Next Hot Language to Study: Chinese

The fourth-graders at Chicago’s McCormick Primary School are unaware of the difficulty in learning Chinese. For most, who speak Spanish at home, it’s becoming their third language. They’ve been learning and using Chinese words since kindergarten, and it’s now second nature to give a hearty “ni hao” when strangers enter the classroom.

The classroom scene at McCormick is unusual, but it may soon be a common fixture(固定物) in American schools, where Chinese is rapidly becoming the hot new language. Government officials have long wanted more focus on security—useful languages like Chinese, and pressure from them—as well as from business leaders, politicians, and parents—has driven a quick growth in the number of programs.

Chicago itself is home to the largest effort to include Chinese in US public schools. The program here has grown to include 3,000 students in 20 schools, with more schools on a waiting list. Programs have also spread to places like Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and North Carolina. It’s true that the number of students learning Chinese is tiny compared with how many study Spanish or French.

Advocates (提倡者,拥护者) see knowledge of the Chinese language and culture as a help in a global economy where China is growing in importance. “This is an interesting way to begin to engage with the world’s next superpower,” says Michael Levine, director of education at the Asia Society, which has started five new public high schools that offer Chinese. “Globalization(全球化) has already changed the arrangements in terms of how children today are going to need to think about their careers… The question is, when not whether, the schools are going to adjust.”

In Chicago, the trend extends beyond schools with high numbers of Asian students. “The fact that my students are 98% low income and 99% Latino(拉丁美洲人) and they are succeeding in this, tells me everyone should have a try at learning languages,” says Virginia Rivera, principal at McCormick.“We want to give our young people opportunities to advance… and Chinese is a great opportunity to survive in today’s economy,” says Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago.

The first paragraph is mainly written to _______.

A. show the importance of Chinese learning  

B. introduce the topic to be followed

C. advise primary schools to teach Chinese   

D. prove it’s easy for children to learn language

How many languages are mentioned in this passage?

A. Six.                  B. Two.      

C. Three.                D. Four.

In the last paragraph, the underlined word “this ”probably refers to _____.

A. the competition between Latino and Asian students  

B. the global economy  

C. the interesting way to engage with China  

D. the Chinese learning

What CANNOT be learned from this passage?

A. Most students at McCormick can speak three languages.

B. Chinese is gaining its popularity in all schools in Chicago.

C. French has far more speakers than Chinese does in Chicago.

D. Globalization in a way makes it necessary to learn Chinese.

Which of the following is mainly about in this passage?

A. The Chinese learning in Chicago.  

B. The ways to learn Chinese.

C. McCormick Primary School.      

D. Globalization and Chinese learning.

Next Hot Language to Study: Chinese
The fourth-graders at Chicago’s McCormick Primary School are unaware of the difficulty in learning Chinese. For most, who speak Spanish at home, it’s becoming their third language. They’ve been learning and using Chinese words since kindergarten, and it’s now second nature to give a hearty “ni hao” when strangers enter the classroom.
The classroom scene at McCormick is unusual, but it may soon be a common fixture(固定物) in American schools, where Chinese is rapidly becoming the hot new language. Government officials have long wanted more focus on security—useful languages like Chinese, and pressure from them—as well as from business leaders, politicians, and parents—has driven a quick growth in the number of programs.
Chicago itself is home to the largest effort to include Chinese in US public schools. The program here has grown to include 3,000 students in 20 schools, with more schools on a waiting list. Programs have also spread to places like Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and North Carolina. It’s true that the number of students learning Chinese is tiny compared with how many study Spanish or French.
Advocates (提倡者,拥护者) see knowledge of the Chinese language and culture as a help in a global economy where China is growing in importance. “This is an interesting way to begin to engage with the world’s next superpower,” says Michael Levine, director of education at the Asia Society, which has started five new public high schools that offer Chinese. “Globalization(全球化) has already changed the arrangements in terms of how children today are going to need to think about their careers… The question is, when not whether, the schools are going to adjust.”
In Chicago, the trend extends beyond schools with high numbers of Asian students. “The fact that my students are 98% low income and 99% Latino(拉丁美洲人) and they are succeeding in this, tells me everyone should have a try at learning languages,” says Virginia Rivera, principal at McCormick.“We want to give our young people opportunities to advance… and Chinese is a great opportunity to survive in today’s economy,” says Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago.
【小题1】The first paragraph is mainly written to _______.

