2 . 14-year-old Harini Logan won the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States. She correctly spelled 22 words during 90 seconds. Most Americans, however, would find it difficult to spell any of these words!

Native English speakers know there are clear differences between how words are pronounced and spelled. But they do not know that the differences are unique to English among major languages. Languages like Italian or Finnish can be spelled more easily because each letter matches one sound. Students studying these languages can have 90 percent reading accuracy after the first year.

In English, many letters have two or more sounds. This is why even after years of learning, students of English are still far below Italian or Finnish students in reading accuracy.

English started as a Germanic language. It is most closely connected to German and Dutch, especially in grammar and basic vocabulary. During the Norman attack in the 12th century, Old English was spoken but French was used in government and formal papers. As a result, more French and Latin words entered the English language.

The printing machine was invented in the late 1400s. This helped to establish English spelling and strengthen the connection between how English is spoken and how it is written. The English of today is how the language was written at the time.

However, the spoken language started to change in the 1500s with the pronunciation of all long vowels, especially in southern England. For example, the word “bite” was pronounced closer to “beet” in the 1400s, before changing through the years to its present sound. The effect was that the English language had old spellings but new sounds.

English has 26 letters, but over 44 different sounds depend on the difference of spoken English. There are several sounds from only one letter. For example, the letter “C” can sound like an “S” as in “city”, and it also sounds like a “K” as in “cat”.

1. Why is English harder to spell than Italian and Finnish?

A．English has more letters.	B．English is used more widely.
C．Some English letters have more sounds.	D．English words are made up of more letters.

2. What is English most closely connected to German in?

A．Grammar.

B．Writing.

C．Spelling.

D．Pronunciation.

3. What is the result of the spoken language change in the 1500s?

A．Words were simpler to spell.	B．Words were easier to pronounce.
C．Words had old spellings but new sounds.	D．Words spellings matched with their sounds.

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．How English Developed	B．Why English Is Hard to Spell
C．How to Spell English Correctly	D．Why English Letters Have More Sounds

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

In the 1950s, the Egyptian government wanted to build a new dam across the Nile. But the proposal led to protests. Water from the dam would likely damage many temples and destroy cultural     1     (relic) that were an important part of Egypt’s cultural heritage. After     2     (listen) to the scientists who had studied the problem, and the citizens who lived near the dam, the government turned     3     the United Nations for help in 1959.

A committee was established     4     (limit) damage to the Egyptian buildings and prevent the loss of cultural heritage. The group asked for support within the international community. Experts investigated the issue, conducted several tests,     5     made a proposal for how the buildings could be saved.     6     (final), the work began in 1960. Taken down piece by piece, temples and other cultural sites     7     (move) and put back together again in a place     8     they were safe from the water. It took thousands of engineers and workers 20 years to complete the project. When it ended in 1980, it was considered a great success.

The spirit of the Aswan Dam project     9     (be) still alive today. If a problem seems too difficult for     10     single nation, the global community can sometimes provide a solution.

5 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式.

Wandering sounds, irregular rhythms and a carrier of gentle emotions define the musical language of guqin, a seven string instrument created in ancient China.

The earliest piece of guqin in China,     1     (discover) in Hubei province in 2016, dates back to the Zhou Dynasty. The body of a guqin is made of lacquered (上漆的) wood and the strings of twisted silk. Unlike its seemingly simple appearance, making a guqin is    2    (extreme) demanding. An outstanding piece can take anywhere from two to several decades    3    (create). It is a result of art and time.

The tone of a guqin is quiet, light and    4    (distance). Vibrations (琴弦振动) are used to produce a flowing and lingering (持续的) quality,    5    abundant empty notes in between. As the listener fills in the gaps in their own minds, a connection is formed between music and man.

The guqin     6    (favor) by the scholars in ancient China. The most well-known guqin musician was Yu Boya in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. As he played his guqin in the mountains, a woodcutter named Zhong Ziqi heard the music and understood exactly    7    Yu wanted to express. This deep understanding formed     8    strong bond between them, and they became close friends. This is the famous tale behind the guqin masterpiece, Flowing Water, High Mountains. The piece has been passed down through     9    (generation) and is considered one of the most famous and important compositions in Chinese guqin music.

This graceful dialogue, flowing from brushed fingertips and    10    (travel) for thousands of years, is continuing to this day.

6 . The Union Jack is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It is so called because it combines the emblems (象征) of three countries—England, Scotland and Ireland (although since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom).

