Question

A recent survey found that the French are the second-most insecure people in Europe after Italy about their proficiency in English. Only 13 percent of the French respondents believed they are proficient in the language, according to the European data agency Eurostat.

The situation is no better in business circles, where three-quarters of French executives feel unprepared to hold an interview in English and only 16 percent say they feel comfortable with the language, a separate survey showed.

The survey results aren't surprising. The French seem to have always had this cold and gloomy（沮丧的）attitude toward the English language. But what struck me is that, despite the French pessimism, living in Paris without being able to speak the language of Moliere is easier these days than in the past.

New immigrants are part of the reason. I can have an easy chat with the owner of the laundry in my neighborhood. Buying the medicine I need at the local pharmacy is effortless. Ordering a meal in English at the restaurant two blocks away from my apartment does not make me feel awkward. It is all because the people who run these businesses are immigrants.

Greater tolerance and acceptance of non-French speakers is a reflection of the fact that France, willingly or not, has begun to embrace(拥抱) globalization more comfortably. For instance, you will never get the same look you would have had 15 years ago if you ask for directions in English on the streets of Paris.

I have also met many native French who are happy to communicate in English. They are usually the kind of people who are open-minded and are sensitive to the changes beyond their own territories. They are very interested in gaining insight into what is happening on the other side of the globe.

In my hometown, English is also being hotly debated since Beijing education authorities decided to reduce the importance of English proficiency in college entrance exams and increase that of the Chinese language and literature. The Chinese and the French share similarities in attitudes toward foreign languages. We are both so proud of our own languages and cultures that we can feel uncomfortable when we are forced to communicate in another language.

But like it or not, English is still the most widely used language in the world, at least for the foreseeable（可预知的） future. After all, it is not about abandoning one's own language but about being able to fit more easily into this globalized world.

1.What is the passage mainly about?

A. French people have great difficulty speaking English.

B. English is becoming increasingly acceptable in France.

C. Great changes take place in France because of the immigrants.

D. English helps France to embrace globalization.

2.The expression “to speak the language of Moliere” can be understood as________________.

A. to speak Italian

B. to speak English

C. to speak French

D. to speak the language of an immigrant named Moliere

3.What is the purpose of mentioning Chinese in the 7^th paragraph?

A. To prove Chinese and French share a lot similarities in culture.

B. To show how wise it is to reduce the importance of English in exams.

C. To explain why French people are unwilling to speak English.

D. To show how proud they are to own their own languages.

4.What can we infer from the passage?

A. The immigrants in France speak English as their native language.

B. In France people refuse to communicate with each other in English.

C. Italians feel the most unconfident in speaking English in Europe.

D. French people are happy to face the changes in their country.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.C

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：法国人对英语以前是排斥态度，但随着移民的增多和国际经济的发展等多种因素，英语在法国越来越被更多的人接受。

1.B推理判断题。第四段告诉我们由于移民的增多，在法国英语被一部分人运用。根据第六段I have also met many native French who are happy to communicate in English.可知英语在法国越来越被更多的人接受，故选B.

2.C推理判断题。“to speak the language of Moliere”意为“说莫里哀的语言”，根据常识我们知道莫里哀是法国著名喜剧作家、演员，所以推断此处指说法语，故选C.

3.C推理判断题。根据第七段The Chinese and the French share similarities in attitudes toward foreign languages.和We are both so proud of our own languages and cultures that we can feel uncomfortable when we are forced to communicate in another language.可知作者通过举中国人对待英语的态度来解释为什么法国人不愿说英语的原因。故选C.

4.Greater tolerance and acceptance of non-French speakers is a reflection of the fact that France和第六段I have also met many native French who are happy to communicate in English.可知A、B错误；根据第一段Only 13 percent of the French respondents believed they are proficient in the language.和第三段The French seem to have always had this cold and gloomy（沮丧的）attitude toward the English language.可知D错误；根据文章第一句A recent survey found that the French are the second-most insecure people in Europe after Italy about their proficiency in English.可知C正确。故选C.

考点：考查语言文化类短文阅读。

推理判断题的常见考查形式及解题方法：

推理判断题属于主观题，是层次较高的题目。它包括判断和推理题。这两类题常常相互依存，推理是为了作出正确的判断，正确的判断又依赖于合乎逻辑的推理。此类题要求在理解表面文字的基础上，作出判断和推论，从而得到文章的隐含的意思和深层的意思，也就是通过文章中的文字信息，上下逻辑关系及事物的发展变化等已知的信息，推断出作者没有直接表达的态度和观点。

一、常见的推理判断题的考法：

1)推测作者写作目的或意图。文章第26小题考查作者写本段的意图。第七段中The Chinese and the French share similarities in attitudes toward foreign languages.和We are both so proud of our own languages and cultures that we can feel uncomfortable when we are forced to communicate in another language.可知作者通过举中国人对待英语的态度来解释为什么法国人不愿说英语的原因。故选C.

2)推测文章的观点或结论。文章第24小题就属于此类，第四段告诉我们由于移民的增多，在法国英语被一部分人运用。根据第六段I have also met many native French who are happy to communicate in English.可知英语在法国越来越被更多的人接受，故选B.

3)推断文章出处。

4)是非判断题。文章第27小题属于根据文章内容找出正确答案。根据第五段Greater tolerance and acceptance of non-French speakers is a reflection of the fact that France和第六段I have also met many native French who are happy to communicate in English.可知A、B错误；根据第一段Only 13 percent of the French respondents believed they are proficient in the language.和第三段The French seem to have always had this cold and gloomy（沮丧的）attitude toward the English language.可知D错误；根据文章第一句A recent survey found that the French are the second-most insecure people in Europe after Italy about their proficiency in English.可知C正确。故选C.

5)逻辑排序题。

二、推理判断题的解题方法 ：

推理判断题不仅要求考生读懂文章中的每个句子的意思还要推理它们之间的关系，结合自己的生活常识和经验，再通过逻辑推理和判断，理解文章的言外之意，从而揭示文章的深层涵义。比如文章第25小题“to speak the language of Moliere”意为“说莫里哀的语言”，根据常识我们知道莫里哀是法国著名喜剧作家、演员，所以推断此处指说法语，故选C.任何一篇文章都有其特定的写作目的，读者应当知道如何去做或按照某种方式传递思考问题。推理判断题的答案不可能在文章中直接找到，因此推理时我们务必要忠于原文，在文章中寻找并确定可推论的依据，即：已知部分－推论的前提，从中推测出未知部分－推理的结论，切忌妄加评论，把自己的观点当成作者的观点。