Question

I speak Spanish, because I was born in Spain. But then at primary school I had to learn Russian, and at high school, I was taught how to speak German. But I always wanted to speak English.

At last I came to America. Everywhere there was English! But even if I heard and felt its presence, it was hard for me to understand it and express myself in it. The few lessons of English that I had taken in Spain gave me only a chance to introduce myself, and I didn’t even know how to buy things and ask directions.

To talk to somebody, I went to a high school to take a course in English for foreigners. Disappointingly, it took almost an hour to get through the process of introducing ourselves. Everyone had to learn something that I had already known from my books – the English alphabet (字母表) and numbers. I thought it was a waste of time, so I quit.

After a month, I tried again, but this time at college. After 15 minutes of introducing ourselves, a teacher gave us a lecture about the history of English. Then we were told that it was very important to know English in an English-speaking country. It took three hours for the teacher to tell us this. Again, I quit.

But I didn’t stop looking for something or someone that would help me to achieve my goal, and I found a tutor from Literacy Volunteers of America. But I still wasn’t happy with the classes. And when it was my turn to give a speech, I was happy to use all the long, complicated words that I had learned from one of my English books. When I had finished, my tutor said “Well, I think I have to learn English before coming to teach you!” This time, the tutor quit!

1.How many languages has the writer learned?

A. Two.    B. Three.    C. Four.    D. Five.

2.Why did the author leave the high school?

A. Because no one wanted to talk to him.

B. Because the lessons were too easy.

C. Because everyone had to learn the English alphabet and numbers.

D. Because the courses were prepared for the natives.

3.Which of the following words can be used to describe the writer?

A. Cheerful.    B. Crazy.    C. Friendly.    D. Serious.

4.What is the main idea of the passage?

A. The writer learnt many foreign languages.

B. The writer tested the teachers’ English abilities.

C. The writer struggled for a proper way to learn English.

D. The writer researched different ways of learning English.

Answer

1. C

2. B

3. D

4. C

【解析】

本文是一篇记叙文。作者在努力寻找学习英语的正确方法。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段I speak Spanish, because I was born in Spain. But then at primary school I had to learn Russian, and at high school, I was taught how to speak German. But I always wanted to speak English.可知作者学了四种语言。故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段中Disappointingly, it took almost an hour to get through the process of introducing ourselves. Everyone had to learn something that I had already known from my books – the English alphabet (字母表) and numbers. I thought it was a waste of time, so I quit.可知，作者之所以离开了高中是因为课程太容易。故选B。

3.推理判断题。本文通过作者学习英语的经历，特别是第三段最后一句I thought it was a waste of time, so I quit.第四段最后一句Again, I quit.和第五段最后一句This time, the tutor quit!可知，用来描述作者的词汇应该是Serious。故选D。

4.主旨大意题。纵观全文和第一段I speak Spanish, because I was born in Spain. But then at primary school I had to learn Russian, and at high school, I was taught how to speak German. But I always wanted to speak English.可知作者在努力寻找学习英语的正确方法。故答案为C。