Question

When English as a foreign language is taught to children at the primary and early secondary levels of education, it is generally taught with a general education aim in mind--that is, it is regarded as a “good thing” for them to learn a foreign language as a part of a broad education. There is usually, however, no immediate and specific requirement for such children to make use of the language in any communicative situation. The purpose of learning the language is essentially a “deferred” (延缓的) purpose, deferred till the tertiary (第三的) level of education, normally at university, where, it is agreed, a knowledge of English would be helpful in their academic studies. Immediate aims of learning English are defined by the requirements of examinations. Inevitably what is taught to primary and secondary level children is not a communicative knowledge of English language use, but a knowledge of how the rules of English operate.

The language system is taught by means of systematic audio-lingual (听说的) drill and exercise techniques based on habit formation theory of learning and a structural description of English. This may be an effective manner of teaching English usage, but it is less certain that an understanding of how these rules are related to language in use for communicative purpose is an automatic result of this instruction.

What the thousands of children succeed in learning in this way is what is necessary in order to pass examinations. Whether such examinations accurately reflect the uses to which English will be put at the tertiary level is another matter altogether. Adults, on the other hand, unless they are learning a foreign language for “pleasure” at evening institutes, as a “cultural” and social experience, are generally highly conscious of the use to which they intend to put it. That use is frequently associated with an academic or professional requirement; without a knowledge of the foreign language, their development in their chosen sphere of work could be restricted or at least adversely affected.

1.According to the author, the current examination system ________.

A. reflects the students’ future needs

B. does not offer students opportunities to show their knowledge of English

C. does not enable students to use English for communication

D. prepares students for their future academic requirements

2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. English teaching should prepare children for the passing of examination.

B. English should be taught to children at primary and secondary levels.

C. English teaching should help students with their future academic studies.

D. English teaching at primary and secondary levels should focus only on grammar.

3.We know from the passage that ________.

A. audio-lingual techniques are the best way to teach English for communication

B. language usage is the focus of foreign language teaching at primary and secondary levels

C. foreign languages are usually taught to children as the key of a broad education

D. adults usually don’t know why they learn foreign languages

4.What’s the relationship of English learning at different levels?

A. English learning at primary and secondary levels is more important than that at the college stage.

B. English learning at the tertiary level is more important than that at the first two levels.

C. Successful English learning at the first two levels does not necessarily mean success in English learning at college.

D. English learning should not be divided into different levels.

5.What is the main topic of this passage?

A. The importance of English learning.

B. English learning as a part of a general education.

C. English learning and examination.

D. Aims and purposes of foreign language learning.

 

Answer 1

1.C

2.C

3.B

4.C

5.D

【解析】

试题分析：文章关注的是英语学习的目的。学习英语的目的到了大学才有所体现，因为掌握英语知识有助于大学生的学术研究。中小学阶段的英语学习应该是为大学的学习和研究打基础的。而现在，中小学生学习英语的目的只是为了应付考试，等到了大学，他们不一定能够把所学的知识学以致用。

1.There is usually, however, no immediate and specific requirement for such children to make use of the language in any communicative situation”可知，现行的考试体制未对学生使用外语进行交流作出要求，说明中小学生学习外语的目的不是为了交流，故选C。

2.The purpose of learning the language is essentially a “deferred” (延缓的) purpose,...normally at university, where, it is agreed, a knowledge of English would be helpful in their academic studies. Immediate aims of learning English are defined by the requirements of examinations.”可知，英语的教学不应该只是为了应付考试，而应对学生未来的学术研究有所帮助，故选C。

3.Inevitably what is taught to primary and secondary level children is not a communicative knowledge of English language use, but a knowledge of how the rules of English operate.”可知，中小学的英语教学讲的是英语的语法规则，说明中小学的外语教学内容集中在语言的用法上，故选B。

4.Whether such examinations accurately reflect the uses to which English will be put at the tertiary level is another matter altogether.”可知，中小学生学到的英语知识只是为了应付考试，但是考试成绩未必能反映出学生到第三阶段--大学时学以致用的能力，即学生不一定能把所学知识应用到大学英语的学习之中，故选C。

5.When English as a foreign language is taught...it is generally taught with a general education aim in mind...Immediate aims of learning English are defined by the requirements of examinations.”和最后一段“What the thousands of children succeed in learning in this way is what is necessary in order to pass examinations.”可知，文章主要讲的是学习外语的目的，故选D。

考点：教育类短文阅读