English nowadays is widely used in science, business, the media and popular culture. For example, 80% of e-mails on the internet are in English. But where will English be at the end of the 21st century?
One view is that English is going to become even more important as a global language, being most widely used in trade and media while some other languages will become less important or just disappear. Another view is that English is already breaking up into several separate languages. There are already dictionaries of the “New Englishes”, such as Australian English, full of words that a British English speaker would not recognize.
Hopefully, neither of these things will happen. Although different varieties of English will continue to develop around the world, standard English will survive for international communication. However, it is impossible for one language to totally control the world. Already, other languages are fighting back against the control of English on the net. Governments around the world are also starting to protect smaller languages and recognize the importance of keeping a variety of cultures and languages. English will probably stay in control for a long time, but it certainly won’t become the only language in the world.
1. According to the situation, how many people do you think speak English now?
A. 200 million B. 300 million C. 500 million D. a billion
2.At present, what is the most important language in the world?
A. Chinese B. English C. French D. German
3.What is the best title of the passage?
A. The Change of English B. Different Varieties of English
C. The Future of English D. The Cause of English Change
How often one hears children wishing they were grown-ups and old people wishing they were young again. Each age has its pleasures and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age gives him without wasting his time in useless regrets.
Childhood is a time when there are few responsibilities to make life difficult. If a child has good parents, he is fed, looked after and loved, whatever he may do. It is impossible that he will ever again in his life be given so much without having to do anything in return. In addition, life is always presenting new things to the child — things that have lost their interest for older people because they are too well-known. But a child has his parents. He is not so free to do what he wishes to do; he is continually being told not to do things or being punished for what he has done wrong.
When the young man starts to earn his own living, he can no longer expect others to pay for his food, his clothes, and his room, but has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry. And if he breaks the laws of society as he used to break the laws of his parents, he may go to prison. If, however, he works hard, keeps out of trouble and has good health, he can have the great happiness of building up for himself his own position in society.
1.According to the second paragraph, the writer thinks that __.
A. life for a child is comparatively easy
B. a child is always loved whatever he does
C. if much is given to a child, he must do something in return
D. only children are interested in life
2.After a child grows up, he __.
A. will have little time playing
B. has to be successful in finding a job
C. can still ask for help in time of trouble
D. should be able to take care of himself
3. The underlined word "responsibilities" in the second paragraph means__________.
A. duties B. jobs C. suggestions D. desires
4.The main idea of the passage is _________ .
A. life is not enjoyable since each age has some pains
B. young men can have the greatest happiness if they work hard
C. childhood is the most enjoyable time in one's life
D. one is the happiest if he can make good use of each age in his life
Did you know that a turtle（乌龟）can lay 12 eggs in one minute? A large sea turtle lays
around 150 eggs at a time. She lays all these eggs in just a few minutes.
Large sea turtles live in the warm seas of the world. Except for when they lay their eggs,
they spend their whole lives in the water. When it is time to lay their eggs, the females swim toland. They usually return to the place where they themselves were born. How they find theirway back there is unknown.When they reach shore, the big, heavy turtles crawl slowly up to the high water mark.Using their flippers, they pull themselves along the sand. They must struggle like mountainclimbers. When they finally reach dry sand, they rest before beginning the difficult task oflaying eggs.The turtles lay the eggs in deep holes and cover them with warm sand. The sand protectsthe eggs from harm. Then the females leave them. After a few weeks, if you happened to be walking along the beach, you might see the sand begin to shake. You may see tiny black ballscoming out of the sand. The tiny heads of baby turtles!
1.
Which sentence expresses the main idea?
A. Sea turtles have interesting life habits.
B. Sea turtles swim to shore to lay their eggs.
C. Large sea turtles lay their eggs in special ways.
D. Sea turtles enjoy staying in the sand.
2. Turtles bury their eggs to protect them from ____________.
A. deep water B. danger C. heat D. bad weather
3.We can conclude from this passage that ___________.
