I am a writer.I spend a great deal of my time thinking about the power of language-the way it can evoke(唤起)an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth.Language is the tool of my trade.And I use them all-all the Englishes I grew up with.
Born into a Chinese family that had recently arrived in California, I’ve been giving more thought to the kind of English my mother speaks.Like others, I have described it to people as“broken”English.But feel embarrassed to say that.It has always bothered me that I can think of no way to describe it other than“broken”, as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness.I’ve heard other terms used,“limited English,”for example.But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including people’s perceptions(认识)of the limited English speaker.
I know this for a fact, because when I was growing up, my mother’s“limited”English limited my perception of her.I was ashamed of her English.I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say.That is, because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect.And I had plenty of evidence to support me:the fact that people in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her.
I started writing fiction in 1985.And for reasons I won’t get into today, I began to write stories using all the Englishes I grew up with:the English she used with me, which for lack of a better term might be described as“broken”, and what I imagine to be her translation of her Chinese, her internal(内在的)language, and for that I sought to preserve the essence, but neither an English nor a Chinese structure:I wanted to catch what language ability tests can never show; her intention, her feelings, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts.
(1)
By saying“Language is the tool of my trade”, the author means that ________.
[ ]
A.
she uses English in foreign trade
B.
she is fascinated by languages
C.
she works as a translator
D.
she is a writer by profession
(2)
The author used to think of her mother’s English as ________.
[ ]
A.
impolite
B.
amusing
C.
imperfect
D.
practical
(3)
Which of the following is TRUE according to Paragraph 3?
[ ]
A.
Americans do not understand broken English.
B.
The author’s mother was not respected sometimes.
C.
The author’ mother had positive influence on her.
D.
Broken English always reflects imperfect thoughts.
(4)
The author gradually realizes her mother’s English is ________.
[ ]
A.
well structured
B.
in the old style
C.
easy to translate
D.
rich in meaning
(5)
What is the passage mainly about?
[ ]
A.
The changes of the author’s attitude to her mother’s English.
B.
The limitation of the author’s perception of her mother.
One night when my wife was preparing dinner, our little son took a piece of paper to her which read:
For washing the car $5.00
For making my own bed this week $1.00
Going to the provision shop $0.50
Playing with little sister $0.25
Taking out the rubbish $1.00
Getting a good report card $5.00
And for sweeping the common corridor $2.00
Total $14.75
His mother looked at him standing there expecting payment.I could see a thousand memories flashed through her mind.So she picked up the pen and turning the paper over, this is what she wrote:
For nine months I carried you, growing inside me No Charge
For the nights I sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you No Charge
For the toys, food and clothes and wiping your nose No Charge
When you add it all up, the full cost of my love No Charge
Well, when he finished reading, he had big tears in his eyes.He looked at his mother and said,“Mummy, I love you.”Then he took the pen and in great big letters wrote on the“bill”“All paid.”
(1)
What's the best title for this passage?
[ ]
A.
Part-time Job
B.
Mother's Love, No Charge
C.
Payment for House Work
D.
Greedy Mother
(2)
The write wrote the passage in order to ________.
[ ]
A.
show that children should be paid for their housework
B.
show that children should not be paid for their housework
C.
show a clever way of teaching children
D.
tell children how to spend their spare time
(3)
How do you think of the mother in the passage?
[ ]
A.
Clever
B.
Greedy
C.
Cold-hearted
D.
Selfish
(4)
From the last passage we know that ________
[ ]
A.
the boy got all the money he wanted
B.
the mother was unwilling to give the money to the boy
C.
the boy realized that it was not right to ask for money for the housework
D.
the mother was angry with what the boy said
阅读理解
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel.Green said,“Clearly I am the most important.I am the sign of life and hope.I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves.Without me, all animals would 1 .”
Blue interrupted,“You only think about the 2 , but consider the sky and the sea. 3 the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea.Without my peace, you would all be 4 .”
Yellow chuckled(笑道),“You are all so serious.I bring laughter, fun, and 5 into the world.”
Orange started next to blow her trumpet,“I am the color of health and strength.I may be 6 , but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life.When I fill the sky 7 , my beauty is so striking that no one gives another 8 to any of you.”
Red could stand it 9 and he shouted out,“I am the ruler of all of you.I am the color of danger and of bravery.I am willing to 10 truth.I am also the color of passion and of love.”
Then came Purple and Indigo(深蓝)….
The colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own 11 .Their quarreling became louder and louder.Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder.Rain started to pour down 12 .The colors crouched(蜷缩)down 13 , drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor(叫嚷), rain began to speak,“You foolish colors, fighting 14 yourselves, each trying to dominate 15 .Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, 16 ?Join hands with 17 and come to me.”
Doing as they were told, the colors 18 and joined hands.They formed a colorful rainbow.From then on, whenever a good rain 19 the world, a rainbow appears in the sky.They remember to 20 one another.