The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated(估计) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.
In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate(足够的) working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.
The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological(气象的) and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.
【小题1】What would be the best title for this passage?
| A.The Difficulties of Learning English |
| B.International Communications |
| C.The Standard Varieties of English |
| D.English as a World Language |
| A.Some 260 million people in the world have an adequate working knowledge of English. |
| B.There are some 260 million native speakers of English in the world. |
| C.It is almost impossible to estimate the number of people with an adequate working knowledge of English. |
| D.People learn English for a variety of reasons. |
| A.It was popular during Shakespeare’s time. |
| B.It is used in former British colonies. |
| C.It serves the needs of its native speakers. |
| D.It is a world language that is used for international communication. |
| A.The ability to read a newspaper. |
| B.Being able to speak several languages. |
| C.It is difficult to judge because it differs for each situation. |
| D.Being a native speaker. |
| A.Those geographically close to the United States. |
| B.Those interested in the culture of the United States. |
| C.Former colonies of Great Britain. |
| D.Countries where international conferences are held. |
【小题1】D
【小题2】A
【小题3】D
【小题4】C
【小题5】C
解析试题分析:在莎士比亚时代,估计说英语的人数是五百万。如今以英语为母语的人数大约是两亿六千万,但是对于那些有着自己的母语,而需要把英语作为工作语言使用的人数却是无法估计了。在本文中作者就英语的广泛使用进行了一些介绍。
【小题1】D主旨大意题。文章开头讲述了如今说英语人数的增多,然后介绍英语的重要性以及英语被广泛使用的原因,由此推断D选项内容能够体现文章中心,故答案选D。
【小题2】A细节理解题。根据文章第二段it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate working knowledge of English可以判断A选项内容错误。
【小题3】D细节理解题。由文章末段The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language.可知英语的广泛需求是由于它目前作为世界语言的重要性造成的,答案选D。
【小题4】C细节理解题。根据文章第二段it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.可知C选项正确。
【小题5】C细节理解题。根据文章第三段It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing
countries, especially former British colonies.可知在那些以前是英国殖民地的发展中国家英语的使用会更普遍,所以答案选C。
考点:考查社会知识类短文阅读。
科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Dear Daughter,
As we drove off from Columbia, I wanted to write to tell you all that is on my mind.
First, I want to tell you how proud we are. Getting into Columbia is a real testament(证明) of what a great well-rounded student you are. You should be as proud of yourself as we are.
Your college years will be the most important of your life. It is in college that you will discover what learning is about. This will be the period when you go from teacher taught to master inspired, after which you must become a self-learner. So do take each subject seriously, and even if what you learn is of no practical use in real life, the learning skills you get will be something you will value forever.
Follow your passion in college. Take courses you think you will enjoy. Don’t be bothered by what others think or say, but make up your own mind. Most importantly, make true friends and be happy. Don’t worry abut their hobbies, grades, looks, or even personalities.
Start planning early what you’d like to do. Where would you like to live? What would you like to learn? I think your plan to study fashion is good, and you should decide where you want to be, and get onto the right courses. I will always be there for you, but the time has come for you to be in the driver’s seat--this is your life, and you need to be in control. Being in control feels great. Try it, and you’ll love it!
So please treasure your college years--make the best use of your free time, become an independent thinker in control of your destiny, and learn through your successes and challenges.
May your years at Columbia be the happiest of your life, and may you grow into just what you dream to be.
Love
Dad & Mom
【小题1】We can read between the lines that________.
| A.Dad is very strict with his daughter |
| B.Dad has a strong love for his daughter |
| C.Dad always worries about his daughter |
| D.Dad is much concerned about his daughter's health |
| A.Plan things before you do them. |
| B.Self-learning is very important in college. |
| C.Follow your passion and what other people say. |
| D.Leading a life is just like driving a car. |
| A.weight | B.Time | C.position | D.life |
| A.make the most of her college | B.fight till she succeeds |
| C.be confident and happy | D.smile to her trouble in 1ife |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
A new U.S.government report says more than two million Americans fall ill each year with drug—resistant bacterial infections(感染),and 23,000 of them are dying as a result.The head of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[CDC]said that the number probably will grow.Officials warn that steps must be taken now to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotic(抗生素)drugs.
Without urgent action to stop that trend,warned Tom Frieden whose agency wrote the report,the miracle drugs to fight them won’t be available in the future.
