Experts estimate that by the end of the century, half of the 6,000 languages spoken on our planet will have disappeared. In West Africa, academics in Togo are trying to protect the small country’s rich cultural and language heritage.
At the University of Lorne, Professor Goeh-Akue shows a visitor some videos of Gen cultural celebrations. The professor is a cultural heritage expert, and he is also a Gen, one of many ethnic groups in Togo (多哥). He is making films of Gen cultural customs with financial help from the United States. He says, “The Gen have an important place in Togo’s history and culture. The Gen believe in numerous voodoo deities (伏都神). But today, fewer and fewer Gen children go through voodoo initiation (入教) ceremonies. Increasingly, the new generation does not recognize the importance of these cultural traditions.”
He says formal education and the spread of Christianity have reduced their influence. Many young people think traditional practices are uncivilized. And while the Gen language is widely spoken in Lorne, the capital, the professor says it is not taught in schools.
Gen is one of approximately thirty-nine languages spoken in Togo. An expert in the UNESCO endangered language program says that, by the end of the century, more than half of Africa’s languages will be gone.
“A language needs speakers, preferably people who speak it as their mother tongue or first language. But a language at least needs people who can speak it as their second language,” said the specialist, Anahit Minasyan.
“People switch to a language or they raise their children in a language which they think will provide for a better economic opportunity in the future,” said Ms. Minasyan. “In Africa, for example, people often switch to larger African languages, which have more speakers and provide more economic opportunities than their mother tongues.”
Socio-linguist (社会语言学家) Komlan Essiewa says that today, many young urban Togolese (多哥人) switch between several languages, and these include the Mina language spoken in cities. “As a linguist, we have to be very worried about it. Because today, even when people move back to their village, they don’t use the language of the village as they used to.”
32. According to the text, which of the following is NOT true?
A. Gen is one of the ethnic groups in Togo. B. There are about 39 languages spoken in Togo. | ||
C. Christianity is the main religion of Gen people. D. Students don’t learn the Gen language in schools. | ||
33. Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons why some African languages will disappear?
A. Formal education has reduced the influence of these languages.
B. Some of the African languages are very difficult to learn.
C. Many young people don’t think the cultures symbolized by these languages are civilized.
D. They can’t provide better economic opportunities.
34. What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Many young urban Togolese can speak several languages. B. Linguists are worried about the situation and have a solution to the problem. | |
C. People didn’t use the language of their village in the past. D. The Mina language is only spoken in cities. |
35. What is the main issue discussed in this passage?
A. An introduction to the culture and history of Gen. | B. The history of Togolese. |
C. Concern over endangered cultural and language heritage. | D. The rich culture of Togo. |
CBAC
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。
登录并加入会员可无限制查看知识点解析