C 

          There are around 6,000 living languages in the world — and at least half of these are in danger. In every part of the world,languages are disappearing. In fact,one scientist has said that languages are in more danger of extinction than birds or mammals. Professor Steve Sutherland of the University of East Anglia says that in the past 500 years 4. 5 percent of languages have died out — compared with 1. 3 percent of birds,and 1. 9 percent of mammals.

           Languages come and go,and thousands have done exactly that without leaving any trace Only a very few —iasque,Greek and Latin among them — have lasted more than 2,000 years. But it seems that the pace of their disappearance is becoming quicker.

           The Ethnologue,a database of all the languages spoken in the world,states that 417 languages are spoken by so few people that they are in the final stages of becoming extinct. If very few people speak a language,it will probably die out.

           Languages may be iost through migration(迁移) , as people move from small towns to city centers,or when environments are destroyed by the search for oil or wood. Natural disasters can also devastate populations,and along with them,their language.Governments also play a role in the extinction of languages. The need to establish “official languages”,for a country to educate its children and carry out its business,had a disastrous effect on many small languages.

            What is lost if a language is lost? Some people argue that languages die as the human race develops. Obviously there could be great benefits if everyone in the world spoke the same language — some industries already reflect this,with English essential for pilots and air traffic controllers. But there are more important things than convenience. As languages are lost,whole ways of life and knowledge may be lost along with them.

            To put it simply,language expresses something about identity,about our place in the world. Ani Rauhihi,a Maori teacher in New Zealand's North Island,sums it up: “If you grow up speaking our language,you won’t  know who you are."

28. The figures mentioned in the first paragraph suggest that .

   A. most languages have died out completely

   B. languages are in great danger of extinction

   C. animals are disappearing faster than languages

   D. languages are disappearing slower than before

29. The underlined word “devastate” can best,be replaced by “

   A. increase   B. control   C. destroy   D. improve

30. If a language is lost,.

   A. there will be great trouble

   B. there is no need to worry about it

   C. its culture and knowledge will also be lost

   D. people will be able to communicate with others conveniently 

31. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

   A. Languages reflect our identity.

   B. People will speak the same language one day.

   C. Fewer people will remember their own languages.

   D. Ani Rauhihi cares less about languages dying out.

                                        B

                         

            An 18-year-old who just finished high school has developed a revolutionary device(装置) which allows visually impaired or blind people to be more mobile — after coming up with the idea when he was 12.

           “To be considered is a real honor. It means the work we’re doing is really valuable,”Alex Deans said.

            The teen,from Ontario in Canada,began creating the tool after becoming curious while helping a visually impaired lady cross the street one day.

           “She told me that all existing devices only let users see in one direction so they can't know whats going on around them,w he toki GOOD magazine,after seeing she only had a stick and guide dog — two things that are hard to come by.

            The device,known as iAid,uses GPS (Global Positioning System) and ultrasonic(超声波的) technology to help visually impaired people get around safely.

            The belt-like tool comes with a control handle and works by using sound waves to discover objects in the users’ path and show how close things are to them. The iAid works much like a bat uses sonar(声呐) .

             The teen's invention has been attracting attention and it won the 2015 Weston Youth Innovation Award in May for which Alex was awarded $2,000 at a ceremony at the Ontario Science Centre last month.

            “The entire group of judges was impressed by Alexs creativity,motivation and dedication (奉献) to building his design over a four-year period. We look forward to seeing future inventions from this outstanding young inventor,said Hooley McLaughlin,chief science officer at the Ontario Science Centre.

             Alex is now working closely with the team at the science centre to hold an exhibition for his invention. He was also given the opportunity to give a presentation at We Day 一 stadium-sized events where speakers lecture about global issues across the US,Canada,and the UK.

             Alex will be starting at Montreal's McGill University in the autumn,but hopes the iAid will be approved for US and Canadian rights so that,one day,the device will be available for those who really need it across the world.

6. What purpose does Alex’s  invention serve?

   A. To encourage the blind to live independently.

   B. To provide blind people with mobile phones.

   C. To make blind people's  life more colorful.

   D. To help the blind move around easily.

7.How did Alex come up with his idea?

   A. He got the idea from a magazine.

   B. He was inspired by a blind woman.

   C. He found it hard to use a guide dog.

   D. He noticed existing tools weaknesses.

8.The bat probably uses sonar to .

   A. keep its balance in flight

   B. block harmful sound waves

   C. communicate with other bats

   D. find out the position of objects

9.Which of the following is expressed in McLaughlin's words?

   A. Doubt. B. Surprise. C. Praise. D. Puzzle.

10.What is Alex preparing for at oresent?

   A. A show of his iAid.

   B. His college studies.

   C. An awards ceremony.

   D. The speech at We Day.

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