How Do Languages Die?How many languages do yo...

How Do Languages Die?

How many languages do you think there are in the entire world? Altogether, people around the world speak about 6,000 languages. Does that surprise you? 1. Today, about half the world’s spoken languages are endangered. Experts say that another language becomes extinct (灭绝) every two weeks.

How do languages die? They die when people stop using them. But most people don’t just stop speaking their native language. It’s more complex than that. More often, they’re either pressured or forced to do so.2.They’re often pressured to speak the area’s main language instead of their own. This leads many immigrants to stop using their native language. They might not even teach it to their children.

Slowly, the native language dies out.

Sometimes, languages shift or develop instead of becoming extinct. Have you ever heard that Latin is a dead language? In a way, it is. No one today speaks Latin as their native language.3. People still use Latin in many ways. Scientists use it to name plants and animals.

4. That means the death of a language hurts people’s ability to take part in cultural traditions. They might lose access to stories and knowledge that were passed down for many years. This is one reason why many people today are working to save dying languages.

How can languages be saved? Some young people learn the language of their ancestors as adults.

Linguists travel the world to record the last native speakers of dying languages5.They do so in hopes that future generations will bring the languages back to life. Many educational programs today also work to help preserve native languages and cultures.

A.There used to be many more!

B.You may have used it in school.

C.Language is extremely closely tied to culture.

D.But that doesn’t mean it disappeared completely.

E.One example is when people move to a different country.

F.Some native speakers write dictionaries in their language.

G.There are plenty of things to do to help protect languages.

高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

How do apology languages work? Have you ever tried to apologize, only to be refused? It may be that you were offering a partial apology in a “language” , that was foreign to your listener．The five languages of apology include:

Apology Language 1: “I am sorry.”

List the hurtful effects of your action．Not “I am sorry if …”, but “I am sorry that…”．You might ask if they want to add any points that you have not recognized.

Apology Language 2:“I was wrong.”

Name your mistake and accept fault．Note that it is easier to say “You are right” than “ I am wrong”, but the latter carries more weight.

Apology Language 3: “ What can I do to make it right?”

How are you now? How shall I make amends(弥补) to you? How can I restore your confidence that I love you— even though I was so hurtful to you?

Apology Language 4: “I’ll try not to do that again.”

Engage in problem-solving．Don’t make excuses for yourself such as, “Well, my day was just so…” Instead, offer what you will change to prevent yourself from putting them in the same bad situation again．

Apology Language 5: “Will you please forgive me?”

Be patient in seeking forgiveness．They may need some time or greater clarification of your input from Apology Languages 1-4.

Finally, your apology may not be accepted, but at least you know that you have been faithful in offering a sincere olive branch of peace.

1.The passage mainly talks about___________

A．5 tips for apologies that work            B．5 ways of refusing apologies

C．the function of apology languages         D．the importance of apology languages

2.According to Paragraph 1, your apology may be refused mainly because________

A．your listeners can’t understand your dialect.

B．your listeners can’t hear what you said clearly.

C．your apology is not sincere.

D．your apology is not expressed well enough.

3.When offering an apology, which of the following does the author prefer?

A．“You are right”                      B．“I am sorry if …”

C.“I was wrong.”                    D．“Well, my day was just so…”

4.In the last paragraph, the author tells us even if your apology may not be accepted, at

least ___________.

A．It’s your fault any more                    B．your mind will be at peace

C．your friend will make peace with you       D．your apology is true to your heart

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Many websites have been _______ to help people study foreign languages.

A. set off　　　　　 B. set up

C. set down　　　 D. set out

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

— What do you think of investing in today’s stock market?

— There are many risks, but also many ________ gains．

A．potential    B．confidential C．influential   D．preferential

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Do you know ________

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

How do you relax after a stressful day in the office? There are many ways to help you relax. 1. It takes a little effort to get there but the benefits are great for our stressed-out lives. I am talking about the activity of forest bathing.

