3．English may not be a world language foreverWhile 375 million people around the globe use English as their mother tongue，the number of people using it as a second language has already been well over that figure．
It is said that by the end of 2000，one billion people could use English to communicate with others，including both native speakers and non-native speakers．
"The rise and fall of a language is closely connected with that country's economic strength and development potential （ 潜力），"Rhodri Jones，the English 2000 manager of the ELT group of the British Council said．
An expert who has given many lectures on the future of English said the economic boost （快速发展） in Asia would raise the positions of the Chinese and Hindi languages．Therefore，the English language is facing a serious problem．Where will English turn in the next 50 years or the century？
The recently introduced book from Britain"Future of English"might give people concerned with their question some enlightenments （启发）．The book helps English teachers，planners，managers and decision makers with a professional interest in the development of English worldwide．
With the book written in English translated into Chinese and to be published soon，the book might be brought to a wider sphere of people．
"From the book，we learn many facts about the English language，and we may be able to predict （预测） its future after reading it，"said Dorothy Humphery，who used to be a senior English teacher for the British Council．
24．The reason why some language rises in the world depends onD．
A．the population of the country
B．the country's economy strength in the world
C．the number of the population who use it
D．the country's economy strength and development potential
25．The book"Future of English"helps toD
A．improve the standard of people's learning English
B．adds to people's interest toward English
C．emphasize （强调） the importance of English in the world
D．make people interested in the development of English worldwide
26．After reading"Future of English"we knowD
A．English is the language that the people who speak it is the most in the world
B．English may disappear sooner or later
C．the world is keeping changing from time to time
D．what the future of the English language is
27．The main idea of the passage isD．
A why English has been popular in the world
B．how to improve people's ability of learning English
C．English has a bright future
D．the usage of English may become less in the world one day．
分析 本文主要论述了英语不可能永远是第一位的世界语言．
解答 24．D．细节理解题．由第三段The rise and fall of a language is closely connected with that country's economic strength and development potential （ 潜力），一种语言的兴起和衰落与该国的经济实力和发展潜力密切相关．故选D．
25．D．细节理解题．由第五段The book helps English teachers，planners，managers and decision makers with a professional interest in the development of English worldwide．这本书有助于英语教师，规划者，管理者和决策者对英语在全球的发展感兴趣．故选D．
26．D．推理判断题．由最后一段and we may be able to predict （预测） its future after reading it，阅读这本书以后我们可以预测英语的未来，故选D．
27．D．主旨归纳题．由文章内容可知，本文主要论述了一种语言的兴起与一个国家的发展息息相关，而随着中国以及其他国家的崛起，英语不可能永远是第一位的世界语言，使用的人数会有所减少，故选D．
点评 本篇文章主要是细节理解方面的题型，需要考生通过跳读迅速找到对应的句子进行详细理解，句子的理解可以结合上下文意思，通过逻辑推理得到．