“If we are not careful,the medicine chest will be empty when we go there to look for a lifesaving antibiotic for someone with a deadly infection.But if we act now,we can preserve these medications while we continue to work on development of new medicines.”
The report names a drug—resistant abuse of gonorrhea(淋病),which causes about one quarter of a million hospitalizations in the United States annually.Of the number at least 1 4,000 result in death.
Drug resistance develops through the overuse and inappropriate use of anti—bacterial agents.These can be:doctors prescribing(开药) them to patients who have viral infections that are not affected by medicine meant to fight bacteria;patients not taking all of their medicine as prescribed,so the bacteria making them sick are only weakened,not killed;antibiotic use in healthy farm animals to prevent illness and promote growth.Antibiotic remainders left in meat and animal products can then lead to drug resistance in humans.
To limit the spread of resistant infections,experts recommend wider use of routine immunizations(预防),as well as hand—washing in hospitals and other health care facilities.Also, the report urges hand—washing by food handlers.?
Michael Bell,deputy director of the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at CDC,said Patients also can play a role in preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics by asking health care providers a few simple questions.
【小题1】What’s the best title of the passage?
| A.Drug Resistance Developing Quickly in the US |
| B.Drug—Resistant Bacterial Infections Growing in the US |
| C.Actions for Preserving Anti-Bacterial Medications in the US |
| D.Preventions of Drug-resistant Bacterial Infections in the US |
| A.we will have to develop better medicines in place of antibiotics |
| B.there may be no effective anti-bacterial drugs for use in the future |
| C.we can’t find other medicines to cure serious illnesses in the future |
| D.more and more Americans will suffer from bacterial infections each year |
| A.at least 5.6% | B.about 25% | C.about 1.4% | D.at least 2.5% |
| A.people eat the meat with Antibiotic remainder in animals |
| B.doctors prescribe less antibiotics than needed for patients |
| C.doctors prescribe much more antibiotic than needed for patients |
| D.patients don’t take their ant-bacterial agents that doctors prescribe |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
As the mobile phones so widely appear in our daily life, someone said it would be cool if you didn’t have a mobile phone nowadays. It might be true to some extent, but as for an adult, a mobile means contact. It connects your work, relatives, friends, etc. It should do great deeds for us.
Months ago, my uncle gave his dear son a phone, because my nephew’s school is far from his home. He can only come back once a term, and the phones haven’t been so expensive yet. However, someone has criticized (批评) the young people for playing on mobiles, but not using. They are fond of sending messages, taking pictures and so on. They buy expensive, high level and fashion types for showing. They play on the mobiles day in and day out ….. Holy cow!
So, what happens to youngsters around you? Do they have a phone? What do they use it for? Do you think it’s necessary for teenagers who are still in school to have a phone?
POSTER 1:
In my view, mobile phones are only a tool for communication purpose, just like any other tools which have the potential (潜力) to be misused. In my opinion, I can see young people using it for security reason, emergency purpose, etc. If the parents can afford to pay big phone bills for their kids, well, that’s their business, like the old saying goes, “live and let live.”
--- Mary Smith
POSTER 2:
From psychological (心理学的) point of view, teenagers are more likely to be relaxed or pleasure-oriented. They would like to make something different. Buying brands that are considered “COOL” is important to them. They want others to like and admire themselves, and sometimes, even exaggerate(夸大)their own personality to show off. This can be seen as a kind of psychology during this certain range of age.
--- Dick Gates
Currently, people should tend to be more sociable, and age should not be seen as a barrier for teenagers to own their phones. They also need to set trends on the social circuit (社交圈). But here parents should play an important role in controlling their children about how to use the phones more properly.
【小题1】 We can learn from the first sentence of the passage that ________.
| A.people admire those who don’t have mobile phones |
| B.people don’t like to have mobile phones nowadays |
| C.mobile phones are too popular among people now |
| D.mobile phones are not as useful as before |
| A.They use mobile phones for playing instead of using. |
| B.They don’t use mobile phones for their study. |
| C.They play “Holy Cow” games in mobile phones. |
| D.They buy expensive, fashionable mobile phones. |
| A.teenagers shouldn’t use mobile phones |
| B.parents should buy mobile phones for their children |
| C.teenagers can use mobile phones if their parents don’t mind |
| D.teenagers should use mobile phones for communication |
| A.Supportive. | B.Objective. (客观的) |
| C.Negative. (消极的) | D.Uninterested. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Buying insurance (保险) is a way in which people can protect themselves against large losses. Protection against fire is one kind of insurance. Large numbers of people pay small sums of money to an insurance company. Although thousands of people have paid for fire insurance, only a few will lose their homes by fire. The insurance company will pay for these homes out of the small sums of money it has collected.
