A recent survey found that the French are the second-most insecure people in Europe after Italy about their proficiency in English. Only 13 percent of the French respondents believed they are proficient in the language, according to the European data agency Eurostat.

The situation is no better in business circles, where three-quarters of French executives feel unprepared to hold an interview in English and only 16 percent say they feel comfortable with the language, a separate survey showed.

The survey results aren't surprising. The French seem to have always had this cold and gloomy(沮丧的)attitude toward the English language. But what struck me is that, despite the French pessimism, living in Paris without being able to speak the language of Moliere is easier these days than in the past.

New immigrants are part of the reason. I can have an easy chat with the owner of the laundry in my neighborhood. Buying the medicine I need at the local pharmacy is effortless. Ordering a meal in English at the restaurant two blocks away from my apartment does not make me feel awkward. It is all because the people who run these businesses are immigrants.

Greater tolerance and acceptance of non-French speakers is a reflection of the fact that France, willingly or not, has begun to embrace(拥抱) globalization more comfortably. For instance, you will never get the same look you would have had 15 years ago if you ask for directions in English on the streets of Paris.

I have also met many native French who are happy to communicate in English. They are usually the kind of people who are open-minded and are sensitive to the changes beyond their own territories. They are very interested in gaining insight into what is happening on the other side of the globe.

In my hometown, English is also being hotly debated since Beijing education authorities decided to reduce the importance of English proficiency in college entrance exams and increase that of the Chinese language and literature. The Chinese and the French share similarities in attitudes toward foreign languages. We are both so proud of our own languages and cultures that we can feel uncomfortable when we are forced to communicate in another language.

But like it or not, English is still the most widely used language in the world, at least for the foreseeable(可预知的) future. After all, it is not about abandoning one's own language but about being able to fit more easily into this globalized world.

1.What is the passage mainly about?

A. French people have great difficulty speaking English.

B. English is becoming increasingly acceptable in France.

C. Great changes take place in France because of the immigrants.

D. English helps France to embrace globalization.

2.The expression “to speak the language of Moliere” can be understood as________________.

A. to speak Italian

B. to speak English

C. to speak French

D. to speak the language of an immigrant named Moliere

3.What is the purpose of mentioning Chinese in the 7th paragraph?

A. To prove Chinese and French share a lot similarities in culture.

B. To show how wise it is to reduce the importance of English in exams.

C. To explain why French people are unwilling to speak English.

D. To show how proud they are to own their own languages.

4.What can we infer from the passage?

A. The immigrants in France speak English as their native language.

B. In France people refuse to communicate with each other in English.

C. Italians feel the most unconfident in speaking English in Europe.

D. French people are happy to face the changes in their country.

完形填空

阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A, B, C和D)中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

We all often deal with people who complain about the failures and troubles of their daily lives. Life ________ to be one big problem for them. I would like to think it ________ unusual. If there were no problems in your job, then your ________ would hire a much less capable(有能力的)person than you to do the things that don’t ________ much thought. In the business world, those who are able to solve difficult problems are the ones who are the most ________ to the employer.

Many times the problems or challenges we face ________ us to grow and become more capable. The runner who ________ for the mile run in the Olympics by running downhill will have no chance of winning the medal ________ . The runner who trains by running uphill is far more likely to ________ the speed and endurance needed to win the medal.

The ________ thing that ever happened to boxer Gene Tunney was that he ________ both hands in the ring. His manager felt that he could ________ again punch(重击) hard enough to be the heavyweight champion. Instead, Tunney ________ that he would become a scientific boxer and win the title as a boxer, not a slugger(重击手). ________ historians will tell you that he developed into one of the best boxers who ever fought. They will ________ tell you that as a puncher, he would not have had a chance________ Jack Dempsey, who was considered by many to be the hardest ________ in heavyweight history. Tunney would never have been champion ________ he had not had the problem of his broken hands.

________ time you meet with a difficult climb, obstacle, or problem, you should ________ and say, “Here’s my chance to grow.”

1.A. seems B. pretends C. agrees D. hopes

2.A. something B. everything C. nothing D. anything

3.A. teacher B. employer C. father D. doctor

4.A. give B. receive C. offer D. need

5.A. famous B. valuable C. strange D. difficult

6.A. allow B. warn C. force D. order

7.A. trains B. leaves C. looks D. waits

8.A. in all B. after all C. above all D. at all

9.A. beat B. stop C. lose D. develop

10.A. worst B. best C. easiest D. fastest

11.A. held B. raised C. broke D. touched

12.A. never B. always C. often D. even

13.A. promised B. explained C. decided D. answered

14.A. Swimming B. Boxing C. Running D. Skating

15.A. still B. already C. hardly D. also

16.A. against B. for C. on D. with

17.A. worker B. student C. hitter D. trainer

18.A. unless B. if C. because D. so

19.A. First B. Other C. Last D. Next

20.A. smile B. stand C. change D. speak

Plenty of people dream of traveling to other planets. But “Star Wars” fans can actually visit locations where many of the films’ most famous scenes were shot. Here are some of the places where “Star Wars” comes to life.

Hotel Sidi Driss, Matmata, Tunisia

Perhaps the most famous "Star Wars" landmark in the world, this is where the interiors of Luke Skywalker's childhood home on planet Tatooine were filmed. Centuries ago, Berbers built the underground structure as a real home. Eventually it became a hotel, which George Lucas used to film the first "Star Wars" film. The set decorations came down when the crew left, but were rebuilt in 2000 for "Attack of the Clones." Since then, they've remained, so guests can eat at the table where young master Luke did.

