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.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
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.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
This new book of hers is believed _______ into many different languages.
A. to be translated B. to have translated
C. being translated D. to have been translated
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Speaking two languages can actually help offset(抵消) some effects of aging on the brain, a new study has found.
Researchers tested how long it took participants to switch from one cognitive(认知的) task to another, something that’s known to take longer for older adults, said lead researcher, Brian Gold, a neuroscientist at the University of Kentucky.
Gold’s team compared task-switching speeds for younger and older adults, knowing they would find slower speeds in the older population because of previous studies. However, they found that older adults who spoke two languages were able to switch mental activities faster than those didn’t. The study only looked at life-long bilinguals, defined in study as people who had spoken a second language daily since they were at least 10 years old.
Gold and his team asked 30 people, either bilingual or monolingual, to have a series of tests. They found that bilingual people were not only able to switch tasks faster, they had different brain activity than their monolingual peers.
Kristina called bilingualism "a beautiful natural experiment”, because people grow up speaking two languages, and studies have shown that they get certain cognitive benefits from switching between languages and determining which to respond with based on what's going on around them.
Gold said he grew up in Montreal, where he spoke French at school and English at home, prompting relatives to question whether his French language immersion(专心)would somehow hinder his ability to learn English.
"Until very recently, learning a second language in childhood was thought of as dangerous," he said. "Actually, it's beneficial.”
1. What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. Researchers found that bilingual people can slow down the speed or aging on the brain and respond fast.
B. Researchers found that bilingual people respond slowly.
C. Researchers found that speaking two languages is important.
D. Researchers found that bilingual people are great.
2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Older bilinguals can’t respond faster in mind.
B. Young bilinguals can respond faster in mind than those monolinguals.
C. Older adults speaking a second language daily since they were at least 10 years old can respond faster than those who don't.
D. Bilingual children respond slower in mind than those monolinguals.
3. In Gold’s opinion, learning a second language in childhood is______.
A.dangerous to children
B. not beneficial to children
C. dangerous but beneficial to children
D. not dangerous but beneficial to children
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Speaking two languages can actually help offset(抵消) some effects of aging on the brain, a new study has found.
Researchers tested how long it took participants to switch from one cognitive(认知的) task to another, something that’s known to take longer for older adults, said lead researcher, Brian Gold, a neuroscientist at the University of Kentucky.
Gold’s team compared task-switching speeds for younger and older adults, knowing they would find slower speeds in the older population because of previous studies. However, they found that older adults who spoke two languages were able to switch mental activities faster than those didn’t. The study only looked at life-long bilinguals, defined in study as people who had spoken a second language daily since they were at least 10 years old.
Gold and his team asked 30 people, either bilingual or monolingual, to have a series of tests. They found that bilingual people were not only able to switch tasks faster, they had different brain activity than their monolingual peers.
Kristina called bilingualism "a beautiful natural experiment”, because people grow up speaking two languages, and studies have shown that they get certain cognitive benefits from switching between languages and determining which to respond with based on what's going on around them.
Gold said he grew up in Montreal, where he spoke French at school and English at home, prompting relatives to question whether his French language immersion(专心)would somehow hinder his ability to learn English.
"Until very recently, learning a second language in childhood was thought of as dangerous," he said. "Actually, it's beneficial.”
1.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. Researchers found that bilingual people can slow down the speed or aging on the brain and respond fast.
B. Researchers found that bilingual people respond slowly.
C. Researchers found that speaking two languages is important.
D. Researchers found that bilingual people are great.
2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Older bilinguals can’t respond faster in mind.
B. Young bilinguals can respond faster in mind than those monolinguals.
C. Older adults speaking a second language daily since they were at least 10 years old can respond faster than those who don't.
D. Bilingual children respond slower in mind than those monolinguals.
3.In Gold’s opinion, learning a second language in childhood is______.
A.dangerous to children
B. not beneficial to children
C. dangerous but beneficial to children
D. not dangerous but beneficial to children
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Speaking two languages can actually help offset(抵消) some effects of aging on the brain, a new study has found.
Researchers tested how long it took participants to switch from one cognitive(认知的) task to another, something that’s known to take longer for older adults, said lead researcher, Brian Gold, a neuroscientist at the University of Kentucky.
Gold’s team compared task-switching speeds for younger and older adults, knowing they would find slower speeds in the older population because of previous studies. However, they found that older adults who spoke two languages were able to switch mental activities faster than those didn’t . The study only looked at life-long bilinguals, defined in study as people who had spoken a second language daily since they were at least 10 years old.
Gold and his team asked 30 people, either bilingual or monolingual(只懂一种语言的人) , to have a series of tests. They found that bilingual people were not only able to switch tasks faster, they had different brain activity than their monolingual peers.