2. It was introduced as a national health programme by the country's government. Stressed Japanese workers are today still relaxing and reconnecting with nature.The Forest Therapy Society has certified 62 forest therapy sites in the country and the forest bathing movement is also booming in other parts of the world. It says,“Just as bathing in a hot spring helps to soak your cares away,going for a walk in the woods is said to have a comforting effect.”

Forest bathing is about taking time to wander through woodland with no fixed plan or route and just expose yourself to the forest atmosphere.3.That's particularly good for people with mental health issues. A study conducted in 24 forests across Japan found that walking among trees lowered blood pressure, the pulse rate, thus improving our immune systems.4.

Another study carried out a few years ago by Stanford University in the US,found similar benefits.Brain scans showed reduced activity in an area of the brain linked to the risk of mental illness in participants who took a 90-minute walk among oaks, birds and squirrels. One of the researchers,Gregory Bratman, said,“There's an increasing body of evidence showing that natural areas benefit us at least emotionally with our mood and our physical development too.”The evidence seems clear that forest bathing is a shot in the arm for stressed-out workers. So now is the time to get out and lose yourself in the natural environment, 5.

A. But the best way lies in the great outdoors.

B. Connecting with nature has never been more urgent.

C. Forest bathing is rising in popularity around the world.

D. Having this exposure to nature seems to promote well-being.

E. You could even hug a tree as it could be your new best friend!

F. The Japanese concept of forest bathing dates back to the 1980s.

G. It also found forest bathing can decrease stress. anxiety, and depression.

高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

Have you ever not wanted to do something so badly that you would rather die than go? Well that’s how I ________about joining Madcaps, a mothers and daughters club assisting philanthropies（慈善事业）.But now I believe that youopen up your mind to things because eventually you mightend up enjoying it.

“It’s a waste of time”, I said when my mom told I had to join Madcaps, and then when she said I had to ________at a homeless shelter I thought this just could not be .

We got there late, of course, and the security guard led us to the kitchenwe ran into 48 other fellow Madcaps members. Since I’mso socially awkward（糟糕的） I had met only one person at a pool party, earlier this year. I looked around for her but she was not there. Damn, I was! When the man in charge came out and asked for 3 mothers to work outside the ________to clean up the plates, my mom just happened to volunteer leaving me to ________food with others.

Soon thefamilies started to walk in and a little girl walked up and pointed to the food I wasI gave her the cold sandwich, she nodded in a form of saying ________, and then walked to join her family at the large table.

As she walked away I thought of how much I ________ I get to go the top schools. I have a great house and I have a warm meal every night. Itthat little girl to make me realize how lucky I am. After that moment I had a change of. Now, I love Madcaps and don’t miss one meeting, I have ________ being socially awkward and now have many friends. And this year I am sure I will do ________the required 20 hours of philanthropies.

I believe that if you have anmind about things you can accomplish more and become a better rounded person. I believe sometimes you can make a difference justdoing one thing you don’t want to do .

1.A．cared       B．joked  C．felt      D．doubted

2.A．should      B．would C．may     D．can

3.A．also B．just      C．not      D．still

4.A．report      B．live      C．donate         D．volunteer

5.A．better      B．sooner         C．easier D．worse

6.A．where      B．when  C．until    D．because

7.A．suddenly B．occasionally         C．hardly D．normally

8.A．shy  B．late     C．alone  D．hopeless

9.A．kitchen    B．house C．club    D．shelter

10.A．pack       B．purchase     C．serve  D．bake

11.A．poor       B．homeless    C．vluntary       D．local

12.A．playing with B．putting away C．looking for  D．holding out

13.A．hello      B．sorry   C．thanks          D．okay

14.A．had         B．earned        C．achieved     D．did

15.A．moved   B．took    C．helped         D．encouraged

16.A．heart      B．luck     C．identity        D．taste

17.A．believed in     B．learnt from C．got over      D．thought about

18.A．more than      B．nothing but C．anything but        D．less than

19.A．intelligent       B．abstract       C．empty         D．open

20.A．before   B．by        C．upon   D．to

高三英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

All languages change over time, and there can be many different reasons for this. The English language is no different — but why has it changed over the decades? Some of the main influences on the evolution of languages include: The movement of people across the globe…

What changes has the English language seen?

