People often ask which is the most difficult language to learn, and it is not easy to answer because there are many things to take into consideration. Firstly, in a first language the differences are unimportant as people learn their mother tongue naturally, so the question of how hard a language is to learn is only relevant in learning a second language.
A native speaker of Spanish, for example, will find Portuguese much easier to learn than a native speaker of Chinese, because Portuguese is very similar to Spanish, while Chinese is very different, so first language can affect learning a second language. The greater the differences between a second language and our first language, the harder it will be for most people to learn a second language. Many people answer that Chinese is the hardest language to learn, possibly influenced by the thought of learning the Chinese writing system and the pronunciation of Chinese does appear to be very difficult for many foreign learners. However, for Japanese speakers, who already use Chinese characters in their own language, learning writing will be less difficult than for speakers of languages using the Roman alphabet.
Some people seem to learn languages easily, while others find it very difficult. Teachers and the circumstances (环境) in which the language is learned also play an important role, as well as each learner’s purpose for learning. If people learn a language because they need to use it in work, they often learn it faster than people studying a language that has no direct use in their day-to-day life.
No language is easy to learn well, though languages which are related to our first language are easier. Learning a completely different writing system is a huge challenge, but that does not necessarily make a language more difficult than another. In the end, it is impossible to say that there is one language that is the most difficult language in the world.
1.Why do many people think Chinese is hard to learn?
A. Its writing system is strange.
B. Its pronunciation is challengeable.
C. Its characters are difficult to understand.
D. It has great differences from many other languages.
2.What can we learn from the text?
A. People will learn a language faster if they use it daily.
B. There are many languages that are the most difficult in the world.
C. All the languages can be easy to learn with good teachers and circumstances.
D. The writing system of a language is more difficult to master than its pronunciation.
Ruth Simmons was born in a very poor family. Today, she’s the president of a famous American university. How did she do it?
The story begins on a farm in Grapeland, Texas, in 1945. Ruth was born that year. Her parents were farm workers, and she was the youngest of their twelve children. They weren’t able to give the children many things, and Ruth never had any toys. For Christmas, she didn’t receive any presents at all except a shoebox with an apple, an orange, and some nuts. However, in Grapeland, Ruth wasn’t really aware of being poor. Then the family moved into Huston. In the city, being poor was much harder.
At the age of five, Ruth fell in love with school. She was a bright child, and she was lucky to have some excellent teachers. No one in Ruth’s family had much education, but her teachers encouraged her to go to college, and Ruth was brave enough to try. They also gave her money and even a coat to wear.
At first, Ruth studied theater. Then she studied language. Later she married, had two children, and began a career as a college teacher and administrator. Soon people began to notice her and respect her abilities.
In 1995, Ruth became president of Smith College, a famous American college for women. Ruth was the first African American to lead a college like this one. Six years later, she accepted another challenge. She became the president of Brown University.
Ruth believes in the power of education. “Learning can be the same for a poor farm kid like me as it is for the richest child in the country. It’s all about cultivating one’s mind, and anybody can do that. So it doesn’t matter what color your skin is, it doesn’t matter how much money your father has, it doesn’t matter what kind of house you live in. Every learner can experience the same thing.”
1.Which of the following words can best describe Ruth Simmons?
A. Poor but honest. B. Generous but unlucky.
C. Brave and strict. D. Intelligent and hard-working.
2.What does the underlined word “cultivating” mean?
A. organizing. B. challenging.
C. developing. D. establishing.
3.What is the last paragraph mainly about?
A. Ruth’s feelings about success.
B. Ruth’s opinions about education.
C. Ruth’s suggestions on studying.
D. Ruth’s expectations of learners.
I was on my way home when a man came up to me excited, shouting out, “Gil! Gil Gadson!” I said “Yes?” He gave me a big hug. Seeing the ____ look on my face, he stepped back. Then he went on to explain how he ____ me.
I work in the field of mental health and ____ give lectures at different places. He said that I’d once given a(n) _____ about the power of gratitude and that it had ____ his life. He said we’d even talked for a while after my speech and that my ____ had made him re-evaluate (再评估) everything in his life. He ____ by saying that he started ____ the things he had, stopped feeling sorry for himself and others and had become ____ in his life.
He said that he’d made amends (赔罪) to those he had ____ before and opened his eyes to all who had always showed him ____ and love. He then hugged me again ____ and, with tears in his eyes, said he would be forever ____ as I had influenced his life. We _____ telephone numbers and then he was gone, ____ to stay in touch with me. I didn’t remember this man but I will surely ____ him.
I tell this story because when it ____ kindness, it often happens from complete ____who prove our very existence with just a few words when they’re only saying thank you. It is my ____ that we as human beings should help and encourage each other. The more we ___ it, the more united we will be.
1.A. tired B. serious C. surprised D. caring
2.A. knew B. noticed C. trusted D. wanted
3.A. forever B. sometimes C. often D. never
4.A. interview B. speech C. excuse D. lesson
5.A. changed B. destroyed C. saved D. enriched
6.A. acts B. efforts C. decisions D. words
7.A. nodded B. continued C. ended D. proved
8.A. protecting B. doubting C. appreciating D. considering
9.A. active B. busy C. honest D. friendly
10.A. taught B. punished C. met D. hurt
11.A. happiness B. kindness C. wisdom D. courage
12.A. quietly B. gently C. tightly D. suddenly
13.A. grateful B. cheerful C. hopeful D. careful
14.A. corrected B. copied C. dialed D. exchanged
15.A. agreeing B. trying C. offering D. promising
16.A. call B. admire C. thank D. treat
17.A. refers to B. comes to C. happens to D. speaks to
18.A. workmates B. friends C. relatives D. strangers
19.A. plan B. belief C. hope D. dream
20.A. say B. get C. do D. create
With the development of the intelligent robot technology, people _______ the importance of cooperating among robots, and the challenge in practice.
A. have been noticed B. are noticing
C. will notice D. have noticed
_______ working experience and ability, I believe Tom is equal to this job.
A. In terms of B. As a result of
C. At the heart of D. In favour of
The number of foreigners learning Chinese has been growing in recent years, _______ that China has a greater effect on the world.
A. indicated B. indicating C. having indicated D. to indicate
