English is fast becoming the language of science around the world, but what is its future among
everyday speakers? One expert points out that the percentage(比率) of native English speakers is
declining (降低) globally while the languages of other rapidly growing regions are being spoken by
increasing numbers of people. But English will continue to remain widespread and important.     
     However, British language scholar David Graddol says English will probably drop in dominance (主导) by the middle of this century to rank, after Chinese, about equally with Arabic, Hindi, and Urdu. "The
number of people speaking English as a first language continues to rise, but it isn't rising nearly as fast as the numbers of many other languages around the world, simply because the main population group has been
largely in the less developed countries where languages other than English have been spoken,' he says.    
     In a recent article in the journal Science, Mr. Graddol noted that three languages that are not near the
top of the list of the most widely spoken now might be there soon. These are Bengali, Tamil, and Malay,
spoken in south and Southeast Asia.     
     David Crystal, the author of the Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, says about 1.5
billion of the world's six billion people speak it as a second tongue compared to the 400 million native
speakers. But another expert on the English language says Mr. Graddol underestimates (低估) the future
of its dominance. "Nobody quite knows what's going to happen because no language has been in this
position before. But all the evidence (证据) suggests that the English language snowball is rolling down a
hill and is getting faster,' he said. 

1. In David Graddol's opinion, English will _____.    

A. remain widespread and important    
B. be more important than any other language    
C. lose its dominant position    
D. die away in the near future

2. The underlined sentence in the last paragraph implies that _____.    

A. snowballs will roll down faster than language balls    
B. the English language snowball is rolling down faster than any time in the past    
C. English language will soon drop in dominance    
D. more and more language users will choose English

3. How many experts does the passage mention who express their ideas about the future of English?    

A. 2.            
B. 3.          
C. 4.            
D. 5.

4. According to David Graddol, which of the following will possibly be one of the languages that will be most widely spoken?     

A. Malay.    
B. Arabic.    
C. Urdu.        
D. German.

5. What should be the best title for the passage?    

A. English Remaining the Dominant Position    
B. The Future of English? Who Knows?    
C. Opinions from Different Experts    
D. The English Language Snowball Rolling Down

     Language learning begins with listening. Children are greatly different in the amount of listening they do 
before they start speaking, and later starters are often long listeners. Most children will "obey" spoken 
instructions some time before they can speak, though the word "obey" is hardly accurate as a description 
of the eager and delighted cooperation usually shown by the child. Before they can speak, many children 
will also ask questions by gesture and by making questioning noises.
     Any attempt to study the development from the noises babies make to their first spoken words leads 
to considerable difficulties. It is agreed that they enjoy making noises, and that during the first few months 
one or two noises sort themselves as particularly expressive as delight, pain, friendliness, and so on. But 
since these can't be said to show the baby's intention to communicate, they can hardly be regarded as 
early forms of language. It is agreed, too, that from about three months they play with sounds for 
enjoyment, and that by six months they are able to add new words to their store. This self-imitation
(模仿) leads on to deliberate (有意的) imitation of sounds made or words spoken to them by other 
people. The problem then arises as to the point at which one can say that these imitations can be 
considered as speech.
     It is a problem we need to get out teeth into. The meaning of a word depends on what a particular 
person means by it in a parti cular situation and it is clear that what a child means by a word will change
 as he gains more experience of the world .Thus the use at seven months of “mama” as a greeting for 
his mother cannot be dismissed as a meaningless sound simply because he also uses it at other times for 
his father, his dog, or anything else he likes. Playful and meaningless imitation of what other people say 
continues  after the child has begun to speak for himself, I doubt, however whether anything is gained 
when parents take advantage of this ability in an attempt to teach new sounds.   

