Question

    Everyone speaks a language, but language is not just for talking. It is our most important communication tool. Through language, we can tell other people what we think, how we feel, and what we need. In fact, civilization (文明) itself depends on our ability to communicate.

In the long history of human, languages survive, grow, disappear, move from place to place, and change with time. There are about 6,000 different living languages around the world today, and there are many thousands more that are no longer in use. Languages might sound different, but they are thought to have come from a single ancient language.

Nobody knows exactly when people first started using languages. Some scientists say that people first spoke to one another about two million years ago.

Today, our complicated (复杂的) languages get fully used in the magazines, novels, science books, and movies that fill our libraries and bookstores. As humans, it is important that we can tell the long stories, which separates us from the great apes (类人猿). Other animals may use kinds of methods to communicate, but we humans can send complicated messages through space and time.

Throughout history there were many languages that served as a lingua franca (通用语)—a common language that could serve as a bridge between people of different cultures. Today, English is the main language that plays that role around the world. Many people have studied English as a second or third language.

Language helps people to work together, to share knowledge, feelings, and build up modern societies. The development of humanity’s many languages was an important process that helped humans move forwards towards civilization.

Language
Language is our most important communication tool	● With the help of language, we tell others our 1., feelings and needs. ● Our ability to communicate leads to civilization.
Some facts about languages	● There are about 6,000 different languages that are being 2. around the world. ● People started to speak to one another two million years ago, according to some scientists. ● Humans’ languages make it 3. for us to send complicated messages through space and time. ● English is used most  4. around the world today.
The 5. of language	● Language helps people to work together, to share knowledge, feelings, and build up modern societies. ● The development of humanity’s many languages was an important process that helped humans move towards civilization.

Answer

1.thoughts

2.used / spoken

3.possible

4.widely

5.importance / value

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了语言的历史，事实和价值。

1.

细节理解题。根据第1大段“Through language, we can tell other people what we think, how we feel, and what we need.”通过语言，我们能告诉别人我们的想法，我们的感受和需要。可知，空格处缺少名词表示想法，though想法，可数名词用复数形式。故答案填thoughts。

2.

细节理解题。根据第2大段“There are about 6,000 different living languages around the world today,”现在世界上大约有6000种不同的语言。可知，空格处的单词意思表示被说，被使用；use / speak使用/说要用过去分词形式表示被动语态。故答案填used / spoken。

3.

细节理解题。根据第4大段“but we humans can send complicated messages through space and time.”但是我们人类能通过时间和空间发送复杂的信息。分析句子成分可知，空格处的单词词性是形容词；意思是可能的。故答案填possible。

4.

细节理解题。根据第5大段“English is the main language that plays that role around the world. Many people have studied English as a second or third language.”英语在世界上扮演着主要的语言角色，很多人把它作为第2语言或者第3语言在学习。可知，空格处的单词词性是副词修饰动词使用，意思表示广泛地。故答案填widely。

5.

段落大意题。根据右边表格信息“Language helps people to work together, to share knowledge, feelings, and build up modern societies.”语言帮助人们一起工作，分享知识，情感，建立现代社会；“The development of humanity’s many languages was an important process that helped humans move towards civilization.”人类多种语言的发展是人类走向文明的重要过程。可知，主要在讲述语言的作用，价值和重要性；空格处缺少名词，importance / value重要性/价值。故答案填importance / value。