The Vieira family moved to the United States in 1981. At that time, they decided to stop speaking Spanish at home and only communicate in English. This was because they were now living in an English－speaking country.
Now the Vieira children are adults, and they sometimes travel to Spain to visit their family and friends. But they cannot communicate with them. Unfortunately this is common. When people move to new countries, they often leave their own customs and mother language behind. This is－a mistake because there are many benefits to knowing more than one language.
One advantage of speaking more than one language is that you can communicate directly with more people around the world. You do not have to depend on others to talk for you, so you're more independent. People who know only one language must use others to help them communicate.
Furthermore, speaking a second language also allows people to experience other cultures and customs more effectively. Local expressions, vocabulary, and even jokes can have a powerful effect on a person's understanding of another culture. So, knowing more than one language increases your knowledge of other cultures.
Finally, having more multi－language speakers improves relationships between countries. If people from different countries can communicate well, the world can become closer. Countries will then have more respect for each other and better understand each other's problems.
The benefits of knowing more than one language are clear. In fact, there are no disadvantages. It is very sad that many people don't try to learn another language. It is even worse when people let themselves forget their mother language and become silenced.
【小题1】What is the passage mainly about?

A．The benefits of learning other languages.

B．The reasons why people come to America.

C．The importance of learning English.

D．How to learn another language.

【小题2】The passage begins with the experience of the Vieira family in order to                

A．discuss the need for teaching a new language

B．introduce the passage's main characters to the readers

C．describe the advantages of moving to another country

D．show the problems of speaking only one language

【小题3】The underlined phrase "multi－language speakers" (Paragraph 5) means "people who know                 ."

A．their mother language	B．a new language
C．more than one language	D．body language

【小题4】According to the last paragraph, which of the following is the worst?

A．Not knowing another language.

B．Forgetting one's mother language,

C．Refusing to learn another language

D．Failing to communicate with others.

---Can you describe_______?

---Of course.

A. what the robber is like                  B. how the robber is like

C. what does the robber look like         D. how the robber looks like

 

附加题：从每小题A、B、C三个选项中，选出能填入空白处的最佳答案。(10分)
1． 当有人赞扬你发型漂亮时，你应该回应说_____________.
A. Thank you.           B. That’s right.                 C. Where,where.
2．当你晚上和朋友分手时，你会跟对方说_____________.
A.Good afternoon!               B. Good night!            C. Good evening!
3．当你看到你的朋友脸色很不好看时，你会问_____________来关心她。
A. How do yo do?             B. Are you OK?                C. Are you sad ?
4．当你在公共汽车上不小心踩了他人的脚时，你应该说_____________以示道歉.
A. Excuse me.            B. Never mind.                C. I’m sorry.
5．就餐时，朋友问你要不要加点汤，而你已吃饱，你会说_____________来委婉拒绝.
A. No, thanks.                 B. No,no,no.                    C. Why not?

The Vieira family moved to the United States in 1981. At that time, they decided to stop speaking Spanish at home and only communicate in English. This was because they were now living in an English-speaking country.

     Now the Vieira children are adults, and they sometimes travel to Spain to visit their family and friends. But they cannot communicate with them. Unfortunately this is common. When people move to new countries, they often leave their own customs and mother language behind. This is a mistake because there are many benefits to knowing more than one language.

     One advantage of speaking more than one language is that you can communicate directly with more people around the world. You do not have to depend on others to talk for you, so you’re more independent. People who know only one language must use others to help them communicate.

     Furthermore, speaking a second language also allows people to experience other cultures and customs more effectively. Local expressions, vocabulary, and even jokes can have a powerful effect on a person’s understanding of another culture. So, knowing more than one language increases your knowledge of other cultures.

     Finally, having more multi-language speakers improves relationships between countries. If people from different countries can communicate well, the world can become closer. Countries will then have more respect for each other and better understand each other’s problems.

     The benefits of knowing more than one language are clear. In fact, there are no disadvantages. It is very sad that many people don’t try to learn another language. It is even worse when people let themselves forget their mother language and become silenced.

1.What is the passage mainly about?

A. The benefits of learning other languages.

B. The reasons why people come to America.

C. The importance of learning English.

D. How to learn another language.

2.The passage begins with the experience of the Vieira family in order to_______.

A. discuss the need for teaching a new language

B. introduce the passage’s main characters to the readers

C. describe the advantages of moving to another country

D. show the problems of speaking only one language

3.The underlined phrase “multi-language speakers” (Paragraph 5) means “people who know ______.”

A. their mother language          B. a new language

C. more than one language        D. body language

4.According to the passage, if you can speak more than one language, you can____.

A. find a better job

B. make more friends

C. better understand history

D. communicate more independently

5.Based on the last paragraph, which of the following is the worst?

A. Not knowing another language.

B. Forgetting one’s mother language.

C. Refusing to learn another language.

D. Failing to communicate with others.

 

根据短文内容，选择正确答案。
American country music is very old. It came from the United States, Canada, Ireland, and Great Britain. It’s a mixture (混合物) of music from all of these places.
In West America, cowboys (牛仔) had to take care of the cattle. They had to watch them all day and all night because the cattle sometimes ran away. A cowboy’s life was lonely and dangerous. When he was alone in the desert (荒野) with the cattle, he drank strong coffee to stay awake at night. He sang about the stars and the moon, about his family and his friends. The cattle listened to the cowboy and went to sleep. They didn’t run away if he sang beautiful songs.
In South America, many people came from Ireland and England. Other people came from France and Canada. They enjoyed their own kind of music. When they visited their friends and families on holidays like Christmas, they usually sang and played country music.
American country music describes (描写) life. It talks about love, jobs, home and money. People in many parts of the world like western country music because everyone knows something about these ideas.
【小题1】The passage is about ________.

A．the cowboy’s life

B．the life in America

C．American country music

D．the people who lives in America, Canada, Ireland, and Britain

【小题2】The word “cattle” means “________” in the passage.

A．牛

B．小羊

C．小马

D．鹿

【小题3】What was a cowboy’s life like?
A. Lonely.             B. Very interesting
C. Dangerous.          D. A and C.
【小题4】Why didn’t the cattle run away when a cowboy sang beautiful songs?

A．Because the cattle knew he didn’t leave them.

B．Because the cattle enjoyed the music so much that they went to sleep.

C．Because he didn’t let them go.

D．Because he was very bad.

【小题5】What does American country music describe?

A．Love.	B．Money.
C．Jobs.	D．Life.