1. Before children start speaking _____.

A. they need equal amount of listening
B. they need different amounts of listening
C. they are all eager to cooperate with the adults by obeying spoken instructions
D. they can’t understand and obey the adult’s oral instructions

2. Children who start speaking late _____.

A. may have problems with their listening
B. probably do not hear enough language spoken around them
C. usually pay close attention to what they hear 
D. often take a long time in learning to listen properly

3. A baby's first noises are _____.

A. an expression of his moods and feelings　　
B. an early form of language
C. a sign that he means to tell you something　　
D. an imitation of the speech of adults

4. The problem of deciding at what point a baby's imitations can be considered as speech _____.

A. is important because words have different meanings for different people
B .is not especially important because the changeover takes place gradually
C. is one that should be properly understood because the meaning of words changes with age
D. is one that should  be completely ignored (忽略) because children's use of words is often meaningless

5. The speaker implies _____.

A. parents can never hope to teach their children new sounds
B. children no longer imitate people after they begin to speak
C. children who are good at imitating learn new words more quickly
D. even after they have learnt to speak, children still enjoy imitating

     Canada 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
     Canada is a big country with six time zones. In the west, it is four a.m., and everyone is asleep, but in
Halifax on the east coast it is eight o'clock and people are having breakfast. It is a cold Friday morning in November, and the temperature is ten degrees below zero Centigrade.
     Argentina 9:00 a.m.
     In Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, it is nine a.m. on a warm summer morning, and people are
starting work or school. November is a summer month in Argentina because it is in the southern
hemisphere(南半球).
     Scotland 12:00 noon
     Scotland is part of the United Kingdom. The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh, and the capital of the UK is London. It is twelve noon, or midday, in Edinburgh. Children are having lessons, but they are looking
forward to the weekend because there is no school on Saturday and Sunday.
     Egypt 2:00 p.m.
     Friday is already the weekend in Egypt. Friday is a special day for Muslims, so schools, offices and
shops are closed in all Arab countries. So now, at two p.m., most people in Egypt are having lunch with
their families.
     Japan 9:00 p.m.
     Japan is seven hours ahead of Egypt, so it is already Friday evening there. The weekend is beginning. Most people are out with friends or watching television or playing computer games.
     New Zealand 12:00 midnight
     It is late on Friday night, so most people are asleep. Now Saturday morning is arriving. It is morning in Canada too, but that is Friday morning!

1. In eastern Canada, the time is _____ that in western Canada.

A. four and a half hours behind      
B. four hours ahead of
C. three hours ahead of            
D. the same as

2. While Canadian children in Halifax are having breakfast, Argentinean children are _____.

A. sleeping        
B. going home      
C. at school      
D. having supper

3. It's midday in the capital of _____ when it's 9:00 a.m. in the capital of Argentina.

A. Japan          
B. Canada        
C. New Zealand    
D. Scotland

4. Two p.m. in Egypt is not a good time to telephone people in New Zealand, because in New
Zealand _____.

A. it's midnight and most people are asleep  
B. it's noon and many people are having lunch
C. it's the morning and many people are working
D. it's the afternoon and most people are playing computer games

5. What time is it in New Zealand if it's 11:15 p.m. in Japan?

A. 1:15 p.m.      
B. 2:15 p.m.      
C. 1:15 a.m.        
D. 2:15 a.m.

     If Confucius(孔子)were still alive today and could celebrate his September 28 birthday
with a big cake, there would be a lot of candles.He'd need a fan or a strong wind to help
him put them out.
     While many people in China will remember Confucius on this special day, few people in the
United States will give him a passing thought.It's nothing personal.Most Americans don't
even remember the birthdays of their own national heroes.
     But this doesn't mean that Americans don't care about Confucius.In many ways he has
become a bridge that foreigners must cross if they want to reach a deeper understanding
of China.
     In the past two decades, the Chinese studies programs have gained huge popularity in
Western universities.More recently, the Chinese government has set up Confucius Institutes
in more than 80 countries.These schools teach both Chinese language and culture.The main
courses of Chinese culture usually included Chinese art, history and philosophy(哲学).Some
social scientists suggest that Westerners should take advantages of the ancient Chinese
wisdom to make up for the drawbacks of Westerners philosophy.Students in the United
States, at the same time, are racing to learn Chinese.So they will be ready for life in a world
where China is an equal power with the United States.Businessmen who hope to make
money in China are reading books about Confucius to understand their Chinese customers.
     So the old thinker's ideas are still alive and well.
     Today China attracts the West more than ever, and it will need more teachers to introduce
Confucius and Chinese culture to the West.
     As for the old thinker, he will not soon be forgotten by people in the West, even if his
birthday is.

