The English language is changing fast, thanks...

The English language is changing fast, thanks to the rapid progress of technology. We all have a choice: we can either bury our heads in the sand and spend the rest of our lives wishing Shakespeare were alive and well, or we can embrace(拥抱) the new English, enter into the spirit of the Internet age and call it Weblish.

“You can’t avoid it, for the simple reason that whenever a new variety of language comes along, it is certain to impacts(冲击) on the language as a whole,” says Dr David Crystal, honorary professor of linguistics at the University of Wales in Bangor, whose book “Language and the Internet” has just been published.

The trouble with keeping up with the new English is not so much that there are so many new words but that the old words no longer mean what we thought they did. In the past, if someone said they did not have Windows, you would have to suppose they lived in a cave. These days, it is probably because they use a Mac(which is a computer, not a raincoat.) Spam is as disliked as it ever was, but whereas it once meant an unappetizing(引不起食欲的) canned meat, it now stands for unwanted “junk” e-mail. Spellings are changing, too. Not only is textmessaging playing “hvc wth vrbs” {havoc(混乱) with verbs} , but the conventions of e-mail communication place little emphasis on “Perfect spelling.”

Weblish loves to see nouns happily become verbs (“Please bookmark this site”), and verbs become nouns (“Send me the download”). Verbs and prepositions are regularly thrown together to become new nouns or adjectives(dialup, logon, print-out, pull-down, upload), while others are created from simply pairing nouns: cyber-space, Internet, hyperlink, netspeak.

1.We can infer from the first paragraph that__________.

A. some people wish Shakespeare were still alive

B. people may have different attitudes towards weblish

C. all people welcome weblish

D. weblish causes fear among people

2.The third paragraph is mainly about ____________.

A. different meanings of English words          B. the rapid changes of English words

C. the difficulty in understanding words related to computer and the Internet

D. common words used on the Internet

3.The author thinks the main difficulty for people in keeping up with weblish is that _______.

A. old words take on new meanings   B. there are so many new words

C. the technology is changing too fast  D. weblish words are full of spelling mistakes

4.Dr David Crystal would probably agree that __________.

A. people should not accept weblish

B. weblish can cause misunderstanding among  people

C. weblish will destroy the English language

D. people should know something about weblish

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The world is changing so fast that English, perhaps the most worldly of languages, is struggling to keep up.

Learners in the future are likely to be much younger. Young children are often said to be better at language learning than older learners but they also have special challenges. Young children don’t usually have the kind of instrumental motivation and determination for learning English that older learners often have. English lessons must therefore be fun and rewarding.

The reasons why people learn English are also changing. Globalization is bringing together more people than ever who speak different languages and who are turning to English as the means of communication. The English learners of the future may be less worried about sounding exactly like a native speaker and more concerned about how to use English effectively in cross-cultural communication. We may be hearing more non-native speakers in dialogues and a wider range of the “New Englishes” now used around the world.

Technology will allow English to come to you, rather than you having to go to a special place to learn English.

Learning English has always involved both pain and pleasure, private effort and social activity. Traditional learning provided take-it or leave-it mixes of these as well as of content but in future learners will be able to choose a plan which suits their cultural and psychological dispositions(性情), or their particular needs at that moment. They, rather than their teachers, will decide how, what and when they will learn.

Above all, learning English is about communication and an important benefit of learning English is being able to exchange views and make friends with people all over the world. Despite the growing independence of learners, trusted institutions and brand names will remain important.

1.Compared to older learners, young English learners 　　　　 .

A. are more active in learning

B. are more hard-working in learning

C. have more difficulties in learning

D. have less lasting determination in learning

2.What can we learn about the future English language?

A. British English will be more popular.

B. American English will be more popular.

C. Most people will speak standard English.

D. Many different kinds of Englishes will appear.

3. What can we learn from the passage?

A. Future English lessons will be more interesting.

B. Old people won’t have to learn English in the future.

C. People will pay more attention to English pronunciation.

D. Teachers will play a more important role in one’s English learning.

4. What can be inferred from the passage?

A. Learning English means no pain in the future.

B. English training schools will not be popular with young people in the future.

C. English learners will become less independent in the future.

D. More attention will be paid to personal needs in English learning in the future.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Language is changing all the time. Some English words today can mean totally different things to _____ they meant before.

