Every day, 340 million people speak it．One billion people are learning it and it is said that by 2050, half of the world's population will be using it．What are we talking about? The global language－English．
The English language started in Britain in the 5th century．It is a mixed language．It was built up when German, Scandinavian and French invaders settled in England and created a common language for communication．
Today it is the official language of the UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Ireland as well as many islands in the Caribbean．Many other countries and regions use it for politics and business, for example, India, Pakistan, Nigeria and the Philippines．English is also one of the official languages of Hong Kong．
But global advertising and pop music mean that in most countries, you will see or hear some English．Thanks to McDonalds, we all know about "burgers”, “fries" and "milkshakes"．Songs by Madonna, Britney Spears and Celine Dion are in English．We can sing along, even if we do not understand what we are singing!
English is a messy(杂乱的)language．Every year, dictionaries include new words that talk about popular culture, for example, computer-related words such as "blogging", "download" and "chatroom"．Also included are words that teenagers use．Who does not know "cool", "OK" and “hello”?
Other languages also influence English．Many English words come from French．Words like "cafe" and expressions like "c'est la vie"(that is life)are all part of the English language．On the other hand, the French language includes English words like "le weekend" and "le camping"．German words are also part of English．Words like "kindergarten" come from the German language．
Recently, British people have become interested in "yoga"．But the word comes from an ancient Hindu language in India．
(1)
The English language has a history of ________．
[ ]
A．
over 2000 years
B．
over 500 years
C．
over 1500 years
D．
over 1000 years
(2)
The underlined expression “thanks to ” can be replaced by ________．
[ ]
A．
because of
B．
thankful to
C．
not until
D．
as if．
(3)
Which of the following statements is true about the language of English?
[ ]
A．
It has been changing all the time．
B．
It has borrowed words from all the other languages．
C．
French words are used by the English because dictionaries have French words．
D．
Singers and film stars have the greatest influence on language．
(4)
How many people in the world are using English now?
[ ]
A．
One billion people
B．
340 million
C．
almost all the people in the world．
D．
not mentioned above, but the number is growing rapidly．
(5)
Many countries and regions use it for politics and business except ________．
The China National Opera(CNO)will give a concert to celebrate its 50th birthday．
Different generations of CNO vocalists, like Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei, will present the concert which will feature both songs from famous Chinese operas like “The White-haired Girl” and “The Hundredth Bride”, as well as, arias of such Western opera classics as “Madame Butterfly”, “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto”．
Time/date：7∶30 pm, September 7, 8
Location：Tianqiao Theatre
Tel：6551-4787, 8315-6170
Tickets：60－500 yuan(US ＄7.2－60.2)
Folk music
A concert will be held to feature some recently composed traditional Chinese music works．
The concert, given by the Folk Orchestra of the China Opera and Ballet Theatre, will include such pieces as “Memory of Childhood ”, “Memorial Ceremony for God ”and “Wine Song”．
Time/date：7∶30pm, September 13
Location：Concert hall at the National Library of China
Tel：6848 –5462, 6841-9220
Tickets：30-200 yuan(US＄3.6-24.1)
Moon music
A concert of traditional Chinese music will be given on the eve of the Moon Festival which falls on September 21st this year．
The concert will feature a number of famous pieces centred on the theme of the moon, such as “Moonlight”, “Spring night on a Moonlit River” and “Lofty Mountain and Flowing River．”
A number of established traditional Chinese music performers like Zhou Yaokun and Fan Weiqing, will play solos as well as collaborate with the folk music orchestra．
Time/date：7∶30 pm, September 21st
Location：Grand Theatre of the Cultural Palace of Nationalities
Tel：6606-8888, 6606-9999
(1)
If you want to buy tickets for listening to the music “Memory of Childhood”, you will dial _________．
[ ]
A．
6551-4787
B．
6848-5462
C．
8315-6170
D．
6606-9999
(2)
Which statement is right according to the passage?
[ ]
A．
Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei stand for the same generation of CNO vocalists．
B．
“Rigoletto” is a famous piece on the theme of the moon．
C．
“Lofty Mountain and Flowing River” is a traditional Chinese music．
D．
Zhou Yaokun will play solos and Fan Weiqing will collaborate with the folk music orchestra．
(3)
“Madame Butterfly” is ________．
[ ]
A．
a Chinese opera
B．
a Western opera
C．
a piece of music
D．
a song
(4)
In which column of a newspaper will the article be published?
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