Question

    A study of English learning problems was carried out among a total of 106 foreign students. It shows that nearly all these students considered 1. (understand) spoken English, especially in the first few weeks, to be their biggest problem on arrival. This was followed by speaking or communicating. Writing then increased as a big problem 2. students discovered difficulties in writing papers that they 3. (expect) to hand in. And at the same time, reading remained as a significant problem.

The information 4. (gain) helped us in determining where special attention should be paid in our course. Although many students have chosen to join the course with a reasonable motivation, we considered it important to note 5. seemed to encourage interest. Nearly all the students have experienced some kind of grammar-based English teaching or 6. (use) the same method, especially if it has failed in the past or it is too complicated to follow or imitate, 7. it might reduce motivation and interest. Therefore a different method may help because it is different.

8. variety of activities was also regarded as a way of maintaining or increasing motivation and interest. Several years ago we had the first timetable 9. operated throughout the course of English learning, but we soon found that both the students and the teachers lost interest by about half-way through the ten weeks. This led us to a major re-think, and we had to explore a much 10. (effective) way of English learning, so finally we brought it into line with the expressed language needs of the students.

Answer

1.understanding

2.because/ as/ since

3.were expected

4.gained

5.what

6.used

7.so

8.The

9.that

10.more effective

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。对106名外国学生进行了英语学习问题的研究显示，几乎所有这些学生都认为听懂英语口语是他们入学后最大的问题，尤其是在入学的头几周。这项研究所获得的信息帮助我们决定在课程中哪些地方需要特别注意。文章还说明了一些有助于激发英语学习兴趣的方法。

1.考查非谓语动词。句意：这表明，几乎所有这些学生都认为理解英语口语，特别是在最初的几周里，是他们到达后最大的问题。根据短语consider doing sth.表示“认为做某事……”，后跟动词-ing形式。故填understanding。

2.考查连接词。句意：因为学生们发现他们要交的论文很难写，于是写作就成了一个大问题。本句为原因状语从句，表示“因为”应用because/as/since引导。故填because/ as/ since。

3.考查动词时态语态。句意同上。本句中主语与谓语动词构成被动关系，且根据上文discovered可知应用一般过去时，主语为they，谓语动词用复数。故填were expected。

4.考查非谓语动词。句意：所获得的信息帮助我们决定在课程中哪些地方需要特别注意。分析句子结构可知gain在句中作非谓语动词，与逻辑主语information构成被动关系，故用过去分词。故填gained。

5.考查连接词。句意：虽然许多学生选择以合理的动机参加这门课程，但我们认为重要的是似乎要注意的是哪些能激发兴趣。本句为宾语从句，从句中缺少主语，指代事物应用what引导。故填what。

6.考查动词时态。句意：几乎所有的学生都经历过语法基础的英语教学或使用过同样的方法，尤其是在过去失败的情况下，或是在学习过程中太过复杂而无法遵循或模仿的情况下，所以这样可能会降低学习的动机和兴趣。此处为连词or连接的并列谓语，根据上文Nearly all the students have experienced some kind of grammar-based English teaching or，可知为现在完成时。故填used。

7.考查连词。句意：几乎所有的学生都经历过语法基础的英语教学或使用过同样的方法，尤其是在过去失败的情况下，或是在学习过程中太过复杂而无法遵循或模仿的情况下，所以这样可能会降低学习的动机和兴趣。结合句意可知此处上下文为因果关系，故应用连词so。故填so。

8.考查冠词。句意：各种各样的活动也被认为是一种保持或增加动机和兴趣的方式。表示“各种各样的”短语为the variety of，句首字母要大写。故填The。

9.考查定语从句。句意：几年前，我们有了第一个贯穿整个英语学习过程的时间表，但我们很快发现，学生和老师都在十个星期的中途失去了兴趣。本句为定语从句修饰先行词timetable，且先行词被序数词the first修饰，只能用关系代词that引导。故填that。

10.考查比较级。句意：这让我们重新思考专业，我们必须探索一种更有效的英语学习方式，所以最后我们把它与学生表达的语言需求结合起来。结合句意可知表示“更有效的”应用形容词比较级。故填more effective。