1.The opening paragraph is mainly intended to ______

A.provide some key facts about Confucius
B. attract the readers' interest in the subject
C. show great respect for the ancient thinker
D. prove the popularity of modern birthday celebrations

2. We can learn from Paragraph 4 that American students______

A.have a great interest in studying Chinese
B. take an active part in Chinese competitions
C. try to get high scores in Chinese exams
D. fight for a chance to learn Chinese

3. What is the best title for the passege?______

A. Forgotten Wisdom in America
B. Huge Fans of the Chinese Language
C. Chinese Culture for Westerners
D. Old Thinker with a Big Future

4. The passage is likely to appear in ______.

A. a biography
B. a history paper
C. a newspaper
D. a philosophy textbook

     The long history of the Chinese Knot (中国结) dates back to ancient times
when people first used knots for fastening, wrapping, hunting and fishing. The
knot was developed into  1.________   art form during the Tang and Song
dynasties and later popularized in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
One major characteristic of decorative knot work is that all the knots are tied
using one thread.   2.________   finished, the knot looks identical (一模一样
的)from both the front and back. They can come in a variety of colors such as:
gold, green, blue  3.________  black, and however, the most commonly used
color is red. 4.________  is because it symbolizes good luck and prosperity
(兴旺).
   Crafting (精心制作) the Chinese knot is a threestep process,   5.________ 
 involves tying, tightening and adding.  6.________  are many different shapes
of Chinese knots, offering blessings of happiness, love and good luck. In Chinese,
"knot" means reunion (团圆), friendliness, warmth, love, etc. Up to  7.________,
the art of the Chinese Knot has been used in necklaces, buttons and even hangings 
 8.________  cars or mobile phones.

     The early 1900s were very different from today.Toys,though they have evolved in many
ways,were still the delight of children everywhere.
     Theodore Roosevelt's Presidency marks the beginning of the "Teddy Bear". In the year
1902,toy bears were named "Teddy" after the president's nickname.The Teddy Bear became
known worldwide,and is still known and loved today.It was only a few years later that the
Teddy Bears were mass produced.
     In 1913,an item called the Erector Set was invented.It was a steel,motorized toy that
children could use to build models of anything.Its creator was A．C.Gilbert,a medical doctor.
     Charles Pajeau created a similar wooden set called Tinker Toys in the year 1914.Tinker
Toys were made for younger children.
     Raggedy Ann dolls first came on the scene after newspaper cartoonist Johnny Gruelle
reproduced the doll he made for his daughter.That was in 1915.
     The following year,an architect's son named John Lloyd Wright,invented Lincoln Logs,
which were interlocked to make structures.
     Two years after Mickey Mouse was created,stuffed(填塞)Mickey Mouse dolls were
made by Charlotte Clark.This was the start of Disney merchandise.
     The yoyo became popular in the United States after Donald Duncan bought a yoyo
company in 1929.
     The ViewMaster,a three dimensional viewer,was developed by a camera enthusiast
named William Gruber.The toy became popular when Gruber licensed Disney characters
to make still,3D images from Disney movies and television programs.
      Finally,in 1940,model airplanes were mass produced.They started out as a way for
manufacturers to sell planes to the military,but later caught on as a toy.
     The toys that we know and love today have had their roots from these ancient times.
Isn't it interesting to know that if it hadn't been for all these creative people,most of the
games you know today would never have been?

1．Why were toy bears named "Teddy"?

A．To be suitable for mass production.
B．To be easily pronounced by children.
C．To meet the advertisers' needs.
D．To memorize President Theodore Roosevelt.

2．In which aspect do the toys created by Gilbert differ from those by Charles?

A．Shape.  
B．Material used.
C．Themes.  
D．Price.

3．When did the ViewMaster become popular?

A．After William Gruber was born.
B．After Gruber licensed Disney characters.
C．Two years after Mickey Mouse was created.
D．When Disney merchandise was started.

4．From the last paragraph we can learn that________.

A．those people who created these games should never be forgotten
B．some toys created in ancient times now disappear
C．creativity exists in every field all the time
D．toys nowadays are totally different from those in ancient times

5．What does the passage talk about?

A．The function of toys.
B．The history of Disney characters.
C．Toys in the early 1900s.
D．The financial meaning of toys.

