A

Pronouncing words of a language is a skill. Every normal person is expert in the skill of pronouncing their own language; but few people are ever skilled at pronouncing foreign languages. Now there are many reasons for this, some obvious, some perhaps not so obvious. But I suggest that the reason why people in general do not speak foreign languages much better than they do their own language is that they fail to grasp the true nature of the problem of learning to pronounce, and never set about solving it in the right way. Far too many people fail to realize that pronouncing a foreign language is a skill-one that needs careful training of a special kind, and one that cannot be gained by just leaving it to take care of itself. I think even teachers of language, while recognizing the importance of a good accent, tend to neglect(忽略), in their practical teaching, the branch of study which has something to do with speaking the language. So the first point I want to make is that English pronunciation must be taught. The teacher should be prepared to devote some of the lesson time to this, and by his whole attitude(态度)to the subject should get the student to feel that here is a matter worthy of receiving close attention, thus when other aspects(方面)of English, such as grammar or spelling, are allowed for the moment, to take second place, there is something else.

Except for the question of time given to pronunciation, there are two other requirements for the teacher: the first, knowledge; the second, technique.

1. Why don't people speak a foreign language better than they speak they native language?

A. Because they can't grasp the nature of the problem of learning to pronounce.

B. Because they think pronouncing a foreign language is a impossible.

C. Because they never solve the problem in any way.

D. Because they pay more attention to pronunciation than anything else.

2. What is the passage mainly about?

A. Grammar should be paid no attention to.

B. Pronunciation is the most important aspect in learning a foreign language.

C. Spelling should not be taught in class.

D. Knowledge and technique are unnecessary in learning a foreign language.

A student is learning to speak British English. He wonders: Can I communicate with Americans? Can they understand me? Learners of English often ask: What are the differences between British and American English? How important are these differences?
Certainly, there are some differences between British and American English. There are a few differences in grammar. For example, speakers of British English say “in hospital” and "Have you a pen?” , Americans say “in the hospital” and ‘Do you have a pen?’.Pronunciation is sometimes different. Americans usually sound theirs in words like “bird” and “hurt”. Speakers of British English do not sound theirs in these words. There are differences between British and American English in spelling and vocabulary. For example, “colour” and “honour” are British, “color” and “honor” are American.
These differences in grammar, pronunciation, spelling and vocabulary are not important, however. For the most part, British and American English are the same language.
【小题1】According to this passage, a student who is learning to speak American English might be afraid that __________.

A．British people cannot understand him	B．American people cannot understand him
C．the grammar is too hard for him	D．the spelling is too hard for him

【小题2】 American English and British English are different in __________.

A．spelling

B．pronunciation

C．grammar

D．all of the above

【小题3】What is NOT mentioned(提及) in the passage?

A．Whether there are differences between British English and American English.

B．Whether British English and American English are one language or two.

C．How the differences between British English and American English came about.

D．How important the differences are.

【小题4】Most __________ say “Do you have a watch?”

A．British people

B．Americans

C．children

D．teachers

【小题5】According to this passage, British people and Americans have __________ difficulty in understanding each other.

A．little

B．much

C．some

D．great

A student is learning to speak British English. He wonders (想知道): Can I communicate with Americans? Can they understand me? Learners of English often ask: What are the differences between British and American English? How important are these differences?
Certainly! there are some differences between British and American English. ‘There are a few differences in grammar. For example, speakers of British English say “in hospital” and “Have you a pen?” Americans say “in the hospital!” and “Do you have a pen?”. Pronunciation is sometimes different. Americans usually sound theirs in words like “bird” and “hurt”. Speakers of British English do not sound theirs in these words. There are differences between British and American English in spelling and vocabulary. For example, “colour” and “honour” are British, “color” and honor” are American.
These differences in grammar, pronunciation, spelling and vocabulary are not important, however. For the most part, British and American English are the same language.
【小题1】According to this passage, a student who is learning to speak American English might be afraid that_______.

A．British people cannot understand him

B．American people cannot understand him

C．the grammar is too hard for him

D．the spelling is too hard for him

【小题2】American English and British English are different in ________.

A．spelling

B．pronunciation

C．grammar

D．all of the above

【小题3】What is not mentioned (提及) in the passage?

A．Whether there are differences between British English and American English.

B．Whether British English and American English are one language or two.

C．How the differences between British English and American English came about.

D．How important the differences are.

【小题4】Most ________ say “Do you have a watch?”

A．British people

B．Americans

C．children

D．teachers

【小题5】According to this passage, British people and Americans have _________ difficulty in understanding each other.

A．little

B．much

C．some

D．great

A student is learning to speak British English. He wonders(想知道): Can I communicate(交际) with Americans? Can they understand me? Learners of English often ask: What are the differences between British and American English? How important are these differences?
Certainly, there are some differences between British and American English. There are a few differences in grammar. For example, speakers of British English say “in hospital” and “Have you a pen?” Americans say “in the hospital” and “Do you have a pen?”.Pronunciation is sometimes different. Americans usually sound theirs in words like “bird” and “hurt”. Speakers of British English do not sound theirs in these words. There are differences between British and American English in spelling and vocabulary. For example, “colour” and “honour” are British, “color” and “honor” are American.
These differences in grammar, pronunciation, spelling and vocabulary are not important, however. For the most part, British and American English are the same language.
【小题1】According to this passage, a student who is learning to speak American English might be afraid that __________.

A．British people cannot understand him

B．American people cannot understand him

C．the grammar is too hard for him

D．the spelling is too hard for him

【小题2】American English and British English are different in __________.

A．spelling

B．pronunciation

C．grammar

D．all of the above

【小题3】What is NOT mentioned(提及) in the passage?

A．Whether there are differences between British English and American English.

B．Whether British English and American English are one language or two.

C．How the differences between British English and American English came about.

D．How important the differences are.

【小题4】Most ______say “Do you have a watch?”

A．British people

B．Americans

C．children

D．teachers

【小题5】According to this passage, British people and Americans have ______ difficulty in understanding each other.

A．little

B．much

C．some

D．great

C

Stepping into a pool of water is common enough ,but who could ever imagine stopping into a pool of fish ?In February of 1974, Bill Tapp ,an Australian farmer ,saw a rain of fish that covered his farm . How surprised he must have been when he heard many fish hitting against his roof!

What caused this strange occurrence ?This is a question that had long puzzled people who study fish .The answer turned out to be a combination of wind and storm.

When it is spring in the northern part of the world ,it is fall in Australia, Throughout the autumn season ,terrible storms arise and rains flood the land .The strong winds sweep over Australia like huge vacuum（真空） cleaners, collecting seaweed ,pieces of wood , and even schools of fish .

The second thing，a dictionary will tell you the pronunciation．Most dictionaries give phonetic(语音的)，or sound alphabet(音标)．The phonetic alphabet shows pronunciation．The third thing，a dictionary will tell you the meaning of words．You can look up a word and find out what it means．Many words have more than one meaning，and a good dictionary will tell you au of the word's meanings．For example，in English the common word“get”has over 20 different meanings．

49．Many words have_____________ ．  

    A．several meanings    B．one meaning    C．few meanings  D．no meaning

50．A good dictionary will tell you____________．

    A．more of word's pronunciation       B．more of the word's meanings

C．more of grammar                 D．more of the word's spelling．

51．Phonetic alphabets are used to show        ．

    A．handwritings   B．spelling    C．meanings  D．pronunciation

52．How many important things will most dictionaries tell you?

    A．Four    B．Five    C．Three   D．Two