Question

【题目】FLORENCE, Italy—Svetlana Cojochru feels hurt. The Moldovan has lived here seven years as a caregiver to Italian kids and the elderly, but in order to stay she’s had to prove her language skills by taking a test which requires her to write a postcard to an imaginary friend and answer a fictional job ad.

Italy is the latest Western European country trying to control a growing immigrant(移民) population by demanding language skills in exchange for work permits, or in some cases, citizenship.

Some immigrant advocates worry that as hard financial times make it more difficult for natives to keep jobs, such measures will become more a vehicle for intolerance than integration(融合). Others say it’s only natural that newcomers learn the language of their host nation, seeing it as a condition to ensure they can contribute to society.

Other European countries laid down a similar requirement for immigrants, and some terms are even tougher. The governments argue that this will help foreigners better join the society and promote understanding across cultures.

Italy, which has a much weaker tradition of immigration, has witnessed a sharp increase in immigration in recent years. In 1990, immigrants numbered some 1.14 million out of Italy’s then 56.7 million people, or about 2 percent. At the start of this year, foreigners living in Italy amounted to 4.56 million of a total population of 60.6 million, or 7.5 percent, with immigrants’ children accounting for an even larger percentage of births in Italy.

Cojochru, the Moldovan caregiver, hoped obtaining permanent residence(居住权) would help her bring her two children to Italy; they live with her sister in Moldova, where salaries are among the lowest in Europe. She was skeptical that the language requirement would encourage integration.

Italians always “see me as a foreigner,” an outsider, even though she’s stayed in the country for years and can speak the local language fluently, she said.

【1】Why does Cojochru have to take a language test?

A. To continue to stay in Italy. B. To teach her children Italian.

C. To find a better job in Italy. D. To better mix with the Italians.

【2】Some people worry that the new language requirement may ________.

A. reduce Italy’s population quickly B. cause conflicts among people

C. lead to financial difficulties D. put pressure on schools

【3】What do we know about Cojochru?

A. She lives with her sister now in Italy.

B. She enjoys learning the Italian language.

C. She speaks Italian well enough for her job.

D. She wishes to go back to her home country.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】B

【3】C

【解析】试题分析：本文属于议论文，首先向我们呈现出这样一种现象：一位叫Svetlana Cojochru的摩尔多瓦人移民到意大利，但为了能够继续留在意大利，她必须进行语言测试；接着向我们阐述对外来民进行语言测试的原因以及对此的不同声音，然后介绍了意大利的移民史，最后告诉我们Cojochru的居住现状：工资水平很低，而且虽然在意大利生活多年，但意大利本地居民仍会把她当作外国人来看。

【1】A细节理解题，根据第一段第二句“but in order to stay she’s had to prove her language skills by taking a test…”可知，Cojochru为了能够继续留在意大利才要参加语言考试的，故选A.

【2】B推理判断题，根据第三段第一句“,such measures will become more a vehicle for intolerance than integration”,可知一些人担心对语言水平的要求可能会造成人与人之间的不包容，即冲突，故选B.

【3】C细节理解题，根据最后一段最后一句“,even though she ‘s stayed in the country for years and can speak the local language fluently”可知Cojochru的意大利语已经说的很流利了，足够应付工作，故选C.