Twenty years ago, the following news item probably wouldn’t have made much sense to most Americans.
Muslims in Iran went to the streets today to support an ayatollah①’s call for a revolution. Meanwhile, in Israel, Palestinian leaders urged support for the intifada②, ①leader ②struggle
These words come from Arabic, a language with which few Americans are familiar. Yet by 1990 these words were routinely used in both broadcast and print news. How did these words find their way into English?
Like all existing languages, English is continually changing. The adoption of foreign words into English vocabulary, called borrowing, is anything but a new phenomenon. In fact, it’s been going on from the time the language first began to take shape around A. D. 450. English has been borrowing words from the conquered(被征服者), trading partners, immigrants, and a variety of other sources.
So when the events in the Middle East commanded the world’s attention during the latter part of the twentieth century. English simply borrowed the words it needed to describe what was happening in that area. The more often such words were used, the less “foreign” they sounded. Eventually, these borrowed words came to be used routinely in speech and writing.
Borrowed vocabulary from foreign language is not the only source of new words in English. As fresh ideas evolve and innovative technology are developed, new English words are created to describe them. These words may be words borrowed(WB) from other languages, existing words taking on new meanings(EWNM), acronyms, blends, compounds, or newly coined words, as the following examples and the chart show.
Kwanza | borrowed from Swahili: seven-day African-American cultural festival |
rap | old word, meaning to knock quickly, taking on a new meaning; a form of music |
AIDS | acronym for acquired immune deficiency syndrome |
exercycle | blend of existing words: exercise + bicycle |
skateboard | compound of existing words |
cellulite | new word for fatty deposits on the hips and legs, coined in 1971 |
In the next four lessons, you’ll be introduced to some of the history and mechanisms(体系)that have shaped and continued to influence the language we use. Whether the words we speak are borrowed or created, they show a vital feature of English---adaptability. English is alive.
1.What does the word “commanded” in the fourth paragraph probably mean?
A. Ordered B. Instructed
C. Controlled D. Drew
2.The word “mouse” may belong to an example of __________.
A. WB B. EWNM
C. Acronyms D. Blends
3.Where does this text probably come from?
A. A cultural section of a newspaper
B. A language book review
C. A language course advertisement
D. A language lesson book
4.Which of the following can best cover the main idea of the passage?
A. The language in the media is changing
B. English has been borrowing words
C. English is a living language
D. A new phenomenon appears in English
While reading, you may focus on the Q(question) and A (answer) on the following web page.
Related Information Hotel Deals Today's deals Hotel Guide Hotel details Hotel Directory Contact info
My Travel Hotel Preference Check Reservations Tool Weather Maps Driving Directions | Q My husband and I would like to spend five or six days in the Maldives. Could you suggest some low-priced hotels? We'll be there in November. Jan Davies, email. A Prices in the Maldives are high. The cheaper hotels (and there aren't many) mightn't be much to look at, with unpleasant rooms, iron roofs, old buildings, poor and rough vegetation and basic facilities, but they get their atmosphere from cheerful customers and an untidy, free island feel. Angaga (South Ari Atoll, phone 0011 960 450510), Asdu Sun Island (North Male Atoll, email info@asdu.com.mv) are both a bit like this. You'll be there in the low season (May to November), when its' still warm, but there's a greater likelihood of rain, so you should be able to get a double (standard ) room with full board (three meals a day) for $ 100 a night. However, pricing structures for the hotels are enormously complex for standard, superior and luxurious rooms. Q My husband and I are from Australia. We are planning a four-week trip to London, Dublin and Paris in October and we are shocked by the cost of hotels. We have searched the Internet and hotel books given to us by tourist authorities but we can't find anything cheaper than $ 150 a night. Joan Maloney, email. A For Australians traveling Europe, especially its capital cities, is expensive. You may have to increase your budget . However, if you can't afford these costs, then you should consider staying in hotels where the cheapest twin rooms with shared bathroom cost about$20 a person in Dublin and Paris and $35 in London. The minimum you would pay for a double room in a central area is $50 a person in Dublin and Paris and $70 in London. These prices are for shared bathroom facilities, though you will get a wonderfully unhealthy cooked breakfast thrown in. Not all hotels are equal, of course, and it's a good idea to consult a guidebook with a good reputation. |
1.The hotel Angaga in the Maldives_________.
A. attracts untidy people B. has some basic facilities
C. has the best landscape D. can be contacted by email
2.If you spend your holiday in the Maldives in February, _________
A. there is a greater likelihood of rain
B. standard, superior and luxurious rooms are all available
C. the weather will probably be better than that of the low season
D. a standard room with full board will cost less than $100 a night.
3.What is the advice for the couple planning to visit Europe in October?
