Question

What is language for? Some people seem to think it’s for practising grammar rules and learning long lists of words. That’s wrong! Language is for the exchange of ideas and information. It’s meaningless knowing all about a language if you can’t use it freely.

Many students I have met know hundreds of grammar rules, but they can’t speak correctly or fluently. They are afraid of making mistakes. One shouldn’t be afraid of making mistakes when speaking a foreign language. Native speakers make mistakes and break rules, too. Bernard Shaw once wrote, “Foreigners often speak English too correctly.” But the mistakes that native speakers make are different from those that Chinese students make. They’re English mistakes in the English language. And if enough native speakers break a rule, it’s no longer a rule. What used to be wrong becomes right.

People not only make history, but also they make languages. But they can only make their own language. They can’t create another language. So Chinese students should pay attention to the grammar, but they shouldn't overdo it. They should put communication first.

1.What is language for?

A. For practising grammar rules. B. For learning lists of words.

C. For the exchange of ideas and information. D. All above.

2.Generally, when an American or an Englishman speaks English, he ________.

A. never makes mistakes B. hardly makes mistakes

C. can’t avoid making mistakes D. always makes mistakes

3.“Foreigners often speak English too correctly.” This sentence means that ________.

A. foreigners speak correct English

B. foreigners speak incorrect English

C. foreigners speak English just following the grammar rules

D. foreigners never make mistakes when they speak English

4.If too many native speakers break a rule, _______.

A. what they use will become right B. they are against the law

C. they should say sorry to others D. they will become heroes

5.What is best title for the passage?

A. Making languages B. Grammar and Vocabulary

C. Communication first D. Native speakers’ mistakes

Answer 1