People often ask which is the most difficult language to learn, and it is not easy to answer because there are many things to take into consideration. Firstly, in a first language the differences are unimportant as people learn their mother tongue naturally, so the question of how hard a language is to learn is only relevant in learning a second language.
A native speaker of Spanish, for example, will find Portuguese much easier to learn than a native speaker of Chinese, because Portuguese is very similar to Spanish, while Chinese is very different, so first language can affect learning a second language. The greater the differences between a second language and our first language, the harder it will be for most people to learn a second language. Many people answer that Chinese is the hardest language to learn, possibly influenced by the thought of learning the Chinese writing system and the pronunciation of Chinese does appear to be very difficult for many foreign learners. However, for Japanese speakers, who already use Chinese characters in their own language, learning writing will be less difficult than for speakers of languages using the Roman alphabet.
Some people seem to learn languages easily, while others find it very difficult. Teachers and the circumstances (环境) in which the language is learned also play an important role, as well as each learner’s purpose for learning. If people learn a language because they need to use it in work, they often learn it faster than people studying a language that has no direct use in their day-to-day life.
No language is easy to learn well, though languages which are related to our first language are easier. Learning a completely different writing system is a huge challenge, but that does not necessarily make a language more difficult than another. In the end, it is impossible to say that there is one language that is the most difficult language in the world.
1. Why do many people think Chinese is hard to learn?| A．Its writing system is strange. | B．Its pronunciation is challengeable. |
| C．Its characters are difficult to understand. | D．It has great differences from many other languages. |
| A．People will learn a language faster if they use it daily. |
| B．There are many languages that are the most difficult in the world. |
| C．All the languages can be easy to learn with good teachers and circumstances. |
| D．The writing system of a language is more difficult to master than its pronunciation. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Mom and dad are two of the first words we learn. But exactly how old are they? And just why do we call our parents by them?
According to Carrie Gillon, a linguist（语言学家），the exact word of “mom” is actually fairly “recent”. The first documented use of it dates back to just 1867. Before that, we’d say “mommy”(dating from 1844), or, if you go further back, “mamma”(first used in the 1570s), and even further, “mama”(4500 B.C.E.).
Gillon explains that “mamma” is a “reduplication”(or a repeated sound) from Indo-European, a root language for English, Greek, and more. That’s why the common origins of “Mom” can be found in languages, both ancient and modern, throughout Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.
While the first known use of “dad” is about 1500 B.C.E., Gillon says it is likely much older. Again, there are forms in lots of Indo-European languages, such as the Greek (“tata”), Irish (“daid”), and Welsh (“tad”). “There may be other words for ‘dad’ that I don’t know in these languages,” Gillon emphasizes. “And it’s really unclear how universal dad is, or how far back it goes.”
These words are thought to grow out of the fact that babies tend to make similar sounds as they begin to speak-usually using softer consonants（辅音）produced by the lips, such as B.P and M, making words like “baba,” “papa,” and “mama” early “protowords,” which developed into the words we used today.
Linguist Roman Jakobson has stated that babies make the sounds for “mama” as a “slight nasal（鼻音）murmur” naturally while breastfeeding, which might explain why there is such similarity even between countries and cultures with little else in common.
1. Which word has the longest history of use?| A．Mom. | B．Mommy. | C．Mamma. | D．Mama. |
| A．Root words. | B．New words. | C．Borrowed words. | D．Official words. |
| A．Because they are universal language |
| B．Because babies tend to make such sounds naturally. |
| C．Because they’re reduplications from Indo-European. |
| D．Because they are taught to babies in the same way. |
| A．How Did “Mom” and “Dad” Become Popular?? |
| B．Why Do We Call Our Parents “Mom” and “Dad?” |
| C．What Is Conveyed in the Words “Mom” and “Dad?” |
| D．How Do Babies Learn the Sounds of “Mom” and “Dad?” |
Children and adults learn new languages in different ways．For children, language is their life. They study for thousands of hours every year, because they need to learn languages to become part of their communities. Adults, on the other hand，are already part of a language community. Learning a new language means becoming part of another language community, and adults seldom get the chance to practice as much as young children do.
Moreover, children learning a new language are expected to make mistakes. This gives them freedom when learning to be daring and confident. Adults, however, often feel pressured to be perfect when learning a new language. This can discourage many people and make it even harder to learn a new language.
Research has shown that children who learn a new language when they are very young will not be likely to have a “foreign” accent when speaking a different language. Some scientists also believe that it can take up to 10,000 hours of study to master a new language. This can be difficult for adults to achieve, but young children can accumulate(积累) those hours over several years as they grow up.
When young children learn a new language, they come to see multiple languages as a “normal” part of society. This mindset (思维模式) helps them learn a new language without feeling like they’re doing something unusual or “too hard”.
So if you want to learn a new language, go for it! It’s never too late to learn a new language. If you’re older, it may take more work, but it can be done. If you’re a young child, though, now is the time to step out and learn a new language!