A. which　　 B. that　　 C. 不填　　 D. what

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

The English language is changing, and you are responsible! Whether we consider changes in grammar, spelling, pronunciation, or the very vocabulary of the language, you have played your part and continue to do so.

When we first learned basic grammar and spelling, perhaps in elementary school, we might have gotten the impression that these things were sacred. The rules that apply to such things might have been presented as unchanging and unchangeable. While this approach might be beneficial for teaching children, it is far from accurate.

The English language, like many others, is a living, growing, ever-evolving thing. Like it or not, you are involved in this change. These changes take many forms. Grammar and spelling have changed radically over the years and centuries, with the spelling differences in different countries today a reflection of this. While the language of a thousand years ago might be called English, most of us would hardly recognize it today as the same language.

The first involves changes in the pronunciation of words. Many are familiar with the differences between the British and American ways of pronouncing certain words. In addition to these differences, the pronunciation of many words has changed over the years because of how you have decided to pronounce them. For example, consider the word "err." The traditional pronunciation of this word rhymes with the word "her." However in recent years, more and more people have been pronouncing it so that it sounds like "air."

Another change in the language involves the addition and removal of words. The makers of dictionaries decide which words deserve to be officially adopted as part of the English language. Through the centuries, many words have come from other languages. In fact, English has probably done this more than any other language in the world, which is why spelling and pronunciation rules for English have so many exceptions.

Of course many slang words have been just short-lived fads that have died out quickly. Others,though, have been adopted by mainstream society and become respectable, as have many technical terms. So then remember, the next time you repeat the newest expression to hit the street, or make up your own words, you may be contributing to the future of the English language.

1.When we begin to learn English, we think 　　　　 .

A.it is interesting to take up a new language

B.grammar and spelling rules are unchangeable

C.only grown-ups have the ability to affect a language

D.English rules are wrongly presented in fact

2.The pronunciation of words are changing because 　　　　 .

A.people speak in different ways B.the British don’t agree with others

C.people adopted foreign words D.makers of dictionaries created them

3.Which of the following statement about English slang words is True?

A.All the slang words have become standard English.

B.English slang words are popular for a short time.

C.Some slang words have been accepted.

D.English slang words have different meanings actually.

4.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A.You can change the English language.

B.English is changing over years.

C.The British speaks differently from Americans.

D.Foreign words involved in English.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

No student of a foreign language needs to be told that grammar is complex. By changing the order of the words and by adding a range of auxiliary verbs (助动词) , we are able to communicate variations in meaning. We can turn a statement into a question, state whether an action has taken place or is soon to take place, and perform other word tricks to convey delicate differences in meaning. Besides，grammar is universal and plays a part in every language， no matter how widespread it is. So the question which has confused many linguists is: who created grammar?

At first, this question would appear impossible to answer. To find out how grammar is created，someone needs to be present at the time of a language’s creation, documenting its emergence. Some linguists are able to trace modern complex languages back to earlier languages, but to know the forming of complex languages, the researcher needs to observe how languages are started from scratch. Amazingly, however, this is possible.

Some recent languages evolved due to the Atlantic slave trade. At that time，slaves from different nations were forced to work together. Since they could not learn each other’s languages. they developed a pidgin. Pidgins are strings of words copied from the language of the landowners. Little grammar is found in them，and in many cases it is difficult or a listener to infer when an event happened, and who did what to whom. Speakers need to use circumlocution (迁回曲折的说法) in order to make themselves understood. Interestingly，however, all it takes for a pidgin to become a complex language is for a group of children to be exposed to it. Slave children did not simply copy words from their elders, they adapted them to create a language. It included new word orders and grammatical markers. Complex grammar systems merging from pidgins are termed creoles, which are invented by children.

Some linguists believe that many of the world’s most established languages were creoles at first. The -ed ending in English past tense may have evolved from “did”,”It ended”, which was first used by kids, may once have been “It end-did”. Therefore. it would appear that even the most widespread languages were partly created by children. Children appear to have been born with grammatical machinery in their brains. which can serve to create logical, complex structures, even when there is no grammar present for them to copy.