La Grande Dune, outside Nefta, Tunisia

The igloo(冰屋) outside of Luke's house was filmed about 300 kilometers away on the dried-up salt lake of Chott El Jerid. The igloo is still there, reachable with a decent car at the GPS coordinates 33"50'34. 42"N, 7"46'44.48"E.

The surrounding hotels are man-made, to create the illusion (幻觉)that the underground house is next to it. The igloo from the 1977 movie was taken apart, but again rebuilt for "Attack of the Clones," and later restored by a fan. Nearby is La Grande Dune, site of the Dune Sea. About 30 minutes from the igloo is the set of Mos Espa, the spaceport town where Anakin was discovered as a young slave.

Redwood National and State parks, California

Endor, the forest moon home of the furry Ewoks, was filmed among California's giant redwoods. Most of the well-known scenes were shot on private land owned by a lumber company. Since the cast and crew worked on "Return of the Jedi" in 1982, heavy logging has left most of the landscape unrecognizable. But driving through the parks still gives a feel for the set, especially along the Avenue of the Giants highway.

In Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park and the Humboldt Redwoods State Park, plates were filmed for some chase scenes.

1.Hotel Sidi Driss was originally ________ centuries ago.

A. a hotel

B. Berbers’ real home

C. Luke Skywalker’s childhood home

D. the shooting location of “Attack of the Clones”

2.Which of the following is NOT CORRECT about the igloo in the third paragraph?

A. We can still reach the igloo.

B. The igloo was restored by a fan

C. The igloo was taken apart for “Attack of the Clones”

D. The igloo’s location is at the GPS coordinates 33"50'34. 42"N, 7"46'44.48"E

3. The underlined word “Endor” refers to ____________ in “Star Wars”.

A. an animal B. a person

C. a place D. a company

Owning a smartphone may not be as smart as you think. It may let you surf the Internet, listen to music and snap photos wherever you are…but it also turns you into a workaholic, it seems.

A study suggests that, by giving you access to emails at all times, the all-singing, all-dancing mobile phone adds as much as two hours to your working day. Researchers found that Britons work an additional 460 hours a year on average as they are able to respond to emails on their mobiles.

The study by technology retailer Pixmania reveals the average UK working day is between 9 and 10 hours, but a further two hours is spent responding to or sending work emails, or making work calls. More than 90 percent of office workers have email-enabled phones, with a third accessing them more than 20 times a day. Almost one in ten admits spending up to three hours outside their normal working day checking work emails. Some workers confess(承认) they are on call almost 24 hours a day, with nine out of ten saying they make work emails and calls outside their normal working hours. The average time for first checking emails is between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., with more than a third checking their first emails in this period, and a quarter checking them between 11 p.m. and midnight.

Ghadi Hobeika, marketing director of Pixmania, said, “The ability to access literally millions of apps, keep in contact via social networks and take photos and video as well as text and call has made smartphones invaluable for many people. However, there are drawbacks. Many companies expect their employees to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and smartphones mean that people literally cannot get away from work. The more constantly in contact we become , the more is expected of us in a work capacity(容量).”

1.What can we conclude from the text?

A. All that glitters is not gold.

B. It never rains but pours.

C. Every coins has two sides.

D. It’s no good crying over spilt milk.

2.The underlined word “accessing” in the third paragraph can be replaced by “________”.

A. calling B. reaching C. getting D. using

3.Which of the following is true according to the text?

A. The average UK working time is between nine and twelve hours.

B. Nine- tenths spent over three hours checking work emails.

C. One-fourth check their first mail between 11 p.m. and midnight.

D. The average time for first checking emails is between 6 a.m. and 8 .am ..

4.What’s the main idea of the text?

A. Workaholics like smartphones.

B. Smartphones bring about extra work.

C. Smartphones make our life easier.

D. Employers don’t like smartphones.

To travel around the world is the dream of many adventurous people. But very few people can afford a global tour because hotels, food and airplane tickets are too expensive. Some people, however, have thought of some ways to realize their dreams.

Laura Cody and Tanbay Theune, a couple from Britain, decided to travel around the world. They have found a good way to pay for their trips. They look after pets for rich house owners. In exchange, they can stay in the houses for free. They have looked after horses, cows, cats, dogs and fish. In two years, the couple has been to Australia, Germany, Spain and Italy. They have stayed in big cities and small villages. The home owners are usually very generous and have given them food, wine and day trips.

Another person who tries to realize her travel dream is photographer Rhiannon Taylor. She travels around the world to visit, review and take photos of the best hotels. She shares the places she stays in and the food she eats on the Internet with tens of thousands of followers.

With these ways of making money, traveling around the world is no longer a dream. More and more young people are thinking creatively to make their dream come true.

1.Why do most people feel hard to make their travel dream come true?

A. Because they can hardly find hotels.

B. Because the food is not healthy.

C. Because the cost of travel is high.

D. Because they are afraid of adventure.

2.The best word to describe the way of realizing the travel dream is ______.

A. special B. creative

C. rich D. adventurous

3.It is known from the passage that Laura and Tanbay paid for their trips by ______.

A. staying in the house for free

B. being given food and day drinks

C. going to Australia and other countries

D. looking after pets for rich house owners

4.According to the passage, Taylor is a photographer who shares her photos ______.

A. on the Internet B. during her travel

C. with hundreds of followers D. during staying in hotels

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