Question

【题目】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】主旨大意题。本文没有明显的主题句，但是通读全文就可知文章讲的是在莎士比亚时代全世界说英语的人数大约是五百万。如今不但以英语为母语的人数增长了，而且随着英语成为世界工作语言，全世界懂得这一工作语言的人数也多得无法估计了。同时作者还介绍了英语学习的目的和情况，以及英语被广泛地需要、广泛地运用、广泛地交流的原因。所以只有D项的意思（作文世界语言的英语）能概括全文。故选D。

【2】细节理解题。根据第一段的句子 “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项的叙述与原文意思相符，所以它属于 true的范畴。故不选B；再根据第二段的句子 “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项的叙述与原文意思相符，所以它属于 true的范畴。故不选C；再根据第二段的句子 “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.”可知人们学英语是为了各种各样的理由。D项的叙述与原文意思相符，所以它属于 true的范畴。故不选D；再根据第二段的句子 “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项中的 “Some 260 million people ”的叙述与原文意思不符，所以它属于not true的范畴。故选A。

【3】细节理解题。根据第二段的句子 “ 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. ”可知英语被广泛使用的主要原因是：它是被用来进行国际交流的一种世界语言。故选D。

【4】细节理解题。根据第二段的句子 “ 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.” 可知是英国的前殖民地的那些发展中国家会最有可能使用英语。故选C。