1.What does paragraph 1 mainly tell us?

A.Language learners know that grammar is of complexity.

B.One cal do a lot with his good command of grammar.

C.Grammar is both complex and universal in languages.

D.Linguists face a question in creating confusing grammars

2.The underlined expression “from scratch” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _________

A.from the very beginning

B.in ancient cultures

C.by copying something else

D.by using written information

3.What can be inferred about the slaves’ pidgin language?

A.It contained a complex grammar system.

B.It was first created by the slaves’ landowners.

C.It was based on a lot of different languages.

D.It was difficult to understand, even among slaves.

4.What can be concluded from the last paragraph?

A.The English past tense system is inaccurate.

B.English was probably once a kind of creole.

C.Linguists have proven that English was created by children.

D.Children use English past tenses differently from adults.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Saying “thank you” is probably the first thing most of us learn to do in a foreign language. After all, we’re brought up to be polite, and it is important to make a good impression upon other people — especially across national divides.

So, what exactly are you supposed to say when “thank you” is only the 20th most popular way to express gratitude? According to a recent survey, 19 other ways of expressing appreciation finished ahead of “thank you” in a poll of 3,000 people.

Pollsters(民测调查员) found almost half of those asked preferred the more informal “cheers”, while others liked to use such expressions as “ta”, “great” and “nice one”.

So, just what is the appropriate form of words to express your thanks?

Fortunately, the clue is in the language itself. “Cheers”, despite its popularity, is considered an informal way to say thank you — and this is a definite clue as to when you can best use it.

For instance, when going for a drink with friends, a smile and a “cheers” by way of thanks is not only appropriate to the situation, it is also culturally accurate.

“Ta”, originated from the Danish word “tak”, was the second-most popular expression of thanks, and is also commonly used in informal situations, along with phrases such as “nice one”, and “brilliant”. Interestingly, one word that didn’t make it into the top 20 was “thanks”, Thank you is shorter, more informal cousin.

“Thanks” can be useful, as it is able to bridge the divide between the formality of “thank you” and the downright relaxed “cheers”.

Certain words can double as an expression of thanks as well as delight. Again, the words themselves offer the clue as to when best to use them.

For example, words like “awesome”, “brilliant” and “you star” featured highly in the new poll and they can hint at both your pleasure at someone’s action, as well as serving to express your thanks. If you are on the receiving end of a “new” thank you, you can respond with a simple “no problem”, or “sure”.

Of course, in certain circumstances, a simple wave, nod or smile may be appropriate. For instance, if a car driver slows down to let you cross the road, simply raising your hand in acknowledgement is enough to show that you appreciate the driver’s consideration.

Sometimes, formality is necessary, and “thank you” is still the best choice in such situations. But students should not worry about when exactly to use certain expressions.

Many people in Western countries are worried that good manners are in decline. People are tired of seeing their acts of kindness and service pass without comment. So don’t think your “thank you” is clumsy or awkwardly formal. The chances are, if you said “thank you”, you made someone’s day. You star.

1.We can tell from the results of the poll that __________.

A．people are unconcerned about politeness nowadays.

B．“thank you” remains the best expression of gratitude.

C．there is a variety of expressions of appreciation.

D．there are more formal expressions than informal ones.

2.According to the passage, which is an appropriate response to “awesome” or “brilliant”?

A．Thanks.           B．Sure.             C．Nice one.          D．Cheers. .

3.In the last paragraph the author encourages people to________.

A．show their gratitude to others.             B．behave themselves well.

C．continue their acts of kindness.             D．stop worrying about bad manners.

4.Which of the following can serve as the best title of this passage?

A．How to Appear More Polite .               B．Ways to Show Gratitude.

C．Never hesitate to Say “Thank You”.        D．Good Manners in Decline!

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Laughter is part of the human language around the world. Unlike English or French, we don't have to learn to speak it, and we're born with the ability to laugh. Studies show that the first laughter appears at about 3.5 to 4 months of age, long before we're able to speak.

