Question

閱讀理解 　　Although American and British English are the two major national varieties of the languages, with the largest numbers of speakers and the greatest impact(影響)worldwide, there are many other varieties of English used around the world．Today English is used as a first language, as a second language, and as a foreign language．Other important first-language varieties of English are those of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa． 　　English is extremely important as a second language in India and has official or semi-official use in the Philippines, Malaysia, Tanzania(坦桑尼亞), Kenya(肯尼亞), Nigeria(尼日利亞), Liberia(利比里亞), and other countries in Africa, the Caribbean(加勒比地區(qū)), the Pacific, and elsewhere．It is the international language of the airlines, of computer technology, of science, and indeed of communication generally．When a Japanese business firm deals with a client(客戶)in Saudi Arabia(沙特阿拉伯), their language of communication is likely to be English． 　　English has more non-native speakers than any other language, is more widely disbursed around the world, and is used for more purposes than any other language．The extraordinary spread of English is not due to any inherent virtue, but rather to the fact that by historical chance it has become the most useful language for others to learn． 　　In the course of its spread, English has diversified(分化)by adapting to local circumstances and cultures, so there are different varieties of English in every country．However, because the heart of its usefulness is its ability to serve as an international medium of communication, English is likely to retain a more or less homogeneous(類似的)core－an international standard based on the usage of the United States and the United Kingdom．Yet each national variety has its own character and contribution to make to world English． (1) No important varieties of English are mentioned in ________ as a first language． [　　] A． Africa B． Asia C． North America D． Oceania (2) What is the most likely reason for the extraordinary spread of English? [　　] A． English has a long history． B． There are many inherent virtues in English． C． Britain was a very powerful country in the old days． D． Lots of people speaking English traveled around the world． (3) Which of the following statement is true? [　　] A． English has the most population than any other language． B． The main part each variety of English plays is to serve as an international medium of communication． C． There is only one variety of English in one country． D． If a Japanese businessman doesn’t know English，he cannot do business with a client in Saudi Arabia．

Answer 1

答案：1．B;2．C;3．B;
解析：

(1)	第一段提到英語除了在美國和英國作為第一語言，其他重要的把英語作為第一語言的國家是澳大利亞、加拿大、愛爾蘭、新西蘭和南非，這些國家分布在大洋洲、北美洲和非洲。
(2)	第三段“The extraordinary spread of English is not due to any inherent virtue，but rather to the fact that by historical chance it has become the most useful language for others to learn．”告訴我們英語得以廣泛傳播的原因是由于歷史的機緣，使它成為供其他人學(xué)習(xí)的最有用的語言，而這種機緣主要是由于英國當(dāng)時的強盛。
(3)	本題可用排除法解答。英語只是比其他語言擁有“more non-native speakers”“more widely disbursed”和“used for more purposes”，所以A項的說法是錯誤的；英語有很多變體，而不是只有一種；日本人和沙特人談生意時只是很有可能使用英語，而不是一定用英語。