello”?
Other languages also influence English. Many English words come from French. Words like “café” and expressions like “c'est la vie” (that is life) are all part of the English language. On the other hand, the French language includes English words like "le weekend" and "le camping". German words are also part of English. Words like "kindergarten" come from the German language.
Recently, British people have become interested in “yoga”. But the word comes from an ancient Hindu language in India.
36. The English language has a history of ______.
A. over 2000 years B. over 500 years
C. over 1500 years D. over 1000 years
37. The underlined expression “thanks to” can be replaced by ______.
A. because of B. in order to C. as usual D. as if.
38. Which of the following statements is true about the language of English?
A. It has been changing all the time.
B. It has borrowed words from all the other languages.
C. French words are used by the English because dictionaries have French words.
D. Singers and film stars have the greatest influence on language.
39. How many people in the world are using English now?
A. One billion people B. 340 million
C. almost all the people in the world.
D. not mentioned above, but the number is growing rapidly.
40. Many countries and regions use it for politics and business except______.
A. the USA B. Nigeria C. the Philippines D. Norway
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
When I stepped out the plane from Miami into Charlotte, North Carolina, airport for a connecting flight home, I immediately knew something was wrong. Lots of desperate people crowded the terminal. I quickly learned that flights headed to the Northeast were called off because of a storm. The earliest they could get us out of Charlotte was Tuesday. It was Friday. A gate agent stood on the counter and shouted, “Don’t ask us for help! We cannot help you!”
I joined a crowd that ran from terminal to terminal in search of a flight out. Eventually, I found six strangers willing to rent a van with me. We drove through the night to Washington, where I took a train the rest of the way to Providence.
The real problem, of course, is that incidents like this happen every day, to everyone who flies, more and more often. It really gets to me, though, because for eight years I was on the other side, as a flight attendant for Trans-World Airlines(TWA).
I know the days are gone when attendants could be written up if we did not put the lines napkins with the TWA logo in the lower right-hand corner of the first-class diners’ trays. As are the days when there were three dinner options on flights from Boston to Los Angeles in economy class. When, once, stuck on a tarmac (机场停机坪) in Newark for four hours, a planeload of passengers got McDonald’s hamburgers and fries by thoughtfulness of the airline.
I have experienced the decline of service along with the rest of the flying public. But I believe everything will change little by little, because I remember the days when to fly was to soar (翱翔). The airlines, and their employees, took pride in how their passengers were treated. And I think the days are sure to come back one day in the near future.
Many people crowded the terminal because ________.
A. they were ready to board on the planes
B. something was wrong with the terminal
C. the flights to the Northeast were canceled
D. the gate agent wouldn’t help the passengers
The writer got to Providence ________ at last.
A. by air B. by van C. by train D. by underground
Which of the following is not true according to the passage?
A. Incidents happened to those who fly quite often.
B. The writer used to be a flight attendant for Trans-World Airlines.
C. Even a small mistake might cause complaints from passengers in the past.
D. McDonald’s hamburgers and fries were among regular dinner options.
What can be implied from the passage?
A. The writer lived in Charlotte, North Carolina.
B. The writer thought the service was not as good as it used to be.
C. The writer with other passengers waited to be picked up patiently.
D. Passengers would feel proud of how they were treated on the plane.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2011-2012学年山东省日照一中高一上学期期中考试英语试卷 题型：单选题
To lose weight , Jane is considering _______ the weight-loss pills . She prefers to do that rather than _____ some exercise every day .
| A．taking , take | B．taking , takes | C．take , taking | D．to take , take |
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科目：高中英语 来源：2012-2013学年陕西省南郑中学高一上学期期中考试英语试卷（带解析） 题型：单选题
Our teacher suggests English every day to improve our spoken English.
| A．practising to speak | B．to practise to speak |
| C．to practise speaking | D．practising speaking |
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科目：高中英语 来源：2010-2011学年湖北省荆州中学高二上学期期末考试英语试卷 题型：完型填空
When I walked into the house after school, the first thing I noticed was a box with items I recognized from my dad’s office.
“What are you doing at home?” I asked casually.
“Andrew, I was 31 today,” he answered quietly.
I was sure he was joking. “No, you weren’t. Why are you 32 at home?”
Then I noticed his 33 and realized he was telling me the truth. My father has always been a hard worker and prided himself on his career. 34 our family has been his joy, and I guess I have 35 his work for granted.
My father’s unemployment 36 many changes in our lives. For starters, he was at home all the time, which meant my bed had to be 37 , my room cleaned up, and my 38 done right after school. I would come home every day to find him at the computer 39 jobs. I began to notice how 40 he seemed, and how losing his job affected his self-esteem, though he tried to be 41 . For the first time, I 42 my dad as vulnerable (易受伤的). He asked my brother and me to 43 less. I gave up my pocket money, 44 it wasn’t much. I felt I was doing the right. I also found a part-time job.
After several difficult months of searching, my dad 45 to go in a totally different direction. He 46 that he never wanted to be laid off again, so he was going to start his own business. Day by day, I watched him 47 it, and I admired how much time and 48 he expended. I 49 knew he was a hard worker, but watching him in action really affected me.
Although this was one of the 50 experiences for our family, it taught me a lot about dealing with adversity (逆境), and will be my foundations for success.
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科目：高中英语 来源：云南省2010届高三下学期第一次模拟考试 题型：完型填空
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1．5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate．He is always in a good 21 and always has something 22 to say．
If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the 23 how to look on the positive side of the situation．Seeing this style really made me 24 , so one day I went up to Michael and asked him, "I don' t 25 ．You can' t be positive all the time．How do you do it?"
Michael replied, each morning I 26 and say to myself 'Mike, you have two 27 today．You can choose to be in a 28 mood or be in a bad mood．' I 29 to be in a good mood．Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a 30 or choose to learn from it．I choose to learn from it．"
"Yeah, right．It isn't that easy．" I protested．
"Yes it is, " Michael said．"Life is all about choices．You choose how you react 31 situations and how people will affect your mood．You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood．The bottom line is: It's your choice 32 you live life．"
Several years later, I heard Michael was involved in a serious 33 , falling off 60 feet from a communications tower．After l8 hours of surgery, and weeks of intensive 34 , Michael recovered．When I asked him what had 35 his mind as the accident took place．
"The first thing that went through my mind was the well being of my soon-to-born daughter," Michael replied．"Then, as I 36 on the ground, remembered I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to 37 ．I chose to live．"
Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also 38 his amazing attitude．
I learned from him 39 every day we have a choice to live fully． 40 is everything．
21．A．mood B．sense C．feeling D．emotion
22．A．active B．positive C．reactive D．negative
23．A．trainee B．interviewee C．employee D．bee
24．A．moved B．interested C．precious D．curious
25．A．take it B．hold it C．make it D．get it
26．A．make up B．take up C．wake up D．bring up
27．A．roads B．choices C．ways D．methods
28．A．good B．pretty C．nice D．smart
29．A．decide B．choose C．feel D．require
30．A．cook B．receiver C．victim D．leader
31．A．by B．against C．with D．to
32．A．what B．that C．how D．which
33．A．thing B．incident C．accident D．state
34．A．help B．care C．rest D．holiday
35．A．gone through B．broken through C．looked through D．read through
36．A．sat B．lay C．stood D．lied
37．A．move B．leave C．die D．remove
38．A．so long as B．in case of C．instead of D．because of
39．A．what B．how C．that D．which
40．A．Attitude B．Choice C．Person D．World
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