As the English language has changed, it’s been easy to pick out words that pass into common usage. The rise in popularity of internet slang (俚语) has seen phrases such as “LOL” ( Laugh Out Loud ), “YOLO” ( You Only Live Once ) and “bae” (an abbreviated form of babe or baby ) become firmly rooted in the English language over the past ten years. Every decade sees new slang terms like these appearing in the English language. And while some words or abbreviations do come from the Internet or text conversations, others may appear as entirely new words, a new meaning for an existing word, or a word that becomes more generalized than its former meaning. Decades ago, “blimey” was a new expression of surprise, but more recently”woah” is the word in everyday usage.

Sentence structure is of course another change to English language. Decades ago, it would have been normal to ask “Have you a moment?” Now, you might say “D’you have a sec?” Similarly, “How do you do?” has become “How’s it going?” Not only have the sentences been shortened, but new words have been introduced to everyday questions.

Connected to this is the replacement of certain words with other, more-modern versions. It’s pretty noticeable that words like “shall” and “ought” are on the way out, but “will”, “should” and “can” are doing just fine. Other changes can be more subtle (微妙). A number of verbs can be followed by another verb in either the “-ing” form or the “to” form, for example “they liked painting / to paint”, “he didn’t bother calling / to call”. Both of these constructions are still used but there has been a steady shift over time from the “to” to the “-ing”.

What do the changes mean?

Most language experts accept that change in language, like change in society, is unavoidable. Some think that is regrettable, but others recognize it as a way to enrich the language, bringing alternatives that allow subtle differences of expression.

As with everything, change isn’t necessarily a bad thing and, as the needs of English language users continue to change, so will the language !

1.What is the text mainly about?

A.The main influence on the evolution of the English language.

B.The different opinions on the English language changes.

C.The English language has changed over the decades.

D.Why the English language has changed over the years.

2.The English language has seen the changes in___________.

A.Internet slang terms and new words’ meanings

B.words, expressions and sentence structures

C.text conversations and everyday questions

D.a few model verbs and gram mar

3.Some abbreviated forms of word like LOL and YOLO appear in English because of__________.

A.the fast-paced modern life

B.the worsening laziness of the youth

C.the English influence on technology

D.the rise in popularity of the Internet slang

4.What is the author’s attitude towards the changes of the English language?

A.Opposed. B.Doubtful.

C.Approving. D.Uncaring.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

When people ask how many languages I speak,I reply I have forgotten six.That's the problem with languages: if you don't use them you lose them.But a little practice soon brings them back and you can once again enjoy the magic of talking to others in their own language and on their own terms.

I was a disaster at languages at school.I obtained 5 out of 200 in zero level French-an all time record.I was badly taught and I could never see the point.But as a young Royal Navy soldier to Singapore in the early 1960s,I heard that in Malay there was one word for "let's take off our clothes and tell dirty stories".Suddenly I saw the point.I never found the word,but in the process I learnt my first language.In the mid-60s,I was sent to the deep jungle among the local people.In their long-houses there were dried human heads hanging from the frames of the houses.I decided I would feel more comfortable if I knew their language too.

Not long after that,I spent two years learning official Chinese language in Hong Kong.One day,at a party with fellow students and teachers I tried to make a small talk with my female Chinese teacher."Have you ever flown in planes?" However,with my terrible Chinese tones,I made a mistake by asking "Have you by any chance sat upon a flying cock?" So you can imagine how I really felt inside my mind at that moment!You know what it means by speaking in such an uncomfortable tune to a female teacher!

Then I changed my languages and chatted with her in German,French and Russian in brief.God Heavens!My female Chinese teacher finally reacted and turned her red face to normal!Indeed this is the only time in my adult life when I haven't been learning a language.Languages have changed my life-and enriched it.And I think they can change yours too.

1.In the writer's eyes,the loss of using a language can be obtained　　　　 .

A. by practicing it more often

B. from a zero level record

C. by learning the points

D. from a Chinese teacher

2.The writer was not very good at languages at school because　　　　 .

