.

Most business letters and government reports are the main situations _________ formal language is used. ^*

Examination compositions, together with most business letters and government reports, are the main situations ____ formal language is used.

   A. in which    B. on which    C. of which    D. for which

 Language is a major problem for the European Union (EU). The agreement or treaty(条约) which created the organization that eventually became the EU, the Treaty of Rome, stated that each country's language must be treated equally. The original(原来的) six countries had only three languages between them: French, German and Dutch/Flemish. However, there are now 15 countries in the EU, with a total of 12 languages. EU documents must be translated into all these languages, and at official meetings the speeches must be translated into all the languages by interpreters.

      All this translating is very expensive and time-consuming (费时的). It is said that nearly half of all employees of the EU are engaged in translating documents and speeches, and nearly half of the EU's administrative(管理方面的) costs are spent on this task. In the near future it is probable that several more

countries, most of them having their own languages, will join the EU, thus making the situation even worse.

      The problem is not just cost; there are practical difficulties as well. With 12 languages, there are 132 possible "translation situations" that might be needed. It is often difficult to find people in the right place at the right time who can translate from (for example) Danish into Greek, or Dutch into Portuguese, at a high professional standard.

      In practice the problem has been made less severe by the use of English in many contacts between EU officials, since almost all of them speak some English. However, any move to reduce the number of official languages (perhaps to four or five) would be a blow to the pride of the smaller Countries. Another commonly suggested solution is to make English the official language for all EU business. However, this is strongly resisted by powerful member countries like France and Germany.

1.The organization that eventually became the EU       .

   A. was started by France and Germany      B. started with three countries

   C. was set up by the Treaty of Rome       D. included 132 languages

2.What's the main purpose of this passage?

   A. To give a solution to a problem.

   B. To find out a problem and show how severe it is.

   C. To criticize the European Union for inefficiency.

   D. To show that the problem cannot be solved.

3. According to the writer, the use of English in contacts among EU officials has       .

   A. angered the officials who don't speak English

   B. reduced the number of official languages

   C. reduced the effect of the problem

   D. been opposed by powerful member countries

4.The writer mentions "Danish into Greek" as an example of       .

   A. a situation that might be difficult to deal with

   B. a situation that occurs often

   C. one of the 12 situations that requires an interpreter

   D. languages easily being interpreted

5.The writer suggests that if the number of official languages was reduced  .

   A. the EU would not know which official languages to choose

   B. countries whose languages were not used officially would be unhappy

   C. only languages which are easy to translate would be used officially

   D. the smaller member countries would be pleased

Language is a major problem for the European Union(EU) . The argument or treaty(条约) which created the organization that finally became the EU, the Treaty of Rome, stated that each country’s language must be treated equally. The original six countries had only three languages between them: French, German and Dutch/Flemish. However, there are now 15 countries in the EU, with a total of 12 languages. EU documents（文件）must be translated into all these languages, and at official meetings the speeches must be translated into all the languages by interpreters (口译者).

   All this translating is very expensive and time-consuming（花时间的）. It is said that nearly half of all employees of the EU are involved in translating documents and speeches and nearly half of the EU’s administrative（管理方面的）costs are spent on this task. In the near future it is probable that several more countries, most of them having their own languages, will join the EU, thus making the situation even worse.

   The problem is just cost; there are practical difficulties as well. With 12 languages, there are 132 possible “translation situations” that might be needed. It is often difficult to find people in the right place at the right time who can translate from, for example, Danish into Greek, or Dutch into Portuguese, at a high professional standard.

   As a matter of fact, the problem has been less serious by the use of English in many contacts between EU officials, since almost all of them speak some English. However, any move to reduce the number of official languages (perhaps to four or five) would be a blow to the pride of the smaller countries. Another commonly suggested solution is to make English the official language for all EU business. However, this is strongly resisted by powerful member countries like France and Germany.

1. What’s the main purpose of this passage? _____________.

A. To give a solution to a problem.

B. To find out a problem and show how serious it is.

C. To criticize（批评）the European Union for inefficiency.

D. To show that the problem cannot be solved.

2. According to the writer, the use of English in contacts among EU officials has_________.

A. angered the officials who don’t speak English.

B. reduced the number of official languages.

C. lessened the effect of the problem.

D. been opposed（反对）by powerful member countries.

3.The writer mentions “Danish into Greek” as an example of ______________.

A . a situation that might be difficult to deal with.             B. a situation that occurs often.

C. one of the 12 situations that requires an interpreter.  D. languages easily being interpreted.

4.The writer suggests that if the number of official languages was reduced, _____________.

A. the EU would not know which official languages to choose.

B. countries whose languages were not used officially would be unhappy.

C. only languages which are easy to translate would be used officially.

D. the smaller member countries would be pleased.

How men first learned to invent words is unknown, in other words, the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that men, unlike animals, somehow invented certain sounds to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters, which could be combined to represent those sounds and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether spoken, or written in letters, we call words.

The power of words, then, lies in their association—the thing they bring up before our minds. Words become filled with meaning for us by experience; and the longer we live, the more certain words recall to us the glad and the sad events of our past; and the more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean something to us increase.

Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which appeal powerfully to our minds and emotions. This charming and telling use of words is what we call literary style. Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can convey his meaning in words which sing like music, and which by their position and association can move men to tears. We should, therefore, learn to choose our words carefully and use them accurately, or they make our speech silly and vulgar.

What is the origin of language?

A. It is unknown.

B. It is a matter that is unclear.

C. It is a question difficult to answer.

D. It is a problem not yet solved.

Which of the following about a real poet is NOT true?

A. He is less than a master of words.

B. His style is always charming.

C. His poem can move men to tears.

D. He can express his ideas in words that sing like music.

Where does the real power of the words come from?

A. From the words themselves.    

B. From their characteristics.

C. From their peculiarity.     

D. From their association.

What is the main idea of the passage?

A. The importance of choosing words.

B. Where the real power of words come from.

C. What great writers are like.

D. We should learn to choose words carefully.