The death of languages is not a new phenomenon. Languages usually have a relatively short life span as well as a very high death rate. Only a few, including Egyptian, Chinese, Greek, Latin, have lasted more than 2,000 years.
What is new, however, is the speed at which they are dying out. Europe’s colonial conquests caused a sharp decline in linguistic diversity, eliminating at least 15 percent of all languages spoken at the time. Over the last 300 years, Europe has lost a dozen, and Australia has only 20 left of the 250 spoken at the end of the 18th century.
The rise of nation-states has also been decisive in selecting and consolidating national languages and sidelining others. By making great efforts to establish an official language in education, the media and the civil service, national governments have deliberately tried to eliminate minority languages.
This process of linguistic standardization has been boosted by industrialization and scientific progress, which have imposed new methods of communication that are swift, straightforward and practical. Language diversity came to be seen as an obstacle to trade and the spread of knowledge. Monolingualism became an ideal.
More recently, the internationalization of financial markets, the spread of information by electronic media and other aspects of globalization have intensified the threat to “small” languages. A language not on the Internet is a language that “no longer exists” in the modern world. It is out of the game.
The serious effects of the death of languages are evident. First of all, it is possible that if we all ended up speaking the same language, our brains would lose some of their natural capacity for linguistic inventiveness. We would never be able to figure out the origins of human language or resolve the mystery of “the first language”. As each language dies, a chapter of human history closes.
Multilingualism is the most accurate reflection of multiculturalism. The destruction of the first will inevitably lead to the loss of the second. Imposing a language without any links to a people’s culture and way of life stifles the expression of their collective genius. A language is not only used for the main instrument of human communication. It also expresses the world vision of those who speak it, their ways of using knowledge. To safeguard languages is an urgent matter.
1.Which of the following does not contribute to the death of languages?
A. Colonial conquests of Europe
B. The boom of human population
C. Advances in science and industrialization
D. The rise of nation-states
2.The underlined word “ stifles” in the last paragraph probably means “_____”.
A. boosts B. fuels C. imposes D. kills
3.The serious effects of the death of languages include all except that_______.
A. People would fail to understand how languages originated
B. Language diversity would become an obstacle to globalization
C. Monolingualism would lead to the loss of multiculturalism
D. Human brains would become less creative linguistically
4.What is the author’s purpose of writing this passage?
A. To explain the reasons why languages are dying out.
B. To warn people of the negative aspects of globalization.
C. To call people’s attention to the urgency of language preservation.
D. To argue how important it is for people to speak more languages.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The Children’s Book-Show Competition is a chance for young readers to be writers.
Reading, it seems, is coming back in fashion, if a survey by the famous National Literacy Trust (the NLT) is true. It shows that the percentage of children who admit enjoying reading has grown for the first time in the past 8 years.
So it’s a good time to launch a competition that includes a shed-load of new books for schools as prizes. The Children’s Book-show Competition, backed by The Independent, is taking to the roads again from the start of next term, with a nation-wide tour of 15 big cities, featuring a line-up of a dozen children’s writers and illustrators(插图画家)aiming to persuade pupils to follow their footsteps.
The competition, launched by the children’s writer and illustrator Jessica Souhami, has two categories: the under-nine’s and nine to 13-year-olds.
Children are asked to choose their favorite fairy or folk tale and set it in an extraordinary place.
Then they are to retell it with the aid of drawings and writings-whether it is set at sea, on a distant planet, in the future or in the past. The closing date for the competition is 30th November.
“Tell your tale in pictures and in words, ”say the organizers of the competition. “It can be in a picture book or comic-book format.”
The winner of each competition will receive a signed copy of a book by each of the 12 authors involved in this year’s tour, plus £150 worth of books for their school. The runners-up will receive a signed copy of Souhami’s new book.
