English
Par Christopher • 1 Janvier 2018 • 2 974 Mots (12 Pages) • 667 Vues
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READING QUESTIONS
1. In the second paragraph, why does the author say, “Wherever you go in the world these days, you can’t leave English behind”?
(a) He wishes to speak English everywhere.
(b) He feels that English was hidden behind Portuguese in Sao Luis.
(c) He realizes that English is present everywhere, even in a tiny Portuguese town.
(d) He wonders whether he is getting behind in his own knowledge of English.
Answer: (c)
2. Why does the author mention CNN, Microsoft, IBM, and Disney?
(a) They are truly representative of the American dream.
(b) They are present everywhere in the world and represent the power of English.
(c) They are examples of American success stories.
(d) They are proof of technological progress and power.
Answer: (a)
3. What especially concerns the author?
(a) Which of the 6,000 languages spoken in the world today will survive?
(b) What does the future hold for the English language?
(c) Is the use of English so worldwide that only a few languages will survive in a few generations?
(d) Does the world really need 6,000 different languages?
Answer: (c)
4. How does the author feel about those speakers of minority languages who end up abandoning their efforts to preserve their own language?
(a) They should be ashamed.
(b) They should be proud.
(c) They should carry on with their lives.
(d) The situation is understandable and there is no shame involved.
Answer: (d)
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5. Which two of the following items show that the author thinks linguistic uniformity (everyone speaking the same language) will NOT lessen tensions in the world?
(a) That was the dream of Esperanto and nobody wanted to learn this language.
(b) The fact that everybody spoke Serbo-Croat in Yugoslavia didn’t stop the people from fighting.
(c) The people in Switzerland don’t get along.
(d) History shows that a difference in religion causes violence more often.
Answer: (b and d)
6. Why does the author think that WSSE or World Standard Spoken English will endure?
(a) It is identical to the English spoken by Peter Jennings and Dan Rather.
(b) There is no justice in this.
(c) It is too useful to lose.
(d) There is no reason why native speakers should be so fortunate.
Answer: (d)
7. How does the article end? Look at the last two sentences.
(a) On a negative note
(b) On a neutral note
(c) On a positive note
(d) On a hopeful note
Answer: (a)
For questions 8. a) and 8. b), return to the text “English – Everywhere”, where the author discusses David Crystal’s book entitled English as a Global Language. Read from the line that begins with “In 500 years’ time…” to the one that ends with “expensive, time-consuming, cumbersome affair”. This part of the text presents the positive and negative aspects of keeping the world multilingual.
8. a) This passage mentions 7 of the 10 items listed below. Put a check by each of the 7 items mentioned.
- Five marks are given for this part. One mark will be lost for each mistake.
more interesting and fun
- greatest intellectual disaster… ever
- highly convenient… for the giant corporations
more interaction among countries
- easier for scientists and scholars… to speak
- each language embodies a unique vision of the world
the easiest language for anyone to learn
- radical, irreparable loss
- rich, multilingual experience
- translation is expensive and time-consuming
b) Now place the 7 items you chose in a) in the appropriate columns in the ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES CHART below. Read each heading carefully.
- Each item correctly placed in the ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES CHART is worth 1 mark. (Total: 7 marks)
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES CHART
Advantages of More
Than One Language
Disadvantages of English
as Only Language
Advantages of English
as Only Language
each language embodies a unique vision of the world
greatest intellectual disaster ever.
highly convenient for the giant corporations
rich, multilingual experience
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