A. many turtles die while swimming to shore
B. female turtles protect their babies
C. once turtles land, they never return to the sea
D. the job of laying eggs takes great strength
4. The writer compares turtles to climbers ___________.
A. because they lay their eggs in mountain areas
B. to give you a picture of how hard they work
C. to tell you that they like to climb
D. to show that mountain climbers are as slow as turtles
Tourism wasn’t as important as it is today. In the past, only people with a good deal of money could travel on holidays to other countries. More people travel today than in the past because there is a growing middle class in many parts of the world; that is to say, people now have more money for travel. Special plane fares(费用) for tourists make travel less expensive and more attractive than ever before. One person doesn’t travel for the same reason as another. But most people enjoy seeing countries that are different from their own. They also like to meet new people and to taste new food.
Tourism causes many changes in a country and in people’s lives. People build new hotels and restaurants and train native men and women as guides to show visitors interesting places. There’re new nightclubs and other amusements. International tourism is clearly a big business.
1.In the old days _________ could travel to other countries.
A. boys and girls, men or women, young or old
B. either kings or queens
C. both the poor and the rich
D. nobody but those who had money
2.More people travel today than in the past because______________.
A. people have become interested in traveling
B. traveling today is easier than in the past
C. people now have spare money for travel
D. great changes have taken place in the world
3. What makes travel more attractive than before?
A. Travel by air to other countries is much cheaper today.
B. More guides are being trained to show beautiful spots.
C. Modern telegraph lines make travel less expensive.
D. New hotels and restaurants have been built.
4.Which of the following statements is true according to the article?
A. Tourism won’t bring any changes in people’s minds.
B. People have some trouble in making journey.
C. With the development of tourism, great changes have taken place in many parts in the world.
D. Tourism causes only some changes in clothing.
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36---55 各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms(习语), though my teacher emphasized (强调)the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown 36 an amusing experience.
One day, I 37 to meet an English man on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I 38 about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be 39 , gently shaking his head, shrugging (耸一耸) his shoulders, saying, “You don't say!” “You don't say!” I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not an proper topic. Well, I'd 40 change the topic. So I said to him. “Well. 41 we talk about the Great Wall? 42 the way, have you ever 43 there?” “Certainly , everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing 44 . It was magnificent.” He was 45 in thought when I began to talk 46 a tourist guide, “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very 47 of it.” Soon I was interrupted again by his order... “You don't say!” I couldn't help asking, “Why do you ask me 48 about it”? “Well, I didn't request you to do 49 ,” he answered, greatly 50 . I said, “Didn't you say 'you don't say'?” 51 this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to 52 , “ 'You don't say' actually means 'really?' It is an 53 of surprise. Perhaps you don't pay attention to English idioms.” 54 then did I know I have made a fool of 55 . Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions.
1.A. in B. for C. by D. to
2.A. came B. happened C. seemed D. wanted
3.A. would talk B. had talked C. was to talk D. was talking
4.A. understood B. understanding C. surprised D. surprising
5.A. to B. better C. not D. like
6.A. Shall B. Will C. Must D. Do
7.A. On B. In C. All D. By
8.A. gone B. visited C. seen D. been
9.A. it B. them C. anything D. something
10.A. losing B. lose C. lost D. losed
11.A. as B. to C. with D. like
12.A. glad B. satisfied C. proud D. familiar
13.A. not talk B. to not talk C. not to talk D. not talking
14.A. this B. so C. anything D. me a favour
15.A. encouraged B. frightened C. please D. surprised
16.A. Heard B. To hear C. Hearing D. Listening
17.A. explain B. shout C. prove D. say
18.A. experience B. expression C. explanation D. example
19.A. From B. Since C. By D. Only
20.A. me B. myself C. mine D. somebody
---- Look! So many colourful kites________ here.
---- You don’t know? It’s said kites _______ well in this area.
A. are sold; are sold B. are selling; sell
C. are selling; are sold D. are being sold; sell
