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How many hours does it take to be fluent in English?
There are plenty of people in the UK for whom even basic English is a problem. According to the survey, 726,000 people in England and Wales said they could not speak English well, and another 138,000 said they did not speak it at all.
Ling, 40,who arrived five years ago from China, found it difficult to learn English. " When I came here l was pregnant and so I was at home for the next three years. It took me longer to learn as l was very busy with the children.” Eventually she was able to begin taking classes and now speaks good conversational English. But even with classes, it can be a long process to pick up the language.
Age is the most important factor in language acquisition, says Mila Vulchanova, professor of linguistics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. "There is a sensitive period in language learning, which is biologically determined, with an onset at birth and a decline around puberty. So the younger the immigrant, the better. Since this decline is only gradual, teenagers are at an advantage over adults.” he says.
There are a number of systems for grading English. The government expects immigrants to reach "ESOL Entry 3" or "B1 level" in Scotland, before they can be granted citizenship. It's equivalent（相当的） to being able to hold a confident conversation and-it might take 360 hours of study to achieve.
George Osborne said in June following the spending review that welfare claimants（申请者）who don't speak English will have their benefits cut if they fail to attend language courses.
Huan Japes, deputy chief executive of English UK, a trade body for language colleges, says a rule of thumb is 360 hours-120 hours for each of three stages-to get to the standard the government expects benefit claimants to reach.
But many of the people who attend courses are visiting students rather than people settling in the UK. Immigrants tend to have very varied levels of education.
" Using 120 hours( for each stage of English fluency) is a rather traditional approach to course book learning," says Dr Elaine Boyd, head of English language at Trinity College London. "If someone is really highly motivated, they can learn really quickly. It's common for children under the age of 11 to be very immersed and be fluent in about six months. "
1.The example of Ling is given to show that _ .
A. it's important to speak fluent English
B. many immigrants attend English classes
C. it's difficult to learn English well
D. many immigrants can't speak English in England
2. What does Mila Vulchanova mainly stress?
A. The necessity of working hard at English.
B. The function of the sensitive period.
C. The advantages of children's learning English.
D. The importance of starting learning English early.
3.What Dr Elaine Boyd says suggests that .
A. 120 hours is a standard that is a little low
B. 120 hours is a standard that is too high
C. English fluency can be easily achieved
D. English fluency can hardly be achieved
4.The author develops the passage mainly by .
A. using survey data
B. using experts' views
C. giving examples of English learners
D. listing the facts of English learning
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Gabby Logan was a gymnast when she was young. She is now the 39-year-old mother of seven-year-old twins, Reuben and Lois. The other day on TV she was dressed in a new swimsuit, which was designed to show off her nice figure, which was admired by a great number of television viewers.
Gabby, who won high praise for her television show of the Olympics, has asked the woman of the whole nation to go to the swimming pool, saying the secret of her figure is regular swimming. She is also making advertisements for the new Sculpture Swimwear of Speedo, an international swimsuit company, to help women find the perfect swimsuit.
Gabby said, "We all felt uneasy about getting into our swimwear at first. But we should be excited by the sporting achievements we have seen at the Olympics this summer. To get ourselves a little healthier, have a try and go to the swimming pool. " Then she said," Swimming is the perfect exercise if you want to feel healthy or simply relax. I find that going for a swim always clears my mind and also gives me some valuable 6 my time'. I like the calm of swimming which I can't experience when I am not in the pool. "
A study by Speedo, an International company, which sells swimsuits, reported the biggest reason why women were put off going to the pool was the way they looked in swimwear. More than half of the l,000 women surveyed have been reduced to tears when trying on swimwear. And 48 percent said they felt too self-conscious to go swimming with their children. Sally Polak, from Speedo, said, " We're hoping to give women the courage and confidence to get back into the water. "
1. What can we learn about Gabby Logan?
A. She has two children of the same age.
B. She appeared on TV to show off her nice figure.
C. She was a swimmer when she was young.
D. She took part in the Olympic Games when she was young.
2.What is the main reason why Gabby has a nice figure?
A. She is a gymnast.
B. She often swims.
C. She has a peaceful mind
D. She wears Sculpture Swimwear.
3. The biggest reason why most women were stopped from swimming is _ .
A. their shy mind of wearing the swimsuit
B. their being too busy with their housework
C. their not being comfortable in the swimsuit
D. their being afraid of their child seeing them wear less
4.What is the author's purpose of writing the text?
