English is spoken as a first language by most people in the USA,Britain,Australia,New Zealand,Ireland and Canada. However,English is spoken all over the world. It is the main language in over 60 countries,including India,Singapore and many of the Caribbean and Pacific islands. In these places English is often a second language.

English is also an international language in many other countries,like China and Japan. People in these countries use it for business,and travelers to these countries use English when they get there to communicate. Other people may learn English because they enjoy reading books in English,listening to British or American music or watching American films.

English has changed a lot over the years and still goes on changing. It is no longer right to talk about British English or American English if the speakers come or don’t come from those countries. People in Japan and Korea,for example,may use the American spelling but may not sound like Americans.

English will probably be the most widely used language in the world by the end of the 21st century. This language no longer belongs to British,American or Australian speakers. It belongs to anyone in the world. So,as a middle school student of English today, think about how you can use this language. After you leave school, you will almost certainly need it.

1.In how many countries is English spoken as a first language in the passage?

A. Five.                       B. Four.                                C. Three.                    D. Six.

2.In which other countries is English spoken as a main language?

A. Britain, the USA and Australia.

B. India, Singapore and many of the Caribbean and Pacific islands.

C. China and Japan.

D. New Zealand and Canada.

3. People from other countries learn English for ________.

A. passing exams                                            

B. business and traveling

C. reading English books, enjoying English music or films

D. both B and C

4.Even if people in Japan and Korea use American spelling they ________.

A. will speak the same as Americans                   

B. may not sound like Americans

C. will speak British English                                    

D. will speak English much better

5. Which is the best title for the passage?

A. A First Language in the World                           B. A Second Language in the World

C. English around the World                                  D. A Useful Language

 

After spending years searching for a planet with life, scientists may have found one. In September 2010, a team of US scientists discovered an Earth-sized planet called Gliese 581g. It has a surface temperature neither too hot nor too cold for liquid(液态)water. Scientists think there is a chance that the planet could have life.

The planet Gliese 581g goes around a star called Gliese 581, which is about 20 light-years from Earth. That is about 194 trillion(万亿)kilometres -500 million times farther away from us than the moon.

A spacecraft traveling at a one-tenth of the speed of light would reach Gliese 581g within about 220 years. A human can’t live that long, but robotic explorers could make the job easier. However, our fastest spacecraft don’t come anywhere near that one-tenth light-speed mark.

At present, scientists don’t know what the surface might be like on Gliese 581g. What they know is that the planet is at the right distance from its star to have liquid water. It’s also at the right distance to have an atmosphere that could protect the water if it is on the surface.

Although spacecraft won’t be getting there anytime soon, one way to look for life on Gliese 581g is to turn our radio telescopes(望远镜)towards the planet and search for radiation(放射). By studying the radiation, scientists would find out about the chemicals(化学物质)around the planet and discover if Gliese 581g has an atmosphere. If it has one, studying the atmosphere would give us a good idea whether the planet has life or not. But it’ll probably be many years before we can do this properly.

People have been arguing about whether there is alien life on Gliese 581g. Any discussion about alien life is just guessing at this point, according to its discoverers.

1.What did scientists find in September 2010?

A.A planet with water.                     B.A planet similar to the earth.

C.A planet without life.                     D.A planet near the earth.

2.According to the article, Gliese 581g ________.

A.is at the right distance from its star          B.moves around the earth

C.is as far away from us as the moon           D.can be reached in about 220 years

3.Paragraph 5 is mainly about ______.

A.the possibility of living on Gliese 581g

B.the kinds of chemicals around Gliese 581g

C.the way of looking for life on Gliese 581g

D.the aim of studying the radiation on Gliese 581g

4.Which of the following is the best title for the passage above?

A.Gliese 581g, a Likely Living Planet           B.Gliese 581, a Likely Living Planet

C.Gliese 581g and Its Star                   D.Gliese 581g and Radiation

 

 

After spending years searching for a planet with life, scientists may have found one. In September 2010, a team of US scientists discovered an Earth-sized planet called Gliese 581g. It has a surface temperature neither too hot nor too cold for liquid(液态)water. Scientists think there is a chance that the planet could have life.

The planet Gliese 581g goes around a star called Gliese 581, which is about 20 light-years from Earth. That is about 194 trillion(万亿)kilometres -500 million times farther away from us than the moon.

A spacecraft traveling at a one-tenth of the speed of light would reach Gliese 581g within about 220 years. A human can’t live that long, but robotic explorers could make the job easier. However, our fastest spacecraft don’t come anywhere near that one-tenth light-speed mark.

At present, scientists don’t know what the surface might be like on Gliese 581g. What they know is that the planet is at the sight distance from its star to have liquid water. It’s also at the right distance to have an atmosphere that could protect the water if it is on the surface.

Although spacecraft won’t be getting there anytime soon, one way to look for life on Gliese 581g is to turn our radio telescopes(望远镜)towards the planet and search for radiation(放射). By studying the radiation, scientists would find out about the chemicals(化学物质)around the planet and discover it Gliese 581g has an atmosphere. If it has one, studying the atmosphere would give us a good idea if the planet has life or not. But it’ll probably be many years before we can do this properly.

People have been arguing about whether there is alien life on Gliese 581g. Any discussion about alien life is just guessing at this point, according to its discoverers.

1. What did scientists find in September 2010?

    A. A planet with water.                 B. A planet similar to the earth.

    C. A planet without life.               D. A planet near the earth.

2.According to the article, Gliese 581g ________.

    A. is at the right distance from its star   B. moves around the earth

    C. is as far away from us as the moon       D. can be reached in about 220 years

3. Paragraph 5 is mainly about ______.

    A. the possibility of living on Gliese 581g

    B. the kinds of chemicals around Gliese 581g

    C. the way of looking for life on Gliese 581g

    D. the aim of studying the radiation on Gliese 581g

4.Which of the following is the best title for the passage above?

    A. Gliese 581g, a Likely Living Planet  B. Gliese 581, a Likely Living Planet

    C. Gliese 581g and Its Star             D. Gliese 581g and Radiation

 

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