If you’re reading this story, the chances are you’ve got a pretty good command of English. You’re not alone — an estimated 1.5 billion people speak English today, making it the most commonly used language in the world. Most are non-native speakers with English as their second language, while it serves as a third or fourth language for hundreds of millions more. So which place has the most fluent non-native English speakers?
According to a new report by international education company, the Netherlands is the best non-native English speakers across the globe. The results of its English Proficiency Index (英语能力指数), based on a free online test taken by 2.3 million volunteers, show that the Dutch are the most fluent. Sweden was positioned just below, with a score of 68.74 out of 100, while Norway came in third with 67.93 points.
Although the places with “very high proficiency” were largely made up of European countries, Singapore and South Africa also scored highly, coming in fifth and sixth place respectively.
The report also found that English was the most widely studied second language in the world by far. This may be the reason why just 20% of school students in the United States were studying a foreign language.
The survey was measured by testing non-native English speakers in 100 countries and over 400 cities and regions who voluntarily agreed to take the test. But there’s one thing that should be noticed. People are more likely to participate (参与) in the survey if they can surf the internet more easily. And this may greatly influence the accuracy (准确性) of the results.
1.Which of the following country has the most fluent non-native English speakers?
A.America. B.Singapore.
C.Sweden. D.The Netherlands.
2.What can we infer from Paragraph 4?
A.Americans do not need to learn a second language.
B.Americans dislike languages other than English.
C.More and more people are taking English as a second language.
D.Not many Americans would like to learn another language.
3.How was the survey carried out?
A.By asking volunteers to test online.
B.By handing out paper survey in some places.
C.By inviting volunteers to participate in the company.
D.By cooperating with other organizations.
4.What’s the attitude of the author towards the results of the survey?
A.Positive. B.Doubtful.
C.Supportive. D.Objective.
The victims were carried in one by one, their paws burned and fur burnt, suffering from dehydration (脱水) and fear. Their caretakers bandaged (用绷带包扎) their wounds and laid them in baskets with the only thing that was familiar — the leaves of a eucalyptus (桉树) tree. As fires have burned more than two million acres in Australia, dozens of koalas have been rescued from burned trees and pale ground. The animals are being treated in rescue centers, and at least one private home, along the country’s east coast.
The difficult situation of the koala — a national symbol of Australia — has raised questions among environmentalists and scientists about what it will take to protect biodiversity (生物多样性) in a country with intense fire, extreme heat and lack of water. Australia has already been among the highest rates of species extinction in the world.
The bad situation goes beyond koalas. Recently, tens of thousands of bats fell from the sky in temperatures over 107 degrees Fahrenheit in northern Australia. Kangaroos destroyed the grapes in Canberra because of drought.
“Climate change and other human impacts have so changed the situation that the government needs to rethink its way to protect at once,” Dr. Bowman said, suggesting interventions (干预) like irrigating, feeding and moving animals to new places.
Koalas, unlike kangaroos, birds or snakes, do not escape from fires. Therefore, though the fires are still burning, a rescue team began to search the area carefully. Walking in a human chain, they looked up to the tree top, searching for survivors.
1.What do the victims in the first paragraph refer to?
A.Animals injured in fires.
B.Kangaroos driven by drought.
C.Bats that fell from the sky.
D.Koalas rescued from the fire.
2.Which of the following may cause the extinction of wildlife?
A.Wildfires that seldom happened.
B.Extreme hot weather in Australia.
C.The never-changing climate in Australia.
D.Not having enough money to take measures in Australia.
3.What can we draw from Dr. Bowman?
A.Human activities have little influence on animals.
B.The government should take immediate action.
C.The government does not care about the wild animals.
D.Scientists are concerned about the bad situation of wildlife.
4.What’s the best title for the text?
A.Saving the Fire Victims Who Cannot Escape: Australia’s Koalas
B.Saving the Endangered Wild Animals in Australia
C.Actions Needed to Protect Habitat for Koalas
D.National Symbol of Australia Needs Rescue
Before she could even talk, Ellie Heath spent hours drawing pictures. When she grew older, the 15-year-old discovered the joy of sewing (缝纫). She says she finds it calming. She started out making small things, like jewelry and soft toys. Over time, she began making clothing. Her love of the creative work led her to open a business. Three Blue Bunnies is the name of her company, which makes what she calls “wearable art.”