A. he hated speaking Chinese with female people

B. he didn't learn languages very effectively

C. his French tests were always a zero record

D. his Chinese teachers taught him in a bad way

3.The mistake with the female teacher at the party　　　　 .

A. would make the writer more confident of his Chinese level

B. would certainly bring the writer a severe punishment

C. brought the writer into a very embarrassing situation

D. would make her think highly of his Chinese level

4.The writer turned to other languages to talk to his teacher in order to　　　　 .

A. warn people not to make any mistakes in official language

B. advise people to try using more languages to talk with others

C. suggest a diversity of changes of languages in people's life

D. relieve the tense atmosphere to make her relaxed

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Do you think you could learn a language in an hour?

We know, we know! We would expect you to be skeptical. It’s ridiculous to think you can learn a language in 60 minutes. You wouldn’t even get through the As in a bilingual dictionary in that amount of time! Best-case situation: in an hour, most of us could probably stuff a few words and ready-made phrases into our short-term memory (with a high likelihood of forgetting it all by the following day). Accomplishing anything more than that in one hour? Impossible. Unless…

We posed the one-hour language challenge to four polyglots(通晓数种语言的人) who are experts on how to study languages. To keep the challenge from becoming completely impossible, we gave them a bit of a break: to learn Romanian in one hour. Why Romanian? Because it’s a Romance language and shares many similarities with the languages that the polyglots already know: French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese. And to make sure their hour of learning was as effective as possible, all of them were assigned a personal Romanian tutor to help coach them on their way to success.

Although each polyglot has a different technique for picking up and remembering a new language, all four methods offer valuable insights to anyone, from casual learners to hard-core language enthusiasts.

Alex Rawlings — UK

"I’m a bit nervous. This is probably the craziest language-learning thing I’ve ever done, but learning languages has always been about fun. I expect that, after this, I’ll be prepared to have a simple chat over a coffee in Romanian. Is that reasonable?"

Method: Learn the verbs first

With only an hour until he had to start demonstrating his grasp of Romanian, Alex knew he had to start talking quickly. He chose to focus first on commonly used verbs and how to conjugate（动词变形） them. Once he had some verbs down, he could start collecting nouns from his tutor and plugging them in to make more interesting and relevant sentences.

Luca Lampariello — Italy

"Every time I have a conversation with native speakers, it really motivates me. Human contact is really important when learning a language."

Method: Start speaking right away

Speaking doesn’t mean speaking perfectly. Speaking even a little bit is a huge confidence boost. When you can say something in a new language and people actually understand you, it’s very motivating. Yes, you’ll make mistakes, but you’ll also learn faster than if you try to get it all perfect in your head first.

Michael Youlden — UK

"We all speak a variety of Romance languages which I think will help us get into Romanian quickly."

Method: Write everything down

Language learning is about recall; there’s no use learning something if you don’t remember it. Speaking new words aloud is very important, but so is writing them down — after all, words exist as sounds and in written form. Taking notes is a proven way to put new vocabulary and grammar into your memory. Writing supports memorizing which supports speaking... it’s a cycle. Plus, you have an easy reference when you want to review what you’ve learned.

Matthew Youlden — UK

"I’m going to look for the patterns and similarities with languages I already know. We won’t be able to speak fluently after an hour of study, but we should be able to get by with some basic vocabulary and phrases."

Method: Look for cognates

Cognates are words in different languages that look and sound similar and have the same meaning, due to a common origin. Almost every language combination contains cognates (even if two languages aren’t seemingly related), but languages from the same language family have many more. Whichever language you are learning, identify the familiar words and then use them to anchor the new words that aren’t so familiar. To use English as an example, because it’s a sort of Germanic-Romance hybrid, English already has many words that cognate with German, Dutch and Swedish on one hand, and on the other hand it also has lots of words that cognate with French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and, of course, Romanian!

Learn a language with courses designed by the experts. Start here, today!

Pick a language to learn. German, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, and Swedish.

高三英语单词拼写中等难度题查看答案及解析