1、Unit 3Section Using language.阅读理解AOne of the main challenges faced by many countries is how to maintain their identity in the face of globalisation and the growing multilanguagetrend.“One of the main reasons for economic failure in many African countries is the fact that, with a few important except
2、ions, mothertongue education is not practised in any of the independent African states，” said Neville Alexander, Director of the Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa at the University of Cape Town.In response to the spread of English and the increased multilanguage trend ar
3、ising from immigration, many countries have introduced language laws in the last decade. ln some, the use of languages other than the national language is banned in public spaces such as advertising posters. One of the first such legal provisions (规定) was the 1994 “Toubon Law” in France, and the ide
4、a has been copied in many countries since then. Such efforts to govern language use are often considered futile by language experts, who are well aware of the difficulty in controlling the fashion in speech and know from research that language switching between bilinguals is a natural process.It is
5、especially difficult for native speakers of English to understand the desire to maintain the “purity” of a language by law. Since the time of Shakespeare, English has been continually absorbing foreign words into its own language. English is one of the most mixed and rapidly changing languages in th
6、e world, but that has not been a barrier to acquiring superiority and power. Another reason for the failure of many native English speakers to understand the role of the state regulation is that it has never been the AngloSaxon way of doing things. English has never had a statecontrolled authority f
7、or the language, similar, for example, to the AcademieFransaise in France.The need to protect national languages is, for most western Europeans, a recent phenomenonespecially the need to ensure that English does not take over too many unnecessary fields. Public communication, education and new ways
8、of communication promoted by technology, may be key fields to defend.1Neville Alexander believes that _.Amothertongue education is not practised in all African countriesBglobalisation has resulted in the economic failure of AfricaCglobalisation has led to the rise of multilanguage trendDlack of moth
9、ertongue education can lead to economic failure2What does the underlined word “futile” in Paragraph 2 most probably mean?AWorkable. BPractical.CUseless. DUnnecessary.3What can we infer from the last paragraph?AEnglish has taken over fields like public communication and education.BMany aspects of nat
10、ional culture are threatened by the spread of English.CMost language experts believe it is important to promote a national language.DEuropeans have long realised the need to protect a national language.4What is the best title for the passage?AFighting Against the Rule of EnglishBProtecting Local Lan
11、guages and IdentityCThe Globalisation and MultiIanguage TrendDTo Maintain the Purity of Language by LawBIf Confucius(孔子) were alive today and could celebrate his September 28 birthday with a big cake, there would be a lot of candles. Hed need a fan or a strong wind to help him put them out.While man
12、y people in China remember Confucius on his special day, few people in the United States will give him a passing thought. Its nothing personal. Most Americans dont even remember the birthdays of their own national heroes.But that doesnt mean that Americans dont care about Confucius. In many ways he
13、has become a bridge that foreigners must cross if they want to reach a deeper understanding of China.In the past two decades, the Chinese study programs have gained enormous popularity in Western universities. More recently, the Chinese government has set up Confucius Institutes in more than 80 coun
14、tries. These schools teach both Chinese language and culture. The main courses of Chinese culture usually include Chinese art, history and philosophy(哲学). Some social scientists suggest that westerners should take advantage of the ancient Chinese wisdom to make up for the drawbacks of Western philos
15、ophy. Students in the United States, at the same time, are racing to learn Chinese. So they will be ready for the life in a world where China is an equal power with the United States. Businessmen who hope to make money in China are reading books about Confucius to understand their Chinese customers.