A.show the importance of Chinese learning
B.introduce the topic to be followed
C.advise primary schools to teach Chinese
D.prove it’s easy for children to learn language
【小题2】 How many languages are mentioned in this passage?
A.Six.B.Two.
C.Three.D.Four.
【小题3】 In the last paragraph, the underlined word “this ”probably refers to _____.
A.the competition between Latino and Asian students
B.the global economy
C.the interesting way to engage with China
D.the Chinese learning
【小题4】 What CANNOT be learned from this passage?
A.Most students at McCormick can speak three languages.
B.Chinese is gaining its popularity in all schools in Chicago.
C.French has far more speakers than Chinese does in Chicago.
D.Globalization in a way makes it necessary to learn Chinese.
【小题5】 Which of the following is mainly about in this passage?
A.The Chinese learning in Chicago.
B.The ways to learn Chinese.
C.McCormick Primary School.
D.Globalization and Chinese learning.

Next Hot Language to Study: Chinese

The fourth-graders at Chicago’s McCormick Primary School are unaware of the difficulty in learning Chinese. For most, who speak Spanish at home, it’s becoming their third language. They’ve been learning and using Chinese words since kindergarten, and it’s now second nature to give a hearty “ni hao” when strangers enter the classroom.

The classroom scene at McCormick is unusual, but it may soon be a common fixture(固定物) in American schools, where Chinese is rapidly becoming the hot new language. Government officials have long wanted more focus on security—useful languages like Chinese, and pressure from them—as well as from business leaders, politicians, and parents—has driven a quick growth in the number of programs.

Chicago itself is home to the largest effort to include Chinese in US public schools. The program here has grown to include 3,000 students in 20 schools, with more schools on a waiting list. Programs have also spread to places like Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and North Carolina. It’s true that the number of students learning Chinese is tiny compared with how many study Spanish or French.

Advocates (提倡者,拥护者) see knowledge of the Chinese language and culture as a help in a global economy where China is growing in importance. “This is an interesting way to begin to engage with the world’s next superpower,” says Michael Levine, director of education at the Asia Society, which has started five new public high schools that offer Chinese. “Globalization(全球化) has already changed the arrangements in terms of how children today are going to need to think about their careers… The question is, when not whether, the schools are going to adjust.”

In Chicago, the trend extends beyond schools with high numbers of Asian students. “The fact that my students are 98% low income and 99% Latino(拉丁美洲人) and they are succeeding in this, tells me everyone should have a try at learning languages,” says Virginia Rivera, principal at McCormick.“We want to give our young people opportunities to advance… and Chinese is a great opportunity to survive in today’s economy,” says Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago.

1.The first paragraph is mainly written to _______.

A. show the importance of Chinese learning  

B. introduce the topic to be followed

C. advise primary schools to teach Chinese   

D. prove it’s easy for children to learn language

2. How many languages are mentioned in this passage?

A. Six.                  B. Two.      

C. Three.                D. Four.

3. In the last paragraph, the underlined word “this ”probably refers to _____.

A. the competition between Latino and Asian students  

B. the global economy  

C. the interesting way to engage with China  

D. the Chinese learning

4. What CANNOT be learned from this passage?

A. Most students at McCormick can speak three languages.

B. Chinese is gaining its popularity in all schools in Chicago.

C. French has far more speakers than Chinese does in Chicago.

D. Globalization in a way makes it necessary to learn Chinese.

5. Which of the following is mainly about in this passage?

A. The Chinese learning in Chicago.  

B. The ways to learn Chinese.

C. McCormick Primary School.      

D. Globalization and Chinese learning.

 

Miss Wenter was watching TV when the program suddenly stopped. “Sorry to  1 the program. Now we are requested to  2 an important notice from the police station. At about nine this evening, a lady named Mrs Humney was  3 and killed. Anyone who can supply any clue (线索) is requested to report to the  4 . Thank you.” The terrible news made the lonely girl  5 with fear. She couldn’t help looking around, but she didn’t notice that a man was already  6 behind the door to the veranda (阳台).

All of a  7 the man appeared before Miss Wenter. The girl really didn’t know what to do. “Don’t ask for  8 , just put your jewellery on the table; then think over whether I shall be safe to stay up here for the night,” said the robber. That made Miss Wenter even more  9 , but she tried to  10 herself.

Just then came the whistle of a police car, In a little while, someone rang the  11 . The robber said with a gun  12 the girl’s back, “Go to the door and say that you’ve gone to bed. Never let him in.”

In a flash, the girl had an idea. “Oh, who are you?” she said.

“I’m Sergeant Bull, Miss Wenter. Is there something  13 here?”