“My definition of wearable art is something that makes you feel unique. It’s one of a kind, often handmade,” she explains. She sells her creations in farmers markets and at sales for local churches.
All the pieces Ellie creates are made of used or donated fabrics. She works a lot with jean jackets, renewing them with artistic additions. The process starts with finding cloth material that looks good with the jackets. “Then, I find out the design that works on it through trial and error (反复尝试) or the design comes to me,” she explains.
Ellie sharpened her creative skills at school. Cheryl Crow was one of her teachers early on. Crow calls Ellie “a dream student.” She says Ellie worked hard and made progress. “She was always very creative, but also very kind, helpful to the other students.”
Ellie has many dreams. She wants to be a teacher and to spread the joy of creativity among children. She also dreams her business will grow and become a model for other young people who have a dream they want to come true.
1.What does “wearable art” mean according to Ellie Heath?
A.Something that can be worn.
B.Something that is valuable.
C.Something that makes you different from others.
D.Something that cannot be found anywhere else.
2.Which of the following words can best describe Ellie?
A.Creative and determined. B.Generous and outgoing.
C.Warm-hearted and clever. D.Hard-working and unique.
3.What can we can learn from paragraph three?
A.All of the cloth comes from donation.
B.Ellie got a lot of pleasure from her design.
C.It is a piece of cake for Ellie to create a wearable art.
D.The process of artistic design is usually not easy.
4.What does the word “sharpened” mean in paragraph 4?
A.Performed. B.Challenged.
C.Improved. D.Applied.
While traveling alone has some disadvantages, it’s well worth the journey. And, if you’re looking for some travel inspiration on international destinations that are perfect for solo traveling, we’ve got your four.
Canada is well-known for being one of the friendliest countries in the world. Eat your way through Toronto and test your fear of heights walking 116 stories above the ground on the CN Tower’s Edge Walk. Traveling in Canada is easy, safe, and dynamic.
Amsterdam’s canal ring is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. In the warmer months, you’ll want to visit the flea markets, parks, and dine alfresco. You’ll be amazed to find there are more bicycles than there are people in Amsterdam.
Nature enthusiasts will find much to explore in Iceland, a country full of volcanoes and glaciers (but a lack of forests! ). Tour the Golden Circle and visit the famous Blue Lagoon. Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world to visit, making it a top choice for this list.
Visiting Japan without going to Kyoto would be a big mistake. Gion, Kyoto’s geisha district, is highlight. You’ll see Zen gardens, temples, and sake bars as well as casual Japanese bars.
Costa Rica is known for its tropical beaches and rich forests. It’s an adventurer’s dream place, with lots of hiking, surfing, and boating opportunities. Costa Rica is a safe country to visit, outside of the possible sun burn, and you may experience the Pura Vida lifestyle that the country is known for.
1.Which is the best place to test your courage?
A.The CN Tower’s Edge Walk.
B.Kyoto’s geisha district.
C.The Blue Lagoon.
D.Amsterdam.
2.If you want to go to a forest and have adventures, which country should you go?
A.Canada. B.Iceland.
C.Costa Rica. D.Japan.
3.What’s the main purpose of the text?
A.To introduce some places in the world.
B.To show solo travelers places to visit.
C.To describe beautiful scenery around the world.
D.To point out some places people should not miss.
假如你是李华，获悉中国日报(China Daily)将举办“最美中国”(Amazing China)手机摄影大赛。请写封邮件建议你的美国留学生朋友George参加，邮件内容包括:
1.作品要求:展示风土人情，附上作品名称；
2.投稿方式与截止时间：12月30号前发邮件至acchinadaily.com.cn
3.表示愿意提供帮助。
注意：1.词数100左右；2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯的；3.开头语己为你写好。
Dear George,
How is everything going?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共 有 10 处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅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( )，并在其下面写出该加的词。
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 10 处，多者 (从第 11 处起) 不计分。
Years ago, all my parents were involved in a serious car accidents. Uncle Bob took on the role as a father to him. I lived with him during that period. He allowed me stay with him though his home was not really bigger. He showed his care and love for me by pay attention to my health, education and what I needed at that time. I really appreciated the time he spent with me. We used to go on the trips together. We would just spend days either playing our guitars and reading our favorite car magazines. I always felt gratefully towards him. He was like a father figure who will always give me encouragement.
