half of the world"s population will be using it. What are we talking about? That global language-English.
The English language started in Britain in the 5th century. It is a mixed language. It was built up when
German. Scandinavian and French invaders settled in England and created a common language for
communication.
Today it is the official language of the UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa
and Ireland as well as many islands in the Caribbean . Many other countries and regions use it for politics
and business, for example, India. Pakistan, Nigeria and the Philippines. English is also one of the official
languages of Hong Kong.
But global advertising and pop music mean that in most countries, you will see or hear some English.
Thanks to McDonalds, we all know about "burgers". "fries" and "milkshakes". Songs by Madonna,
Britney Spears and Celine Dion are in English. We can sing along, even if we do not understand what we
are singing!
English is a messy (杂乱的) language. Every year, dictionaries include new words that talk about
popular culture, for example, computer-related words such as "blogging", "download" and "chatroom".
Also included are words that teenagers use. Who does not know "cool", "OK" and "hello" ?
Other languages also influence English. Many English words come from French. Words like "cafe"
and expressions like "c"est la vie" (that is life) are all part of the English language. On the other hand, the
French language includes English words like "le weekend" and "le camping". German words are also part
of English. Words like "kindergarten" come from the German language.
Recently, British people have become interested in "yoga". But the word comes from an ancient Hindu
language in India.
1. The English language has a history of ______.
A. over 2000 years
B. over 500 years
C. over 1500 years
D. over 1000 years
2. The underlined expression "thanks to " can be replaced by ______.
A. because of
B. thankful to
C. not until
D. as if.
3. Which of the following statements is true about the language of English ?
A. It has been changing all the time.
B. It has borrowed words from all the other languages.
C. French words are used by the English because dictionaries have French words.
D. Singers and film stars have the greatest influence on language.
4. How many people in the world are using English now?
A. One billion people
B. 340 million
C. almost all the people in the world.
D. not mentioned above, but the number is growing rapidly.
5. Many countries and regions use it for politics and business except______.
A. the USA
B. Nigeria
C. the Philippines
D. Norway
I am fond of my sister but she has one serious shortcoming. She can be (1) (real)________ stubborn. (2)______ she didn"t know the best way of getting to places, she insisted that she (3 )(organize)______
the trip properly. Now I know that the proper way is always her way. I kept (4) (ask)_______ her,
"When are we leaving and when are we coming back ?" I asked her (5)________ she had looked at a
map yet. Of course she (6) (not)______; my sister doesn"t care about details.
So I told her that the source of the Mekong is in Qinghai Province. She gave me a (7) (determine)
__________ look -the kind that said she would not change her mind. When I told her that our journey
would begin (8)_____ an altitude of more than 5,000 metres, she seemed to be (9) (excite)_______
about it. When I told her the air would be hard to breathe and it would be every cold, she said it would
be an interesting experience. I knew my sister well. Once she has made up her mind, (10) _______ can
change it. Final I had to give in.
Can you remember the day when you spoke your first word? If you can, you are unusual. Try to
imagine what first few months of your life were like. I am sure you just spent most of your time eating,
sleeping and crying. As you grow older, you were awake more of the time. It took your parents more
time to play with you and talk to you. You watched and listened curiously. You began to know that
people made certain sounds to go with certain things.
Then you began to try making the sounds you heard. And step by step you were able to make the
right sound for one thing.
On that day you came to understand the secret of language. The secret is that a certain sound means
a certain thing. One sound might be as good as another. But it is no good as a word unless everybody
agrees on its meaning. Only when a group of people use the same set of sounds of things, can they
understand each other. Then, and only then do these people have a LANGUAGE.
After you found the secret of language, you learned words. Some of the words meant things, such as
BOOKS, CHAIRS and SHOES. Some words meant doing things, such as GO and SWIM. And other
words describe things, such as GOOD and DIRTY. Soon you learned to put words together to express
one"s idea, such as "1 want to go out and play with my friends." This is language. By means of language
people can communicate. So we say languages are means of communication.
1. can remember the day when___________.
A. One; he spoke his first word
B. No one; he spoke his first word
C. Most people; they spoke their first words
D. None; they spoke their first words
2. When you were a little baby, you_________.
A. made sounds to let people know that you wanted to eat
B. spent most of your time playing with your parents
C. could not hear any sound around you
D. spent most of your time eating, playing and crying
3. The secret of language is that____________.
A. one sound might be as good as another
B. people can understand each other
C. a certain sound is for a certain thing
D. there is a special sound for each person
4. You could learn words_____________.
A. before you knew what the language was
B. after you knew what the language was
C. if you knew the secret of the language
D. when you were a baby
5. The aim in using language is .
A. to get everything one wants from others
B. to say what one wants to know
C. to share ideas, opinions, news, etc with one another
D. to make oneself understood by others
阅读下列材料,从所给的六个选项(A、B、C、D、E和F)中,选出符合各小题要求的最佳选项,选项中有一项是多余选项.
