Question

    Does it matter if a language dies out? The traditional answer is yes, because every language is a repository (智囊) of ideas and culture and represents a unique way of looking at the world. The planet only has about 7,000 languages; the extinction of even one decreases the sum total of human knowledge.

But in some cases, extinction can be seen in a more positive light. Take Al-Sayyid Bedouin Sign Language（ABSL）for example, restricted to about 1,000 users in a small Israeli village with a high level of born deafness, the language seems to be bound to die by the spread of Israeli sign language.

The natural reaction to the loss of ABSL is regret. It is a fascinating language that has kept linguists busy since it came to their attention around 15 years ago. But for the deaf villagers, Israeli sign language is an upgrade: it allows them to speak to tens of thousands of people rather than a few hundred, and enables them to work and marry outside the village. It is hard to see that as anything other than progress. Similarly, other endangered languages die out because people abandon them in favor of ones that serve their needs better.

Technology also softens the blow, as endangered languages can now be captured in detail — which also means they could eventually be brought back from the dead, much as the Hebrew language was in the 19th century. It is now the first language of 9 million people.

Linguists naturally condemn the loss of language much as conservationists (环保主义者) once mourned the loss of every single species. But they are moving towards acceptance that not all species can be saved, that invasive species are not always bad and that human-engineered ecosystems are not necessarily inferior to natural ones. Perhaps our attitudes to language extinction are due for a similar change.

1.What can we infer about ABSL?

A.Another language replaced it. B.It is an endangered language.

C.Deaf villagers prefer to use it. D.It has been studied for over 15 years.

2.What does the underlined word “upgrade” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A.Recovery. B.Opportunity.

C.Improvement. D.Update.

3.How does technology affect languages?

A.Technology can remove people’s regret.

B.Languages may be rescued from the extinction.

C.Technology increases the number of endangered languages.

D.Endangered languages might be abandoned because of technology.

4.What’s the main idea of the text?

A.More and more languages are dying out.

B.Technology creates some new languages.

C.People feel ashamed of language extinction.

D.Language extinction is not necessarily a bad thing.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.B

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了在语言濒临灭绝的时候，人们的本能反应是感到惋惜，毕竟每一门语言都是文化和思想的体现，是观察世界的一种独特方式，每消失一种语言就会使人类知识的总量减少一点儿。然而，在有些情况下可以用积极的态度看待语言的消亡。

1.推理判断题。由第二段中的“Take Al-Sayyid Bedouin Sign Language (ABSL), restricted to about 1,000 users in a small Israeli village with a high level of born deafness. The language seems to be bound to die by the spread of Israeli sign language.”可知，ABSL手语只有大约 1000 人使用，并且由于Israeli手语的传播,它似乎注定会灭亡，所以判断出ABSL是濒危语言。故选B项。

2.词义猜测题。根据画线词后的内容“it allows them to speak to tens of thousands of people rather than a few hundred, and enables them to work and marry outside the village.”可知，Israeli 手语让耳聋的村民们可以与更多的人交流，并且能够让他们在村子外面找到工作，以及与外面的人联姻，即Israeli手语比ABSL手语更能满足人们的需求；再结合下一句“It is hard to see that as anything other than progress.”可知，很难把Israeli手语看作进步之外的东西，说明Israeli手语是一种提高、改善、进步。故选C项。

3.细节理解题。由第四段的第一句“Technology also softens the blow, as endangered languages can now be captured in detail — which also means they could eventually be brought back from the dead, much as the Hebrew language was in the 19th century.”可知，科技也缓和了这种打击，因为濒危语言现在可以被详细地捕捉到——这也意味着它们最终可以起死回生，就像19世纪的希伯来语一样。技术可以帮助复活濒危语言, B项切题；C项颠倒是非，该项表达与文中信息恰恰相反；A、D两项属于无中生有，文中没有提及科技可以消除人们的遗憾，也没提到因为科技的发展濒危语言就会被抛弃。故选B项。

4.主旨大意题。本文主要讲述了人们应从积极的一面去看待濒危语言的灭绝。一方面濒危语言被能更好地服务于人们的语言代替，这是一种进步；另一方面科技也可以让某些濒危语言复活。因此人们对待濒危语言灭绝的态度应该改变，因为它未必是件坏事，故D项切题；A项只是表述了一个事实，不是文章的中心；B项无中生有，文中没有提到科技能创造新语言；C项只是陈述对于濒危语言人们惯常的反应, 与文章要表达的中心正好相反。故选D项。