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. 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 |
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
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. |
According to the passage, what is the main reason for the widespread use of English?
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. |
What forms an adequate working knowledge of English?
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. |
What type of developing countries would be most likely to use English?
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. |
Your house may have an effect on your figure. experts say the way you design your home could play a role in whether you pack on the pounds or keep them off. you can make your environment work for you instead of against you. Here are some ways to turn your home into part of your diet plan.Open the curtains and turn up the lights. dark environments are more likely to encourage overeating, for people are often less self-conscious(难为情) when they're in poorly lit places - and so more likely to eat lots of food. If your home doesn't have enough window light, get more lamps and flood the place with brightness.
Mind the colors. Research suggests warm colors fuel our appetites. In one study, people who ate meals in a blue room consumed 33 percent less than those in a yellow or red room. Warm colors like yellow make food appear more appetizing, while cold colors make us less hungry. So when it's time to repaint, go blue.
Don't forget the clock - or the radio. People who eat slowly tend to consume about 70 fewer calories(卡路里) per meal than those who rush through their meals. Begin keeping track of the time, and try to make dinner last at 30 minutes. And while you're at it, actually sit down to eat. If you need some help slowing down, turning on relaxing music. It makes you less likely to rush through a meal.
Downsize the dishes. Big serving bowls and plants can easily makes us fat. We eat about 22 percent more when using a 12-inch plate instead of a 10-inch plate. When we choose a large spoon over a smaller one, total intake(摄入) jumps by 14 percent. And we'll pour about 30 percent more liquid into a short, wide glass than a tall, skinny glass.
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The text is especially helpful for those who care about.
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A home environment in blue can help people.
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What are people advised to do at mealtimes?
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What can be a suitable title for the text?
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My color television has given me nothing but a headache. I was able to buy it a little over a year ago because I had my relatives give me money for my birthday instead of clothes that wouldn’t fit. I let a salesclerk fool me into buying a discontinued model. I realized this a day later, when I saw newspaper advertisements for the set at seventy-five dollars less than I had paid. The set worked so beautiful when I first got it home that I would keep it on until stations signed off for the night. Fortunately, I didn’t get any channels showing all-night movies or I would never have gotten to bed.
Then I started developing a problem with the set that involved static(静电) noise. For some reason, when certain shows switched into a commercial, a loud noise would sound for a few seconds. Gradually, this noise began to appear during a show, and to get rid of it, I had to change to another channel and then change it back. Sometimes this technique would not work, and I had to pick up the set and shake it to remove the sound. I actually began to build up my arm muscles(肌肉) shaking my set.
When neither of these methods removed the static noise, I would sit helplessly and wait for the noise to go away. At last I ended up hitting the set with my first, and it stopped working altogether. My trip to the repair shop cost me $62, and the sit is working well now, but I keep expecting more trouble.Why did the author say he was fooled into buying the TV set?
A.He got an older model than he had expected. |
B.He couldn’t return it when it was broken. |
C.He could have bought it at a lower price. |
D.He failed to find any movie shows on it. |
Which of the following an best replace the phrase “signed off” in paragraph 1?
A.ended all their programs |
B.provided fewer channels |
C.changed to commercials |
D.showed all-night movies |
How did the author finally get this TV set working again?
A.By shaking and hitting it |
B.By turning it on and off |
C.By switching channels |
D.By having it repaired |
How does the author sound when telling the story?
A.Curious |
B.Anxious |
C.Cautious |
D.Humorous |
Group exercise is one of the most effective ways to improve physical fitness and sustain a healthy lifestyle.Group exercise is challenging, yet fun and empowering! Of course everyone knows that exercise is good for the body.However, studies have shown that when exercise is performed in groups, it's not only great for improving physical health but for psychological health. It's an opportunity to be social, release endorphins , and improve your strength. Additionally, group exercise creates a community feel and the shared common goal motivates participants to work hard. The instrumental support of taking on a fitness journey with others proves more effective than going to the gym alone.