16、So the old thinkers ideas are still alive and good.Today China attracts the West more than ever, and it will need more to introduce Confucius and Chinese culture to the West.As for the old thinker, he will not be forgotten by people in the West, even if his birthday is.5The purpose of the first para
17、graph is mainly to _.Aattract readers interest in the subjectBprovide some key facts about ConfuciusCshow great respect for the ancient thinkerDprove the popularity of modern birthday celebrations6We can learn from Paragraph 4 that American students_.Atake an active part in Chinese competitionsBtry
18、to get high scores in Chinese examsCfight for a chance to learn ChineseDshow great interest in studying Chinese nowadays7What is the best title for this passage?AForgotten Wisdom in AmericaBHuge Fans of the Chinese LanguageCA Great Thinker with a Big FutureDChinese Culture for Westerners.七选五Laotzu a
19、nd Confucius were Chinas most famous philosophers. _1_ “Those who know do not say; those who say do not know，” said Laotzu. Confucius said that the best people say the least, but do the most._2_ It comes from the story that he was born with white hair, already old and wise. Very little is known abou
20、t Laotzus life. His writings are titled the “Tao TeChing”According to Taoism, the entire universe flows with a mysterious force called the Tao, which means “The Way”. _3_ When people forget this, opinions of good and evil or true and false happen. Taoists try to remember their oneness. However, this
21、 is easier said than done, said Laotzu. Over time, Taoism changed a bit. Taoism became more popular in AD 440 when it became Chinas state religion. Many people practice Taoism today.Born in 551 BC, Confucius wandered throughout China as a government employee and a political adviser. _4_ After Confuc
22、ius died in 479 BC, his students wrote down his teachings and called them Lunyu, or TheAnalects. Many of his clever sayings are still followed today. “It is as hard to be poor without complaining as to be rich without becoming arrogant (傲慢的)” Confucianism says it is important to learn to be a human
23、being. People should act with goodness towards each other to create order and unity. Confucianism guided thinking in China until about a hundred years ago.Taoism and Confucianism have differences and similarities. Confucianism tells people how to act toward each other. Taoism tells people how to fin
24、d meaning in life. They both share ideas about man, society, and the universe. Both Taoism and Confucianism have served as guides. _5_AGood thinking lasts a long time!BTheir sayings are still used today.CLaotzu may not even have existed.DHe was also a musician, thinker, and teacher.EThe name Laotzu
25、means “Old Master” or “Old Boy”FThey have led China through the peaks and valleys of its long history.GTaoists believe that everything might seem separate, but is actually one.课时作业(八).阅读理解A【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文。全球化导致很多国家独特的语言文化受到了冲击和影响，很多国家都在采取措施来保护自己国家的语言文化。1答案与解析：D推理判断题。根据文章第一段中的“One of the main reasons
26、for economic failure in many African countries is the fact that, with a few important exceptions, mothertongue education is not practised in any of the independent African states，”said Neville Alexander可知，内维尔亚历山大认为母语教育的缺失会导致经济衰败。故选D项。2答案与解析：C词义猜测题。根据画线词后的who are well aware of the difficulty in contr
27、olling the fashion in speech and know from research that language switching between bilinguals is a natural process可判断，很多语言专家都认为前文所提到的为管理语言使用所付出的努力是无用的，因为这样的控制是没有什么效果的。故选C项。3答案与解析：B推理判断题。根据最后一段中的especially the need to ensure that English does not take over too many unnecessary fields(保证英语在非必要领域不要占据主
28、导优势)可知，很多国家的语言文化都因为英语的普及而受到了冲击和影响。故选B项。4答案与解析：B主旨大意题。根据文章第一段首句One of the main challenges faced by many countries is how to maintain their identity in the face of globalisation and the growing multilanguage trend.可知，全球化导致很多国家独特的语言文化受到了冲击和影响，本文谈及的正是这方面的话题。故选B项。B【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文。本文主要介绍了外国人对中国文化的兴趣越来越浓，对于
29、孔子的思想也越来越感兴趣这一社会现象。5答案与解析：A推理判断题。根据文章第一段可知文章是以孔子生日这个有趣的话题来引起本文要讨论的话题，是为了吸引读者的注意力，让读者继续读下去。故选A项。6答案与解析：D推理判断题。根据第四段中的In the past two decades, the Chinese study programs have gained enormous popularity in Western universities.和Students in the United States, at the same time, are racing to learn Chines
30、e.可知现在美国学生对学习汉语表现出极大的兴趣。故选D项。7答案与解析：C主旨大意题。通读全文尤其是最后两段Today China attracts the West more than ever, and it will need more to introduce Confucius and Chinese culture to the West. As for the old thinker, he will not be forgotten by people in the West, even if his birthday is.可知，文章主要介绍的是中国文化越来越引起世界的关注，
31、同时，孔子的思想也引起了世界人民的兴趣，所以本文的最佳标题是“中国伟大思想家对后世的影响”。故选C项。.七选五【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文，介绍了中国历史上最著名的哲学家老子和孔子以及他们的思想。1答案与解析：B空前说老子和孔子是中国最著名的哲学家，空后提到了老子和孔子各说的一句格言，故B项符合语境。2答案与解析：E根据空后的It comes from the story that he was born with white hair, already old and wise.及Laotzus life可知，此处介绍的是老子的名字的来历，故E项符合语境。3答案与解析：G根据空前的Accor
32、ding to Taoism，the entire universe flows with a mysterious force called the Tao, which means“The Way”可知，道家认为，整个宇宙中流动着一种神秘的力量，叫作道，意思是“道路”，此处承接上文，讲的还是道家学说，故G项符合语境。4答案与解析：D根据空前的Born in 551 BC，Confucius wandered throughout China as a government employee and a political adviser.可知，孔子生于公元前551年，作为一名官员和大臣，他周游了列国，此处补充说明，说的是孔子的其他身份，故D项符合语境。5答案与解析：F根据空前的Both Taoism and Confucianism have served as guides.可知，道家和儒家都是指导思想，此处承接上文，说的是这两种思想的影响，故F项符合语境。
