Question

    I am Canadian. I started learning French when I was 10 years old. But my whole experience with the language was in the classroom. All of that changed, however, during my last summer of high school. As a 17-year-old girl, I flew across the country by myself for the first time! I headed for Quebec to live in the province with a French-speaking host family, who didn’t speak any English. And I would learn French at a local school.

On the first day of school, all of us students were given a test to determine（测定）our language level. We were required to speak only French all summer.

I made every effort to communicate in a second language by making new friends, seeing movies and even ordering food from restaurants in French. Though I couldn’t understand most of it at the very beginning, the whole experience was exciting and refreshing.

On weekends, my classmates and I took trips to different places around the province. On one trip, we went whale watching on the St. Lawrence River. Even though it was raining, we could see huge whales swimming around our boat. The most memorable part of our trip was a visit to historic Quebec City. I walked along the stone streets, took pictures of the European-style（欧式的）buildings, and learned some stories there.

Finally my efforts paid off! At the end of the summer, I was able to communicate pretty well. I couldn’t wait to go back to school and talk with my French teacher. Being fully immersed（沉浸）in a French-speaking environment was a valuable learning experience. And it could be the main reason for my improvement in French.

1.When did the writer fly alone for the first time?

2.How did the local school determine the students’ language level?

3.Did the writer enjoy the experience of communicating in French?

4.What did the writer think of the visit to historic Quebec City?

5.What could be the main reason for the writer’s improvement in French?

Answer

1.At age 17.

2.By giving them a test.

3.Yes, she did.

4.It was the most memorable part of the trip.

5.Being fully immersed in a French-speaking environment.

【解析】

短文大意：作者是加拿大人，10岁时开始学法语，但所有的语言学习都是在教室内完成的。17岁时独自一人飞往魁北克，和一个讲法语的家庭住在一起，并在当地学校学习法语。在那里她尽一切努力用法语交流，结交新朋友，看电影，甚至从法国餐馆点餐。作者的努力终于有了回报！在夏天结束的时候，她能够很好地用法语进行沟通。作者认为完全沉浸在讲法语的环境中是一种宝贵的学习经验。也是作者法语进步的主要原因。

1.问题：作者第一次独自坐飞机是什么时候？根据短文中的句子“As a 17-year-old girl, I flew across the country by myself for the first time!”可知作者在17岁的时候，第一次坐上了飞机，故答案为At age 17。

2.问题：当地学校是如何测定学生语言水平的？根据短文第二段中的句子On the first day of school, all of us students were given a test to determine（测定）our language level.可知，所有的学生是通过测试来测定语言水平的，故答案为By giving them a test。

3.问题：作者喜欢用法语交流的这段经历吗？根据第三段中的句子“Though I couldn’t understand most of it at the very beginning, the whole experience was exciting and refreshing.” 虽然我一开始大部分并不太明白，但整个经历是令人兴奋和耳目一新。由此判断作者非常喜欢这段语言学习的经历，故答案为Yes, she did。

4.问题：作者对历史悠久的魁北克市的这次访问是怎么看的？根据倒数第二段中的句子“The most memorable part of our trip was a visit to historic Quebec City.”我们这次旅行最难忘的部分是参观历史悠久的魁北克市。因此作者认为这是旅行中最难忘的部分。故答案为It was the most memorable part of the trip。

5.问题：作者提高法语水平的主要原因是什么？根据短文最后的句子“Being fully immersed（沉浸）in a French-speaking environment was a valuable learning experience. And it could be the main reason for my improvement in French.”完全沉浸在讲法语的环境中是一种宝贵的学习经验。这可能是我法语进步的主要原因。故答案为Being fully immersed in a French-speaking environment。