Another beneficial aspect of group exercise is the informational support participants receive from the instructor.Many people fear the gym because they feel lost and don't want to embarrass themselves. If you feel you can relate, then group training is an even better option for you. It's a great opportunity to learn more about fitness through the clear instruction and supervision of a fitness instructor. If you're tired of wandering around the gym wasting time and becoming bored, !you can attend an upbeat group fitness class that'll keep your workout on track. Don't let
fitness frighten you!
If you're serious about wanting to live a healthy lifestyle, it's extremely important to surround yourself with people who'll provide you with the proper emotional support. I wouldn't scold anyone for deciding to party on weekends and in turn I wouldn't expect anyone to give offence to me for focusing on my health. Surround yourself with people who uplift, encourage and understand you! Make fitness even more fun by trying something new or any group fitness class, with a friend. Plan to go for a jog together. Then try a fun healthy restaurant or fresh juice bar! Fitness can be both fun and social!
Surrounding yourself with people who'll provide you with respect support can be very beneficial while working towards reaching health and fitness goals. First, decide to do it for yourself and work towards staying positive. Then make sure the people you surround yourself with are supportive. Don't let negativity ruin your motivation.The first paragraph focuses on .
A.the greatest challenge of group exercise |
B.the most effective way to improve physical fitness |
C.the contribution of group exercise to psychological health |
D.the shared common goal in performing exercise in groups |
The underlined word "upbeat" in the second paragraph probably means "
A.cheerful | B.average | C.serious | D.temporal |
When it comes to emotional support, the author thinks it necessary
A.to sustain a colorful lifestyle |
B.to party on weekends with positive people |
C.to try a fun healthy restaurant regularly |
D.to surround yourself with supportive people |
What would be the best title for the passage?
A.Seeking Support | B.Supporting Health |
C.Improving Your Strength | D.Building Up Fitness |
Life can be so wonderful, full of adventure and joy. It can also be full of challenges, setbacks and heartbreaks. Whatever our circumstances, we generally still have dreams, hopes and desires—that little something more we want for ourselves and our loved ones. Yet knowing we can have more can also create a problem, because when we go to change the way we do things, up come the old patterns and pitfalls that stopped us from seeking what we wanted in the first place.
This tension between what we feel we can have and "what were seemingly able to have is the niggling suffering, the anxiety we feel. This is where we usually think it's easier to just give up. But we're never meant to let go of the part of us that knows we can have more. The intelligence behind that knowing is us—the real us. It's the part that believes in life and its possibilities. If you drop that, you begin to feel a little "dead" inside because you're dropping "you".
So, if we have this capability but somehow life seems to keep us stuck, how do we break these patterns?
Decide on a new course and make one decision at a time. This is good advice for a new adventure or just getting through today's challenges.
While, deep down, we know we can do it, our mind—or the minds of those close to us—usually says we can't.
That isn't a reason to stop, it's just the mind, that little man or woman on your shoulder, trying to talk you out of something again. It has done it many times before. It's all about starting simple and doing it now.
Decide and act before overthinking. When you do this you may feel a little, or large, release from the jail of your mind and you'll be on your way.It can be inferred from the first two paragraphs that we should .
A.slow down and live a simple life |
B.be careful when we choose to change |
C.stick to our dreams under any circumstances |
D.be content with what we already have |
What is the key to breaking the old patterns?
A.To focus on every detail. |
B.To decide and take immediate action. |
C.To listen to those close to us. |
D.To think twice before we act. |
Which of the following best explains the underlined part in the last paragraph?
A.Escape from your punishment |
B.Realization of your dreams. |
C.Freedom from your tension. |
D.Reduction of your expectations. |
What does the author intend to tell us?
A.It's easier than we think to get what we want. |
B.It's important to learn to accept sufferings in life. |
C.It's impractical to change our way of thinking. |
D.It's harder than we expect to follow a new course. |
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1. |
One of the benefits mentioned in, the advertisement is.
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2. |
Which of the following bookings may receive the most benefits?
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3. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the advertisement?
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