A. To introduce a famous woman.
B. To discuss a TV show of the Olympics.
C. To report a way of keeping a good figure.
D. To encourage women to go swimming.
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As the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, Xi'an's long history was properly summed up by our English-speaking guide: "If Xi'an is the grandmother of cities, Beijing is a youth and Shanghai is just a baby in the womb. "
However, it was not until 1974, following the chance discovery of the Army of Terracotta Warriors by well-digging farmers, that Xi'an was once again pushed onto the international map. Three decades later, the local government is pouring funds into the tourism sector. Ancient monuments and museums are being restored, and various copies of Buddhist and Tang heritage are being constructed to help Chinese tourists rediscover their national heritage.
One of those ancient monuments is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda-Xi'an's most sacred (神圣的) monument-which was built in 652 by the monk Xuanzang ,who travelled across India for 18 years and returned with a precious collection of Buddhist sacred texts. In 1966,the Red Guards burnt the pagoda's scriptures, silk wall hangings and other relics in a bonfire that raged all night. But that destruction has largely been forgotten as tourists flock to the newly restored pagoda. The only original remainders-the empty shell of the seven-storey pagoda-light up at night, standing out in the city's skyline.
Xi'an is also displaying the glories of the ancient Tang Dynasty, with a 165-acre Tang Paradise Theme Park that is visited by flocks of tourist groups. Although every bit of this Tang heritage is recreated, it is artistically pleasing, landscaped with ponds and lakes, classical gardens, bridges, palaces and pavilions. Explore the vast area on a golf cart, hopping on and off to see shortened operas from the Tang Dynasty days, laser shows on the lake, highly structured man-made waterfalls, as well as murals and statues of historical figures ,philosophers and poets.
A 36km drive northeast takes you to Xi'an's most famous attraction, the Army of Terracotta Warriors. They were made to order in 221BC by the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdi, who used the forced labour of 700,000 subjects to create a mausoleum(陵庙) guarded by an entire army.
1.From the passage we can learn that a large sum of money of the local government in Xi'an is being ploughed into .
A. restoring the monuments
B. restoring the Pagoda
C. tourism industry
D. exploring the history
2. How many historical sites in Xi'an have been referred to in the passage?
A. Three. B. Four. C. One. D. Six.
3. What can we learn from the fourth paragraph about the Tang Paradise Theme Park?
A. Visitors are pleased with the survivals from the Tang Dynasty.
B. The natural waterfalls in it are very attractive.
C. It is totally recreated but is artistically pleasant.
D. Visitors can appreciate the full Tang Dynasty operas.
4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. Make a visit to ancient sites at once.
B. China's ancient capital rises again.
C. Travel to the Army of Terracotta Warriors.
D. Take a view in the modern city.
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Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder. Your child will rise from bed and walk or engage in other activities that they would normally do when they are awake. Their eyes will be open but they will appear to be in a dream-like state, and will probably not answer when you talk to them, although they may carry out conversations. Sleepwalking can last a few seconds , a few minutes, or more.
Sleepwalking can be an indication that certain parts of the brain may not be relaxing properly at bedtime. It can be caused by illness or fever, tiredness, stress or anxiety. It is thought to occur in the beginning, slow-wave stages of non-rapid eye movement sleep before dream sleep. It may be related to the lack of magnesium (镁) , and it is very possible that hormonal（荷尔蒙的）changes in body could cause it. Certainly a child is more likely to be a sleepwalker if one of his parents suffered, too .
Sleepwalking itself is not dangerous and is generally not a sign of any more worrying problems. But if your child sleepwalks regularly, you have to take safety measures to make sure that he doesn't hurt himself while sleepwalking. Makes sure that any doors can't be opened by a child, and lock doors to the cellar, kitchen and other dangerous places. Check each night before lights go out for sharp objects or, indeed , anything on the floor which your child could trip over or hurt himself on.
A child may sleepwalk once and never sleepwalk again. Others may sleepwalk once a month or so. Still others may sleepwalk almost nightly. If you are worried you should consult your doctor.
1. What does the second paragraph mainly tell us?
A. The concept of sleepwalking.
B. The causes of sleepwalking.
C. Some ways to help sleepwalking.
D. The behaviors during sleepwalking.
2.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Sleepwalking itself is not dangerous.
B. Children who sleepwalk may answer when you talk to them.
C. If your child sleepwalks regularly, you can just leave him alone.
D. Sleepwalking is related to the lack of sleep.
3.It can be inferred from the passage that____.
A. sleepwalking may be passed down in a family
B. drugs that could cure sleepwalking have been developed
C. during a normal sleep, a person never opens his eyes
D. most doctors consider sleepwalking as a serious problem
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