Question

In the English language there are striking similarities to many of the characteristics present in Spanish, French, and German. So what are the things that make English so difficult for foreign people to learn?

English doesn’t necessarily have more regular consonant(辅音) or vowel(元音) sounds than other languages, but how the stress is placed on some of those consonants or vowels makes it such a difficult language for learners. There are hard and soft consonants like “c” taking on a “k” sound or an “s” sound depending upon the situation. There are silent letters in some words and then some consonants that take on an entirely different sound ( like “th” ) when combined. The changes in the pronunciation of words make English much more difficult to learn.

Another thing that makes English difficult to learn has to do with verb tense. Some languages have very limited changes in verb tense, sometimes just present and past, which makes it relatively simple to grasp. English, on the other hand, is a bit more difficult in this area. For example, in different situations it may be proper to use any of the following tenses: present, past, future, past perfect or present perfect. The verb “choose” can be used in the following forms depending on tense: choose, chose or chosen. This can be very difficult for a foreigner to grasp.

Slang(俚语) is more widely used in American English than proper grammar. In the US just knowing the language as it’s generally taught isn’t enough. In every single region or even close neighborhoods, the same slang terms make an almost entirely different language. In some areas there are repeatedly used terms that wouldn’t even be found in the Webster’s Dictionary. They are created by locals and only locals understand them. This can make it very difficult for someone not familiar with the language to get used to it, especially if they don’t remain in one area for a very long period.

1.The purpose of this passage is to ________.

A. tell us how to deal with slang terms in English

B. encourage us to speak formal English

C. tell us why English is very difficult to learn

D. give advice on how to learn English well

2.According to the passage, the letter “c” in English ________.

A. is often silent

B. has at least two sounds

C. never takes on an “s” sound

D. is always stressed

3.Compared with other languages, ________.

A. English has very limited changes in verb tense

B. English has relatively simple verb tense to grasp

C. English has more forms of verbs according to the tense

D. English has three more verb tenses

4.It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A. pronunciation is the most difficult thing in English learning

B. all the slang terms should be added to the Webster’s Dictionary

C. if you want to learn English well you first should learn some slang terms

D. people may understand the local language after living in a place for years

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.C

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：文章通过三个方面论述了为什么英语比其他语言难学的原因，发音的不规则、动词时态和俚语都增加了学英语的难度。

1. 主旨大意题。文章通过三个方面论述了为什么英语比其他语言难学的原因，故选C。

2. 细节理解题。根据第二段There are hard and soft consonants like “c” taking on a “k” sound or an “s” sound depending upon the situation.可知，字母“c”常见至少有2种发音，故选B。

3. 细节理解题。根据第三段English, is a bit more difficult in this area. For example, in different situations it may be proper to use any of the following tenses: present, past, future, past perfect or present perfect.可知，英语包含多种时态，因此动词也有多种形式。故选C。

4. 推理判断题。根据文章最后This can make it very difficult for someone not familiar with the language to get used to it, especially if they don’t remain in one area for a very long period.及常识可知，一个人在某个地方呆的时间长了就自然能理解当地语言了，故选D。

考点：考查语言文化类短文阅读。

【名师点睛】

推理判断题的常见考查形式及解题方法：

推理判断题属于主观题，是层次较高的题目。它包括判断和推理题。这两类题常常相互依存，推理是为了作出正确的判断，正确的判断又依赖于合乎逻辑的推理。此类题要求在理解表面文字的基础上，作出判断和推论，从而得到文章的隐含的意思和深层的意思，也就是通过文章中的文字信息，上下逻辑关系及事物的发展变化等已知的信息，推断出作者没有直接表达的态度和观点。

一、常见的推理判断题的考法：

1)推测作者写作目的或意图。比如第28小题文章通过三个方面论述了为什么英语比其他语言难学的原因，故选C.

2)推测文章的观点或结论。

3)推断文章出处。

4)是非判断题。

5)逻辑排序题。

二、推理判断题的解题方法：

推理判断题不仅要求考生读懂文章中的每个句子的意思还要推理它们之间的关系，结合自己的生活常识和经验，再通过逻辑推理和判断，理解文章的言外之意，从而揭示文章的深层涵义。比如文章第

任何一篇文章都有其特定的写作目的，读者应当知道如何去做或按照某种方式传递思考问题。推理判断题的答案不可能在文章中直接找到，因此推理时我们务必要忠于原文，在文章中寻找并确定可推论的依据，即：已知部分－推论的前提，从中推测出未知部分－推理的结论，切忌妄加评论，把自己的观点当成作者的观点。31小题根据文章最后This can make it very difficult for someone not familiar with the language to get used to it, especially if they don’t remain in one area for a very long period.及常识可知一个人在某个地方呆的时间长了就自然能理解当地语言了，故选D.