首先,请阅读下列的应用文:
A. "Just do it!" - This slogan (口号) speaks out to teens. It tells them to do something, but only if they
think it"s worth it. And if so, why not do it wearing Nike?
B."Always Coca-Cola." - Coke"s slogans change every few years, but this one has enjoyed a lasting
popularity because it shows the brand"s spirit. It seems to say "Coke is the only drink there is; there are
no other forms of drink."
C. "Share moments, share life." - This slogan from Kodak connects photos and beauty. It asks
people to remember the happy moments in life by taking photos of them - using Kodak film of course!
D. On hearing the slogan "Make yourself heard", you will know there is Ericsson product for you
to call anyone.
E. There are some public service advertisements (PSAs) that educate people about public service
projects, such as Project Hope. Its slogan is "Project Hope - Schooling every child."
F. One magazine ad says "Make me your window on the world!" The advertisers say that the
weekly magazine can bring the world to your home. " Have you ever wondered what the Chinese eat for
breakfast? Did you know that the Sahara Desert is getting bigger every year? This fascinating magazine ,
full of colour pictures , is your window on the world.
请阅读以下购买者的信息,然后匹配购买者和他/她拟购买产品的广告语:
Jack passed the entrance exam and was admitted to a famous university. These days, his father is
looking for a mobile phone for him so as to keep in touch with each other closely.
Tom was a senior middle school student. He likes sports very much and plays football every afternoon.
But after class this afternoon he has to buy a pair of shoes because his shoes have been worn out.
There"s a party this evening - for Mary"s 15th birthday. Her family are making preparations for it. Her
brother"s job is to buy some drink.
Joan doesn"t want to forget the past, especially the happy moments.
Bill travels a lot when he was younger. Now that he has stopped his work, he enjoys reading about
foreign people, places and customs.
购买者 广告语
1. Jack A. Just do it!
2. Tom B. Always Coca-Cola.
3. Mary C. Share moments, share life.
4. Joan D. Make yourself heard.
5. Bill E. Project Hope - Schooling every child.
F. Make me your window on the world!
Daisy had always longed to help 1(danger)_______ species of wildlife. One day she woke up and
found a 2(fly)____ carpet by her bed. "Where do you want to go ?" it asked. Daisy responded 3
(immediate)________. "I"d like to see some rare wildlife." she said. "Please take me to a distant land
4______I can find the animal 5____ gave fur to make this sweater."
At once the carpet flew away and took her to Tibet. There Daisy saw an antelope 6(look)______ sad.
It said,"We 7(kill)_________ for the wool beneath our stomachs. Our fur is being used to make
sweaters for people like you. As a result, we are now a rare species. 8____ that Daisy cried, "I"m sorry
I 9(not know)_____that. I wonder 10____ is being done to help you .
dreams. To begin with. I like the idea of dreaming, of going to bed and lying still and then, by some
queer magic, wandering into another kind of existence. As a child, I could never understand why
grown-ups took dreaming so calmly when they could make such a fuss about any holiday, This still
puzzles me. I am puzzled by people who say they never dream and appear to have no interest in the
subject. It is much more astonishing than it would be if they said they never went out for a walk. Most
people do not seem to accept dreaming as part of their lives. They appear to see it as an irritating little
habit, like sneezing or yawning I can never understand this. My dream life does not seem as important
as my waking life because there is far less of it, but to me it is important.
1. What is the author"s attitude toward dreaming?
A. He thinks it puzzling
B. He likes it
C. He is interested in it
D. He doesn"t accept it as part of his life
2. For the author of the passage, dreaming is________. .
A. another kind of existence
B. an irritating little habit
C. a horrible but wonderful experience
D. a true reflection of reality
3. The author of the passage suggests that people who say they never go out for a walk are_____.
A. interesting
B. unbelievable
C. mysterious(难以理解的)
D. lazy
4. The author of the passage enjoys dreaming most______. .
A. only when he was a child
B. only when he is a grown-up
C. both as a child and as a grown-up
D. only in his old age
5. Why does the author of the passage complain?
A. Because most people are overexcited about their dreams
B. Because most people are not interested in talking about their dreams
C. Because most people have had dreams most of the time
D. Because most people consider their dreams of to much importance
- 1 .
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