     The Beatles were the most influential band in pop history. In their 8year, 12album
history, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr altered (改变)
popular culture dramatically. And it wasn't just the suits and changing lengths of hair the
four Liverpool boys wore that had such an impact, but what they seemed to stand for.
The world saw them as the voice of a new generation, one with a very different attitude
to life.
     Their influence was at its height in the 1960s, but their music continues to stir listeners
today. However, up until recently one aspect of the Beatles was struck in Yesterday: The
music had never been remastered (重新灌录). But on September 9 that situation came to
an end, with the release of the entire band's music in a digital makeover. It is probably the
biggest reissue (重新发行) in pop music history, said British newspaper the Financial
Times.
     The albums were remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London, the location where the
band produced much of their work. The cover of their last album, Abbey Road of 1969,
featured the four young men striding (大步行走) across a zebra crossing on Abbey Road
itself. It is one of the most famous of all Beatles images.
     Recently, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the album, hundreds of Beatles lovers
gathered there to show their appreciation.
     Pop groups come and go. The boy band pursued by screaming fans one year will be
forgotten the next. But the Beatles are one of the few groups whose music seems to have
endured (持久). Why? Paul McCartney's biographer Barry Miles has an explanation: "They
were the first rock band… and they just happened to be the best. They were the first band
to play stadiums, to have their own products. They were groundbreaking in every way," he
says.

1．Why did the Beatles change popular culture?______.

A．Because of the suits of the four Liverpool boys.
B．Because of changing lengths of hair the four Liverpool boys wore.
C．Because of their albums.
D．Because of their different attitude to life.

2．Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the second paragraph?______.

A．The Beatles influenced people at its height in the 1960s.
B．Their music Yesterday had never been remastered.
C．The entire band's music in a digital makeover will be remastered.
D．On September 9, their music came to an end.

3．What is their last album?______.

A．Yesterday.
B．Abbey Road of 1969.
C．Come Together.
D．In My life.

4．What is NOT the reason why their music can endure?______.

A．They were the first rock band.
B．They were the best one.
C．They were the first band to play stadiums and to have their own works.
D．They wore special suits.

5．What's the main idea of the passage?______.

A．What is the Beatles?
B．Legendary band stays on top in digital times.
C．The origin of the Beatles.
D．Why is the Beatles popular with people?

     Monkeys are very similar to us in many ways. We enjoy watching them because they often act like
us. In fact, scientists say monkeys and humans share a common ancestor.
     Monkeys make us smile, too, because they are creatures full of playful tricks. This is why many
monkey expressions are about tricky people or playful acts. One of these expressions is monkeyshines,
meaning tricks or foolish acts. So, when a teacher says to a group of students: "Stop those monkeyshines
right now!", you know that the kids are playing, instead of studying.
     You might hear that same teacher warn a student not to monkey around with a valuable piece of
equipment. You monkey around with something when you are touching or playing with something you
should leave alone. Also, you can monkey around when you feel like doing something, but have no firm
idea of what to do.
     Monkey business usually means secret, maybe illegal, activities. A news report may say there is
monkey business involved in building the new airport, with some officials getting secret payments from
builders.
     You may make a monkey out of someone when you make that person look foolish. Some people
make a monkey out of themselves by acting foolish or silly.
     If one monkey has fun, imagine how much fun a barrel of monkeys can have. If your friend says he
had more fun than a barrel of monkeys at your party, you know that he had a really good time.
     Monkey suits are common names for clothes or uniforms soldiers wear. In earlier years, performing
monkeys' tight-fitting, colorful jacket looked similar to a militaryuniform. So, people began to call a
military uniform a monkey suit.

1. Which of the following can best state the main idea of the passage?

A. Monkeys are connected with our life.
B. Due respect should be paid to monkeys.  
C. Some English expressions about monkey.
D. Monkeys share a common ancestor with us.

2. How many expressions about monkey are introduced in the passage?

A. 5.
B. 6.
C. 7.
D. 8.  

3. The expression "monkeyshine" has the closest meaning to _______.

A. mischief
B. laziness
C. making noise
D.diligence

4. If you drew a funny picture on your friend's face while he was sleeping, you were ______.

A. monkeying around
B. doing money business
C. enjoying a barrel of monkeys
D. making a monkey out of him