The best-known example of external( 外部的)influence causing language change is the "Americanization"of world culture, which has caused English words to appear in city streets all over the world. The effect is most noticeable in pop music. Foreign groups often record in English, and the words are picked up and repeated in the same language everywhere, even by children who otherwise have little or no command of the language. I once met a Brazilian child of about ten who could count ‘one, two, three’, but only by adding the words ‘o’clock, four o’clock rock ’at the end.
Some people are often strongly critical of the influence of English on their language --- especially when an English word replaces a traditional word. In 1977, France passed a law banning the use of English words in official situations if an equivalent( 意义相同的)French expression existed --- but the law seemed to be honored more in the breaking than in the observing. Some other countries have considered introducing a similar law despite the evidence that such laws have very little effect, and that the arrival of loan words( 外来词) can greatly enrich a language (as indeed in the case of English itself, which has a long history of welcoming foreign words).
However, not everyone is critical. In particular, commercial firms and advertisers are well aware of the potential selling power that the use of English vocabulary can bring. In Japan, English is even used in television commercials, despite the fact that the majority of viewers would not understand exactly what was being said: the excellence implied by the mere use of English is apparently enough to command the strategy to the advertisers.
Most of the influence of English is upon the vocabulary of foreign languages, but surveys are slowly bringing to light several cases where word order or word structure has been affected. Sentences of the type “The book sells well”, using an active construction for a passive meaning, have begun to appear in Danish (Bogen soelger godt). Several languages keep the English plural ending when they make use of a loan word, and do not translate it into the native form, e.g. drinks. There are many other such cases.
1.Why could the Brazilian child speak ‘one, two, three’ in English?
A. Because he had seen these words everywhere in the street.
B. Because he had learnt how to tell the time in English.
C. Because he had made himself master of English.
D. Because he had heard these words in songs a lot.
2.What can we infer about the law passed in France in1977?
A. It was strict. B. It was unfair.
C. It was often ignored. D. It was strongly opposed.
3.Some Japanese commercials use English in the hope of .
A. following the American trend B. becoming world-famous
C. enriching Japanese D. increasing sales
4.The last paragraph is mainly developed by .
A. providing examples B. making comparisons
C. explaining grammar rules D. analyzing language change
5.What is the authors attitude towards language change?
A. Critical. B. Objective.
C. Concerned. D. Supportive.
I took down the violin I made in the past two months, and walked towards the farmland outside. The violin shined in the sunlight, and I admitted, unwillingly, that it looked good. But I knew it was a mockery (笑柄) of my failure to find beauty.
“What makes a violin beautiful?”
I first asked this question as a three-year-old child and now again as a teenager. When I listened to a violin for the first time, I was so astonished by its beauty that I imagined a fairy living in the wooden frame. But fairies faded when I grew older. I wanted a reasonable answer to the question.
I referred to Professor Ruan, my violin teacher, who introduced the violin to me 14 years ago. This 85-year-old man rhapsodized about (热烈赞美)the legend of Antonio Stradivari. “His violins are the most beautiful works human has ever crafted.” “Make a violin with your own hands,” Professor Ruan suggested,“When you play it, you’ll know.”
However, when Professor Ruan introduced to me a violin workshop, what I saw was far from my expectation. In front of me was a fat worker, shirtless and sunburned, soon to become my master. What shocked me most was that the “master” knew nearly nothing about music. His rough hands had been tending crops, not instruments, for most of his life.
Two months later, standing outside the workshop, I was disappointed. Yes, I just finished or copied a Stradivarius violin. But I didn't find beauty in it. Then I remembered Professor Ruan's words, “When you play it, you'll know.” So I closed my eyes, and focused on where my fingers and strings touched. Music flowed suddenly so beautifully that for a moment I doubted my own ears. Slowly I opened my eyes, and with surprise found the fairy of my childhood fantasy dancing to my music --- the two-year-old daughter of the master.
Professor Ruan was right. I didn’t find beauty until I played music with the violin, because beauty isn’t in the instrument itself. It’s just here, deep down, in ourselves.
1.When he listened to a violin for the first time, what happened to the writer?
A. He found the violin looked beautiful.
B. He was astonished to see a fairy in the violin.
C. He became interested in the violin.
D. He began to learn how to play violin.
2.After consulting Professor Ruan, what did the writer think made a violin beautiful?
A. The person who makes the violin.
B. The person who plays the violin.
C. The appearance of the violin.
D. The sound of the violin.
3.What did the writer do in the workshop during two months?
A. He listened to the legend of Antonio Stradivari.
B. He taught the master knowledge of music.
C. He played music with the violin for the daughter of the master.
D. He made his own violin with the help of the master.
4.Why did the writer feel disappointed when he was outside the workshop?
A. He created an ugly-looking violin.
B. His master knew little about music.
C. He failed to find beauty in the violin.
D. He had to work in a terrible workshop.
5.The text mainly tells us that .
A. music brings beauty B. beauty lies in our hearts
C. we should develop a hobby D. teachers are important to students
Wondering what to see and do in India in November? November is an excellent month to visit India. Here are the best festivals in November, 2018 in India.