A. They should stay in hotels in a central area
B. They could live in hotel rooms of lower standard
C. They should put up with the wonderfully unhealthy cooked breakfast.
D. They should buy a reliable guidebook instead of increasing the budget.
Once I spoke at a high school. After the speech, I was asked to see a special student. An illness had kept the boy home, but he had expressed an interest in meeting me, and it would mean a great deal to him. I agreed.
He was Matthew. When he was born, the doctor told his parents that he would not live to see five, then they were told he would not make it to ten. Now he was thirteen. He wanted to meet me because I was a gold-medal weight lifter, and I knew about overcoming obstacles(障碍) and going for my dreams.
I spent over an hour talking to Matthew. Never once did he complain. He spoke about winning and succeeding and going for his dreams. Obviously, he knew what he was talking about. He just talked about his hopes for the future, and how one day he wanted to lift weight with me.
When we finished talking, I went to my briefcase and pulled out the first gold medal I won and put it around his neck. I told him he was more of a winner and knew more about success and overcoming obstacles than I ever would. He looked at it for a moment, then took it off and handed it back to me. He said, “You are a champion. You earned that medal. Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal, I will show it to you.”
Last summer I got the news that Matthew had passed away and a letter Matthew had written me a few days before:
Dear Rick,
My mom said I should send you a thank-you letter for the picture you sent me. The doctors tell me that I don’t have long to live any more. But I still smile as much as I can.
I told you some day I was going to the Olympics and win a gold medal. But I know now I’ll never make it. But I know I’m a champion, and God knows that too. When I get to Heaven, God will give me my medal and when you get there, I will show it to you.
Thank you for loving me.
Your friend,
Matthew
1.The boy wished to meet the author because ________.
A. he admired the author very much
B. he wished to take part in the Olympics
C. he hoped to make friends with the author
D. he enjoyed going in for weighting lifting
2.Which of the statements is TRUE?
A. Matthew was good at weight lifting.
B. Rick had the similar disease as a child.
C. Matthew remained optimistic in face of disease.
D. Rick encouraged the boy to become a champion.
3.Why did the boy refuse the author’s medal?
A. He thought he was not worthy of it.
B. Rick looked on the medal as treasure.
C. The gold medal was very dear to Rick.
D. He didn’t want to be pitied by others.
4.What can be inferred from Matthew’s letter?
A. Rick was unhappy before death.
B. Rick kept in touch with Mathew.
C. Mathew sent some pictures to Rick.
D. Mathew got an Olympic gold medal.
假设你是李津, 最近在你班的班会上进行了一次有关是否有必要在国外读大学的讨论会, 请根据以下提示写一篇英文短文为校报投稿.
内容要点：1. 优势：学校注重培养团队合作、环境优雅等
2. 不足：费用高等
3.个人看法
注意：1.内容应包括以上所有要点；开头和结尾已经写出,不计入总词数；
2.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯，字数100；
Dear Editor of the school newspaper,
I contribute to your newspaper to introduce something about the recent class meeting of mine.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Jin
文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧), 并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（ ＼）划掉。
修改： 在错的词下划一横线_____, 并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1、每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2、只允许修改十处, 多者(从第11处起) 不计分。
It is Mother’s Day today. Though it’s a western festival, it’s popular in China now.
Mom has a full-time job, so she has to do most of the houseworks. She is a great mother. Both Dad or I planned to do something on Mother’s Day. We get up early in the morning. Dad cleaned the house, and then went on shopping. When he returned , I found a bunch of flowers in her hand. I asked Mom to stay in the sitting room and I cooked in kitchen. The dishes what I cooked were Mom’s favoritest. At dinner, we said to her, “Happy Mother’s Day!”Mom was grateful and moving.
My husband and I were paying a visit 1. my parents in Tucson. We went to a fast-food restaurant for dinner together. My husband went to the counter 2. (order) dishes and I stood with my parents.
My dad is 90 years old. He can hardly see very well and walks with a stick. I was scanning the restaurant, 3. (wait) to sit at the first table that was 4. (convenient) than others. A woman who was sitting with her son made eye contact with me and asked me to come to her. With a 5. (puzzle) look on my face, I pointed to myself and said , “Me ?” She 6. (nod) and said, “Yes, you.” I walked to the table and she said, “Bring your family here. I can finish eating at the counter. My son is in 7. hurry to leave anyway.” My eyes 8. (fill) with tears as she wiped down the table and guided my dad to the seat.
I always believe that there are 9. (nature) kind people in this world. This woman has set a good example to her son, 10. is a really lucky guy.
