The United States is mainly an English-speaking country. The great number of population(人口) speaks English as their native language. Business, education and most publish aspects(方面) of life are conducted in English. Across the country, people pronounce English sounds in several different ways and some regional(地区) differences in word spelling exist, but for the most part, Americans speak one common language. This language is sometimes called American English.
However, not everyone in the US is a native speaker of English. Most of the persons coming into the country are speakers of other languages. There are hundreds of communities around the US where English is not the most commonly used language. Chinese, Italian, German, American, Greek, Vietnamese and French are all spoken in a great number of communities in the United States. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language after English in the US. It is widely spoken in New York and across the southern part of the country.
For speakers of other languages, learning English is important, but traditionally(传统上), teaching people to speak English as a second language was given little attention. Non-English speakers were expected to “pick up” the language through getting in touch with people in public. Recently, this has changed. Today, most large public schools and community colleges have ESL, English as a Second Language, programs. American English teachers feel that English students should learn the language the way they will be using it. Therefore, ESL programs teach different English lessons to different students. Some programs teach students to communicate in English in public.
1. What language or languages do people in the United States speak?
A. English.
B. American English.
C. English and Spanish.
D. English and lots of other languages
2. ESL stands for ________.
A. English as a Special Language
B. English as a Spoken Language
C. English and Spanish Languages
D. English as a Second Language
3. Where is Spanish spoken in the United States?
A. In most part of New York and the southern states.
B. In New York and all the southern states.
C. In New York and across the southern part of the country.
D. In New York and many southern states.
4. “Non-English speakers were expected to ‘pick up’ the language through listening to and talking with people in public.” Here “pick up” means “________”.
A. master(without difficulty)
B. do one's best to study
C. learn(without taking lessons)
D. know only a little about
5. “American English teachers feel that English students should learn the language the way they will be using it.” Here “English students” means “________”.
A. the students who are English
B. the students who know nothing about English
C. the students who wish to learn English
D. the students who come to the US from some other countries
1. 解析:选D。细节理解题。从第二段第二句“Most of the persons coming into the country are speakers of other languages”我们可以得此答案。
2. 解析:选D。细节理解题。从第三段第四句“Today, most large public schools and community colleges have ESL, English as a Second Language”我们可以得此答案。
3. 解析:选C。细节理解题。从第二段最后一句“It is widely spoken in New York and across the southern part of the country.”我们可以得此答案。
4. 解析:选C。词义推测题。从 “through getting in touch with people in public”我们可以推测出,pick up在这里是“在实践中学会”的意思。
5. 解析:选C。词义推测题。由第三段“Recently,this has...should learn the language the way they will be using it”可知此答案。
政治经济类文章的概念:
要做好这类阅读,平时就要注意了解国内外发生的政治经济大事,掌握一定背景知识,对这类文章的叙述特点及内容安排有一定了解,还要扩展这方面的词汇。阅读这类文章,要抓住文章的核心,即文章整体和各段主要在说什么,也要注意段落之间的逻辑关系。
如何备考政治经济类阅读理解题:
【题型说明】政治经济类阅读文章是高考常选材料之一。该类文章时代气息浓郁,语言鲜活,但熟字新义词、超纲词及专业词语多,长句、难句多。政治类文章大多数是同学们感性趣的内容,读起来倒有似曾相识的感觉,经济类文章读起来就像是雾里看花,文章看完,一头雾水。再加之这类文章的命题侧重于词义猜测、推理判断和文章主旨,同学们对这类题材是望而生畏。
【备考策略】建立心理优势。针对不同体裁的文章,我们要采取相应的阅读方法和技巧。政治类文章多采用记叙文形式,我们可采取“顺读法”,以便抓关键语句,领会文章主旨;而经济类文章则多采用说明文形式,我们则可以采取“逆读法”,先读试题,再从文章中查找有用信息。若遇到的确难读的材料。千万不用着急,因为你觉得难,其他人也一定是同感。在高考前,我们就要有这种心理准备,高考试卷肯定有一、两篇难以阅读的材料。不过,我们平时可以有意识地从报刊杂志上找一些较难的阅读材料来阅读,以培养自己迎难而上的心理素质。
【答题方法】
1、寻找主干:
根据英语中五种基本句型结构,把句子中的主语、谓语、宾语、表语等主要成分找出来,其他成分如定语、状语、补语等则易于理解。找到了句子主干,句子的意思至少明白了一半。
2、剔除从句:
在一个长句中可能会出现若干个从句,在理解时,如果把各个从句剔除出来单独理解,然后把大意拼凑起来,整个长句的意思就会明白六、七分。
3、辨别分句:
一个长句如果是由几个并列、转折、递进、对比关系的分句组成,句中往往有表示这些分句关系的连接词,只要能弄清楚分句和分句之间的逻辑关系,再把各层分句的意思加以连贯,整个长句的句意基本上能跃然脑中。
4、寻找关键词:
如果一个句子看完,一点句意的感觉也没有,下下策就是抓住句中的关键词,通过关键词大体弄懂这个长句的意思。
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