1.What can we know about the Book-show Competition? _____
A. It will be held by the famous NLT.
B. It will be held in different cities.
C. It has never been organized before.
D. Children of all ages will join in it.
2.The underlined word “backed” in Paragraph 3 means_____.
A. started B. promoted
C. supported D. reported
3.What will be offered as a prize to schools? _________
A. Pictures and comic books
B. Books worth £150 in all.
C. Books signed by 12 authors.
D. Jessica Souhami’s new books.
4.The author’s purpose of writing this passage is to ______.
A. encourage young readers to become writers.
B. persuade all children to join in the competition
C. promote children’s books by famous writers.
D. introduce the Children’s Book-Show Competition
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
It was a secret Eli kept until he was 8 years old.
“He would scream, like we were hurting him when we tried to put a dress on him.” recalled Grace, his mother. That was when Eli was an 18-month-old baby girl already rejecting anything female.
Now, Eli’s mother and Eli are sharing their story with CBS New York. Eli still remembers being a baby, and rejecting putting on a dress. “Oh, I remember that,” he said. “It was like torture.” Now Eli is 11 years old. He is, by all accounts, a happy, active boy who never doubted he was born the wrong sex. Eli said to CBS New York. It was hard to keep that secret for 8 years though, “It was kind of hard because I hadn’t really told anyone ever,” he said.
“He said, ‘I have a secret, and the secret is I don’t want to be a girl. I think I’m a boy，’”Grace recalled. “…I thought, ‘I don’t know what we’re going to do, but we’re going to figure it out.”’
CBS New York reports that it was a less clear path for Ryan, now a 21-year-old man. He, too, was born female, but never felt like one.
He didn’t understand his feelings at the time. Then he learned about what it meant to be transgender on the Internet, and it began to make sense. “It was a relief to know what exactly I was or am,” he said.
Ryan’s mother said at first it was hard to accept. “It’s a scary thing to think about,” she said. But she came around. “I was glad my son is able to become the person he needed to be,” she said.
Experts say the kind of family support both Ryan and Eli are getting is of great significance. Without it, many transgender kids suffer from anxiety, depression and high rates of suicide.
“We see a lot of kids with a lot of mental health concerns, and we also see that those mental health concerns really reduced when the family is on board,” said Jean Malpas of Ackerman Institute for the Family, a non-profit research organization to CBS New York.
Grace said for her it went from a situation that felt really confusing and difficult to one that she now celebrates. “We feel so lucky to have him.” she said.
1.According to the passage, Eli would scream because_________.
A. Eli rejected care and love from parents
B. Eli didn’t want to be dresses as a girl
C. Eli didn’t want to wear anything at all
D. Eli’s parents were torturing their baby
2.Which word can best describe Ryan’s feelings before he turned to the Internet?
A. Confused. B. Angry. C. Relieved. D. Confident.
3.This passage is probably taken from________.
A. a news report
B. a scientific journal
C. a survey report
D. an academic essay
4.What can we learn from this passage?
A. Many people feel difficult to accept who themselves really are.
B . Knowledge about transgender should be made known to more people.
C. Support from family is important to special groups like the transgender.
D. Many non-profit organizations are trying to help people like Eli and Ryan.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Look carefully and you’ll find musicians at the top of almost any industry. The television broadcaster Paula Zahn(cello) and the NBC chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd (French horn) attended college on music scholarships; Both Microsoft’s Mr. Allen and the venture capitalist Rogar McNamee have rock bands. Lorry Page, a co-founder of Google, played saxophone in high school. The former World Bank president James D. Wolfensohn has played cello at Carnegie Hall.
The connection isn’t a coincidence. I know because I asked. I put the question to top-flight professionals in industries from tech to finance to media, all of whom had serious ( if often little-known) past lives as musicians. Almost all made a connection between their music training and their professional achievements.
Will your school music program turn your kid into a Paul Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft (guitar)? Or a Woody Allen (clarinet )? Probably not. These are outstanding achievers. But the way these and other visionaries (有远见的人) I spoke to process music is interesting.