The first modern fire insurance company was formed in London, England, in the 1760s. A great fire had just destroyed most of the city, and people wanted protection against further losses. The first company grew rapidly. Soon other companies were founded in other areas.
Benjamin Franklin helped form the first fire insurance company in America in 1752, and then a new kind of insurance for farmers was suggested. The new insurance would provide protection against the loss of crops from storms.
Later on another new insurance company was started in America. This company, which offered life insurance, collected small sums of money regularly from many different men. If a man died, his family was given a large sum of money.
Over the years, insurance companies have offered new kinds of insurance protection. The new kinds of insurance cover losses from such accidents as car and plane crashes. Today, most people have some kind of insurance.
【小题1】Who helped set up the first company in America?
| A.Benjamin Franklin. | B.Businessmen. |
| C.The first insurance company in London. | D.Farmers. |
| A.Protection against the losses from the storms |
| B.protection against illness |
| C.Protection against accidents |
| D.all of the above |
| A.life insurance | B.fire insurance | C.a new kind of insurance | D.both A and B |
| A.Insurance will keep their homes from burning. |
| B.People can protect themselves against large losses. |
| C.Insurance will pay for safety. |
| D.The insurance companies grow rapidly. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Of the thousands of different kinds of animals that exist in the world man has learned to make friends with an enormous number. Some are pets, and offer him companionship, some give protection, and some do hard work which man can not do for himself. Dogs , which serve man in all three capacities(能力), are found in various species in all countries of the world. The Husky can live in the cold polar regions,and the Saluki is at home in the hottest parts of Central Africa.The inhabitants (居民)of certain countries are dependent for their very lives on the camel. In the West Indies the little donkey, strong and sure-footed, carrying heavy loads even in mountainous, places, is a familiar sight.
Trained and tamed for many generations, domestic animals are not accustomed to roaming in search of food and shelter. They look to their masters to provide for their needs, and as long as these are supplied, they are content to do what their masters require.
All domestic animals need proper food .It must be suitable for them, sufficient in quantity, fresh and clean. Some people feed a pet dog or cat on odds and ends of table scraps(剩饭), and then wonder why the animal seems tired and dull. The quantity of food depends on the size of the animal and the amount of exercise it takes. Overfeeding is as bad as underfeeding. Containers for food and water must be washed regularly if the animal is to maintain good health.
Even well-cared-for animals may sometimes fall ill. If this happens, the wise master seeks the best advice he can get. All sorts of medicines and treatments are available for sick animals, and in some countries organizations exist to provide them free of at a cheap price. Useful, friendly, hardworking animals deserve to have some time, money and attention spent on their health.
【小题1】What main idea does the author want to convey in the first paragraph?
| A.There exists thousands of species of animals in the world. |
| B.Man came to establish a close relationship with a number of animals. |
| C.In some regions a donkey seems to be a very useful beast. |
| D.An animal will be useless unless domesticated. |
| A.refuse to obey its master | B.immediately fall ill |
| C.require its master to offer some food | D.seek for food on its own |
| A.They can act as friends, guards ,and servants to man. |
| B.They have great adaptation for the environment. |
| C.There live a great variety of species of dogs on the globe. |
| D.The Husky and the Saluki are the strongest species ever known in the world |
| A.not to hesitate to spend enormous amount of money on it |
| B.to pay attention to its proper feeding |
| C.not to allow it to take excessive amounts of exercise |
| D.to join some sort of pet-keeping organizations |
| A.Domesticated Animals-Man’s Best Friends | B.Proper Diet- the Road to Health |
| C.The Advantages of Raising Domestic Animals | D.Some Tips on Pet- keeping |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
To get cash out in the 21st century, you won’t need a bank card, a PIN(个人识别编号) or even have to move a finger. You will simply have to look the cash machine straight in the eye, declares National Cash Registers, a multinational company that makes automated teller machines, or ATMs. NCR has shown its first example machine that is believed to be the future of banking. Instead of asking you for your PIN on a screen, the Super Teller-Stella for short, asks you orally through a loudspeaker to look straight ahead while an infrared camera turns to your head, then your eye, and finally takes an infrared photograph of your iris(虹膜). For identification(识别) purposes, an iris picture is better than a fingerprint, with around 256 noticeable characteristics compared with 40 for fingerprints. This means that the chances of someone else being recognized in your place is about 1 in 1020. Once you’ve been identified, Stella greets you by name and says: “Would you like cash or a statement?” An infrared port allows the machine to send a bank statement straight to your pocket computer.
