Question

【题目】 It’s reported that half of around 7,000 languages on the earth are in danger of disappearing by 2100.There are many reasons for such disappearance. Sometimes younger generations stop learning a language because parents want children to fit in modern society. 【1】 For instance, native American children of the late-19th century were required to attend boarding schools where educators forbade them from speaking their native languages.

Endangered languages are ranked according to their risk level by the United Nations. A "critically endangered" language is one that even grandparents don't speak often. New York's Onondaga language is an example with only 50 speakers left. An "extinct" language has no speakers, which means it is gone forever. 【2】 The last person who spoke it died in 2008. So this language doesn’t exist any longer.

Various animals and plants benefit our environment. 【3】 Saving these languages benefits our understanding of other cultures. Languages can show how a society looks at the world and what it values. The Endangered Language Alliance, a non-profit group, wants to save languages from disappearing. 【4】 However, its efforts are limited. If an endangered language is going to make a real comeback, it'll probably get its start in schools. Now students in Hawaii can keep learning Hawaiian from elementary schools to college and beyond.

【5】 At least one did. In 1881, a Jewish linguist named Eliezer Ben-Yehuda brought the 3,000-year-old language Hebrew back to life. Today it is one of the official languages of the country of Israel, with more than 4 million speakers.

A. Alaska's Eyak language is one example.

B. Why should we save endangered languages?

C. With just five speakers left, it is absolutely endangered.

D. Can a language with zero native speakers come back to life?

E. Similarly, different languages contribute to cultural diversity.

F. Sometimes societies force minorities to give up their language.

G. The organization finds native speakers and records their stories.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】F

【2】A

【3】E

【4】G

【5】D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了语言消失的原因，语言对人类的重要性，以及为防止语言消失所采取的措施。

【1】下文For instance, native American children of the late-19th century were required to attend boarding schools where educators forbade them from speaking their native languages.（举个例来说，在19世纪晚期美国土著儿童被要求去上寄宿制学校，在那儿，教育者禁止他们说他们的母语）与F. Sometimes societies force minorities to give up their language.（有时，社会强迫少数民族放弃自己的语言）承接自然，下文是社会强迫少数民族放弃自己语言的例子。故选F项。

【2】A. Alaska's Eyak language is one example.（阿拉斯加语就是一个例子）与上文An "extinct" language has no speakers, which means it is gone forever.（灭绝的语言没人说，这就意味着它永远地消失了）以及下文The last person who spoke it died in 2008. So this language doesn’t exist any longer.（最后一个说它的人死于2008年，所以这种语言不再存在了）逻辑严密，承接自然。故选A项。

【3】上文Various animals and plants benefit our environment.（各种各样的动植物对环境有益）与E. Similarly, different languages contribute to cultural diversity.（相同地，各种各样的语言对文化多样性有好处）承接自然，且两句句式相同，其中various和different属于同义词复现，benefit和contribute to也属于同义词复现。故选E项。

【4】前文The Endangered Language Alliance, a non-profit group, wants to save languages from disappearing.（濒临灭绝语言联盟希望挽回这些即将消失的语言）与G. The organization finds native speakers and records their stories.（这个组织找到说母语的人然后记录他们的故事）承接自然，答案是语言联盟组织所采取的具体措施。故选G项。

【5】下文At least one did. In 1881, a Jewish linguist named Eliezer Ben-Yehuda brought the 3,000-year-old language Hebrew back to life. Today it is one of the official languages of the country of Israel, with more than 4 million speakers.（至少有一种语言做到了。在1881年，一名叫Eliezer Ben-Yehuda的犹太语言学家使这个有3000年历史的希伯来语复活了。现在，它是以色列官方语言之一，拥有400多万使用者）与D. Can a language with zero native speakers come back to life?（一个没人说的语言可以复活吗？）承接自然，下文是对答案问题的回答，也是其中的一个例子。故选D项。