1. By “language is their life”, the author means that children ________.
| A．can’t live without language |
| B．lead a happy life every day |
| C．practice a new language a lot |
| D．are good at speaking language |
| A．They usually have too many interests. |
| B．They are afraid of being laughed at. |
| C．They think making mistakes is natural. |
| D．They always make all kinds of mistakes. |
| A．can be grasped by the old people easily |
| B．can never be learned by the old people |
| C．can be learned by both the old and the young |
| D．is an important skill for the old people |
| A．making several comparisons(对比) |
| B．presenting research findings |
| C．offering some typical examples |
| D．telling some interesting stories |
【推荐3】Some people say global English is no longer just controlled by British or American English, but is running free and developing uniquely local forms. Can you figure out the following terms?
“I like your smile, but unlike you put your shoes on my face.” This is a way of saying “Keep off the grass.” Or “people mountain, people sea”, which means “very crowded”.
These examples are what we call Chinglish. When it comes to Chinglish, if all you know is “good good study, day day up”, you will be considered “out man”.
Nowadays, more Chinglish words have been created, for example, a Chinese idiom is translated as “smilence”, a combination by the English word “smile” and “silence”.
Chinglish usually offers a humorous look at misuses of the English language in Chinese street signs, products, and advertising. They are favored by some English-speaking tourists and visitors. Dominic Swire has been living in Beijing for a couple of years. “I think many Chinese people complain about the Chinglish and badly translated English. But you know, sometimes for us foreigners, it’s actually quite charming to see them. I think if the translations of English in China were all perfect, then something would be lost from Chinese culture.”
However, Chinglish will probably become a “cultural relic” in the near future. Beijing has made a comprehensive plan to improve foreign language services and correct Chinglish within five years. “It is very ridiculous to see Chinglish on the signs in some scenic spots. And they are a kind of barrier for communication between Chinese and people from other countries,” a Beijinger said.
Some Chinese university experts side with Chinglish. They argue that English has absorbed elements from other languages such as French and Spanish in its growth, and now it’s Chinese’s turn.
1. Which of the following statements explains what Chinglish is?| A．English words which get new Chinese meanings. |
| B．The Chinese words which are difficult to translate. |
| C．The words combining English vocabulary and Chinese grammar. |
| D．The local words preventing foreigners from learning Chinese well. |
| A．A person who knows little about Chinglish word. |
| B．A student who hates learning foreign languages. |
| C．A tourist who fails to understand local translations. |
| D．An expert who doesn’t support Chinglish at all. |
| A．It can show the humour of Chinese. | B．It helps him to learn Chinese well. |
| C．It will attract more foreign tourists. | D． It seems part of Chinese culture. |
| A．Because it has become a unique bridge between Chinese and English. |
| B．Because Chinglish is a chance to enrich Chinese and English. |
| C．Because it improves the understanding between Chinese and foreigners. |
| D．Because Beijing is determined to get rid of Chinglish signs. |
【推荐1】 
Despite being located in a bustling urban part of Huanggang in Hubei, Xiao Yaqin’s apartment block stands out because of its green appearance resulting from being wrapped in green plants. “ It makes me feel very comfortable. When you open the window, fresh air keeps rolling in, ” the 65-year-old said excitedly.
He was one of the first group of residents that recently moved into China’s first “ vertical (垂直的) forest ” residential project, consisting of two 80-meter-tall, 25-story buildings.
The project is the result of cooperation between Easyhome and Italian architect Stefano Boering, often called “ the father of the vertical forest ” . There are 404 trees and 4,620 shrubs (灌木丛) in the vertical forest, which is classified as the “ fourth generation ” of housing. Grasses, flowers and climbing plants cover 2,408m2 of the floor area. The plants are estimated to be capable of absorbing 22 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per year, while generating 11 tons of oxygen.
However, its development hasn’t been met without doubt. For example, mosquito infestations (感染) are one of the reasons why people are reluctant to move in. The irrigation system required to ensure the survival of the plants in the vertical forest and the need to have gardeners cut the branches mean much higher maintenance costs than in regular buildings.
It is not yet known what the future of fourth-generation housing will be in China, but it has at least brought urban residents a new life experience. Xiao, the retiree, said his new apartment has met his expectations for better quality of life. “ You feel you are close to nature, even if you don’t open the window, ” he said.
1. How does the author introduce the topic?| A．By presenting Xiao Yaqin’s example. | B．By describing features of the apartment. |
| C．By imagining Xiao Yaqin’s life. | D．By showing the apartment’s popularity. |
| A．Easyhome designed and built the project. |
| B．Its plants produce 22 metric tons of oxygen. |
| C．It faces problems of mosquitoes and high costs. |
| D．The residents have to look after the plants. |
| A．Critical. | B．Concerned. | C．Supportive. | D．Unclear. |
| A．To predict the future way of living. | B．To introduce a new type of housing. |
| C．To discuss problems facing residents. | D．To advertise the vertical forest project. |
【推荐2】Food allergies have been on the rise.In the US,it is now estimated that over 10 percent of the adult population has an allergy to peanuts,shellfish,dairy or another type of food.In the UK,the past three decades have seen hospital admissions for food allergies rise five times.Thankfully, we are building up the armoury (宝库) needed to reverse (逆转) this trend so that one day,such potentially deadly reactions become a thing of the past.