But the key question is: why does that connection exist? Paul Allen offers an answer. He says music “establish your confidence in the ability to create.” He began playing the violin at age 7 and switched to the guitar as a teenager. Even in the early days of Microsoft, he would pick up his guitar at the end of marathon days of programming. The music was the emotional analog (类比) to his day job, both of them show his different creativity. He says, “something is pushing you to look beyond what currently exists and express yourself in a new way.”
For many of the high achievers I spoke with, music functions as a “hidden language,” as Mr. Wolfensohn calls it, one that enhances the ability to connect different or even opposite ideas. When he ran the World Band, Mr. Wolfensohn traveled to more than 100 countries, often taking in local performances (and occasionally joining in on a borrowed cello), which helped him understand “the culture of people”.
Consider the qualities these high achievers say music has sharpened : cooperation, creativity, discipline and the capacity to coordinate (协调) conflicting ideas. All are qualities obviously absent from public life. Music may not make you a genius, or rich, or even a better person. But it helps train you to think differently, to process different points of views --- and most important, to take pleasure in listening.
1.The reason why the author quote so many outstanding people as examples in the first paragraph is ___________.
A. to prove the popularity and the charm of music
B. to prove all winners are musicians before
C. to encourage kids to choose school music program
D. to prove the connection between success and music
2.Which of the following is true?
A. Everybody knows those well-known people are musicians before.
B. Musicians exist in all industries.
C. Music can certainly make you become a better person.
D.Music helps Mr. Wolfensohn have a better understanding of the different culture.
3.The author develops the passage mainly _________.
A. by classification B. by comparison
C. by example D. by process
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Stop Eating Yourself Stupid
We all know that poor nutrition can lead to bad health and even weight gain.1.A recent study has found that what you eat could very likely play a role in how smart you are.
According to the study, rats fed a high-fat diet for 10 days showed signs of weakness and even had trouble finding treats that were waiting for them.2.Actually high-fat diet could weaken our intelligence--- but so can a calorie-restricted diet. The trick appears to lie in finding a nice balance.
Here are ways to achieve that happy balance and make you smarter through diet, exercise and improving your brain power.
3. Aim to get this amount of calories each day. If you need to drop a few pounds, take away the number you get by 400; consume that number of calories each day until you drop the weight.
Eat the right foods in addition to getting the right amount of calories. Aim for healthy foods that include good amounts of protein, fiber, fruits and vegetables, healthy whole grains, healthy fats and plenty of water! Well! 4. Read a book. Try a new recipe. Do some puzzles. These are all good ways to help increase your smarts.
5.Aim for at least three 30-minutes sessions a week. I like simple exercises such as walking, but anything that raises the heart rate is good. You may be fond of music too. Combine them! Some people like to listen to classical music such as Bach or Mozart, but rock music lovers will be happy to learn that this genre can help make you smarter as well.
A. Exercise regularly with happy mind forever.
B. Your health depends on your exercise plan.
C. Don’t forget to exercise your mind while doing so.
D. Now add “lack of intelligence” to the list.
E. You may be puzzled whether it has something with us.
F. Remember: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
G. Figure out how many calories you need to maintain your weight.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A, B, C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
I looked at my beautiful Christmas tree and sighed. The New Year was a week old and my tree .stood in the corner of our room with its collection of memories proudly in a shower of colorful lights. I’d long enough.
I got up, went to the and dragged the boxes into the room. The garland (花环) was the first to . I took the large ornaments (装饰物) off next. They a large pile on our bed. An hour later, our bed was covered with Christmas memories.
I prepared the boxes and placed ornaments in their protective packaging, pausing every few minutes to a favorite. “Hey, little Santa!” I held the Santa from my childhood. “Thanks for being my friend for almost fifty years.” He was a little but still gives me a flood of wonderful memories.