The term “Union Jack” possibly dates from Queen Anne’s time, but its origin is uncertain. It may come from the “Jacket” of the English or Scottish soldiers; or from the name of James Ⅰ who originated the first union in 1603, in either its Latin or French form “Jacobus” or “Jacques”; or, as “jack” once meant small, the name may come from a royal proclamation (声明) issued by Charles Ⅱ that the flag should be flown only by ships of the Royal Navy as a jack, a small flag at the bowsprit (船首).

The Union Jack was originally a royal flag (when the present design was made official in 1801, it was ordered to be flown on all the King’s forts and castles, but not elsewhere); it is today flown above Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle when the Queen is not in residence. On news of a royal death, the Union Jack will be flown at halfmast (下半旗).

The flying of the Union Jack on public buildings is decided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at the Queen’s command. The Union Jack is flown on government buildings on days marking the birthdays of members of the royal family, such as the Queen’s official birthday, and on the days of the State Opening and prorogation (休会) of Parliament; it is also flown on St David’s Day, St George’s Day, St Andrew’s Day, and St Patrick’s Day.

Although the Union Jack originated as a royal flag, it is now also flown by many people and organizations elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Its use as an emblem has extended beyond the form of a flag and the Union Jack is frequently shown on other objects.

1. The reason why the national flag of the United Kingdom is called the Union Jack is that ________.

A．the flag is made of jacket

B．the flag combines the emblems of three countries

C．the flag shows the symbol of unity

D．the flag originated from the existence of the United Kingdom

2. The second paragraph mainly talks about ________.

A．the origin of the national flag

B．the history of the national flag

C．the reason why the Union Jack has become the national flag

D．the way how the Union Jack has become the national flag

3. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Once the Union Jack was not flown elsewhere except royal places.

B．The Union Jack will be flown at halfmast if a member of the royal family dies.

C．Many people and organizations can flow the Union Jack in the world.

D．The Union Jack can be flown in many places and on many days in the United Kingdom.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．The Union Jack Everywhere	B．The Union Jack at Anytime
C．National Flag, the Union Jack	D．The History of the Union Jack

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

China is     1     (wide) known for its ancient civilization, and one of the factors is the Chinese writing system.

The earliest written Chinese was     2     picture-based language. There were animal bones and shells on which symbols     3     (carve). Later the symbols became systematic. Over the years, it developed into different forms because the Chinese people were divided geographically at that time,     4     (lead) to many     5     (variety) of dialects and characters. It was after Emperor Qinshihuang united the seven major states that the Chinese writing system began to develop     6     one direction.

China’s present is connected with its past by written Chinese. People in modern times can read the classic works     7     were written by Chinese in ancient times. Today, the Chinese writing system is still an important part of Chinese culture. As China is important in     8     (globe) affairs, an     9     (increase) number of international students are racing     10     (learn) China’s culture and history.

9 . Although English is not as old as Chinese, it is spoken by many people around the world every day. English speakers are always creating new words, and we are often able to know where most words come from.

Sometimes, however, no one may really know where a word comes from. Did you ever think about why hamburgers (汉堡包) are called hamburgers, especially when they are not made with ham (火腿)? About a hundred years ago, some men went to America from Europe. They came from a big city in Germany called Hamburg. They did not speak good English, but they ate good food. When some Americans saw them eating round pieces of beef, they asked the Germans what it was. The Germans did not understand the question and answered, “We come from Hamburg.” One of these Americans owned a restaurant, and had an idea. He cooked some round pieces of beef like those which the men from Hamburg ate. Then he put each between two pieces of bread and started selling them. Such bread came to be called “hamburgers”. Today “hamburgers” are sold in many countries around the world.

Whether this story is true or not, it certainly is interesting. Knowing why any word has a certain meaning is interesting, too. This reason, for most English words, can be found in any large English dictionary.

1. About a hundred years ago, Hamburg was        .

A．An American city	B．a Chinese city
C．the name of a village	D．a city in Germany

2. Hamburgers are mainly made with        .

A．beef, bread	B．only made with beef
C．bread, potato	D．only made with bread

3. According to the writer, which of the following can often be found in any large English dictionary?

A．Where all the new words come from

B．Where those Germans came from

C．The reason why an English word has a certain meaning

D．The reason why English is spoken around the world

4. According to the story, the word “hamburger” comes from         .

A．China because it has a long history

B．England because Germans don’t speak good English

C．the round pieces of beef which those people from Hamburg were eating

D．English speakers because they always create new words