Everyday, 340 million people speak it. One billion people are learning it and it is said that by 2050, half of the world’s population will be using it. What are we talking about? That is the global language—English.
The English language started in Britain in the 5th century. It is a mixed language. It was built up when German. Scandinavian and French invaders settled in England and created a common language for communication.
Today it is the official language of the UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Ireland as well as many islands in the Caribbean. Many other countries and regions use it for politics and business, for example, India. Pakistan, Nigeria and the Philippines. English is also one of the official languages of Hong Kong.
But global advertising and pop music mean that in most countries, you will see or hear some English. Thanks to McDonalds, we all know about “burgers”. “fries” and “milkshakes”. Songs by Madonna, Britney Spears and Celine Dion are in English. We can sing along, even if we do not understand what we are singing!
English is a messy (杂乱的) language. Every year, dictionaries include new words that talk about popular culture, for example, computer-related words such as "blogging", "download" and "chartroom". Also included are words that teenagers use. Who does not know “cool”, “OK” and “hello”?
Other languages also influence English. Many English words come from French. Words like “café” and expressions like “c'est la vie” (that is life) are all part of the English language. On the other hand, the French language includes English words like "le weekend" and "le camping". German words are also part of English. Words like "kindergarten" come from the German language.
Recently, British people have become interested in “yoga”. But the word comes from an ancient Hindu language in India.
1. The English language has a history of ______.
A. over 2000 years B. over 500 years
C. over 1500 years D. over 1000 years
2.The underlined expression “thanks to” can be replaced by ______.
A. because of B. in order to C. as usual D. as if.
3.Which of the following statements is true about the language of English?
A. It has been changing all the time.
B. It has borrowed words from all the other languages.
C. French words are used by the English because dictionaries have French words.
D. Singers and film stars have the greatest influence on language.
4. How many people in the world are using English now?
A. One billion people B. 340 million
C. almost all the people in the world.
D. not mentioned above, but the number is growing rapidly.
5. Many countries and regions use it for politics and business except______.
A. the USA B. Nigeria C. the Philippines D. Norway
Everyone needs friends. We all like to feel close to someone. It is nice to have a friend to talk, laugh and do things with. Sure, there are times when we need to be alone. We don’t always want people around. But we would feel lonely if we never had a friend.
No two people are the same. Sometimes friends don’t get along well. That doesn’t mean they no longer like each other. Most of the time they will go on being friends. Sometimes friends move away. Then we feel very sad. We miss them very much. But we can call them and write to them. Maybe we wound never see them again. And we can make new friends. It is surprising to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them. Families sometimes name their children after a close friend. Many places are named after men and women, if they are friendly to people in a town. Some libraries are named in this way. So are some schools. We think of these people when we go to these places.
There is more good news for people, if they have friends. These people live longer than those people who don’t have friends. Why? It could be that they are happier. Being happy helps you stay well. Or it could be just knowing that someone cares. If someone cares about you, you take better care of yourself.
1. The first paragraph tells us_______
A.what is the feeling of having no friends
B.how to communicate with friends
C.making friends is a need in people’s life
D.we need to be alone in our life
2.According to the author, why sometimes friends don’t get along well? Because________
A.friends move away
B.we don’t call them and write to them
C.we have made new friends
D.no two people are the same
3. Which of the following places people name after their friendly people is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. A town B. A room C.A school D.A library
4.Why do people who have friends live longer?
A.They feel happier and healthier.
B.They know more about friendship.
C.They take less care of themselves.
D.They care more about their friends.
5.This passage mainly tells us ______
A.that people are all friends B. that people need friends
C. how to get to know friends D.how to name a place
One day Mary was busy working in her office in London when she received an E-mail from her friend Joan .In Joan’s e-mail, she persuaded Mary 1.______( look) for a flat in London for her. As she had 2._____ (little) money at her command than before, the flat had to be cheap, but it had to be modern, with elevators, gas lines. It had to be in the 3.______ (east) part of London, with petrol and subway stations nearby. Though Mary found 4.______difficult to find such a flat, she still went from one block to another, looking for a flat 5._______would meet Joan’s requirements. Having tried too many times, Mary came up 6.______her boss and politely asked him 7._____advice. It was the first time that she 8.___________ (talk) with his boss about her personal problems. It happened that the boss just had such a flat for rent, so they quickly reached 9.____agreement. But to her surprise, when she e-mailed Joan, telling her the good news, Joan said that she had changed 10.____ mind--- she was not returning to London.
Earthquakes strike suddenly at any time of the day or night, but there’s no way to tell them. If an earthquake happens, it may 11.____ many deaths and injuries and great damage. Decide how and where your family will get together if 12.____ . Choose an out-of-state friend or relative that the family members can 13.____ after the quake to report where they are and how they are. Know the 14.____ places in each room: under the 15.____ tables, desks, or against inside walls. Keep enough food, water and other things, 16.____ a flashlight, a radio medicines and clothing.
During the earthquake, you should 17.____ a clear head and never be too nervous to know what to do. Protect your 18._ ___ and neck with your arms. If possible, take a book, a pillow or any other things to 19.____ yourself from falling glass and ruins. If you are 20.____, you must immediately lie under any strong furniture. If outdoors, move to an open area away form tress, buildings, walls and power poles. If you are in a narrow valley, move to the center of it and look up for falling 21.____. If you are in a car, move to the side of the road and stop the car. Do not stop near buildings, power lines or on or under bridges. Stay in your car until the shaking stops.
Do not move a badly 22.____ person unless he is in great danger after the earthquake. Do not use the telephone 23.____ unless there is a serious injury or fire. Turn on your radio for instructions and news reports. Be prepared for aftershocks. If you want to 24.____ your home, post a message inside your home 25.____ family members where you can be found.
1.A. affect B. develop C. cause D. bury
2.A. recover B. separated C. lost D. divided
3.A. call B. recognize C. go D. help
4.A. loose B. safe C. dangerous D. wide
5.A. old B. new C. strong D. weak
6.A. ignoring B. holding C. including D. carrying
7.A. make B. protect C. use D. keep
8.A. hand B. head C. leg D. back
9. A. let B. prevent C. stop D. protect
10.A. indoors B. outdoors C. away D. out
11. A. bricks B. flowers C. stones D. walls
12. A. wounded B. injured C. harmed D. hurt
13. A. slowly B. extremely C. actually D. immediately
14.A. reach B. leave C. take D. pack
15.A. telling B. speaking C. saying D. talking
单句填空（每题1分，共10分）
1. After the exam, my teacher told me that failure ______ (be) the mother of success.
2. There is no such thing ____ a free lunch.
3. There is a __________ (determine) look on his face.
4. ______she made up her mind, nothing can change it.
5. We_____________ (leave) for Japan tomorrow morning.
6. He asked me whether the big flood ___________ (destroy) the area.
7. Years passed before the war was finally at _____end.
8. He tried to work, but it was ________ (use).
9. It was the curtain _______ was full of dust.
10. Geography also plays a part _____ making dialects.
据报道，某大学生演了排队占座“大战”。为了在空调教室中争得一个学习的座位，数百人从晚上11点开始在教学楼前通宵排队，两名学生甚至带上了蚊帐搭成简易帐篷。请你就此现象用英语写一篇短文，包括下列要点：
1．简单介绍此现象；
2．你对此现象的看法：
（1）通宵排队不值得；
（2）影响白天的学习效率。
3．你的建议（学校和学生两个方面）……
注意：
1．词数100左右；
2．可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：有空调的air-conditioned 效率efficiency
