Question

There are plenty of people in the UK for whom even Basic English is a problem. According to the survey, 726,000 people in England and Wales said they could not speak English well, and another 138,000 said they did not speak it at all.

Ling, 40, who arrived five years ago from China,, found it difficult to learn English. “After I came here, I was at home for the next three years. It took me longer to learn as I was very busy with my children.” Eventually she was able to begin taking classes and now speaks good conversational English. But even with classes, it can be a long process to pick up the language.

Age is the most important factor in language study, said Mila Vulchanova, professor of linguistics (语言学) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. “There is a key time in language learning, which is biologically determined. So the younger the immigrants(移民)， the better. Since this decline is only gradual, teenagers are at an advantage over adults,”he said.

There are a number of systems for grading English. The government expects immigrants to reach “ESOL Entry 3”or “B1 level” in Scotland, before they can be given citizenship. It means to be able to hold a confident conversation and it might take 360 hours of study to achieve.

George Osborne, the UK chancellor(财政大臣)，said in June that benefit claimants (申请救济金者) who don’t speak English will have their benefits cut if they fail to attend language courses. Huan Japes, deputy chief executive of English UK, a trade body for language colleges, said it needed 360 hours-----120 hours for each of three stages ---- to get to the result the government expected benefit claimants to reach.

“Using 120 hours, for each stage of English fluency(流利)，is a rather traditional way to course book learning,” said Dr Elaine Boyd, head of English language at Trinity College London. “If someone is really highly motivated, they can learn really quickly. It’s common for children under the age of 11 to be fluent in about six months.”

1.The first paragraph serves as a(n) _______.

A. introduction    B. discussion

C. explanation    D. conclusion

2.What does Mila Vulchanova mainly stress?

A. The importance of key teaching ways.

B. The necessity of working hard at English.

C. The advantages of learning English.

D. The importance of starting learning English early.

3.The UK government hopes that benefit claimants ______.

A. reach “ESOL Entry 1”.    B. are advanced English learners.

C. study English for about 360 hours.    D. get citizenship from the government first.

4.What Dr Elaine Boyd said suggested that _____.

A. 120 hours is a high level for learners.    B. one can learn English fast if active.

C. English fluency can be easily achieved.    D. children under 11 learn English hard.

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.C

4.B

【解析】

本文为说明文。文中涉及了许多移民不能说流利英语的现状，作者运用专家们的观点告诉我们怎样学好英语，练就一口流利的英语。

1.推理判断题。通读本段可知，本段第一句说“在英国有很多人，即使是基础英语也是个问题”，接着根据调查可知在英格兰和威尔士有那么多的人说英语说的不好甚至根本不会说英语。是为了引出下文的许多移民不会英语的困境，告诉我们如何学好英语。分析选项可知A项符合题意，故选A。

2.推理判断题。根据第四段There is a sensitive period in language learning和So the younger the immigrant, the better. Since this decline is only gradual, teenagers are at an advantage over adults.可知Mila Vulchanova认为对于移民，学英语越早越好，年龄小是优势。他在强调早学英语的重要性，故选D.

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段的内容said it needed 360 hours-----120 hours for each of three stages ---- to get to the result the government expected benefit claimants to reach.可知，如果申请救济金者需要360个小时——三个阶段各120个小时——才能达到政府预期福利申请人能达到的效果，分析选项可知C项符合题意。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段Using 120 hours( for each stage of English fluency) is a rather traditional approach to course book learning可知120小时是惯例，一般人能达到；If someone is really highly motivated, they can learn really quickly. It's common for children under the age of 11 to be very immersed and be fluent in about six months. "如果被激发会学的很快，6个月内能学会流利的英语。故选B 项。