English is spoken as a first language by most people in the USA, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Canada. However, English is spoken all over the world. It is the main language in over 60 countries, such as India, Singapore and in many of the Caribbean and Pacific islands. In those places English is often a second language.

English has changed a lot these years and still goes on changing. It is no longer right to talk about British English or American English if the speaker doesn’t come from those countries. People in Japan or Korea, for example, may use the American spelling but may not sound like Americans.

English will be the most widely used language in the world in the 21^st century. This language no longer belongs to British, American or Australian speakers. It belongs to anyone who can use this language. After you leave school, you will almost certainly need it.

(　 )41. In how many countries is English spoken as a first language in the world?

A. Five.　　　　　　 B. Four.　　　　　　　　 C. Three.　　　　　　　 D. Six.

(　 )42. In which other countries is English spoken as a main language?

A. Britain, USA and Australia.

B. India, Singapore and many of Caribbean and Pacific islands.

C. China and Japan.

D. New Zealand, Ireland and Canada.

(　 )43. People from other countries learn English for 　　　　.

A. passing exams　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

B. business and traveling

C. reading English books, enjoying English music or watching films　　

D. Both B and C

(　 )44. If people in Japan or Korea use the American spelling, they 　　　　.

A. will speak the same as Americans　　　 　 B. may not sound like Americans

C. will speak British English　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. will speak English much better

(　 )45. Which topic is the best for the passage?

A. A first language in the world.　　　　　　　 B. A second language in the world.

C. English around the world.　　　　　　　　　 D. A useful language.

Learning to Accept

I learned how to accept life as it is from my father. 21_,he did not teach me acceptance when he was strong and healthy,but rather when he was 22 and ill.

My father was 23 a strong man who loved being active, but a terrible illness 24 all that away.Now he can no longer walk and he must sit quietly in a chair all day. Even talking is 25 . One night, I went to visit him with my sisters. We started 26 about life,and I told them about one of my 27 . I said that we must very often give things up 28 we grow—our youth, our beauty, our friends---but it always 29 that after we give something up,we gain something new in its place. Then suddenly my father 30 up. He said, “But, Peter,I gave up 31 ! What did I gain?” I thought and thought, but I could not think of anything to say. 32 , he answered his own question: “I 33 the love of my family.” I looked at my sisters and saw tears in their eyes,along with hope and thankfulness.

I was also 34 by his words. After that, when I began to feel irritated(恼怒的)at someone, I 35 remember his words and become 36 . If he could replace his great pain with a feeling of love for others, then I should be 37 to give up my small irritations. In this 38 ,I learned the power of acceptance from my father.

Sometimes I 39 what other things I could have learned from him if I had listened more carefully when I was a boy. For now, though, I am grateful for this one 40 .

21．A．Afterwards　　　　 B．Therefore　　　　　 C．However　　　　　　 D．Meanwhile　　　　

22．A．tired　　　　　　　　　 B．weak　　　　　　　　　 C．poor　　　　　　　　　 D．slowly　　　　　　　

23．A．already　　　　　　　 B．still　　　　　　　　　　 C．only　　　　　　　　　 D．once　　　　　　　　　

24．A．took B．threw C．sent D．put　　　　　　　　　　

25．A．impossible　　　　　 B．difficult　　　　　　　 C．stressful　　　　　　 D．hopeless

26．A．worrying　　　　　　 B．caring　　　　　　　　 C．talking　　　　　　　　 D．asking　　　　　　　　

27．A．decisions　　　　　　 B．experiences C．ambitions　　　　　 D．beliefs　　　　　　　　

28．A．as　　　　　　　　　　　 B．since　　　　　　　　　 C．before　　　　　　　　 D．till　　　　　　　

29．A．suggests　　　　　　 B．promises　　　　　　 C．seems D．requires　　　　　　

30．A．spoke　　　　　　　　 B．turned　　　　　　　　 C．summed　　　　　　 D．opened　　　　

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

32．A．Surprisingly　　　　 B．Immediately　　　　 C．Naturally　　　　　　 D．Certainly

33．A．had　　　　　　　　　　 B．accepted　　　　　　 C．gained　　　　　　　　 D．enjoyed

34．A．touched　　　　　　　 B．astonished　　　　　 C．attracted　　　　　　 D．warned

35．A．should　　　　　　　　 B．could　　　　　　　　 C．would　　　　　　　　 D．might　　　　　　　　

36．A．quiet　　　　　　　　　 B．calm　　　　　　　　　 C．relaxed　　　　　　　 D．happy　　　　

37．A．ready　　　　　　　　 B．likely　　　　　　　　　 C．free　　　　　　　　　 D．able

38．A．case　　　　　　　　　 B．form　　　　　　　　　 C．method　　　　　　　 D．way　　　　　　　　　

39．A．doubt　　　　　　　　 B．wonder　　　　　　　 C．know　　　　　　　　 D．guess

40．A．award　　　　　　　　 B．gift　　　　　　　　　　 C．lesson　　　　　　　　 D．word

— Has the homework been finished?

— Our teacher asked you .

　　 A. whether had the work been finished

　　 B. if the work had been finished

　　 C. the homework has been finished

　　 D. the work had been finished

 Looking out of the window, I saw the leaves        by the wind and whirled into the air.

     A. ended up           B. picked up       C. gone up         D. kept up

By the time the fire-engine arrived, the fire 　　　 by the inhabitants.　

　　 A. put out　　　　　　　　 B. had been put out 　　

C. was put out D. had put out

— Whose money is this?

— Just leave it it is. It doesn’t belong to us.

　　 A. even if　 　　　　　 B. which　　 　　 C. where　　 　　 D. so that

 What I want to know is how to do the job better with        time and        people.

     A. less; less               B. fewer; fewer  C. fewer; less       D. less; fewer

 Tom’s brother who is now a doctor always encourages        hard and go to college.

     A. for him studying    B. him studying     C. for him to study D.him to study            

 John got his phone for his birthday,       his parents don’t let him use it in school. 

     A. however               B. which              C. but                D. when

       he is poor, he’s ready to help his friends who are in trouble, which makes him very popular.

     A. Although              B. However          C. As                 D. Whether