Question

【题目】Though there are about 400 languages from all over the world that are in danger of disappearing completely，Zoque-Ayapaneco，a native Mexican language is considered the most likely to become extinct，because the only two people in the world that speak it fluently do not talk to each other!

And，it's not because they live in different countries，states or even villages. In fact，Manuel Segovia and Isidro Velazquez，both in their 70s，live within 500 yards of each other，in the village of Ayapa in the Southern Mexican State of Tabasco. They，however，refuse to communicate because they simply don't have much in common. Segovia is apparently a little frank in nature while Velazquez is described as shy.

Segovia was at least able to talk in Zoque-Ayapanece with his brother until he passed away about 12 years ago，and still manages to practice it with his family，especially his son Manuel，who for the last five years has been trying to learn it and hopes to become fluent enough to teach it to the next generation. Velazquez on the other hand，has not been heard speaking in the language with anybody.

The two men say the language used to be widely spoken in the village，but the younger generation refused to learn it for fear of being laughed at，and it therefore began to die a slow death，as the elders passed away.

Unless the two men get their acts together，the only way to hear the language will be to either listen to Manuel's not-so-fluent statement or see them talk in a documentary entitled “Lengua Muerta” (Dead Language) that is being filmed to capture Zoque Ayapaneco and 364 other native Mexican languages that are in a similar state.

We sure hope Segovia and Velazquez soon find something common to talk about. Maybe the fact is that the language is dying and that they should start encouraging and teaching the next generation together.

【1】What do we know about Zoque-Ayapaneco?

A．It was widely used twelve years ago.

B．It is a Southern American language.

C．It will be popular in Mexico in the near future.

D．It will be dying out if no effective measures are taken.

【2】The reason why Segovia and Velazquez don't talk to each other is that ________.

A．they both are too shy

B．they have no similarity in their character

C．they are too familiar to talk

D．they live in different villages

【3】From the passage，we can conclude that ________.

A．altogether 365 languages are becoming extinct in the world

B．Segovia and Velazquez will communicate with each other soon

C．the government cares a lot about the protection of Zoque-Ayapaneco

D．we can hear the language from Manuel or documentary “Lengua Muerta”

【4】What's the main idea of the passage?

A．World's endangered languages are being filmed.

B．Villagers are trying to protect their old language.

C．An endangered language is spoken by only two people.

D．There are a lot of languages in Mexico.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】B

【3】D

【4】C

【解析】

试题分析：文章讲述了一种在墨西哥只有两个人会说的当地语言，并且这两个人没有交流，这种语言濒临灭绝。现在必须采取措施加以保护。

【1】D 推理判断题。根据第一段Zoque-Ayapaneco，a native Mexican language is considered the most likely to become extinct，because the only two people in the world that speak it fluently do not talk to each other!及下文内容可知，Zoque-Ayapaneco语言由于年长者的去世，年轻人不愿学习的现状，如果不采取有效措施这种语言就会灭绝。故选D。

【2】B 细节理解题。根据第二段They，however，refuse to communicate because they simply don't have much in common. Segovia is apparently a little frank in nature while Velazquez is described as shy.可知，两人性格不同，所以没有共同语言，不交流，故选B。

【3】D 细节理解题。根据倒数第二段the only way to hear the language will be to either listen to Manuel's not-so-fluent statement or see them talk in a documentary entitled “Lengua Muerta” (Dead Language) that is being filmed to capture Zoque Ayapaneco可知，我们只能听Manuel不流利地说或在纪录片中听到这种语言，故选D。

【4】C 主旨大意题。文章讲述了一种在墨西哥只有两个人会说的当地语言，这种语言现在濒临灭绝。故选C。