There was a collection of handmade ones my children made in their first years of school more than twenty years ago. They are perfect in design, but every year they go on my memory tree.
A few hours after I started, the boxes were back in the garage, the room was __ and I sat staring at the corner. It took me two days of work to my tree, but only a few hours to take it apart.
My tree is a good marriage or a great friendship. the tree, they take a long time to decorate with memories, but can be torn down .What once stood proudly in the glow of love comes tumbling down and all it is an unkind word or a thoughtless act.
Every year I have to put my tree away, but not my marriage or friendships. They get to glow in the corner of my life for I live. I get to analyze my tree and find memories for a few weeks every year. I can do the same with the loves in my life every day. When I held the Santa, a flood of wonderful memories . The same happens when I hold my wife or see the smile of a friend across the room.
_ your friendships and your marriage. Once they come down, they aren’t as easy to put back together as a Christmas tree, if . Stand them in that special spot in the corner of your heart and admire their glow.
1.A. already B. even C. still D. yet
2.A. maintained B. displayed C. collected D. located
3.A. complained B. suffered C. postponed D. missed
4.A. courtyard B. basement C. storehouse D. garage
5.A. come down B. break up C. fade away D. stand out
6.A. covered B. made C. lay D. occupied
7.A. cautiously B. casually C. randomly D. desperately
8.A. spot B. witness C. evaluate D. admire
9.A. ragged B. ugly C. dull D. rigid
10.A. free of B. far from C. away from D. close to
11.A. abandoned B. aged C. filled D. increased
12.A. clean B. empty C. orderly D. quiet
13.A. choose B. equip C. decorate D. furnish
14.A. As for B. Similar to C. Contrary to D. Along with
15.A. quickly B. carelessly C. directly D. suddenly
16.A. proves B. lacks C. means D. takes
17.A. as far as B. as long as C. as soon as D. as much as
18.A. recovered B. returned C. remained D. repeated
19.A. Share B. Preserve C. Cherish D. Pursue
20.A. in all B. above all C. at all D. after all
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Some students who had graduated visited their university professor. The conversation soon turned into1.(complain) about stress in work and life. 2.(offer) his guests coffee, the professor 3.(go) to the kitchen and returned with a pot of coffee and4.variety of cups—porcelain, plastic, glass, some plain-looking, some expensive—telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
It was when all the students had a cup of coffee in hand that he said, “All the nice-looking expensive cups have been taken up,5.(leave) behind the plain and cheap ones. Actually, the cup itself adds no quality 6.the coffee. What all of you really want7.(be) coffee, not the cup. You consciously went for the best cups, and then you began eyeing others’ cups.”
“Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups,8.are just tools to hold and contain life. The type of cup we have does not change the quality of life . If we concentrate only on the cups, we fail 9.(enjoy) the coffee. I10.(true) hope that you will never let the cups drive you enjoy the coffee instead.”
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误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(Λ)，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。
As senior three student, it won’t take long after I graduate. Now, I have much to share with my fellow student.
Firstly, I’d like to show my appreciation to those stand by me all the way, teachers, parents and friends included. Without their help and advice, my life will be different. Secondly, it’s high time that I said sorry to the classmates I have hurt and misunderstand. I firm believe that communication and smiles act as bridges to friendship. Above all, I’ve made up my mind to make every effort to study, so hard work is the key to success. Just as the old saying go, “No pains, No gains.” Finally, I want to express my hope which all the young fellows can make full use of time, because time and tide wait for no man.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
在高中学习生活中，内容丰富，形式多样的主题班会常能给我们带来启示和思考，为我们的成长指明方向。请描述高中时期一次令你记忆深刻的主题班会，根据下列要点完成短文。
1. 班会的主题
2. 老师的具体要求和做法
3. 班会对你积极的影响（不少于两点）
注意：1. 字数100字左右； 2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
Class meetings of different themes and forms always function as guidance on our life and study.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析