English is spoken as a first language by most people in the USA, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. However, English is also spoken all over the world. It is the main language in over60 countries, including India, Singapore and many of the Carribean and Pacific islands. In these places English is often a second language.
English is also an international language in many other countries, like China and Japan. People in these countries use it for business, and travelers to these countries use English when they get there. Other people may learn English because they enjoy reading books in English, listening to British or American music or watching American films.
English has changed a lot over the years and still goes on changing. It is no longer right to talk about British English or American English because they are much the same. People in Japan and Korea, for example, may use the American spelling but may not sound like Americans.
English will probably be the most widely used language in the world by the end of the 21st century. This language no longer belongs to British, American or Australian. It belongs to anyone in the world. So, as middle school students, you should think about how you can use this language well because as you leave school, you will almost certainly need it.
1. What is so SPECIAL about English?| A．It is one of the subjects in school. | B．It is used both as first and second language. |
| C．It is spoken all over the world. | D．It is spoken mostly in business. |
| A．In many occasion. | B．Only in foreign countries. |
| C．When reading English books. | D．When enjoying English songs. |
| A．hasn’t changed at all |
| B．is keeping changing |
| C．has changed into British English and American English |
| D．is used only by people from Britain and America |
| A．It will be used as the only language in the world. |
| B．It will be used by everyone in the world. |
| C．It will no longer be used by people. |
| D．It will be used even more widely. |
| A．The First Language of the Whole World | B．The Language of the Times |
| C．The Best Language in the world | D．English Around the World |
相似题推荐
Australia
Australia is known for its friendly informality and lack of etiquette.At a trade show，Tshirts，ties or a pin may be appropriate mementos.Anything more than these types of gifts could cause embarrassment(尴尬)．
Greece
The most common form of showing appreciation in Greece is probably an evening's entertainment.If you are invited to a Greek home，flowers or a cake for the hostess are a fit gift.
Germany
A West Virginia executive(主管)，visiting Germany for the first time，was invited to the home of his largest customer.He decided to bring his hostess a bouquet of flowers.He selected a dozen red roses.Oh！A terrible mistake! Flowers are often taken to a hostess of a dinner party at her home，but there are three taboos to remember：1)Red roses signify a romantic interest.2)An even number of flowers stand for bad luck，as does the number thirteen.3)Always unwrap the flowers before presenting them.This West Virginia was making what amounted to a pass at his customer's wife.
Italy
When you are invited to a person's home for dinner，it might be nice to bring flowers or a box of chocolate for your hostess，and in Italy never send chrysanthemums(菊花)，since they suggest death.
1. At trade shows，________may be appropriate mementos.
| A．flowers | B．pins |
| C．cakes | D．chrysanthemums |
| A．Tshirts and ties | B．an evening's entertainment |
| C．a dozen roses | D．some flowers and a cake |
| A．good luck | B．bad luck | C．happiness | D．death |
| A．love | B．luck | C．death | D．happy |
| A．different countries have different culture |
| B．beautiful roses stand for “love” in Italy |
| C．the number “13” is a lucky number in Germany |
| D．it's an appropriate gift for the hostess to send chrysanthemums |
When you hear Westerners (西方人) say “Drop in anytime” (随时来玩) or “Come and see me soon”, you should realize that it doesn’t mean you are welcome to come over to their house anytime. It’s wise to telephone before visiting someone.
Never accept an invitation unless you really plan to go. You may refuse by saying, “Thank you for inviting me, but I may not be able to come.” If you are unable to come after accepting the invitation, be sure to tell those who invite you in advance (提前) that you will not be there.
When you have accepted the invitation to a party or a dinner, it is polite to bring small gifts with you, such as bottles of drink, flowers and chocolate. Sometimes Westerners may take you out to dinner in a restaurant and it does not necessarily mean that he is going to pay the bill at the end of the meal. He might want you to “go Dutch”, which means each person pays his own bill.
1. When you hear Westerners say “Drop in anytime”, it means you are welcome to come over to their house anytime.2. Never accept an invitation unless you really plan to go.
3. If you can’t come after accepting the invitation, be sure to tell those who invite you in advance.
4. It is polite to bring small gifts with you when you have accepted the invitation.
5. “Go Dutch” means one person pays all the bill.
Families enjoy spending their weekends on the grass. There, families can bring something to eat or drink and play cards with family members or friends, children can play chess and tell each other stories.
Also, in most schools, grass fields are like a soft study desk for students. They can enjoy reading books and learn in the green environment(环境). They also talk, laugh, listen to music and play games on the grass.
However, there is a rule to enjoy the green grass. In some parks, there are many kinds of green grass for people to relax and play sports on. Be smart to find the good one, and you may feel yourself sitting in the middle of a soccer game!
1. When the writer thinks of the signs “keep off the grass”, he feels______.
| A．quiet | B．afraid | C．friendly | D．tired |
| A．read books | B．play cards | C．play games | D．listen to music |
| A．the green grass | B．a study desk | C．the park | D．the soccer game |
| A．people must keep off the grass |
| B．there’s only a little grass in parks |
| C．children can’t sit on grass on sunny days |
| D．people must follow rules to enjoy the grass |
| A．relax on the grass | B．be away from grass |
| C．play soccer in parks | D．keep the grass green |