“No, there isn’t.” Immediately she added loudly,  14 , my elder brother extends his  15 greetings (问候) to you.”

“Thank you. Good night,” Bull replied in the same  16 .

A few minutes later, the sound of the police car going  17 could be heard. “It’s well  18 ,” the robber said with a smile. Then he  19 to the girl. Almost at the same time the glass on the window was broken. The policemen hurried into the room from the veranda. They quickly put handcuffs (手铐) on the robber.

“Miss Wenter, your greetings were so good that it made us take  20 right away,” said Sergeant Bull, because we’ve already known that your elder brother was killed in a robbery half a year ago.”

1. A. stop              B. share            C. interrupt          D. control

2. A. obey           B. make            C. introduce         D. broadcast

3. A. robbed         B. hurt             C. wounded         D. stolen

4. A. public          B. police            C. hospital          D. family

5. A. cry            B. shake               C. fall              D. tremble

6. A. hidden         B. sitting            C. away            D. staying

7. A. while          B. time             C. period           D. sudden

8. A. anything        B. trouble              C. another          D. police

9. A. careful         B. anxious          C. strange           D. terrified

10. A. protect        B. help             C. calm            D. express

11. A. call           B. phone            C. window          D. doorbell

12. A. at            B. against              C. behind           D. beyond

13. A. new          B. important         C. unusual          D. upset

14. A. Instead        B. However         C. Otherwise        D. Besides

15. A. hearty         B. deeply           C. own             D. real

16. A. sound         B. manner           C. speech              D. voice

17. A. out              B. on              C. along            D. away

18. A. enough        B. now             C. done            D. said

19. A. referred           B. listened           C. talked            D. rushed

20. A. him B. action C. photos D. something

Miss Wenter was watching TV when the program suddenly stopped. “Sorry to  1 the program. Now we are requested to  2 an important notice from the police station. At about nine this evening, a lady named Mrs Humney was  3 and killed. Anyone who can supply any clue (线索) is requested to report to the  4 . Thank you.” The terrible news made the lonely girl  5 with fear. She couldn’t help looking around, but she didn’t notice that a man was already  6 behind the door to the veranda (阳台).

All of a  7 the man appeared before Miss Wenter. The girl really didn’t know what to do. “Don’t ask for  8 , just put your jewellery on the table; then think over whether I shall be safe to stay up here for the night,” said the robber. That made Miss Wenter even more  9 , but she tried to  10 herself.

Just then came the whistle of a police car, In a little while, someone rang the  11 . The robber said with a gun  12 the girl’s back, “Go to the door and say that you’ve gone to bed. Never let him in.”

In a flash, the girl had an idea. “Oh, who are you?” she said.

“I’m Sergeant Bull, Miss Wenter. Is there something  13 here?”

“No, there isn’t.” Immediately she added loudly,  14 , my elder brother extends his  15 greetings (问候) to you.”

“Thank you. Good night,” Bull replied in the same  16 .

A few minutes later, the sound of the police car going  17 could be heard. “It’s well  18 ,” the robber said with a smile. Then he  19 to the girl. Almost at the same time the glass on the window was broken. The policemen hurried into the room from the veranda. They quickly put handcuffs (手铐) on the robber.

“Miss Wenter, your greetings were so good that it made us take  20 right away,” said Sergeant Bull, because we’ve already known that your elder brother was killed in a robbery half a year ago.”

1. A. stop              B. share            C. interrupt          D. control

2. A. obey           B. make            C. introduce         D. broadcast

3. A. robbed         B. hurt             C. wounded         D. stolen

4. A. public          B. police            C. hospital          D. family

5. A. cry            B. shake               C. fall              D. tremble

6. A. hidden         B. sitting            C. away            D. staying

7. A. while          B. time             C. period           D. sudden

8. A. anything        B. trouble              C. another          D. police

9. A. careful         B. anxious          C. strange           D. terrified

10. A. protect        B. help             C. calm            D. express

11. A. call           B. phone            C. window          D. doorbell

12. A. at            B. against              C. behind           D. beyond

13. A. new          B. important         C. unusual          D. upset

14. A. Instead        B. However         C. Otherwise        D. Besides

15. A. hearty         B. deeply           C. own             D. real

16. A. sound         B. manner           C. speech              D. voice

17. A. out              B. on              C. along            D. away

18. A. enough        B. now             C. done            D. said

19. A. referred           B. listened           C. talked            D. rushed

20. A. him          B. action C. photos D. something

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