Question

【题目】All languages change over time, but some change at a faster rate than others.【1】The most important factors are the number of people who speak a language, where they live and whether they move around, the importance of the language for world trade and communication, and changes in technology.

【2】However, today English is the most widely used language in the world. English is spoken by about 350 million people as a first language in countries such asGreat Britain, theUnited States. In addition, about a billion more people speak English as a second language.

English started to take over French as an international language during the period of British colonialism (殖民主义) when the English ruled many countries in Africa and Asia.【3】The colonial period came to an end at the same time that several other changes occurred. For example, theU.S.started to play a greater part in global affairs and the international economy. New means of communication technology such as television and the Internet spread English worldwide.【4】In addition, they could use the Internet for information, business, or e-mail communication, all in English. Just as the use of English spread, other languages changed English by contact or by new inventions and technology.

In contrast, Icelandic is a language that has changed very slowly. Icelandic speakers today can understand poetry written in a slightly different dialect over 1,000 years ago! Why has Icelandic changed so slowly? The main reason is the isolated (孤立的) location of the island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.【5】Compared toEngland,Icelandhad no history of colonialism.Iceland’s small population has not played a major role in international trade or communication. Today, most Icelanders speak English in addition to their native language. With outside influences, Icelandic is changing more rapidly now.

A. People everywhere could watch the news or sports events in English.

B. These changes have a great influence on the development of society.

C. Isolation meant that for hundreds of years, Icelanders had little contact with speakers of other languages.

D. What are some of the factors that influence how quickly a language changes?

E. The language communication brings about the communication of technology.

F. In the past, other languages such as Latin or French were more important than English.

G. English was the primary means of communication in these colonies.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】F

【3】G

【4】A

【5】C

【解析】本文是一篇记叙文。主要讲述了关于语言的演变。有的语言演变的较快，而有的则演变的较慢。文章列举了英语和冰岛语两个例子，讲述了英语从殖民时期至今的演变历程，英语在当代发挥着越来越重要的作用，而冰岛语由于地理位置与外界比较隔绝，因此演变的较为缓慢。

【1】根据前文“some change at a faster rate than others有的语言演变的较快”以及后文“The most important factors are the number of people who speak a language”语言演变快的重要因素是很多人在使用，横线处连接这两个句子，应该承上启下。故选D。

【2】“___2___However, today English is the most widely used language in the world”，可是，当今社会，英语是使用的最广泛的语言，根据后文however表转折，可推知与前文表相反意义。故选F。

【3】“English started to take over French as an international language during the period of British colonialism (殖民主义) when the English ruled many countries in Africa and Asia.___3___”，可知，此段主要是讲述，英国在殖民统治时期，英语在殖民地的发展。故选G。

【4】“New means of communication technology such as television and the Internet spread English worldwide.___4___In addition, they could use the Internet for information, business, or e-mail communication, all in English”新的交流工具的出现促进了英语的广泛传播，他们可以用互联网查阅信息、商业新闻或者发送电子邮件，因此本段主要是讲述人们可以用英语所做的事情。故选A。

【5】根据前文“The main reason is the isolated (孤立的) location of the island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean”主要的原因是因为，冰岛位于大西洋中孤立的小岛之上，结合后文“Compared toEngland,Icelandhad no history of colonialism”与英国相比，冰岛没有殖民历史，因此推断本段主要讲述由于冰岛的孤立是导致冰岛语演变慢的原因，横线处与前后文应是连接关系。故选C。