International Yoga and Music Festival
Organized by Nada Yoga School every year since 2008, the International Yoga and Music Festival features 50 of the best professional yoga teachers Ayurvedic（印度草药按摩）doctors， dancers, musicians, and philosophers from Rishikesh and abroad. Free classes and lectures are held with topics including yoga, Ayurveda, philosophy, and Indian classical music. There’s an Indian classical music concert in the evenings as well.
Time: November 1-7, 2018. Location: Rishikesh, Uttarakhand.
Wangala Festival
Also known as the 100 Drum Wangala Festival this is the biggest harvest festival of Meghalaya's Garo tribe in northeast India. Held in honor of the Sun God of fertility, the festival marks the end of the seeding season and agricultural year. It's celebrated by the beating of drums, blowing horns, and traditional dancing.
Time: November 6, 2018. Location: Garo Hills, Meghalaya. Bandra Wine Festival
Being popular with local people for six years, the Bandra Wine Festival is a fun opportunity to sample the best wines in India. In addition to tasting wine, there are market stalls, food stalls, live music in the evenings, and dancing.
Time: November 7-8, 2018.
Location: D'Monte Park, Bandra West, Mumbai.
Pushkar Balloon Festival
The International Hot Air Ballooning Festival is an added attraction at the Pushkar Camel Fair. Similar to the Taj Balloon Festival in Agra, it’s hosted by Sky Waltz, and features hot air balloons from around the world and a Night Glow Music Concert. Accommodation and balloon flight packages are offered to visitors.
Time: November 21-23, 2018. Location: Pushkar, Rajasthan.
1.If you want to learn health knowledge, you’d better go to .
A. Pushkar, Rajasthan
B. Garo Hills, Meghalaya
C. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
D. D'Monte Park, Bandra West, Mumbai.
2.The Garo tribe holds the Wangala Festival in order to .
A. thank Sun God for his giving
B. celebrate their sowing season
C. show their pleasure after harvest
D. celebrate the end of the old year
3.Who could most probably enjoy the Bandra Wine Festival?
A. News reporters. B. Successful leaders
C. Professional dancers. D. Wine lovers.
4.What can we know about the Hot Air Ballooning Festival?
A. There is no fee to attend it.
B. It is an event during the Pushkar Camel Fair.
C. All the hot air balloons come from India.
D. It is held to produce beautiful hot air balloons.
5.If you are free during the second half of November, you can enjoy .
A. Wangala Festival B. Bandra Wine Festival
C. Pushkar Balloon Festival D. International Yoga and Music Festival
Happy Maggie
During my childhood I experienced greater hardships than most people go through in a lifetime. In my short 17 years of life, I have been______five divorces of my parents. Having a new stepmother or stepfather every few years was_______, but the constant moving was worse. My father’s cancer diagnosis_____ me apart, and his two heart attacks and______ with diabetes put a huge pressure on the family. By age 13, I was________and emotionally scarred. I felt like I had no one to________and that nothing would ever get better. Then I met Maggie, and my attitude towards life changed.
For many summers, I ______ at a horse-riding camp for people with special needs. We taught children and adults specialized skills___________their abilities. For example, we would teach a child with autism(自闭症)____skills, or a child with cerebral palsy(脑瘫) strength-building exercise. Each volunteer was________a specific child during eight weeks. A few weeks later, I was asked to_____ another volunteer who was sick. That was the day my_____ on life changed forever.
As I began to work with her, I looked through her file to get more information, which was ___. She had been physically abused as a newborn and throughout her infancy. Her birth parents________her so badly that they caused her a serious brain injury by the age of two. Her skull had been broken, however, the amazing thing about Maggie was her____attitude.
When I met Maggie, she was 12, and she would say____but“I’m happy!”. If you asked her“How old are you?”, “I’m happy” she replied each time. Everyone at the camp_____her “Happy Maggie”.
My life growing up was a huge struggle, ________Maggie taught me not to get in the way of happiness. Nothing bad in life should be enough to change________I am. She gave me__________. If I learned anything from Maggie, it would be, no matter what, be happy.
1.A. beyond B. with C. through D. in
2.A. rough B. exciting C. charming D. independent
3.A. broke B. tore C. defeated D. turned
4.A. recovery B. suffering C. concern D. battle
5.A. depressed B. confused C. confident D. pleased
6.A. look after B. turn to C. appeal to D. take after
7.A. volunteered B. handled C. admitted D. recommended
8.A. compared with B. based on C. judging from D. owing to
9.A. analyzing B. creating C. communicating D. calculating
10.A. acquired B. separated C. promoted D. assigned
11.A. interview B. employ C. replace D. dismiss
12.A. decision B. evaluation C. principle D. outlook
13.A. heart-breaking B. spirit-lifting C. disappointing D. surprising
14.A. tended B. treated C. opposed D. protected
15.A. unreasonable B. unacceptable C. unforgettable D. unsinkable
16.A. everything B. anything C. nothing D. something
17.A. gave B. complained C. translated D. nicknamed
18.A. and B. yet C. so D. otherwise
19.A. why B. where C. who D. that
20.A. hope B. ambition C. strength D. lesson
We more places of interest yesterday, but we lost our way in that small village.
A. would have visited B. was visiting
C. would visit D. had visited
So absorbed in her yoga exercises that she took no notice of the heavy rain outside.
A. Mary was B. Mary has been
C. was Mary D. has Mary been
