English is spoken a first language most people in the USA. A. by; as B. as——青夏教育精英家教网—

　　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 these places English is often a second language.

　　English is also used as an important international language in may other countries, like China and Japan. People in these countries use it for business, and travelers to these countries use English when they get there. Other people may learn English because they enjoy reading books in English, listening to Britain or American music or watching American films.

　　English has changed a lot over the years and still goes on changing. It is no longer right to talk about British English or American English if the speakers come or don'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 21st century. This language no longer belongs to British, American or Australian speakers. It belongs to anyone in the world. So, as a middle-school student of English today, think about how you can use this language. After you leave school, you will almost certainly need it.

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

[　　]

A．Five

B．Four

C．Six

(2) In which other countries is English spoken as main language?

[　　]

A．Britain, the USA, Australia

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

C．China, Japan

(3) People from other countries learn English for ________

[　　]

A．business and traveling

B．reading English books, enjoying English music or films

C．Both A and B

(4) If people in Japan or Korea use American spelling, they ________

[　　]

A．will speak the same as Americans

B．may not sound like Americans

C．will speak British English

(5) 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

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Although the USA is by far the most powerful of the English-speaking countries, English that is taught in most parts of the world is British English. Besides, British English is the “mother” language upon which all English, written or spoken, is based, including American English. In fact, most Americans like the way the “English” speak. Many Americans, including some who have no British blood in them, regard Britain culturally (文化上) as the Mother Country. Americans read English literature (文学作品) without any difficulty at all, and British readers of early 20th century American literature have no problems either. But for the last fifty years the Americans have been inventing a large number of new words and phrases, many of which have already reached the UK and the whole English-speaking world.

However, there are occasional(偶尔的)misunderstandings(误会). A smart English woman said to a smart American woman on a California beach. English woman: It’s the first time I’ve bathed for years. American woman (amazed): Is that so? I can’t believe it! English woman: It’s true. You see, the water at home’s always so cold. American woman : But…But surely you have hot water in England? English woman (laughs): Of course, but not in the sea! There can be similar misunderstandings over the word “pants”, though most English people know that Americans call trousers “pants”. American girl: I never wear pants. They don’t suit me. English girl: Really? Couldn’t that be a bit embarrassing(难堪的)? American girl: Embarrassing? Why? English girl: Well—that short skirt you’re wearing…American girl: Oh, my! But I wear panties(短衬裤)! In British English, “pants” are undergarments. However, young people in Britain do sometimes say “pants” for “trousers”.

1 All the English is based on__________.

A. British English　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. American English

C. Canadian English　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Australian English

2 Which of the following sentences is not true?

A. Americans can read English literature easily.

B. British readers can read all the American literature with no difficulty, either.

C. Some of the English words we are learning now are from the USA.

D. There are some times misunderstandings between Americans and Englishmen.

3 Pants in American English mean _________in British English.

A. panties　　　　　　 B. undergarments

C. underwear　　　　　　 D. trousers

4 From the passage we know that “to bathe” in American English means ________ and means_______ in British English.