【小题1】What does this passage mainly talk about?
| A.A new medical instrument |
| B.A new type of talking machine |
| C.A new type of cash machine |
| D.National Cash Register |
| A.Stella | B.ATM | C.PIN | D.NCR |
| A.need a bank card | B.have to put in your PIN |
| C.move your finger | D.just look directly at the teller machine |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
EVERYBODY in this world is different from one another. But do you know that understanding differences can help you better manage your money?
As we grow up, we gradually develop a set of our own values or beliefs. These are influenced by society, our family, the education we receive and so on. Once this value system is set up, it’s not easy to change later in life.
Financial experts say that everyone also has their own belief of how to manage their finances. This is part of our value system and it has a great impact on the way we look after our money.
According to our different values, experts put us in three categories. They are: the ant, the cricket and the snail.
The ant—works first
Just like ants who work heart and soul in summer in order to store food for winter, these people don’t care about enjoying the moment. They work very hard and save money they earn so that they can enjoy life when they get old and retire. The ant loves to save but they could make more out of their money if they were willing to invest in some funds and stocks with low risk.
The cricket—fun first
The cricket wants to enjoy everything now and doesn’t think too much about the future. They even borrow money when they really want something. Many young people now belong to this group. These people have little savings. When they get old, they might have problems. They should learn to save and buy insurance.
The snail—lives under pressure
The snail refers to people who make life difficult for themselves. They take big long-term loans from the bank in order to buy things such as luxury houses. They are happy to take big loans even though they are not sure they can afford it. This can cause problems in the future. They should plan more carefully.
【小题1】We can learn from the text that _____.
| A.we spend money because we have earned it |
| B.saving money is a good way to manage money |
| C.your way of managing money is a reflection of your value or belief |
| D.spending money is a wiser way |
| A.the ant | B.the snail | C.none of them | D. the cricket |
| A.The cricket | B.The ant | C.The snail | D.None of them |
| A.understanding differences |
| B.our own values and beliefs |
| C.living behaviors of small animal |
| D.spending nature |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
No budget for your vacation? Try home exchanges ---- swapping houses with strangers. Agree to use each other’s cars, and you can save dollars on car rentals (租赁费), too.
Home exchanges are not new. At least one group, Intervac, has been facilitating such an arrangement since 1953. But trading online is gaining popularity these days, with several sites in operation, including Home Exchanges. Founded in 1992, with some 28,000 listings, this company bills itself as the world’s largest home exchange club, reporting that membership has increased 30% this year.
The annual fee is usually less than US$100. Members can access thousands of listings for apartments, villas, suburban homes and farms around the world. Initial contact is made via e-mail, with subsequent communication usually by phone. Before a match is made, potential swappers tend to discuss a lot.
However, the concept may sound risky to some people. What about theft? Damage? These are reasonable causes for concern, but equally unlikely. As one swapper puts it, “Nobody is going to fly across the ocean or drive 600 miles to come steal your TV. Besides, at the same time they’re staying in your home, you are staying in their home.”
Exchange sites recommend that swappers discuss such matters ahead of time. They may fill out an agreement spelling out who shoulders which responsibilities if a problem arises. It does not matter if the agreement would hold up in court, but it does give the exchangers a little satisfaction.
Generally, the biggest complaint among home exchangers has to do with different standards of cleanliness. Swappers are supposed to make sure their home is in order before they depart, but one person’s idea of “clean” may be more forgiving than another’s. Some owners say if they come back to a less-than-sparkling kitchen, it may be inconvenient but would not sour them on future exchanges.
【小题1】What is the second paragraph mainly about?
| A.How to exchange homes. |
| B.The biggest home exchange agency Intervac. |
| C.The fact that home exchanges are not new. |
| D.A contrast between Intervac and Home Exchanges. |
| A.By phone. | B.Via a matchmaker. |
| C.By e-mail. | D.Via a face-to-face meeting. |
| A.One can file a lawsuit in court. |
| B.Both parties can trade online. |
| C.One can damage the home of the other party in return. |
| D.Both parties can sign an agreement beforehand. |
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