Kristina called bilingualism "a beautiful natural experiment”, because people grow up speaking two languages,and studies have shown that they get certain cognitive benefits from switching between languages and determining which to respond with based on what's going on around them.
Gold said he grew up in Montreal, where he spoke French at school and English at home, prompting relatives to question whether his French language immersion would somehow hinder his ability to learn English.
"Until very recently, learning a second language in childhood was thought of as dangerous," he said. "Actually, it's beneficial. "
1.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. Researchers found that speaking two languages is important.
B. Researchers found that bilingual people respond slowly.
C. Researchers found that bilingual people can slow down the speed or aging on the brain and respond fast.
D. Researchers found that bilingual people are great.
2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Older bilinguals can’t respond faster in mind.
B. Older adults speaking a second language daily since they were at least 10 years old can respond faster than those who don't.
C. Young bilinguals can respond faster in mind than those monolinguals.
D. Bilingual children respond slower in mind than those monolinguals.
3.In Gold’s opinion, learning a second language in childhood is______ .
A. dangerous to children
B. not beneficial to children
C. dangerous but beneficial to children
D. not dangerous but beneficial to children
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is one of the most common sayings in the English languages. This is because apples were one of the first foods that medical professionals recognized as healthy—their benefits became obvious when, quite simply, doctors found that people who ate apples were sick less often than those who did not. Today we have a more specific understanding of why apples are so beneficial to overall health.
Apples can help keep your levels of bad cholesterol (胆固醇) down. The pectin (果胶) in apples helps you to maintain cardiovascular health and reduce LDL cholesterol(which is the “bad” kind). Apples themselves do not add cholesterol to your diet and are full of water and fiber to help prevent the cholesterol in other foods you might digest. According to Health Diaries, people who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent.
Apples are naturally low in calories and high in water content. Eating an apple can satisfy your hunger and keep you from reaching for high-sugar, high-calories snacks. By eating apples, you will be more able to maintain a healthy weight because they fill you up, potentially stopping you from eating food that encourages a waistline increase.
Apples contain respectable levels of boron (硼), which helps build healthy bones, and can also prevent diseases like arthritis. Apples are rich in vitamin C, which is known to help build immunity.
Studies have shown that apples can decrease the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, and liver cancer. One theory is that the apple skins are responsible for this, so be sure not to peel your apple before you eat them, as you could remove some of the health benefits.
1.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. An explanation of an English saying.
B. How to make full use of apples.
C. Apples are beneficial to our health.
D. How to keep healthy in our daily life.
2.By eating apples we can get many benefits EXCEPT________.
A. lowering the cholesterol B. keeping a healthy weight
C. building immunity D. preventing heart disease
3.Which of the following can most probably replace the underlined word “respectable”?
A. Admirable. B. Considerable.
C. Reliable. D. Valuable.
4.Which plays an important role in reducing the risk of breast cancer?
A. The pectin. B. The apple skins.
C. The flesh of apples. D. The fiber of apples.
5.What’s the author’s attitude towards the effect of eating apples?
A. Positive. B. Negative.
C. Doubtful. D. Uncertain.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
In today’s world, over 7,000 different languages are spoken. English is one of the most recognized languages in the world and is the language of choice for many people across the globe. For this reason it plays a significant role in communication between different societies and organizations. It is important that global workers can effectively use this style of English in order to be successful in the world business markets.
Global English, also known as international English, is the movement towards using an international standard for this common language. It is also the concept of using the English language to communicate across the world and in various dialects. In today’s society of constant communication among people around the world, it is important that the English language is not tied to one local dialect such as the United States, the UK or Australia, but rather represents a broad usage of language so that it can be understood in all countries. When using global English, it is important to write and speak clearly so it can be understood around the world.
There are a variety of techniques that can be adopted to successfully use global English. Avoid sentences and paragraphs which are long and wordy. Try not to use false subjects, such as sentences that start with “It is” or “This has” which can be confusing. Instead, start the sentence with a specific descriptive subject.
Do not use mini word clusters (串) because they may confuse anyone who is just learning the English languages. Mini words are short, common words with one-to-three letters. Avoid using idioms, such as “the tip of the iceberg” and “right around the corner”. Instead, say exactly what you mean. Also, because many languages do not use pronouns such as “it” or “they”, try to avoid them. Avoid using phrasal verbs, such as “keep up” or “get into” because they aren’t easy to understand in some languages. Finally, since most languages have different formats for writing dates, it is best to write out the month, date and year completely.
In a word, it is important to read and write global English. By understanding the concepts of global English and using proper techniques, a business can successfully grow in the global business economy.
