Question

There is one language that is used in every country in the world. The people who use it are young and old, short and tall, thin and fat. It is everybody’s second language. It is easy to understand, although you can’t hear it. It is sign language.

When you wave to a friend who is across the street, you are using sign language. When you smile at someone, you are saying, “I want to be friendly”, but you are not using speech. You are using sign language. When you raise your hand in class, you are saying, “Please ask me. I think I know the correct answer.”

Babies who can’t talk can point at things. They are using sign language. A policeman who wants to stop traffic holds up his hands. He is using sign language.

Many years ago, a French priest, Charles Michel de Epee, became interested in education for deaf people. He invented a finger alphabet (字母表). It is still in use. People can make the sign for letters and spell words with their hands, and deaf people can read and understand them. Soon there were schools for the deaf in many countries. The only university for the deaf is Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C.

Today, in the United States, there are special TV news programs for deaf people. The newsreader tells the news in sign language. At the same time, the words appear on the TV screen.

The actors in the Theatre of Deaf don’t spell every word. Sometimes they use hand signs. When they put two hands together, it means sandwich. They can make a roof with their hands when they want to show a house. One finger in front of an actor’s mouth can mean quiet. You can talk to people who are behind windows that are closed. And when you go swimming with your friends, you can have conversations under water.

How many hand signs do you use every day?

1.Which of the following about sign language is TRUE?

A. It is a special language used in a few countries in the world.

B. It is a way to express one’s ideas without words.

C. It is only used by the deaf.

D. It can be heard.

2.If you want to express the idea that “I am very friendly” to someone, you will ______.

A. raise your hand

B. put one hand onto the other

C. smile to the person

D. make a roof with your hands

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Hand signs instead of finger signs are used everyday.

B. There are schools, colleges and universities for the deaf in the USA.

C. The French priest Charles invented sign language.

D. Even babies are using sign language.

4.The passage is mainly about ______.

A. an introduction to sign language

B. the importance of sign language

C. a famous priest in France

D. how to use sign language

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：文章大意：这是一篇介绍手语的文章，作者从生活中的实际实例告诉我们什么是手语，并说明手语在当今的发展和应用。

1. to a friend，raise your hand等和第三段的babies，policeman等的动作告诉我们这是动作语言，不用语言表达。故选B。

2. you smile at someone, you are saying, “I want to be friendly”, but you are not using speech可知微笑就标志着自己的友好。故选C。

3. 推断题。根据第二段排除A；根据第四段排除B；根据第五段排除C。根据第三段Babies who can’t talk can point at things. They are using sign language可知婴儿们也会使用该类语言，故选D。

4. 主旨题。通读全文，文章主要告诉我们什么是手语，人在什么情况下使用，并告诉我们在美国电视节目也在使用手语，主要是为了帮助哪些耳聋的人。故选A。

考点：考查生活类短文