The most common types of food allergies are caused by antibodies that we make called immunoglobulin (免疫球蛋白) E or IgE.These antibodies were discovered in the mid:196 0s and started an era of allergy research that is still going strong today.The early findings have led to thousands of studies that paint a complicated picture of how allergies work,suggesting ways in which we can prevent and treat them.
The old saying “prevention is better than the cure” holds true for food allergies. My colleagues and l use the so-called six Ds as a guide o preventative measures during childhood : diet, dirt, dogs,dry skin, detergents (清洁剂) and vitamin D. Studies have found that people have a lower risk of developing an allergy when, as youngsters, they eat a diverse diet and do so often, have healthy vitamin D levels, live in a home with a dog, avoid dry skin and are exposed to dirt, allowing them to develop a good microbiome (微生物组) The use of harsh detergents has also been associated with an increase in IgE.
Clearly, for many people that have food allergies, such early life prevention is no longer an option. However, other approaches are taking shape.
Most of the ways we currently use target the system in an effort to control its response to allergens (过敏原).One technique, known as allergen immunotherapy (免疫疗法), involves slowly building up exposure to a problem food.By starting in very small doses, the body appears to able to be controlled to no longer see it as a threat. However,immunotherapy needs regular exposure to allergens. which can cause side effects.
There are also anti-lgE drugs that can block the e antibodies involved. These can be particularly useful when used with allergen immunotherapy to help people become insensitive to troublesome ingredients. Allergy vaccines are another option.These work by reshaping the body’s immune response to a particular food so it doesn’t end in illness.
As we gain evidence and experience with each of these approaches,we are moving closer to being able to treat all food allergies. Many of us around the world are aiming to create a new era, one in which this trouble is a thing of the past.
1. From the first two paragraphs, we can tell that| A．one in 10 people is allergic to peanuts |
| B．immunoglobulin E takes effect when we have food allergies |
| C．the research of allergies hadn’t been conducted until more recent years |
| D．more people in the UK now suffer from food allergies than 30 years ago |
| A．To show a complicated picture of how allergies work |
| B．To convince readers of his unique method to develop food allergies |
| C．To discuss the effectiveness of this method for curing food allergies |
| D．To support the belief that prevention is more important than the cure |
| A．People can get rid of food allergies through gradual adaptation. |
| B．Anti-IgE drugs raise people’s sensitivity to certain ingredients. |
| C．Immunotherapy is believed to bring more harm than good. |
| D．Allergy vaccines are the safest method for the curing of food allergies. |
| A．Objective. | B．Promising. | C．Critical. | D．Doubtful. |
Writing in the late 1800s, Jules Verne was remarkably successful in his 10 guesses about future technologies of air conditioning, automobiles, the Internet, television, and underwater, air, and space travel. Unbelievably, of all places from which to choose, Jules Verne guessed Tampa, Florida, USA as the launching site of the first project to the Moon, which was only 200 kilometers away from the actual 1969 location at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
One of the best-known science fiction books is Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. Published in 1949, it was not meant as a prediction, but as a warning: Orwell was describing what he saw as the outcome of the ideas, trends, and emerging technologies of his time. Many invented terms from this novel have become common in everyday use, such as “big brother” and “doublethink”. Even the author’s name has been made into an adjective—Orwellian—and has become a warning descriptor for situations where privacy is lost and the individual has no power and is completely controlled by the government. Nineteen Eighty-Four was translated into sixty-five languages within five years of its publication, setting a record that still stands.
What helps bring science fiction into being is usually a new discovery or innovation. The author creates an analysis of the potential influence and consequences and then wraps it in a pleasant story. For example, the beginning of space exploration was followed a few years later by the Star Trek television program and movie series. The science fiction author’s self-determined role is search the world of future possibilities upon the road which we are traveling.
1. From the first paragraph, we know that science fiction might be ________.| A．a forecast of how a new discovery could influence mankind |
| B．a brief review of the present drawbacks of technology |
| C．a thoughtful look at the past and a prediction of the future |
| D．an analysis of how a new technology could be used to harm human. |
| A．A prediction of future technologies. |
| B．A warning of unfair and cruel ruling. |
| C．The motive of scientific development. |
| D．An imaginary perfect world of freedom. |
| A．H.G. Wells predicted the Internet in the late 1800s |
| B．Nineteen Eighty-Four adopted some popular terms |
| C．Star Trek movie series were based on space exploration |
| D．Cape Canaveral was mentioned in Jules Verne’s fiction |
| A．A reference of technology. |
| B．A moral compass. |
| C．A record of science development. |
| D．A form of thinking about possibilities. |
