Question

The Vieira family moved to the United States in 1981. At that time, they decided to stop speaking Spanish at home and only communicate in English. This was because they were now living in an English－speaking country.

Now the Vieira children are adults, and they sometimes travel to Spain to visit their family and friends. But they cannot communicate with them. Unfortunately this is common. When people move to new countries, they often leave their own customs and mother language behind. This is－a mistake because there are many benefits to knowing more than one language.

One advantage of speaking more than one language is that you can communicate directly with more people around the world. You do not have to depend on others to talk for you, so you're more independent. People who know only one language must use others to help them communicate.

Furthermore, speaking a second language also allows people to experience other cultures and customs more effectively. Local expressions, vocabulary, and even jokes can have a powerful effect on a person's understanding of another culture. So, knowing more than one language increases your knowledge of other cultures.

Finally, having more multi－language speakers improves relationships between countries. If people from different countries can communicate well, the world can become closer. Countries will then have more respect for each other and better understand each other's problems.

The benefits of knowing more than one language are clear. In fact, there are no disadvantages. It is very sad that many people don't try to learn another language. It is even worse when people let themselves forget their mother language and become silenced.

1.What is the passage mainly about?

A. The benefits of learning other languages.

B. The reasons why people come to America.

C. The importance of learning English.

D. How to learn another language.

2.The passage begins with the experience of the Vieira family in order to

A. discuss the need for teaching a new language

B. introduce the passage's main characters to the readers

C. describe the advantages of moving to another country

D. show the problems of speaking only one language

3.The underlined phrase "multi－language speakers" (Paragraph 5) means "people who know ."

A. their mother language B. a new language

C. more than one language D. body language

4.According to the last paragraph, which of the following is the worst?

A. Not knowing another language.

B. Forgetting one's mother language,

C. Refusing to learn another language

D. Failing to communicate with others.

 

Answer 1

1.A

2.D

3.C

4.B

【解析】

試題分析：這篇文章主要講述了學習外語的好處，可以更好的直接與別人進行溝通，可以更有效地了解其他國家的文化和習俗，并且加強國家間的關系。學習外語只有好處而沒有壞處，那些甚至連母語都忘記的人就更加錯了。

1.主旨大意題。這篇短文主要講述了學習外語的好處，可以更好的溝通，可以了解其他的文化并且加強國家間的關系；故此題選A，學習其他語言的好處。

2.判斷推理題。文章在開頭以Vieira一家為例，是為了說明他們丟棄了母語只講英語是一個錯誤，故此題選D，說明只講一門語言的問題。

3.詞意推測題。結合前后文，此句為：最后，可以講更多的語言能夠加強國家間的關系。Multi-language多語言的，故選C。

4.判斷推理題。根據最后一段內容It is even worse when people let themselves forget their mother language and become silenced.更糟糕的是有些人忘記了自己的母語而不會講母語了；故選B。

考點：社會類短文閱讀。