As the saying goes, "Laughter is the best medicine." Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free and easy to use. Nothing works faster to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. It helps relax your whole body leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes. Laughter also helps you fight against diseases. It can improve the function of blood vessels (血管) and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack.

And the good feeling you get when you laugh remains with you even a few minutes later.

It helps you keep a positive, optimistic attitude toward difficult situations, disappointments and losses. Laughter gives you the strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult days, a laugh or even simply a smile can go a long way toward making you feel better.

Shared laughter is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships fresh and exciting. And it helps build strong and lasting relationships, and it unites people during difficult times. So it's necessary to create opportunities to laugh with others. More often, people are very happy to share something funny because it gives them an opportunity to laugh again. When you hear laughter, find it out and ask. "What's funny?" And you can make time for fun activities such as bowling, golfing or karaoke.

In short, the ability to laugh and have fun not only makes life more enjoyable but also helps you solve problems, connect with others, and be more creative. The more laughter there is, the more benefits you'll receive.

1.The author develops the second paragraph mainly by ______ .

A.telling stories B.providing examples

C.discussing questions D.showing research findings

2.Paragraph 3 mainly talks about ______.

A.the difficult times in one's life

B.the benefits of laughter to our mind

C.the physical health benefits of laughter

D.different ways to feel better about oneself

3.What would be the best title for the text?

A.Man—the Only Creature That Laughs

B.Laughing Makes Us Younger

C.Different Types of Laughter

D.Why Should We Laugh?

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Language has always been —— as the phrase goes —— the mirror to society. English is no ______

A．explanation        B．excuse            C．exception         D．expectation

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

When English as a foreign language is taught to children at the primary and early secondary levels of education, it is generally taught with a general education aim in mind--that is, it is regarded as a “good thing” for them to learn a foreign language as a part of a broad education. There is usually, however, no immediate and specific requirement for such children to make use of the language in any communicative situation. The purpose of learning the language is essentially a “deferred” (延缓的) purpose, deferred till the tertiary (第三的) level of education, normally at university, where, it is agreed, a knowledge of English would be helpful in their academic studies. Immediate aims of learning English are defined by the requirements of examinations. Inevitably what is taught to primary and secondary level children is not a communicative knowledge of English language use, but a knowledge of how the rules of English operate.

The language system is taught by means of systematic audio-lingual (听说的) drill and exercise techniques based on habit formation theory of learning and a structural description of English. This may be an effective manner of teaching English usage, but it is less certain that an understanding of how these rules are related to language in use for communicative purpose is an automatic result of this instruction.

What the thousands of children succeed in learning in this way is what is necessary in order to pass examinations. Whether such examinations accurately reflect the uses to which English will be put at the tertiary level is another matter altogether. Adults, on the other hand, unless they are learning a foreign language for “pleasure” at evening institutes, as a “cultural” and social experience, are generally highly conscious of the use to which they intend to put it. That use is frequently associated with an academic or professional requirement; without a knowledge of the foreign language, their development in their chosen sphere of work could be restricted or at least adversely affected.

1.According to the author, the current examination system ________.

A. reflects the students’ future needs

B. does not offer students opportunities to show their knowledge of English

C. does not enable students to use English for communication

D. prepares students for their future academic requirements

2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. English teaching should prepare children for the passing of examination.

B. English should be taught to children at primary and secondary levels.

C. English teaching should help students with their future academic studies.

D. English teaching at primary and secondary levels should focus only on grammar.

3.We know from the passage that ________.

A. audio-lingual techniques are the best way to teach English for communication

B. language usage is the focus of foreign language teaching at primary and secondary levels

C. foreign languages are usually taught to children as the key of a broad education

D. adults usually don’t know why they learn foreign languages

4.What’s the relationship of English learning at different levels?

A. English learning at primary and secondary levels is more important than that at the college stage.

B. English learning at the tertiary level is more important than that at the first two levels.

C. Successful English learning at the first two levels does not necessarily mean success in English learning at college.

D. English learning should not be divided into different levels.

5.What is the main topic of this passage?

A. The importance of English learning.

B. English learning as a part of a general education.

C. English learning and examination.

D. Aims and purposes of foreign language learning.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

55. There have been many changes in _____ history of _____ English language.

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析