Title | Global English |
Theme | English shouldn’t be tied to one local dialect but should represent a broad usage of language so that it can be understood around the world. |
Concept of global English | The movement towards using an international standard for English to make it a 1.________of communication across the world and in various dialects. |
2.________ of global English | Enabling global workers to communicate effectively and 3.________ success in the world business markets. |
4.________ on using global English | ● Avoid long and wordy sentences and paragraphs. ● Try not to use false subjects which can result in 5.________. ● Use a specific descriptive subject as the6.________ of the sentence. ●7.________ using mini word clusters. ● Do not use idioms and express your8.________ exactly. ● Try to avoid pronouns like “it” or “they” ● Do not use phrasal verbs because they’re 9.________ to understand in some languages. ● Write out the month, date and year in a 10.________ manner. |
高二英语其他题中等难度题查看答案及解析
There are about fifteen hundred languages in the world. But 36a few of them are very 37 .English is one of these. Many, many people use it, not only in England and the U.S.A., but in other parts of the world. About 200,000,000 speak it as their own language. It is difficult to say how many people are learning it as a38language. Many millions are 39 to do so. Is it easy or difficult to learn English? Different people may have different 40 Have you ever 41 ads of this kind in the newspapers or magazines? "Learn English in six weeks, or your 42 back..." "Easy and funny! Our records and tapes 43 you master your English in a month. 44the first day your 45 will be excellent. Just send …"Of course, it never 46 quite like this.
The only language that seems easy to learn is the mother tongue. We should 47 that we all learned our own language well when we were 48. If we could learn English in the same way, it would not seem so difficult. 49 what a small child does. He listens to what people say. He tries what he hears. When he is using the language, talking in it, 50 in it all the time. Just imagine how much 51 that gets!
So it is52to say that learning English is easy, because a good command of English 53upon a lot of practice. And practice needs great effort and 54 much time. Good teachers, records, tapes, books, and dictionaries will 55. But they cannot do the student's work for him.
1. A.not B.quite C.only D.very
2. A.difficult B.important C.helpful D.easy
3. A.native B.foreign C.useful D.mother
4. A.learning B.enjoying C.trying D.liking
5. A.questions B.problems C.ideas D.answers
6. A.found B.watched C.noticed D.known
7. A.knowledge B.time C.money D.English
8. A.make B.help C.let D.allow
9. A.From B.On C.Since D.After
10. A.spelling B.grammar C.English D.pronunciation
11. A.happened B.looked C.seemed D.felt
12. A.know B.remember C.understand D.think
13. A.students B.children C.babies D.grown-ups
14. A.Imagine B.Mind C.Do D.Think of
15. A.using B.thinking C.trying D.practicing
16. A.time B.money C.language D.practice
17. A.hard B.easy C.funny D.silly
18. A.depends B.tries C.has D.takes
19. A.uses B.takes C.gets D.costs
20. A.do B.work C.help D.master
高二英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
_____ most of these languages are now threatened and may disappear is a serious matter to the people in Britain.
A. The B. Why C. That D. 不填
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Many people believe that you lose the ability to learn new languages as you get older. Language experts, however, will tell you that you’re never too old to learn a new language. As you get older, it can be more difficult to learn a new language, though.
Children and adults learn new languages in different ways. For children, language is their life. They study for thousands of hours every year, because they need to learn languages to become part of their communities. Adults, on the other hand, are already part of a language community. Learning a new language means becoming part of another language community, and adults rarely get the chance to practice as much as young children do.
Moreover, children learning a new language are expected to make mistakes. This gives them freedom when learning to be daring and confident. Adults, however, often feel pressured to be perfect when learning a new language. This can discourage many people and make it even harder to learn a new language.
When young children learn a new language, they come to see various languages as a “normal” part of society. This mindset (思维模式) helps them embrace learning a new language without feeling like they’re doing something unusual or “too hard”.
So if you want to learn a new language, go for it! It’s never too late to learn a new language. If you’re older, it may take more work, but it can be done. If you’re a young child, though, now is the time to step out and learn a new language!
1.By “Language is their life”, the author means that children ________.
A. can’t live without language
B. lead a happy life every day
C. practice a new language a lot
D. are taken good care of adults
2.What may make it hard for the old people to learn to a new language?
A. They are afraid of being laughed at.
B. They usually have too many interests.
C. They think making mistakes is natural.
D. They always make all kinds of mistakes.
3.Which of the following shows the difference between children and adults in learning a new language?
A. The behaviors they have.
B. The learning attitudes.
C. The future plans they have made.
D. The materials they are using.
4.According to the author, a new language ________.
A. can never be learned by the old people
B. can be grasped by the old people easily
C. can be understood only by the old people
D. can be learned by both the old and the young
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析