The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.
In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an enough working knowledge for each situation.
The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the various needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological (气象的) and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies . Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.
1.Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A.It is likely to tell the number of people with an enough working knowledge of English.
B.There are some 260 million native speakers of English in the world.
C.Apart from the standard English，there are other forms of Englishes.
D.People all around the world learn English for a variety of reasons.
2.According to the passage, what is the main reason for the widespread use of English?
A.It was popular during Shakespeare’s time.
B.It is used in former British colonies.
C.It is a world language that is used for international communication.
D.It serves the needs of its native speakers.
3.What forms an enough working knowledge of English?
A.Being a multilingual.
B.Being a native speaker.
C.The ability to read a newspaper.
D.It is difficult to judge because it differs for each situation.
4.What type of developing countries would be most likely to use English?
A.Those geographically close to the United States.
B.Former colonies of Great Britain.
C.Those interested in the culture of the United States.
D.Countries where international conferences are held.
5.What would be the best title for this passage?
A.The Difficulties of Learning English B.International Communications
C.The Standard Varieties of English D.English as a World Language
A few years ago, I took a sightseeing trip to Washington, D.C. Standing outside the Ronald Reagan Center, I heard a voice say, “Can you help me?” When I turned around, I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended. In a natural reflex, I reached into my pocket, pulled out all of my loose change and placed it on her hand without even looking at her. I was annoyed at being bothered by a beggar. But the blind woman smiled and said, “I don’t want your money. I just need help finding the post office.”
In a moment, I realized what I had done. I judged another person simply for what I assumed she had to be. I hated what I saw in myself. This incident re- awakened my belief in humility (谦恭), even though I’d lost it for a moment.
The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant. I left Honduras and arrived in the U.S. at the age of 15. I started my new life with two suitcases, my brother and sister, and a strong, serious-minded mother. Through the years, I have been a dishwasher, mechanic and pizza delivery driver among many other humble jobs, and eventually I became a network engineer.
In my own life, I have experienced many open acts of prejudice (偏见). I remember a time, at age 17 — I worked as a waiter, and I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me. I have also witnessed the same treatment of my family and friends, so I know what it’s like, and I should have known better.
But now, living in my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget my past, to forget who I am and where I have been, and to lose sight of where I want to be going. That blind woman on the streets of Washington, D.C., cured me of my blindness. She reminded me of my belief in humility and to always keep my eyes and heart open. By the way, I helped that lady to the post office. And in writing this essay, I hope to thank her for the priceless lesson.
1.We can learn from the first two paragraphs that _.
A.the author was a native American
B.the blind woman needed the money badly
C.the author was as poor as the blind woman
D.the author regretted his act of prejudice
2.According to Paragraph 4, hearing the father’s words, the author was probably _.
A.rather hurt B.very excited C.greatly inspired D.deeply moved
3.Which opinion does the author agree with?
A.One should try to experience different kinds of life.
B.One should think about one’s past as often as possible.
C.One should treat others equally with love and respect.
D.One should be nice to the elderly and the disabled.
4.Why does the author say he is thankful to the blind woman at the end of the passage?
A.She has made him value what he has right now.
B.She has reminded him of the past experiences.
C.He has got a chance to think about his past and future because of her.
D.He has regained his belief in humility with her help.
5.What can be the best title for the passage?
A.How my dream comes true
B.A priceless lesson in the street
C.A Belief that will never change
D.Learn from your past
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整故事。
A friend of mine, named Jack, received an expensive car from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Jack came out of his office, a street urchin(顽童)was walking around the shining car. “Is this your car, sir?” he asked. Jack answered, “Yes, my brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was surprised. “You mean your brother gave it to you and it did cost you nothing? Sir, I wish…”He hesitated(犹豫),Jack thought of course he knew what the boy wanted, but what the boy said surprised him greatly. “I wish,” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.” Jack looked at the boy in surprise, and then he said again, “Would you like to take a ride in my car?” “Oh yes, I’d love to ,”the boy answered.
After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes shining, said, “Sir, would you mind driving in front of my house?”
Jack smiled a little. He thought he knew what the boy wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big car. But Jack was wrong again. “Will you stop where those two steps are?” the boy asked.
注意：1.所续写的短文词数应为150左右；
2.应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3.续写部分分为二段，每段的开头语已经为你写好；
4续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1
He got out and ran up to the steps. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2
Jack got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his car. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
为了迎接奥运会，某英文报社举办了校园“体育周”活动。其中一项是征文比赛，请同学们谈一谈自己最喜欢的运动。请你根据以下提示以“My Favorite Sport” 为题，写一篇文章参赛。要点如下：
1.最喜欢的运动是什么；
2.为什么喜欢这项运动。
注意： 1.必须包括以上要点，可以适当发挥，以使行文连贯。
2.词数：100 左右。
My Favorite Sport
Sports are an important part of my life.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
第二节语法填空(共10小题；
阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卡标号为1—10的相应位置上。 In Africa, when the antelope wakes up every morning, the first thing1.comes into his mind is, “I must be able to run2.(fast) than the fastest lion,3.I will be killed by a lion.” And at just the same time, the lion4.(wake) out of his dream, and the first thing5.(flash) into his mind is: “I must be able to catch up with the slowest antelope, otherwise I will starve to6.(dead).” So almost at the same moment7.the antelope and the lion jump to their feet, and start8.(run) toward the rising sun.
Such is life —9.you are an antelope or a lion, you ought to dash forward without10.(hesitate) when the sun rises.
完形填空
Peter’s job was to examine cars when they crossed the frontier to make sure that they were not smuggling anything into the country. Every evening he would see a factory worker coming ____ the hill towards the frontier, ____ a bike with a pile of goods of old straw on it. When the bike ____ the frontier, Peter would stop the man and ____ him take the straw off and untie it. Then he would examine the straw very ____ to see ____ he could find anything, after which he would look in all the man’s pockets ____ he let him tie the straw again. The man would then put it on his bike and go off down the hill with it. Although Peter was always ____ to find gold or other valuable things ____ in the straw, he never found ____. He was sure the man was ____ something, but he was not ___ to think out what it could be. Then one evening, after he had looked ____ the straw and emptied the worker’s pockets ____ usual, he ____ to him, “Listen, I know you are smuggling things ____ this frontier. Won’t you tell me what it is? I’m an old man, and today’s my last day on the ____. Tomorrow I’m going to ____. I promise I shall not tell ____ if you tell me what you’ve been smuggling.” The worker did not say anything for ____. Then he smiled, turned to Peter and said quietly, “Bikes.”
1.A.towards B.down C.to D.up
2.A.filling B.pulling C.pushing D.carrying
3.A.arrived B.appeared C.came D.reached
4.A.ask B.order C.make D.call
5.A.carefully B.quickly C.silently D.horribly
6.A.that B.where C.how D.whether
7.A.before B.after C.first D.so
8.A.lucky B.hoping C.thinking D.wondering
9.A.had been B.hidden C.hiding D.have been
10.A.nothing B.something C.everything D.anything
11.A.taking B.smuggling C.stealing D.pushing
12.A.possible B.strong C.able D.clever
13.A.through B.thoroughly C.upon D.up
14.A.like B.more C.then D.as
15.A.told B.cried C.ordered D.said
16.A.cross B.past C.across D.into
17.A.thing B.work C.job D.duty
18.A.rest B.back C.retire D.retreat
19.A.everyone B.anyone C.no one D.someone
20.A.moment B.long time C.sometime D.some time
